ANKARA
Literary figures, students and statesmen marked the 94th anniversary of the Turkish national anthem in the capital Ankara on Thursday, honoring the memory of its author, the great poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, attending the event near Ersoy's house where he composed the anthem and many of his famous works, praised the poet’s character, piety and patriotism, all of which were embodied in the “Istiklal Marsi” (Independence March).
The Turkish National Anthem was written in 1921 during the War of Independence as Turkey battled against occupation by foreign forces after World War I.
It was penned in order to encourage the fighting army and to motivate the struggling nation. It was also the official anthem of the new Republic which would be founded two years later in 1923.
"He was an exemplary person in every aspect," Arinc said, describing Ersoy as “deeply concerned” with the nation's development and eliminating social problems of his time.
"Our youth needs Ersoy's example," he said, adding: "In today's world of lies, we need to adhere to the right personalities to find the correct path."
Mehmet Akif Ersoy was a Turkish poet, author, academic and member of parliament. He passed away in 1936.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth and the Writers’ Union of Turkey, the event – held under light rain – saw the gathering of statesmen and academics, as well as primary and middle school students named after Mehmet Akif from all 81 Turkish provinces.
It also featured a brief performance from famous actor Ahmet Yenilmez representing a moment during Ersoy's journey in writing what would become the Turkish Republic's national anthem.
Hicabi Kirlangic, President of the Writers’ Union, described the anthem as a "text that presents our legacy and goals" as a nation, referring to it as "our identity card."
"Until now, the Istiklal Marsi has not been compatible with state principles. But now it is," Kirlangic told The Anadolu Agency.
"This is very significant. After almost 100 years, Mehmet Akif Ersoy's dreams are, in a sense, becoming real."
Kirlangic said that carrying Ersoy’s legacy forward was also important in charting a future direction for the country, noting that the text of the poem contained remarkable cues and insights that could inform the recent government project of drafting a new constitution.
"[Through the poem] I believe that a [constitution] text could be created which presumes independence, multiplicity, the coexistence of different ethnic groups," he said.
Yenilmez stressed the significance of the idea of coexistence in Ersoy’s work for the current solution process to end conflict and advance the Kurdish population in Turkey.
The actor recited another poem by Ersoy, indicating the poet's references to the transcendence of common values over ethnic differences and resulting conflicts during his time.
In 1921, a nationwide contest was organized for the composition of a national anthem. At first, Mehmet Akif Ersoy refused to participate as he was opposed to the idea of a national anthem contest that offered a monetary prize. However, Hamdullah Suphi, Minister of National Education, later managed to convince him.
Suphi read Ersoy’s anthem in the First Assembly to a standing ovation, and it was accepted as the national anthem on March 12, 1921. Ersoy dedicated the anthem to the Turkish army fighting against foreign occupation, and donated the 500 Turkish liras of monetary prize to a charity organization offering professional training to women.
The symphony of the anthem was composed by Osman Zeki Ungor in 1930.
Ersoy, called in Turkey the 'national poet' for authoring the Istiklal Marsi, is best known for his 1911 work entitled “Safahat”, a collection of 44 poems. He took the themes for his poems from numerous problems faced by society, as well as from faith-related issues.
