THE INFLUENCE OF SOUTH AZERBAIJANI POETRY ON NATIONAL IDEALS AND PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT DURING THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION

Abstract

During the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, South Azerbaijan underwent substantial political, social, and cultural transformations, which dramatically accelerated the formation of a modern na-tional identity. Literature became not merely an artistic discipline but a central ideological and intel-lectual engine of resistance and awakening. Poets such as Sarraf, Mir Abdulhossein Khazin, and Said Salmasi articulated the people’s dissatisfaction with tyranny, exposing the injustices of despotism and calling for freedom, dignity, and national revival. Their works combined ethical teachings, spiritual symbolism, and nationalistic ideals, forming a unified literary discourse that resonated with both the educated elite and the general population.
Revolutionary folk poetry, especially verses celebrating the heroism of Sattar Khan, further strengthened collective identity and mobilized public sentiment. The poetic portrayal of such figures offered a shared symbolic language through which people could understand their struggle and artic-ulate their aspirations for justice and autonomy. Thus, literature acted simultaneously as a cultural archive, a political manifesto, and a social catalyst.
Consequently, the South Azerbaijani literary movement of the Constitutional era played a de-cisive role in shaping political consciousness, reinforcing national identity, and promoting a culture of resistance against oppression and assimilation. These texts remain valuable historical documents that illuminate the intellectual foundations of national liberation movements and continue to serve as sources of cultural memory and scholarly inquiry.