3 journal of azerbaijani studies in search of 'khazar

16. Revolt

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June proved to be a very hot month for us. All our meaningful and exciting days full of newspaper and television advertisements, student and parent appeals suddenly were replaced by the order of the joint, commission of the Ministry of Education and Institute of the National Economy Management to stop our activities. "After long consultations" it was decided to include five people into the commission: three officials from the Ministry of Education, the rector of the Institute of National Economy Management and myself, the head of the new university.

Four of those that had signed the document had no doubts that I would sign it too. The Soviet ways of believing that everybody always has the same opinion was applied in this situation. The Soviet society did not forgive those "who opposed the society".

But I was not going to give up my work or leave it incomplete. For some reason I had a firm belief in the future of this university. It was my vocation and my duty to make this idea become a reality. I could not leave it, it was in my blood and soul. There was only one way left -to rebel.

The revolt was inevitable. I would never sign this statement, no matter what the consequences were likely to be. I would not be satisfied with this situation and I would attack. A great politician said

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"to be always in defense will sooner or later bring you to defeat". I replace the enrollment that we had already announced by the enrollment of students for preparatory courses. To the government officials this could mean that they had achieved what they wanted with an insignificant concession and for us it would mean that although we had been thrown back, our activities were carrying on.

I had a clear plan of action. I would refuse to sign the statement prepared by the Ministry of Education. I would prepare a document that would demonstrate that I categorically disagree with this statement. If anyone would put together these two documents, one that is prepared by a person who knows the ins and outs of the problem and another one prepared by government officials, he or she would immediately see that the government statement is ill-intentioned.

I came to see Rahim muallim and said without any introduction:

- Rahim muallim, on no account I am going to sign this statement. It is based on injustice and false information. If there exists a commission that can make a decision about the university and if I am a member of it, I have right to express my opinion. Here is my opinion. I have prepared a supplement to this statement. I would like you to read it before I send it to the Ministry of Education³⁸

Rahim Muallim read the document in silence. He did not utter a word after finishing it, just picked up a phone and called the Ministry of Education, the members of the commission came and picked up "the supplement to the statement". I do not know what went on behind the closed doors. But I think I fired a very successful shot. The answer was unpredictable; it could even be an explosion of great strength.