Echoes of exile: The harrowing story of a family's struggle Resilience from Western Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan

Between 1905-1907, 1918-1923, 1948-1953, and 1988-1992, Azerbaijan endured devastating waves of deportations that caused immense hardship and suffering for its people. During these tumultuous periods, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forcibly displaced from their homeland, enduring profound suffering and adversity. Although many of those affected have since passed away, their stories remain vivid and are preserved in the memories of their descendants.

Nasib Imamverdiyev was one of the individuals displaced during the 1918-1923 period. Originally from the village of Gishlag in the Daralayaz district of Western Azerbaijan, Imamverdiyev was among those deported from his native land. His daughter, Tarlan khanim, recounted his experiences in an interview with Azertag.

Born in 1907 in Gishlag, Nasib Imamverdiyev held various responsible positions between 1945 and 1950, including chairman of a collective farm, leader of a local party organization, and head of a farm. After being deported in 1918-1923, he settled in Kultapa village, Babak district, Nakhchivan, where he constructed a new home and engaged in farming. Nasib Imamverdiyev passed away on January 2, 1980.

Tarlan khanim recalls that her father often spoke about the severe hardships inflicted upon the inhabitants of Gishlag by the Armenians. Her father, the eldest child in his family, had two younger brothers and a sister. Gishlag, a mountain village, was primarily engaged in cattle breeding and fruit cultivation. The deportation policy enacted by Armenians in 1918-1920, along with their provocations, deeply affected the Imamverdiyevs.

According to Tarlan khanim, her father was around 12 or 13 years old during this tumultuous period. He recounted receiving threats from Armenians indicating that they intended to attack Gishlag and kill its Azerbaijani residents. The villagers were forcibly gathered in a granary and locked inside. Among them was Tarlan khanim's grandfather.

From overhearing Armenian children in the neighborhood, her father learned that the Armenians planned to set the granary on fire with the villagers trapped inside. In a desperate attempt to escape, her father and his uncle fled their home to avoid the wrath of the enraged Armenians. That evening, her grandfather managed to escape from the granary and successfully rescued several people, including his brother, and a few other relatives.

Tarlan khanim shares with deep sorrow the harrowing stories from her father's memoirs: "My father recounted that the Armenians who came to our village were notably more cruel than the locals. They forced Azerbaijanis, including women, children, and the elderly, to leave their homes under the threat of death. In such dire circumstances, everyone was solely focused on their own escape, and no one could offer help to others.

My grandmother, fleeing from the Armenian forces, ran from their home carrying my aunt, who was only about 4 or 5 years old, in her arms. They hid in the bushes in an area known as Dogguz Don. Despite the Armenians' relentless search for them, they could not be found. My aunt remained silent throughout the ordeal. Eventually, the Armenians abandoned their search, dismissing the fugitives with the words, 'Let them become prey to wolves.'

After some time, my grandmother emerged from hiding, placing her trust in the Almighty. They had traveled a short distance when they encountered 4 or 5 people on a hillside. Initially terrified that they were Armenians, my grandmother was relieved to recognize that they were fellow Azerbaijanis, including my grandfather. That night, they took refuge in Nakhchivan, in the village of Diza, Sharur district.”

Tragically, after staying in Diza for 2-3 days, the grandmother and aunt of Tarlan khanim succumbed to the severe psychological and physical trauma they had endured. The remaining family members eventually moved to Iran but returned to Nakhchivan due to the hardships they faced there. While crossing the Araz River, their uncle drowned. The survivors were initially housed in an orphanage in Nakhchivan city before eventually settling in the village of Kultepe."

After spending 2-3 days in Diza, Tarlan khanim's grandmother and aunt succumbed to the severe psychological and physical trauma they had endured. Their relatives subsequently moved to Iran, but due to various difficulties, they were forced to return to Nakhchivan. While crossing the Araz River during their return, their uncle tragically drowned. The surviving family members were initially housed in an orphanage in Nakhchivan city before eventually relocating to and settling in the village of Kultapa.

Tarlan khanim's father always cherished the memory of his homeland with deep sadness and longed for a return to his native land in Western Azerbaijan.

Tarlan khanim, widely recognized in her village for her hard work, was elected as a People's Deputy of the USSR through the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev. She served as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and was a member of the bureau of the Nakhchivan regional and Babak district Komsomol committees.

Her contributions earned her prestigious honors, including the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and a certificate of honor from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR).

Proud of the liberation of Karabakh under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, Tarlan khanim remains hopeful that she will soon be able to return to her ancestral homeland in Western Azerbaijan.