Literature holds a significant cultural heritage in mankind's history. 

The creative center of Azerbaijani writer, filmmaker, and public figure Maksud Ibragimbekov is located in Icheri Sheher. Maksud Ibragimbekov is an outstanding Azerbaijani author who contributed significantly to the country's cultural, artistic, spiritual, and socio-political heritage. His works such as books and scripts for movies "Our Teacher Jabish", "The Last Night of Childhood","Who goes to Truskavets?" and "For Everything Good - Death" are well known to readers and viewers. 

The building where Maksud Ibragimbekov’s Creative Center is located was built in 1914 for his grandfather, oil manufacturer Alekser Meshadibekov, by famous architect Ziverbek Ahmebekov. The writer's mother, Fatma Khanim, who was shot in 1924, was born in this house, and then the family was evicted.  After the revolution and until the 1970s, the building was used as a residential house with communal apartments, and in the years of the Great Patriotic War, its basement served as a bomb shelter. Since 1978, the home housed the Committee for the Protection of Peace, headed by Maksud Ibragimbekov from 1983 to 2016. The committee was engaged in promoting patriotism and charity, providing assistance to children, poor families, and war veterans. In 1993, the PEN club of Azerbaijan initiated its work here under the chairmanship of Ibrahimbekov, which was part of an international organization uniting writers. In 1999, the Noble Assembly was founded in the building by Maksud Ibrahimbekov with the support of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. In 2001, the building was included in the List of historical monuments of Icheri Sheher. The Center for Creativity of Maksud Ibragimbekov was established at this location on February 1st, 2018. 

The Center's creation was proposed by the writer's wife, Anna Ibragimbekova, who also serves as its head.  

“As I began arranging it, I had no clear plan or understanding of where to begin. Everything worked out gradually. It was clear to me that I had a strong desire to publish and translate Maksud's books. But the performances, literary evenings, poetic meetings - it came later as if ideas gradually began to find me. I got involved, and with every step, new ideas appeared. I like what the Centre has become now, even more than I could have imagined initially.” 

In his leisurely fashion, the famous writer Maksud Ibragimbekov described everyday and unusual events, deeply revealing the inner world of the heroes and transmitting their characters to the reader. Many of his works addressed common human problems while demonstrating the way of life of an Oriental man who relies on his traditions. Ibragimbekov was a representative of the 1960s literature generation, and he created many meaningful and diverse depictions of contemporaries, gaining great respect and recognition among his fans. His work reflected the Azerbaijani people’s national features, customs, and traditions, as well as the unique flavor of Baku. We asked Anna to recommend books to start exploring Maksud's world to someone unfamiliar with his work. 

“My advice to children is to start with the books 'Let Him Stay With Us' and 'For All the Good Death', which are excellent introductions to the world of literature. As for adults, it all depends on their tastes and reading experience. For the sophisticated reader, I can recommend the deep novel «And There Was No Better Brother,» and for those who are looking for something emotional and moving, the story «Pistachio Tree» is perfect.” 

The Creative Center's activities aim to support young writers, promote Azerbaijani literature and culture, create a creative environment for creative youth, and cooperate with cultural organizations in foreign countries. Today, literary meetings occur here, and the directors put on plays of Maksud in their modern interpretation: poetry evenings, book club meetings. The house is full of books, not only books by Ibragimbekov himself but also his library. Books are an integral part of Anna's life. 

“Books are necessary for every human being because artificial intelligence, however impressive its capabilities, remains only a source of information and technical solutions. Books embody creativity, filled with emotions and a soul that machines will never understand. I have a fondness for books: I grew up surrounded by a vast library, and reading is not just a valuable activity. Books should be around all the time, inspiring every day.” 

Anna and Maksud met through Tair and Varvara Salahova. “When I first flew to Baku, I remember the sky behind the window was covered with clouds, and then the sun came out, and there was an extraordinary, giant rainbow. And I thought I must be in for some extraordinary miracle... We met in September and got married in December.” Young Anna Gerulaitis left her job in Moscow, where she was involved in fashion. With a rare exception, today, in the center, you can see rare Soviet images of her parade at Vyacheslav Zaytsev. Baku is her home. “My favorite places, besides our Center, are probably Governor’s Garden, Primorsky Boulevard, and Heydar Aliyev Center.” 

Heritage is undoubtedly related to literature for Anna. 

“Huge empires, even nations, and large capitals disappear from the face of the earth. Artifacts remain. This is the heritage. It is literature, music, architecture, and painting. Literature - one of the most important heritage in the life of mankind”