Wednesday, 30 July 2025 International Friendship Day, officially recognized by the United Nations, is celebrated annually on 30 July to emphasize the importance of friendship in fostering peace, solidarity, and mutual understanding among peoples and cultures across the globe. The day encourages individuals, communities, and nations to build bridges of harmony, especially in times of rising tension, conflict, or division.
Introduction Shirali Muslimov was an Azerbaijani shepherd who reportedly lived to the astonishing age of 168. Born in the remote mountainous village of Barzavu in the Lerik region of Azerbaijan in either 1805 or 1806, Muslimov’s claim to longevity made him an international curiosity and a symbol of endurance and health in the Soviet Union. While his exact age has long been debated, the narrative surrounding his life has become deeply intertwined with Soviet ideals of rural vitality, clean living, and productive aging.