Ismayil Gahraman oghlu Shikhlinski, also known as Ismayil Shikhli, was born on March 22, 1919, in the village of II Shikhli, located in the Gazakh district of Azerbaijan, into a family of teachers. He graduated from primary school in Kosalar and then attended the Gazakh Teacher's Training School from 1933 to 1936. After working as a teacher at the Kosalar village secondary school for a year, he continued his education at the Language and Literature Faculty of the Lenin Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute (now known as the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University) from 1937 to 1941. From 1941 to 1942, he served as the head of the teaching department in the village of Kosalar in the Gazakh district.

When World War II broke out, Ismayil Shikhli served as an ordinary soldier on the front lines of the Soviet army, fighting in the North Caucasus, Crimea, the 3rd Belorussian Front, and East Prussia. After being discharged from military service, he worked for six months as the head of the teaching department at the Kosalar village school. From 1946 to 1949, he was a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Philology of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute named after V.I. Lenin. He then became a teacher, senior lecturer, and head of the Department of Foreign Literature. Ismayil Shikhli served as the secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union from 1965 to 1968 and was the editor-in-chief of the "Azerbaijan" magazine from 1976 to 1978. He was the first secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union from 1981 to 1987 and the secretary of the USSR Writers' Union during this period. In 1991, he was elected Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union.

Ismayil Shikhli's first published work, the poem "Quşlar" ("Birds"), appeared in the newspaper "Ədəbiyyat" (Literature) in 1938. He withdrew from poetry after publishing only one poem, realizing that writing poetry was a passion that had developed within him, perhaps as a fleeting interest. Consequently, he turned to prose without fully committing to poetry.

Ismayil Shikhli's first prose work, the story "Həkimin nağılı" ("The Doctor's Tale"), was published in the magazine "İnqilab və mədəniyyət" ("Revolution and Culture") in 1947. Encouraged by this success, the young writer began sharing his new writings with Mehdi Huseyn. After reviewing these stories, Huseyn advised him to write only what he saw and knew. Following this advice, Ismayil Shikhli authored several essays, including “Konserv qutuları” ("Cans"), “Həkimin nağılı” ("The Doctor's Tale"), “Səhəri gözləyirdik” ("We were waiting for the Morning"), “Kerç sularında” ("In the Waters of Kerch"), “Haralısan, ay oğlan?” ("Where are you from, boy?"), “Raykom katibi” ("Secretary of the Regional Committee"), “Daşkəsən” ("Dashkasan"), and novels such as “Ayrılan yollar” ("Diverging Paths"), “Dəli Kür” ("Turbulent Kura"), and “Ölən dünyam” ("My Dead World"). After entering the realm of prose, he discovered himself and was able to showcase his creative potential.

His novels “Ayrılan yollar” ("Diverging Paths") and “Dəli Kür” ("Turbulent Kura") became phenomena in Azerbaijani prose, ensuring his name lives on even years later. Writing a work like "Diverging Paths," which sharply criticizes personality cults and harshly reflects truths during the era's difficulties, required extraordinary courage from the author. The novel "Diverging Paths," resonated widely and attracted the attention of critics, infusing the author with courage and self-assurance. This self-confidence enabled him to write one of the most significant novels in Azerbaijani literature - "The Turbulent Kura." "Turbulent Kura" has remained relevant for years due to its complex structure, broad subject matter, contradictory imagery, and smooth, flowing language.

Ismayil Shikhli was known for his social activism. He served as a deputy in the Baku City Workers' Deputies Council from 1967 to 1969 and again in 1983. He was also a member of the Baku City Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan from 1968 to 1970, a member of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan Trade Union Council, and a board member of the USSR Writers' Union.

Ismayil Shikhli received numerous awards for his services. 1979 he was honored with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. In 1985, he was awarded the "Second World War" orders and medals of the 2nd degree. In 1973, he received the Honorary Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, and in 1994, he was presented with the Order of Glory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Ismayil Shikhli died in Baku on July 26, 1995, and was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Recommended literature:

1. Xəlilov, Buludxan Əziz oğlu. İsmayıl Şıxlının ədəbi-tənqidi görüşləri / B. Ə. Xəlilov ; elmi red. H. Ənvəroğlu. - Bakı : Bakı Çap Evi, 2014. - 120 s.
2. Cəfərov, Nizami Qulu oğlu. Klassiklərdən müasirlərə / N. Q. Cəfərov ; elmi red. N. Ə. Həsənzadə. - Bakı : Çaşıoğlu, 2004. - 272 s.
3. Xəlilov, Buludxan Əziz oğlu. İsmayıl Şıxlı : müəllim haqqında müəllim sözü / B. Ə. Xəlilov ; elmi red. Ə. Ə. Ağayev. - Bakı : Bakı Çap Evi, 2014. - 108 s.