...Although spring had almost come in mysterious Tehran, it was still in winter sleep. The weak sun rays seemed not enough to heat such a huge city. And why was Tehran in need of this early, false warmness of early spring?  The calm Tehran knows well what is better, when it is better and how much it is better...

In 1953, the name of the teahouse in the street mainly populated by Azerbaijanis was very popular. It wasn't because of the tea that was very aromatic and it was served with various types of sultana raisins, sweets and candy. It was the home for Azerbaijani migrants and the art people   living in Tehran.  

This evening it is very crowded here. The trio sitting in the corner of a small hall is performing old Azerbaijani mughams and tasnifs (national rhythmical melody). There's smell of tobacco and kalian everywhere.  'Rast', 'Shur', 'Zaminkhare'... Trills wound everybody's feelings deeply. Everybody is listening to the old  khananda's1 (a name generally given to singers of mugham, an Azeri folk music genre) plaintive voice. A khananda of eighty-six is performing 'Segah' and everybody is listening to him holding their breath...   

Ages have passed but the voice is just the same. And the heart beating with grief for home is not exhausted yet. The majority of visitors in the hall couldn't keep their tears. Neither  could the khananda. If nobody  reprobate him, he would throw his drum away and start crying bitterly and find relief. Love to his profession helps the lonely man whose eyes are full of love of life to stand on his feet. Mysterious voice of tar, kamancha and magic ghazals put new heart into him. Love and mercy of homesick around him are a salve to his broken heart. The old khananda knows that the songs he sings are essential for those who get homesick more than bread and water. It is a long time that he has somehow lived on the donation made by certain people. But without motherland...

Not all who come to the teahouse know that that old man whom they address as 'Seid Agha' was Seid Mirbabayev - a popular khananda and Baku millionaire at one time.

His real name was Mirtaghi. He was born into the family of elegy singer and later he also became a famous khananda. His singing was highly appreciated and the 'Gramophone' sound recording company invited him to Riga and Warsaw in 1906. He had his songs recorded.

 Seid won the people's hearts with his pleasant voice and he was the bright star of Baku's wedding parties. Members of noble community were proud of his presence at their parties. Gold and money was falling like autumn leaves. His gramophone records were sold at a high price.  Millionaire Shikhbabayev's only son's wedding drastically changed his life.  The person who hang a dagger trimmed with expensive diamonds on his gold belt - he was the groom's uncle  - said with dignity:

- Seid, the oil-well in "Bala Shoranliq (Small Salinity)" that I inherited from my grandmother now is yours! Drilling is not finished yet, but I take all responsiblity for later activities there. If you do oil pulling, you will become a millionaire. And now, favour us with your songs.

The whole Baku talked about that wedding and many people thought that the promise of the groom's uncle was a lie. However, after some time there was an oil flowing and the khananda Seyid became a millionaire Seid Agha.

Most of all, Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, the famous philanthropist, took care of Seid who was lost in unexpected wealth. He highly appreciated Seid's musical talent and often listened to his records. On insistence of Taghiyev, Mirbabayev patronized Gori Seminary.  

Oil money had completely changed Seid. The rich khananda became ashamed of his former profession; bought his own records and broke them into pieces. Now the luxury life and the glittering of millions attracted him more. Seid gave up getting married and again on insistence of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev he bought one of the most beautiful buildings in Baku - the so-called Governor's House (the current building of SOCAR), but fate had decreed otherwise, he didn't live there for a longer time.  

The revolution forced Mirbabaev, like many other millionaires, to leave Azerbaijan and live a migrant life. He went to Paris, but soon all the money that he had brought there dust out. Loitering along the streets of Paris the ruined millionaire met Teymur Bey Ashurbeyov, a notable representative of the Ashurbeyovs. He took the famous khananda whom he loved and respected his profession with himself to Tehran. Teymur Bey and his children took care of him.  

People highly respecting the talent of the khananda, kept his records as the memory about him. ... This small teahouse in the centre of Tehran then was a piece of Azerbaijan for the old khananda. He knew that he would never see his homeland anymore. He suppressed his sobbing by performing "Segah" for the last time: "Life is difficult in an alien land".

Seid Mirbabayev died in Tehran in 1953 at the age of 86.

Farhad SABİROGLU