Hundreds of families have already returned to Lachin – their native land. How do those who end their homesickness after many years live in Lachin? How do they solve household problems, what difficulties do they face?
One of the people who returned to Lachin is Irada Nasirova, the chairman of “Merhamat” Helping the Destitute Public Union. Mrs. Irada Publika.azspoke about the situation in Lachin in an interview.
– How do you remember the days you left Lachin?
– The pain of those days is not forgotten not only by me, but also by no one. The sounds of gunfire are still in my ears today. Imagine that a mother left her native land and home with two babies in her arms under the rain of bullets. When he left his house, he did not take a pair of shoes or a blanket to cover him. We left with that pain. The car was so small that we couldn’t put anything in it. When we left there on May 8, the weather was so hot that we couldn’t breathe. I experienced such stress there that I thought my children would not survive until they reached Baku. Something will happen to them from the heat. How many people died in front of our eyes. I could not come to myself for years. Those were very terrible days. I still feel bad talking.
– How was your displaced life?
– We came by force and settled in Baku. After settling down, my husband and I each held on to a job so that we could support our family. I taught history in high school. Even though my children were small, I worked. At that time, we lived in a house made of bricks and reeds. When we came from Lachin, we had one car. From 1992 to 2000, we had a lot of difficulties. When we left there, we thought we would be back soon. Everything seemed like a dream. But 1 year, 5 years passed and we didn’t return… We were condemned to live in Baku. We tried to create conditions for ourselves little by little. Think of a family that, when they leave their house, have no blanket to cover them, no cup to drink water from. From 1995 to 2005, I participated in the provision of humanitarian aid in all regions of Azerbaijan through a humanitarian organization. I continued my work thinking that if I am an IDP, I should be with other IDPs. Later, I started working as the chairman of “Merhamat” Helping the Destitute Public Union.
– Can your activity be related to the hardships you suffered during the displacement period?
– What happened in Lachin changed my whole life. The main reason for the creation of this shelter is related to the sufferings I suffered during the war. I connected my activity to my life. I started taking care of children of low-income families and orphans in that shelter. That shelter is located in the city of Shirvan. During the war, there were so many destitute children that I looked at them with heartache. There are currently 20 children in the shelter. The youngest is 2 years old.
– What were your feelings on the way back to Lachin?
– I had very strange feelings along the way. There is no explanation for that joy. I always said that the day I reach Lachin, I will put my knees on the ground and walk. But when I got there, my legs were completely frozen. I couldn’t even take a step. My whole childhood, youth, life flashed before my eyes. I saw my 23 years of life there as if in 1 second. I even thought for a moment that I was born again. I still feel the same way today. I can’t explain my joy. Maybe my heart would explode from that joy. Everywhere I looked, people from Lachin, little babies, old people. Everyone’s eyes were laughing. I knew neighbors, my classmates, we all did not know what to do with joy. On July 18, I opened my eyes again in Lachin.
-How has your life been since you settled?
– Since the day we settled, I have walked all the streets of Lachin. I found my homeland and sat there for hours. I remembered my days in that yard. After many years, I looked longingly at the house where I first set foot, played, went to school, and left as a bride. Our house was destroyed. The memories of my father and mother did not leave my eyes. Every day I yearn to go to my fatherland from the house where I live now, my heart beats so much as I walk… I talk and cry until I am satisfied with our ruined house. We went to Baku with our elders 31 years ago, but we returned to Lachin without them. We had a lot of losses. I can almost walk and discover Lachi step by step. My eyes are looking for something, as if I will find something this minute. I wish I could find a piece of iron, a piece of paper. I could hold him in my arms and cry to my heart’s content. I would be glad to find this in my house after 31 years. But I can’t find anything. I saw the house we left full empty. On my way back to Lachin, I felt like I was reborn.
– How is your daily life?
– I don’t want to leave Lachin. I know that even if I leave there, I will not be able to return. At that moment, a strange panic fills me. Lachin is very beautiful at the moment. Lachin has everything a family needs. You can find whatever you want in the shops. As for the prices, there is no difference compared to Baku. At the moment, I mainly do housework there. I spend time with my grandchildren. We talk to the neighbors. Although we remember our past days and feel sad, we are happy for today. We are happy for our grandchildren and future generations. I spend the rest of my day walking around Lachi. My eyes and my heart can’t get enough of Lachin. I sleep at night, when I wake up in the morning, I forget for a moment that I am in Lachin. Sometimes, when talking with my family, I say, “Something happened in Lachin”, but I am in Lachin. All this seems like a dream to me, and a sweet dream…
Aysel Shahmar
The article was prepared with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MEDIA) in the direction of “Great Return” to the territories freed from occupation.
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