The Department History of Azerbaijan at the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Azerbaijani Comparative Literature Association and the International Association for Science and Culture EuroKaukAsia welcome papers, panels and roundtable proposals from scholars and doctoral students for an interdisciplinary conference to be held at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, within framework of 200th anniversary celebration of Azerbaijani philosopher, author, playwright and founder of modern literary criticism Mirza Fätali Akhundov.

M. F. Akhundov was not only an Azerbaijani writer, who is called the “Molière of the Orient”, he also inspired Turkish and Iranian intellectuals and reformers since the late nineteenth century to the current time. We invite participants from all areas and on all topics of relevance to his activity, ideas and creativity, such as:

- Akhundovs influence on writers and thinkers of his time (in Persian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire)
- The role of Islam, secular nationalism or modernization in Azerbaijan/Muslim societies
- Literary pluralism, elite and state languages, diglossia in different communities in comparative aspect: from past to present
- Alphabet reforms: from past to the projects in post-Soviet era
- Images of “mine” and “others” in Azerbaijan history and literature and Azerbaijanis in foreign history and literature

Paper proposals (300-word abstract for a paper, lasting 15 minutes in English or German, brief CV, contact information) are due by Sept 15th 2012 and should be sent to:

Prof. Eva Maria Auch (HU Berlin) em.auch@t-online.de
and: Prof. Dr. Rahilya Geybullayeva rahilya_g@hotmail.com

Supposed categories:
1. Individual papers
2. Panel sessions
3. Rountable discussions

Notification of acceptance: September 30th, 2012

During the conference the documentary film “Sizi deyib gs” (directed by Etibar Babayev) will be demonstrated. Conference languages are German, English, Russian and Azeri.

Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Auch
Head of “EuroKaukAsia e.V.”
Head of Department History of Azerbaijan
Humboldt University of Berlin
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 – 2093 – 70588
Fax: +49 30 – 2093 – 70644
Email: em.auch@t-online.de
http://www.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/bereiche-und-lehrstuehle/aserbaidschan
http://www.eurokaukasia.de/

Prof. Dr. Rahilya Geybullayeva

Founding Head of Azerbaijani Comparative Literature Association
Head of the Azerbaijani Literature Department
Baku Slavic University
S. Roustam Str. 25
Baku, AZ-1014, Azerbaijan

Tel.: +99 412 – 597 – 0419
Fax: +99 412 – 493 – 3042
Email: rahilya_g@hotmail.com
http://www.bsu-az.org
http://www.azucla.org