Should you desire to see my face
I will be visible in my every verse
… And when you read Nizami’s rhyme
his face will emerge within every line
Should you ask where he is after centuries
His every word will sound: here, here he is
Nizami Ganjavi
bp and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center yesterday presented a valuable collection of miniatures selected from the historical manuscripts of the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi - one of Azerbaijan’s greatest poets and one of the world’s greatest minds of all time. The book “The Magic of the Pen” was presented in an event held yesterday as part of the 9th Global Baku Forum of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.
This is bp’s yet another gift to the 880th jubeliee celebrations of Nizami and is published in commemoration of “The Year of Nizami” announced by President Ilham Aliyev. The book is in two volumes and in two languages separately – Azerbaijani and English.
The exquisite publication includes Khamsa illustrations produced in different periods and in different parts of the world starting from the Herat manuscripts of the Timurid period through the Safavid, Moghul and Ottoman manuscripts to Khamsa’s contemporary miniature illustrations including the magnificent murals gracing the inside of the Nizami Metro station in Azerbaijan’s capital city. These are around 800 amazing miniature paintings found in the numerous Khamsa manuscripts preserved in the most famous museums and libraries of virtually all capital cities across Europe, Asia and North America.
"This is the second book we have published to honour the priceless and inexhaustible treasury the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker has left for us. Earlier we had sponsored a solid research book entitled “Nizami Ganjavi – The Forgotten Publications” which was a collection of known and unknown thoughts, articles, research papers of the past about Nizami Ganjavi by prominent people of Azerbaijan. The book we are presenting today is a unique collection of invaluable art from around the world by authors and artists who have been inspired by Nizami’s genius for centuries. We are proud as Azerbaijan’s long term and reliable partner to be able to recognise “The Magic of the Pen” of Nizami Ganjavi - a genius of word and thought.” "
“It comforts the heart, because our love and respect for Nizami’s world make one forget all the effort made to investigate it, leaving only delight and happiness"
bp would like to join these genuine words adding that it is only honoured and privileged to have made this modest contribution to the research into and promotion of Nizami’s invaluable and enormous legacy.
The total cost of the project including the publication of the book is 100,000 USD.
Notes to editors
bp has been present in Azerbaijan for 30 years safely, efficiently and reliably operating major oil and gas exploration, development and transportation projects. To date, together with its co-venturers, bp has invested around $84 billion into projects it operates in the country. In Azerbaijan, we are committed to supporting sustainability efforts focusing on the areas where we believe we can make the most difference.
bp’s extensive social investment activities and capacity-building efforts in the country have had a positive impact and brought tangible benefits to people, improving their lives and making a difference.
The company’s social investments cover such areas as building local capabilities, education, development of communities, local enterprises, the environment, sporting potential as well as research into and promotion of the country’s rich cultural heritage. Overall, since the start, bp itself and together with its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan, has spent around $101 million on social investment projects in this country.
The Nizami Ganjavi International Center is a cultural, non-profit, non-political organization founded with the main mission to study and promote the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi’s legacy striving to build a dialogue, understanding and shared societies between cultures and people. The Nizami Ganjavi International Center was established in Azerbaijan on 30 September 2012 and offers a broad range of public activities performing a bridge-building role and serving as a neutral platform for the leading voices from around the world to discuss today’s vital issues in an atmosphere of mutual respect and civility.
For more information about bp and its co-venturers’ social investment projects please visit the bp Azerbaijan site at www.bp.com/azerbaijan
Tamam Bayatly at bp’s press office in Baku.
Telephone: (+994 12) 525 58 95