The first time I left Baku, the city where I was born and raised, was in 1999. Since then, I have been coming and going and frankly speaking I have always been trying to do everything to leave. I always wondered: why?
Recently, I was able to find the answer or rather put my mixed feelings into words and that is probably why I decided to start this blog.
I discovered that it has become impossible to dream in Baku.
The city where my childhood dreams were born did not seem to support them any more. What caused this? I do not know. But why would I spend time speculating? Instead, I decided to find out what I could do to re-learn to dream in Baku.
Funny enough, I live in London now. And it is in London that I was able to analyse my feelings and maybe detach myself from the strong emotions and find a way of dealing with this.
I am starting my studies at Oxford next month. I will be studying Islamic Studies and History, focusing on the Islamic past of Azerbaijan and how it gave rise to a new culture, focusing on Baku.
Baku and especially the Old town (Icheri sheher) is full of the material culture inspired by Islam.
Islam is apparently the only religion where religious rituals have been assisted by scientific procedures. The organisation of the lunar calendar, the regulation of the astronomically defined times of prayer, and the determination of the sacred direction of the Kaaba in Mecca -- are all the religious rituals supported by scientific work.
To me this means that Muslim scientists dreamt of creating scientific methods that would allow them to pray properly -- to dream!
Somehow there is something fascinating about finding out how a scientist worked so hard for the purpose of religion.
Baku -- was home to many of these scientists. I know nothing about them, but am determined to find out.
This is what I think I can do to re-learn to dream in Baku -- the city of dreams!
Recently, I was able to find the answer or rather put my mixed feelings into words and that is probably why I decided to start this blog.
I discovered that it has become impossible to dream in Baku.
The city where my childhood dreams were born did not seem to support them any more. What caused this? I do not know. But why would I spend time speculating? Instead, I decided to find out what I could do to re-learn to dream in Baku.
Funny enough, I live in London now. And it is in London that I was able to analyse my feelings and maybe detach myself from the strong emotions and find a way of dealing with this.
I am starting my studies at Oxford next month. I will be studying Islamic Studies and History, focusing on the Islamic past of Azerbaijan and how it gave rise to a new culture, focusing on Baku.
Baku and especially the Old town (Icheri sheher) is full of the material culture inspired by Islam.
To me this means that Muslim scientists dreamt of creating scientific methods that would allow them to pray properly -- to dream!
Somehow there is something fascinating about finding out how a scientist worked so hard for the purpose of religion.
Baku -- was home to many of these scientists. I know nothing about them, but am determined to find out.
This is what I think I can do to re-learn to dream in Baku -- the city of dreams!
