A Centuries-Long Call Rising from Baku: The Legacy of the First Turkology Congress and the Shared Future of the Turkic World

History is not merely the memory of the past. Some events transcend the boundaries of time and become a roadmap for the future. Exactly one hundred years ago — in 1926, the First Turkology Congress held in Baku became such a landmark event. It was not merely a scientific conference, but a powerful intellectual movement that laid the foundation for a new stage in the history of science, language, culture, and national thought of the Turkic peoples. It defined a shared identity, collective memory, and future development directions for Turkic communities scattered across different geographies.

Today, a century later, the commemoration of this historic event in Baku carries profound symbolic meaning. Within the framework of the “100th Anniversary of the First Turkology Congress – Turkic World Week (1926–2026),” it is once again demonstrated that history returns to its point of origin, and that origin is once again Azerbaijan, once again Baku.

This symbolism is not accidental. The sessions of the First Turkology Congress were held in the magnificent Grand Assembly Hall of the historic Ismailiyya building, which now houses the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Moreover, on May 2, 1925, the decision to convene the Congress was also adopted in this very building. While the century has changed eras, the mission of this place has remained unchanged.

On June 30, the continuation panel of the international congress titled “The First Turkology Congress: A Century of Scientific and Cultural Heritage” was held in the same building. The session was moderated by Member of Parliament, Doctor of Philology, and Board Member of the New Azerbaijan Party, Elnare Akimova. Distinguished scholars from various countries participated, including Professor Ahmet Taşağıl (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University, Turkey), Professor Eva-Maria Auch (Humboldt University, Germany), Professor Takashi Osawa (Osaka University, Japan), Associate Professor Rizvan Huseynov (Director of the Caucasus History Center), Professor Hacalı Nəcəfoğlu (Caucasus University, Turkey), and Professor Cabbor Eshonkulov (Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan). Their discussions reflected the shared scientific and cultural heritage of the Turkic world.

The Presidential Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on the 100th anniversary of the Congress highlights Azerbaijan’s role as a central hub of Turkology and a key contributor to the integration of the Turkic world.

In the early 20th century, intellectuals in Baku discussed ideas such as a common alphabet, linguistic unity, and cultural cooperation. Despite later repressions, these ideas were not destroyed and have gained new momentum in independent Azerbaijan today. Cooperation among Turkic states has become not only a historical vision but also a political, economic, and cultural reality.

Azerbaijan today plays a crucial role in the Turkic world. Its initiatives within the Organization of Turkic States, the new geopolitical realities following the Karabakh Victory, and strategic projects such as the Zangezur Corridor further strengthen this position.

Thus, commemorating the Congress in Baku represents a restoration of historical justice. Baku is not only the capital of Azerbaijan but also a shared intellectual platform of the Turkic world.

The ideas of the First Turkology Congress continue to live and evolve even after a century, and Azerbaijan remains both their guardian and a driving force of their future development.