In his creative work the poet highlighted the beauty and culture of his homeland - Dagestan (North-Caucasian Republic of Russia). He was known and cherished throughout the USSR, and was the symbol of the friendship of nations.

Rasul Gamzatov was born in a small mountain village Tsada in Khunzakhsky District of Dagestan. He first started writing as a child, in his native Avar language. And thanks to Naum Grebnev and Yakov Kozlovsky, who translated the poet’s footnotes into Russian, we could better and more closely learn about the culture and traditions of the Avar people. Gamzatov himself also made a huge impact on the studying of Russian poetry by Dagestani. He translated Pushkin, Lermontov and Mayakovsky into his native language.

Gamzatov’s works concerned such multifaceted and endless problems as the history of his homeland, image of a mother, love towards a woman, goodness, justice, humanity.

Many of Rasul Gamzatov’s poems were set into music, for example, the worldwide famous song “The Cranes”. The text was created by the poet when he returned from Japan which he visited as a part of the Soviet delegation.

Cranes – are unofficial symbols of Russia and Russian spirit aspired for achieving goals, desires, and freedom.