On June 5, 2023 with the organization of Sheki Regional Scientific Center of ANAS and the Sheki "Yukhari Bash" National Historical-Architecture Reserve, a scientific-practical conference named “Devotee of education” dedicated to the outstanding writer-playwright and public figure Rashid Bey Efendiyev was held at Sheki State Regional College. The conference took place in connection with the implementation of clauses 3.12 and 3.16 of the Decision No. 1/1 of the Presidium of ANAS dated March 16, 2023.

The director of the “Yukhari Bash” National Historical-Architectural Reserve Mammad Ahmadov opened the event thanked the management and employees of ANAS for the organization of the conference and wished success to the work of the conference.            

Deputy director on scientific affairs Sheki RSC PhD on biol. Farhad Azizov noted that he was very proud to gather in the light of such a world-renowned personality as Rashid Bey Efendiyev.  Farhad Azizov added that the activities of geniuses have been the object of research for a long time, and in this regard, the life creativity of R. Efendiyev, who has a place in the development of the young generation, is comprehensive and admirable.          

Elshan Abdurahmanov, scientific secretary of Sheki Regional Scientific Center of ANAS, delivered a report entitled "Rashid Bey Efendiyev's biography as a source for studying the socio-political and cultural situation of the time". He said that mosques and madrasahs of Sheki, teaching programs used in these madrasas, teachers, Russian schools, the attitude of the population towards these schools, the public attitude towards the organization of the theater, etc. in addition to cultural and educational issues, certain nuances of the socio-political situation in Sheki district, as well as in Azerbaijan, were explained in detail.              

The leading researcher of "Folklore and handicrafts" department of Sheki Regional Scientific Center of ANAS, associate professor Ulduz Murshudova, in her speech entitled "Attitude towards women in the work of Rashid Bey Efendiyev" noted that Rashid Bey's attitude towards women is a red line from his artistic creations. The speaker voiced the opinions of R. Efendiyev and M.F. Akhundov about women and analyzed their attitude towards women. Associate Professor Murshudova concluded her speech by saying that "if the whole society has a duty to support women, women also have a duty to rise to the highest level while protecting their honor and dignity."         

The director of Rashid Bey Efendiyev's house museum, Vafa Gasimzade, in her speech entitled "Rashid Bey Efendiyev's House Museum", gave information about the museum's operation since 1992, its restoration in 2013-2014, the number of rooms, interior and exterior, and invited the conference participants to the museum.        

Vugar Mustafayev, director of Sheki Museum of History, Geography and Ethnography named after Rashid Bey Efendiyev, in his report gave information about Efendiyev's pedagogical activity, attempts to create a new alphabet, translation activity, as well as the author's pedagogical meetings in the work "Basiratul-atfal" with the participants of the conference.

  Habil Khalilov, an employee of Sheki RSC, speaking on the topic "Religious Meetings of Rashid Bey Efendiyev", analyzed Rashid Bey Efendiyev's "Mukhtasar Shariat" by giving examples from many surahs of the Holy Quran.     

Reyhan Manafova, researcher of "Historical heritage and ethnography" department of Sheki Regional Scientific Center of ANAS, spoke about the idea-artistic features of the work "If neighbors are neighbors, a blind girl gets married". She noted that the main idea of the work is the education and involvement of girls in education. The main plot line of this work, written in 1913, is the establishment of a family in Sheki by a merchant named Gachaq Bey who came from Gabala. Although the work is artistically weak, it is important in terms of studying and researching the social and political environment in Shaki, the ethnographic elements of the period, the Shaki dialect, as well as revealing the Armenian character. The speaker also said that in writing the works of R. Efendiyev, the great Azerbaijani dramatist M.F. Akhundzade was taken as an example and was inspired by him.          

 Zemina Rasulova, researcher of Sheki "Yukhari Bash" National Historical Architectural Reserve, spoke about the modern condition of the monuments in her report entitled "The modern condition of Sheki monuments, which Rashid Bey Efendiyev calls masterpieces-antiques", and emphasized that the author himself was their first custodian. He noted that Sheki Khan’s Palace was renovated with the support of the World Bank as a result of the influence and efforts of the national leader H. Aliyev.

At the end of the event, a film dedicated to the outstanding educator was viewed and R. Efendiyev's home museum was visited.