... A man of medium height, slight in build, narrow-eyed and with black curled upward moustache - the owner of an oil-field stood motionless for a long time, observed the magnificent scenery of an oil-gusher. The feeling  of joy and pride filled his soul and everything was seen in his eyes. The oil magnate knew well the importance of this oil flowing for Azerbaijan, especially for Baku that stepped on the path of development, and for the people working at this oil-well. In the depth of his heart, he thanked God for such an irreplaceable blessing for his nation...

The name of a person whom the workers addressed as 'our master' was the well-known Baku millionaire Isa Bey Hajinski.

...Isa Bey Hajinski was born into a respectable noble family in Baku in 1860. He inherited some real properties and a large plot of land from his father. And very soon an oil deposit was discovered in those lands. High-qualified specialists worked for him, and their monthly wages were much more than that of Nobel, Rothschild, Montashov's employees.  

Isa Bey Hajinski also had oil fields in Bibiheybat area. The Chalakan peninsula in the Caspian Sea belonged to him and Kazim Bey, his brother.  In White City the master had his oil processing plant. The Hajinskis were famous for their construction of attractive magnificent buildings. The most magnificent one is known as 'Hajinski's House' near the Maiden Tower.   

It was Isa Bey who brought the first automobile to Baku. He spent sufficient amount of money on boulevard development, therefore he built his own house on the seashore. That time the boulevard lay between the puppet Theatre and 'Azneft'. In 1912, Isa Bey invited an Italian architecture for his construction work at address 103, Neftchiler Avenue. Gothic, Baroque  and modern styles came together in that construction. There were lion statues made of marble at the entrance of that magnificent mansion. Unfortunately, those statues were destroyed during the explosion in March events in 1918. (By the way, the building that was 'slid' for some 10 metres instead of being demolished in Fizuli street, Baku city recently also belonged to Hajinskis.)  

Although Isa Bey undertook study at home, he knew well the Arabic, Persian, English, French and German languages. He equipped his children with a good education as well. Isa Bey Hajinski was an honourable protector of Baku Gymnasium for Men. He provided scholarships to 25 Azerbaijani graduates' studying at various universities of Russia. The philanthropist covered all the costs; he even bought a plot of land near Pyatigorsk, in the area of Karras station of Vladikavkaz Railway and constructed a very nice building for students to spend their summer holidays. There was a fee paid education at the Gymnasium, but pauper children had free education there (Presently this building is given under the City Hospital #4.)   

March bloodsheds in 1918 shocked this kind person to his core and he died in 1919. Isa Bey Hajinski married to Kheyransa Khanlarova. They had four children, three sons - Sadiq Bey, Ahmed bey, Ali Bey and a daughter - Zibeyda Khanum. As soon as the Bolsheviks invaded Azerbaijan, his sons involuntarily expatriated from the country.   His daughter Zibeyda and wife Kheyransa Khanum stayed in Baku. They were kicked out of their luxury house; they weren't given even a chance to live in their summerhouse.

Farhad Sabiroghlu