September 1993 (1.3) Page 15 Why I Had to Learn Russian by Azar Mammad See Companion Piece, "Why I Don't Know Azerbaijani" by Natasha Trishkova From the political satirical magazine, "Molla Nasreddin" early 20th century. The librarian is sleeping as he has no inquiries for books. The books on the counter are identified in Azerbaijani (Arabic Script of the period) as "Vatan Dili" ("Native Tongue:) and "Ana Dili" ("Mother Tongue"). See cartoon in Companion Piece, "Why I Don't Know Azerbaijani". Dear Natasha, Azerbaijan International's editor recently approached me, asking if I would translate an essay which had been written in Russian and given to her in Baku. Though someone had begun the translation, they had refused to complete it because they didn't agree with the ideas expressed. As I felt the editor was trying to persuade me that democracy and pluralism can only come with the expression of multipolarity of ideas, the interaction and negotiation of thoughts and opinions, I agreed to do the translation. Let me confess, it was the hardest job I have ever done--not because the language was diffcult, nor because of its length, but simply because each time I started to translate a sentence, I lost my sense of concentration. Instead, I found myself involved in an imaginary, heated discussion with you, its author. I felt your pain. I understood your tragedy--the tragedy of a large community which has become an island on the land where it used to live carefree, light-hearted, and happy. But more than that, I felt the tragedy of my own nation. You were writing about your own griefs and sorrows, but subconsciously and unintentionally, you were describing the tragedy of our entire nation. You felt abandoned, didn't you? For more than two hundred years, you had lived in this country and never cared to learn its language because, as you say, there had been no need since everybody spoke Russian. That was easy for you. Now, recently, the nation has opened its eyes and understood that maybe it would be easier for half a million Russians living in Azerbaijan to learn to speak Azerbaijani than for seven million Azerbaijanis to have to learn to speak Russian. We, as human beings, always try to boost our own egos-looking for faults, placing blame and guilt somewhere else. But be brave. Try to look at yourself. Hold on to your self-esteem, and you'll be able to overcome these diffculties. You complain that the government of Azerbaijan doesn't help its Russian-speaking citizens to learn the language. You say you have neither time nor patience to learn the language. And you say you have no money to take private lessons. Let me share my own experience with you. I was only eighteen when I left Azerbaijan to pursue studies in Russia. I had graduated from an Azerbaijani school in a provincial town, and, to put it mildly, I had nothing to be proud of, in terms of my knowledge of Russian. However, by the end of my fve year stay in Russia, not only had I graduated from a school of higher education with excellent grades in every single course, but I had learned fuent Russian and two other foreign languages besides--English and Spanish. Neither the government of Mikhail Gorbachev, nor that of Boris Yeltsin, organized special courses for me to learn Russian. Neither did I have money to take private lessons. I did not have time, either, because I was studying during the day and working at night. But I managed it. I had a feeling of responsibility that I should speak the language of the country in which I lived. I am not alone. There are hundreds and thousands of Azerbaijanis like me. You complain that once a meeting of the Cabinet was held, and members had to speak Azerbaijani instead of Russian. You say only two or three persons spoke at that meeting; others kept silent because they didn't know Azerbaijani. You give another example that physicians complain that they cannot write down prescriptions in their own language and have to use Russian. Right you are. But we look at the problem from a different perspective. You are offended that members of the Azerbaijani Cabinet are required to speak Azerbaijani instead of Russian and that Azerbaijani doctors have to use Azerbaijani instead of Russian. I am offended because members of the Azerbaijani Cabinet and Azerbaijani physicians cannot express themselves in their own language and, moreover, that they have to be forced to speak their own native language. It's absurd, but at the same time, it's the miserable and bitter truth that you cannot fnd many intelligentsia in Azerbaijan who can speak their own native language. Others simply cannot express themselves without Russian. And let me remind you that it is not their fault, either. Let me ask you this question. Is this not a great tragedy for our nation? And who is it that has been more hurt and more imposed upon? I fully understand your pains and share your tragedy. And I ask your forgiveness if I haven't been so gentle with you in expressing my views. And I hope very much that we shall be able to understand the pains, grieves and tragedies of each other and support each other through this difficult situation. Azar Mammad ____ © Azerbaijan International 1993. All rights reserved. Back to Azeri Language Back to Index AI 1.3 (September 1993) AI Home | Magazine Choice | Topics | Store | Contact us