Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

As part of a series of events dedicated to Science Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan, a masterclass entitled “The Manas Epic and Turkic Epic Traditions” was held on 5 March 2026 at the Faculty of Information and Records Management of Baku State University (BSU), with the participation of faculty members and students.

The session was delivered by Adil Jamil, a renowned Manas scholar and honorary member of the International Aitmatov Academy. In his presentation, he provided a comprehensive overview of the “Manas” epic, recognized as the largest epic work in world literature by volume. The speaker examined the significance of this monumental cultural heritage created by the Kyrgyz people, emphasizing its place not only within the Turkic world but also in the broader context of global oral literature.

It was noted that the Manas epic has played a vital role in preserving and transmitting the history, heroism, resilience, traditions, and cultural values of Turkic peoples across generations. The speaker highlighted its continuing importance in strengthening unity among Turkic nations. Reference was also made to the 1,000th anniversary celebrations of the Manas epic held in Kyrgyzstan in 1995, during which National Leader Heydar Aliyev described the epic as a shared spiritual and cultural treasure of the Turkic world, including the Azerbaijani people.

The presentation further explored the known versions of the epic, its translations into various languages, and the scholarly research conducted on the subject. Participants were informed that several sections of the epic were first recorded in writing by Kazakh scholar Chokan Valikhanov in 1856, while academician Wilhelm Radloff published a German translation in 1885. The first prose edition in Türkiye was prepared by Abdulkadir Inan.

The lecture also examined the place of Manas within Azerbaijani literary scholarship and drew parallels between the epic and prominent Turkic literary monuments such as the Kitabi-Dede Gorgud and Koroglu epics. These works were presented as shared cultural treasures reflecting the common historical and spiritual heritage of Turkic peoples.

The masterclass attracted considerable interest and concluded with an extensive exchange of views and discussions among participants.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)