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On March 12, 2026, a book exhibition titled “People’s Poet Suleyman Rustam – 120” was presented to users at the National Library on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of one of the prominent representatives of 20th-century Azerbaijani literature, public figure, and influential master of the poetic word who played a significant role in the ideological and artistic development of Azerbaijani poetry, Suleyman Rustam.

The exhibition showcases the poet’s works, translations, books for which he served as author of forewords, compiler and editor, as well as literature in Azerbaijani and foreign languages about his life and rich creative legacy. It also includes musical scores based on his poetry and materials from periodicals.

Suleyman Aliabbas oghlu Rustamzade (Suleyman Rustam) was born on March 12, 1906, in the Novkhani village of Baku. He graduated from a Russian-Tatar school and studied at the Baku Industrial Technical School named after N. Narimanov in the electrical mechanics department. In 1925, he entered the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Azerbaijan State University, and in 1929 transferred to the Faculty of Literature and Arts of Moscow State University.

From 1926 to 1934, he worked as executive secretary of the magazine “Maarif və mədəniyyət.” In 1935, he became a member of the Central Executive Committee of Transcaucasia, and from 1938 he was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, remaining a deputy in all subsequent convocations until the end of his life.

He began his literary activity in the early 1920s. His first published poem, “The Forgotten Youth,” appeared in 1923. His first poetry collection, “From Sorrow to Joy,” was published in 1927.

His works include poetry collections such as “Lightning” (1942), “Gafur’s Heart” (1959), “Dearest to the Dearest” (1965), “Two Shores” (1949), “Sunny Shores” (1963), “On Untraveled Roads” (1970), “With the Eye of My Heart” (1977), and “My Sun” (1981), as well as dramatic works including the play “Fire” (1930, co-authored with H. Nazarli), the verse play “Qaçaq Nabi” (1940), and the comedy “The Crane” (1948). One of his most beloved works is “Tebrizim.”

In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the title “Honored Art Worker of Azerbaijan” in 1943, “People’s Poet” in 1960, became a USSR State Prize laureate in 1950, an Azerbaijan State Prize laureate in 1970, and received numerous orders and medals.