The first democratic and secular state in the Muslim East and Turkish world was established in Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic also known as the Azerbaijan People's Republic was the sole example of a parliamentary, democratic, legal and secular state in the entire East.

Fatali Khan Khoyski served as Chairman of the temporary government. As Dashnak-Russian forces ruled Baku, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic functioned for 10 days in Tiflis. Later Ganja was the temporary capital of the Republic.

During the very short time of its existence, the Azerbaijan National Government gained great achievements. Among the important accomplishments of the Parliament was the extension of suffrage to women, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men. National Army was formed, a new national monetary unit was issued, the independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was internationally recognized. This historical event once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan is a civil country and is able to establish an independent state.

As the first Democratic Republic in the Muslim East, the Azerbaijan People's Republic appeared as a logical result of centuries-long social-economic, public-political and cultural development and revival process. The Azerbaijan People's Republic was the indicator of our nation's political consciousness level, intellectual and cultural potentiality, shining talent  and ability. Alimerdan bey Topchubashev, Mammad Emin Rasulzade, Fatali Khan Khoyski, Hasan Bey Aghayev, Nasib Bey Yusufbeyli, Samed Bey Mehmandarov, Aliagha Shikhlinski and a number of other prominent intellectuals of Azerbaijan were among those who declared the independence of the National Council of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918. The names of these great state figures, patriotic intellectuals, professional military men will always remain enshrined in the hearts and memory of millions of people in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijan People's Republic was an example of a new state and society that had combined the European democratic values and the peculiarities of Eastern culture. Despite its 23 months-long short existence, the People's Republic of Azerbaijan once again proved the incapability and powerlessness of even the most brutal and repressive colonial regimes to exterminate the freedom ideals and independent statehood traditions of the people of Azerbaijan. Establishing the democratic rights and freedom, ensuring the political rights and citizenship to all its residents within its bounds regardless of nationality, faith, class, estate and sex, granting women equal political rights with men, declaring the Azerbaijani language as the state language, paying special attention to the development of education and culture, establishing the regular national army and enforcement bodies and so on, characterize the scope, essence and sense of the policy of the Azerbaijan People's Republic. The Republic stuck in our memories mainly for its activities especially on education, culture, literature and art.   

Nationalization of educational institutions was one of the measures realized by the Azerbaijan government. The Azerbaijan Parliament adopted a law on forming the State University on September 1, 1919 and it was the birth of the national educational institution.