Nigar Shikhlinskaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Nigar Gayibova (1871-10-10)10 October 1871 or(1878-03-21)21 March 1878 |
| Died | 15 August 1931 |
| Education | Transcaucasian (Tiflis) Female College |
| Known for | Pioneer of Azerbaijani nursing and localRed Crescent Society |
| Relatives | Farrukh Gayibov Ali Agha Shikhlinski (husband) |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Nurse |
| Institutions | Red Cross hospital,Western Front of World War I |
| Sub-specialties | Nursing,sanitation |
Nigar Huseyn Afandi gizi Shikhlinskaya,néeGayibova (Azerbaijani:Nigar Hüseyn Əfəndi qızı Şıxlinskaya; October 10, 1871 or March 21, 1878 inTiflis – August 15, 1931 inBaku) was the firstAzerbaijaninurse. She was fluent in several languages, includingRussian andFrench, and served on theWestern Front of World War I, where she opened theRed Crosshospital.[1][2]
On August 1, 1914 her appeal to women was published in theRusskiy Invalid newspaper. Shikhlinskaya co-ran the Red Cross community, established by officers' wives, until 1918.
Shikhlinskaya was the daughter of enlightenerHuseyn Afandi Gayibov. Having graduated from the Transcaucasian Female College with a gold medal in 1889, she became the firstAzerbaijani woman to obtain a higher education.[1] Shikhlinskaya was widowed after the death of Dervish-bekPalavandov ofGeorgian nobles. On October 27, 1909 she married Colonel and eminent Azerbaijani commanderAliagha Shikhlinski and the couple returned toTsarskoye Selo.
On August 2, 1914 Nigar followed Shikhlinski to the Guards' Staff ofPetersburg Military District. Some time later Nigar was elected the head of the Ladies' Committee at the Officers' Artillery School. The associated hospital became commonly known as Shikhlinskaya Hospital.[3] Nigar maintained correspondence with her husband in verses, which they dedicated to each other. In his memoirs Shikhlinski recalls that Nigar wrote letters home for wounded soldiers in two foreign languages (apart from Russian) and was referred to as Mom (Mamasha) by the soldiers.[3] In 1916 Nigar's close relative,Farrukh Gayibov, one of the first combat pilots, died in an air battle. On March 10, 1920 Shikhlinski as Deputy Defense Minister ofAzerbaijan Democratic Republic founded the AzerbaijaniRed Crescent Society, with Nigar becoming the pioneer nurse there.
In his memoirs Shikhlinski wrote: "The death of my wife... was a fatal blow for me. Everything has gone away with my wife – both happiness and health". His other quote is "count my death date from Nigar's demise". It is uncertain whether or not Shikhlinskaya had any children. In his article "The Life of GeneralAli Agha Shikhlinski" Lieutenant Colonel and senior scientific employee Shamistan Nazirli of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry included a photo, made early in the 20th century, where she is said to be with a son.