By Fuad Huseynzade
A land with a history as rich as its terrains. Its mountains and plains – home to fearless, resilient people who have survived hardships unthinkable to most, but survived nonetheless, by looking out for one another, fighting to protect their homes and culture, a rich multicultural mosaic they have sustained through centuries.
The “Pearl of Karabakh” Shusha was called the “Paris of South Caucasus” before the occupation. The city was known for its mysterious beauty and is a known symbol of Azerbaijani history and culture. It’s also worth mentioning that many prominent Azerbaijani musicians and scholars were born in this city.
Last year, Azerbaijanis did the unimaginable and infused new life into Karabakh, liberating it from illegal occupation that lasted close to 30 years. Thousands of internally displaced persons are egere to go back home, and soon they will be able to return.
For now some have been fortunate to visit their homes, and the sight is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The emotions running through your veins are hard to describe. Once you walk through the streets of Shusha, you can still smell the blood of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in order to liberate it, you can hear the sound of the bullets once fired at your home, smell the smell of the houses burned down, see the painful war crimes and the eco terror.
It all reminds one of the Turkish city, Canakkale, which is known as the city of martyrs.
Traveling to Shusha, is like traveling to a holy land for any Azerbaijanis, as they have been waiting patiently for this day to come. Last week NGOs of Azerbaijan were invited to visit Shusha organized by the state of Azerbaijan. When we visited Shusha for the first time after the liberation of Karabakh, we felt that soon our children would return here too and that the valleys will bloom again.
The breathtaking view of Shusha’s Jidir Plain, was where we could breath in the fresh mountain air and praise our thanks to the lord for giving us this glorious victory. Visiting these lands after so long felt surrealistic and we will forever be thankful for the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and the brave sons who fought bravely to protect our homes and culture.
When in Shusha, we could feel the pictures from the past that will always remind us of those who enriched this land with music, poems, arts, crafts, those who ensured that Shusha is forever known as the soul of Azerbaijan.
As soon as these lands were liberated, old traditions took place, the people of Azerbaijan breathed life to once destroyed cities of war. The international Khari Bulbul festival took place, and musicians and artists from all around the world were invited to take part in this special event that last time took place before the occupation.
The once vandalized statues, museums, schools and homes are being rebuilt, and life is coming back to the cultural capital.
What’s next is the poet nights, music festivals and other international events. With it’s return the people of Azerbaijan also aims at turning this city once known as the “Paris of South Caucasus” to the next destination of tourism.
This multicultural and magnificent place is placed at the top of the mountain and has a breathtaking view. Shusha awaits to be discovered by the citizens of the world, and as the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev has mentioned, reconstruction and construction work is carried out and the historical image of Shusha is restored. And after that, Shusha will be the Gateway of modern tourism to the world of Azerbaijan.