APersonIndependent states
Molla Panah Vagif
Poet and vizier of the Karabakh Khanate (1717–1797) who brought Azerbaijani poetry close to the spoken language.
Molla Panah Vagif was born in the Gazakh region and later settled in Shusha, where he opened a school. His learning and wisdom made him vizier to Ibrahim Khalil Khan of Karabakh.
Vagif brought simple, lively spoken language and the goshma form into literature. His poems are life-affirming and sincere celebrations of beauty, and many are still sung today.
He was killed in 1797 amid palace strife. His mausoleum stands in Shusha, and Samad Vurgun's drama Vagif tells his story.
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Updated: October 1, 2026