Shusha: Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

Earlier this year in January President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev declared Shusha, the pearl of Karabakh, as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan liberated the culturally rich city Shusha in the Karabakh region a year ago amid 44 days long conflict culminating in victory for Azerbaijan. The country is rebuilding the cultural and historical heartland for the Azerbaijanis. While the residents of this beautiful hilly and green region are coming back to a normal and peaceful life, the government of Azerbaijan is restoring and rebuilding the monuments, buildings, and another cultural sites. The city has not only historical but also strategic importance for Azerbaijan For three decades, Shusha had been under the control of Armenia but now after gaining independence Azerbaijan is determined to restore the glory of the city. On the eve of Victory Day- a year after the 44 days War in the region, the Government of Azerbaijan organized a trip for media representatives to visit the country especially to witness the restoration and rebuilding efforts to a war-torn region. This was an effort to share information about the latest from Nargono- Karabakh where life is coming back to normalcy after a year of intense war.

After remaining under the occupation of Armenia, Karabakh is now Azerbaijan. It has remained under the ruins of occupation for the past 28 years. Azerbaijan has built Fuzuli Airport in less than eight months, making it an infrastructure miracle for the country. The city gets its original recognition on the first anniversary of its victory in a patriotic war against Armenia. This city receives significant attention from the President given its cultural richness and historic recognition. Historically, Shusha had been an important center of politics, history, culture, and political institutions of Azerbaijan. The city of Shusha was founded by Panahali Khan during the reign of Karabakh Khanate in the 18th century. The city was constructed according to cultural and security needs of that time as an 'eternal and impenetrable fortress' in an impenetrable plateau'. The construction began in 1752 at the height of 1600 meters above sea level and was completed in 1756.

The capital of Khanate rule moved into this highly fortified fort in 1956 which began an era of societal progression in the region. Many of great Azerbaijan's cultural icons, intellectuals, and scientists were born in this beautiful city. Given the...