Ahmed Rajabli

Ahmed Rajabli (; 28 September 1898 – 15 December 1963) was an Azerbaijani and Soviet agronomist, geneticist, pedagogue, professor, Republic student and member of the VASKhNIL. He devoted his life to the study of fruit and cereal crops available in Azerbaijan.

Biography Early years and education: 1898–1923 Ahmed Rajabli was born on 28 September 1898 to Mashadi Jabbar Mashadi Jafar oghlu and Kubra khanim Haji Khalil gizi. In 1918, Rajabli became proofreader of a new newspaper, the Azərbaycan füqərası (Azerbaijani poor). The establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic turned out to be an important part of his education path. Soon after, the State Scholarship Programme commenced in 1919 and was funded by the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The stated objective of the scheme was to build a network of local scientists studied in Europe, who would serve four years in Azerbaijan after graduation. Rajabli was one of the award-winning candidates. He arrived in Perugia, Italy matriculating in the Higher Royal Institute of Experimental Agriculture founded in 1896. Forty years later in 1936, the institute was transformed into the Faculty of Agriculture under University of Perugia.

After Rajabli had been arrested, Fahima moved to Baku where she worked as a physics teacher at Azerbaijan State University, however, soon after, she was expelled from the university. After four years, following Stalin's death, his reputation was publicly rehabilitated and he was allowed to be back to Azerbaijan. The gravesite of his co-father-in-law, Major general Agasalim Atakishiyev, who died in 1970, is at the same cemetery in Mashtaga where Rajabli was buried.

Legacy In 1992, the Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Plants in Guba was named after Ahmed Rajabli and a bust was placed in the lobby. In the same year, one of the streets located in Narimanov District, Baku, was named in his honor. In 1998, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ahmed Rajabli, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the building where he lived, now located at 126 Mirzaaga Aliyev Street.