The literary environment of South Azerbaijan (1947–1978)

The history of the Azerbaijani people has been shaped by complex geopolitical shifts, particularly since the early 19th century, when the region became a focal point of Russian-Iranian relations. Following the treaties of Gulustan and Turkmenchay, Azerbaijan was divided into northern and southern territories, falling under the influence of the Russian Empire and Iran, respectively. This article specifically examines the literary environment of South Azerbaijan between 1947 and 1978. It analyzes the socio-political pressures, including the prohibition of the Azerbaijani language in press and education, and the symbolic burning of books. Despite systematic cultural repression and bans on writing in their mother tongue, South Azerbaijani writers demonstrated remarkable resilience. This research explores how patriotic themes and the quest for national identity became the central ideological pillars of the period’s literature, preserving the linguistic and cultural roots of the people within the Iranian state.