Mustafa Topchubashov
Encyclopedia
Dr. Mustafa Agha bey oglu Topchubashov (Azeri
: Mustafa Topçubaşov; 5 August 1895, Yerevan
– 23 November 1981, Baku
), Ph.D., was an Azerbaijan
i surgeon, Hero of Socialist Labor
, Stalin Prize winner, and recipient of the Order of Lenin
.
) to Agha bey and Fatma khanim Topchubashov, wealthy landowners of the Erivan Governorate
(then the Russian Empire
, now in Armenia
). After completing his primary and secondary education in his hometown, young Topchubashov left for Kiev
in 1916 to study medicine at the Saint Vladimir Imperial University
. Despite the outbreak of World War I
and the subsequent Russian Civil War
, he managed to obtain a degree and having suffered hunger and numerous arrests in the politically unstable Ukraine
, came to Baku
(then capital of the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
) in 1919 to work as an assistant at the Department of Surgery of the Azerbaijan State University
. Beginning in 1922, Topchubashov worked in Nakhchivan, where he performed the first professional medical surgery both in his career and in the history of this city.
, Topchubashov returned to Baku in 1927 and started working at the Azerbaijan Medical University
. In 1930 he defended his Ph.D. thesis and was promoted to Head of Department of Surgery at the same university, where he worked for the next 45 years. During the World War II
he was in charge of the hospitals for evacuees in Azerbaijan. From 1950 on, he was Chairman of the Azerbaijan Committee for World Protection (local branch of the World Peace Council
). He was one of the founders of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan whose Vice-President he was in 1951–1957 and from 1969 until his death. In 1951, Topchubashov became a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
. He was elected active member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR in 1960.
In 1953–1955 and in 1967–1971 Topchubashov was Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
of Azerbaijan SSR
. In 1943 he received the Stalin Prize, the highest ranking award in the state. He was awarded with the Order of Lenin
thrice.
Mustafa Topchubashov died in 1981 in Baku. His name was given to a street in Baku, a ferryboat, and the Institute of Experimental Surgery, of which Topchubashov was head in 1945–1948. Azerbaijan Medical University students with high academic standing can be eligible for the Topchubashov Scholarship. Azerbaijani medics performing outstanding research in their field are awarded with the Medal of Topchubashov.
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
: Mustafa Topçubaşov; 5 August 1895, Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
– 23 November 1981, Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
), Ph.D., was an Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i surgeon, Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
, Stalin Prize winner, and recipient of the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
.
Early life
Mustafa Topchubashov was born in Erivan (now YerevanYerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
) to Agha bey and Fatma khanim Topchubashov, wealthy landowners of the Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
(then the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, now in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
). After completing his primary and secondary education in his hometown, young Topchubashov left for Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in 1916 to study medicine at the Saint Vladimir Imperial University
Kiev University
Taras Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv , colloquially known in Ukrainian as KNU is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is the third oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and Kharkiv University. Currently, its structure...
. Despite the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the subsequent Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, he managed to obtain a degree and having suffered hunger and numerous arrests in the politically unstable Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, came to Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
(then capital of the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
) in 1919 to work as an assistant at the Department of Surgery of the Azerbaijan State University
Baku State University
Baku State University is a public university located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in 1919 by the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the University started with faculties of history and philology; physics and mathematics; law and medicine with an initial enrollment of 1094...
. Beginning in 1922, Topchubashov worked in Nakhchivan, where he performed the first professional medical surgery both in his career and in the history of this city.
Career
After spending six months in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Topchubashov returned to Baku in 1927 and started working at the Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan Medical University, named after Nariman Narimanov is the formal name of the public medical school located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Due to difficulties with translation, the school is sometimes called: Azerbaijan Medical University, Azerbaijan State Medical University, Azerbaijan State...
. In 1930 he defended his Ph.D. thesis and was promoted to Head of Department of Surgery at the same university, where he worked for the next 45 years. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was in charge of the hospitals for evacuees in Azerbaijan. From 1950 on, he was Chairman of the Azerbaijan Committee for World Protection (local branch of the World Peace Council
World Peace Council
The World Peace Council is an international organization that advocates universal disarmament, sovereignty and independence and peaceful co-existence, and campaigns against imperialism, weapons of mass destruction and all forms of discrimination...
). He was one of the founders of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan whose Vice-President he was in 1951–1957 and from 1969 until his death. In 1951, Topchubashov became a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
. He was elected active member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR in 1960.
In 1953–1955 and in 1967–1971 Topchubashov was Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
of Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
. In 1943 he received the Stalin Prize, the highest ranking award in the state. He was awarded with the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
thrice.
Personal life
In 1923 he married young painter Reyhan Akhundova (1905–1970), a Guba-native. They had three children: son Ibrahim (1924–1970) and twin daughters Zemfira and Elmira (born 1927). Topchubashov's son, daughter Zemfira and grandson Jeyhun pursued careers in medicine as well.Mustafa Topchubashov died in 1981 in Baku. His name was given to a street in Baku, a ferryboat, and the Institute of Experimental Surgery, of which Topchubashov was head in 1945–1948. Azerbaijan Medical University students with high academic standing can be eligible for the Topchubashov Scholarship. Azerbaijani medics performing outstanding research in their field are awarded with the Medal of Topchubashov.