Some people, including Orkhan Vazirov (1928–2010), the son of Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli ( possibly the author of Ali and Nino), are convinced that the original pseudonym is more likely to have been 'Kurban Seyid' or perhaps 'Seyid Kurban.' 'Seyid' refers to someone who is recognized as a descendant of Mohammed, that is, a person of sacred lineage. An underlying melancholy pervades the novel from beginning to end. 'Said' means 'joyful' or 'fortunate.' (However, in Turkic languages, such as Azerbaijani, adjectives precede the nouns they modify, so the name would need to be reversed as 'Said Kurban' to accurately convey the meaning 'joyful sacrifice,' or 'fortunate sacrifice.' ) This idea is in contrast to the plot of the novel, which is anything but happy. In Azerbaijan, where the novel 'Ali and Nino' is set, 'Kurban' is pronounced 'Gurban.' The root of the word originates in the Semitic languages, and connotes 'sacrifice', a traditional religious concept common to Middle Eastern cultures.
