The Presidential Library has launched a virtual exhibition dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the journal Molla Nasreddin, one of the most significant phenomena in the history of Azerbaijan’s national press. Within the framework of the exhibition, the journal’s rich literary and journalistic heritage is presented to contemporary readers in a systematic and accessible format.
Emerging in the early twentieth century amid a complex socio-political environment, Molla Nasreddin marked a qualitatively new stage in the development of Azerbaijani periodical press and, within a short period, gained wide circulation across an extensive geographical area. The first issue, published on April 7, 1906, in Tiflis, marked the beginning of an enterprise that, under the leadership of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, was issued intermittently for 25 years in Tiflis, Tabriz, and Baku. In total, 741 issues were published. The journal, which defined the principal directions of satirical journalism, brought the social contradictions of its time into the sphere of open and sharp public discourse.
Throughout its activity in various cultural centers, the journal exerted a significant influence on the development of satire, caricature, and critical realism in Azerbaijani literary and social thought. The creative milieu that formed around it brought together prominent writers, publicists, and artists, contributing to the emergence of the literary movement known as “Molla Nasreddinism.” This tradition spread widely – from Baku to Kazan, and from Irevan to Tehran – serving as a foundation for the emergence of dozens of satirical publications.
The virtual exhibition features selected works from an extensive library collection that reflect the historical trajectory of the journal, its literary legacy, and its impact on the development of Azerbaijani press. These include scholarly monographs, encyclopedic publications, bibliographic indexes, and research studies that together provide a comprehensive academic and literary understanding of Molla Nasreddin.
The virtual exhibition “Molla Nasreddin – 120” represents a contemporary reinterpretation of an important stage in the history of the national press, ensuring the preservation of this rich heritage in the digital environment and its accessibility to a broad audience.