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On January 17, 2026, at the National Library, a book exhibition titled “Honored Art Worker Medina Gulgun – 100” was presented to visitors on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Azerbaijani poet and prominent representative of national-democratic poetry, Medina Gulgun.

Medina Nurulla qizi Alekberzade was born on January 17, 1926, in Baku, into a working-class family. In 1938, her family moved to Ardabil in South Azerbaijan, and later she lived in Tabriz. Between 1948 and 1952, she pursued higher education at the Faculty of Language and Literature at the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute (now ADPU).

From an early age, Medina Gulgun had a strong passion for literature. Her first poetry book, “Spring of Tabriz”, was published in 1950, featuring poems she had written between 1945 and 1949. Her early years coincided with Azerbaijanis’ struggle for freedom and national independence, and these themes are reflected in her poetry.

Medina Gulgun published more than thirty books in Baku, Tabriz, and Moscow. Among them are “Spring of Tabriz” (1950), “At the Foot of Savalan” (1950), “Voice of Peace” (1951), “Yadigar Ring” (1953), “Daughter of Tabriz” (1956), “Tomorrow of Our World” (1974), “When the Cranes Return” (1983), “The World is a Sweet World” (1989), “If Only There Were a Plane Tree”, “Desire is a Lifetime”, “No Road Can Take Me Away” (1978), “Hope Keeps My Heart Alive”, and dozens of other poetry collections. The main themes of her works are humanity, freedom, longing for Tabriz, humanism, and patriotism.

Her works have been translated into several foreign languages, and her lyrical poems have been set to music.

She received numerous awards throughout her life, including the “21 Azer” medal in 1946, the “Veteran of Labor” medal in 1948, the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1980, and the honorary title “Honored Art Worker” in 1987, along with other medals and honorary certificates.