In the documentary story Exploits of the Hermitage authors S. Varshavsky and B. Rest tell about the celebrations of Nizami’s jubilee that took place in besieged Leningrad. Here is an extract from the book.

Hizami Gyangevi. Artist E. Islanov

      The district around Smolny, the headquarters of the defense of Leningrad, was continuously bombed by German aviation. The bombing was very intensive on that day in October, when two old friends met on the ground floor of Smolny…

      Nikolai Tikhonov was asked to come to Smolny at the urgent request of academician Orbeli. Before the war, the poet who was now dressed in an army uniform, was taking an active part in the preparations for Nizami’s jubilee.

       “I’m sure, - said Orbeli, - that you haven’t forgotten about the forthcoming jubilee.”

      To the boom of the air-raid, the roar of planes and the echo of anti-aircraft guns heard through the thick stone walls, Tikhonov merely spread his arms, saying:

      “Dear Iosiph Abgarovich! You see what’s going on around us. I’m afraid that, under the circumstances, the jubilee won’t be very festive.”

      However, Orbeli insisted:

First page of the poem Leili and Medjnun Hermitage

      “Jubilee celebrations must take place! The entire country will celebrate Nizami’s jubilee. Can’t we do that in Leningrad? I don’t want the fascists to say that they have wrecked a holiday of our culture.”

       Along the corridors of Smolny they went to the Leningrad Front Political Administration. Tikhonov introduced Orbeli and, fearing that the military would take the venerable academician for someone who didn’t quite realize the situation, described some of his peculiarities. Then Orbeli was given the floor.

      “He will make the opening address on behalf of the writers,” Orbeli pointed at Tikhonov.“I shall speak on behalf of the scholars.” And, as if it went without saying, he added: – “You will get the speakers.”

      “How do you mean?”wondered the officers.

Leili with girlfriends in the garden Fragment of a miniature from the manuscript of Khamse Nizami. 1570

      “They are in the trenches. Not far from here. Somewhere near Kolpino or Pulkovo. You will call them for one day only. They will come in the morning and leave in the evening.”

      Orbeli named several specialists in oriental studies from the scientific staff of the Hermitage, who were fighting near Leningrad…

      In the archives of the Hermitage one can still find “The list of those present at the meeting commemorating Nizami” on 19 October, 1941. On that day this list was lying on a desk in front of the School Study of the Hermitage. A man in an army uniform with three stripes on the tabs wrote his name: “N. Tikhonov.” Another speaker, an army officer called from the front line by the Political Administration, came up to the desk. “M. Dyakonov,” he wrote on the list and right there, in front of the School Study, he embraced his colleagues, orientalists A. Boldyrev and G. Ptitsyn, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time and who were supposed to make reports about Nizami on that day.

Hosrov at Shirin’s castle Khamse by Nizami, p.112 Hermitage

The long list on the desk was filled with the names of academicians and poets, historians and archaeologists, artists and architects, communist party and soviet officials and correspondents of Leningrad and Moscow newspapers. The newcomers were informed that, in case of an air-raid warning, the meeting would be transferred to the bomb shelter.

      Academician Orbeli spoke on behalf of the scholars, N. Tikhonov spoke on behalf of the writers. “Agitated by Orbeli’s address, I hardly managed my address,” wrote N. Tikhonov. “After that, scholars in uniforms and with gas-masks, who had come to the Hermitage right from the trenches, made their reports about Nizami’s life and activities. They cited poems, which were written eight hundred years ago. Nizami has risen and he has brought into our army camp his friendly song praising the victory of mankind - immortal, healthy and beautiful in order to triumph over darkness and devastation. Our front honoured Nizami like Nizami honoured heroes.”

Leili with girlfriends in the garden Fragment of a miniature from the manuscript of Khamse 1491

      A few weeks passed, and the poet in the army uniform with three stripes on the tabs of his field-shirt and the director of the State Hermitage met again in Smolny.

      “Dear Iosiph Abgarovich,”called Nikolai Tikhonov to academician Orbeli. – “I have to inform you that neither in Moscow, nor in Baku or anywhere else in the Soviet Union did they celebrate Nizami’s jubilee in October. The celebrations were postponed and it was only in Leningrad that the jubilee was celebrated by a grand meeting. What do you say to that?”