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 Khurshud Banu Natavan (1830-1897) - considered one of the best lyrical poetesses of Azerbaijan. Daughter of Mehdi Kulu-khan, the last ruler of the Karabakh khanate (1748-1822) Natavan is most notable for her lyrical ghazals (verses).
Natavan was born on August 15, 1830 in Shusha. Being the only child in the family she was the only heir of the Karabakh khan, known to general public as "Khan gizi" (Daughter of the khan).
After her father's death she was closely engaged in philanthropy, the social and cultural development of Karabakh.
Among Natavan's most famous deeds was a water-pipe that she first laid down to Shusha in 1871, thus solving the water problem of the townsfolk. The local Russian "Kavkaz" newspaper wrote at the time: "...Khurshud Banu-Begum left an eternal mark in the memories of the Shushavians and her glory will pass on from generation to generation" ("Kavkaz" newspaper, August 29, 1873, no. 100). The springs built by Natavan from famous Shusha white stones were called by the townsfolk"Natavan springs" and were also considered historical monuments under protection.
Natavan also did a lot for the development and popularization of the famous breed of Karabakh horses. Karabakh horses from Natavan's stud were known as the best in Azerbaijan. In an international show in Paris in 1867 a Karabakh horse named Khan from Natavan's stud received silver medal. In second All-Russian exhibition in 1869 the Karabakh horse named Meymun won a silver medal, another stallion Tokmak won bronze medal and while the third Alyetmez received a certificate and was made a producer stallion in Russian Imperial stud.
Natavan also founded and sponsored first literary societies in Shusha and in whole of Azerbaijan. One of them called "Majlisi Uns" became especially popular and concentrated major poetic-intellectual forces of Karabakh of that time.
Humanism, kindness, friendship and love were the main themes of Natavan's poems-ghazals. These sentimental-romantic poems express the feelings and sufferings of a woman who was not happy in her family life and who lost her son. Many of these poems are used in folk songs nowadays.
Natavan died in 1897 in Shusha. When she departed people, as a sign of respect, carried her coffin on their shoulders all the way from Shusha to Agdam, some 30 km north-east, where she was budied in a family vault.
After occupation of Shusha, Natavan's residence, similar to other historical monuments, was ruined. The monuments to Natavan and to other famous Karabakh Azeris in Shusha were destroyed. Several years ago Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan bought statues to Natavan and several other famous Karabakh Azeris in a black market in Georgia. These monuments, which once decorated the central streets of Shusha were intended to be sold as a scarp metal. Nowadays these monuments are kept in the courtyard of the Azerbaijani Museum of Arts in Baku. Pocked by bullet holes, Natavan's monument stands as another mute witness to the casualties that have resulted in the war over Mountainous Karabakh.
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