The anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem, one of the most important symbols of Turkey’s independence, was celebrated all over the world. A series of events were held at Yunus Emre Institute’s centers around the world to celebrate the 101st anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem and to commemorate the author of the National Anthem, Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

’THE VOICE OF THE NATION MEHMET AKİF ERSOY AND TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEM’’ EVENT ORGANIZED IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a panel entitled ‘’The Voice of the Nation Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Turkish National Anthem’’ was organized.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Sadık Babür Girgin, Education Counselor Faruk Berat Akçeşme, International University of Sarajevo (IUS) Rector Ahmet Yıldırım, representatives of Turkish institutions, Turkish and Bosnian academics and Turkology students from different cities of Bosnia participated in the program organized at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS), owned by Foundation for Education Development Sarajevo (SEDEF), with the contributions of the Yunus Emre Institute and the Sarajevo Embassy in Turkey.

Reminding that March 12 is the date when the Turkish National Anthem was adopted by the majority of votes in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Akçeşme said ‘’Today, our competent professors from Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who conduct academic studies on Mehmet Akif Ersoy, are with us in the panels that will continue throughout the day.’’

As part of the panel, a competition for reciting the Turkish National Anthem was held with the participation of Bosnian and Turkish students.

Among the participants, Dr. from the Institute of Oriental Studies Amina Siljak Jesenkovic said ‘’The social problems Mehmet Akif Ersoy recorded in his works show the general problems of the Islamic world and Muslims.’’

Jesenkovic underlined that Ersoy’s works drew attention to the problem of domestic violence and the misinterpretation of Islam and women’s rights in the Islamic world.

101st ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEM AT DAKAR YUNUS EMRE  INSTITUTE

A program was organized at Dakar Yunus Emre Institute for the 101st anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem and Memorial Day for Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Dakar Ahmet Kavas, Military Attaché of Turkey in Dakar Embassy Levent Sabahattin Güldağı, representatives of Turkish institutions, and guests attended the program.

The commemoration program started with a moment of silence and a performance of the Turkish National Anthem.

Military Attaché Güldağı told the story of the writing of the Turkish National Anthem in his presentation on Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s life.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Dakar Kavas also made a short speech on the importance of the Turkish National Anthem

The program ended after the cocktail was given.

MEHMET AKİF ERSOY MEMORIAL PROGRAM ORGANIZED IN MALAYSIA

Yunus Emre Institute organized a program for the Adoption of the March 12 Turkish National Anthem and the Memorial Mehmet Akif Ersoy in Malaysia. The commemoration program started with the opening speech at the Yunus Emre Institute building in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, Merve Safa Kavakcı, who participated in the program, gave gifts to the children who memorized the Turkish National Anthem as a continent and performed it on stage.

Kavakcı said, ‘’Together with our embassy family and citizens in Kuala Lumpur, we celebrated the writing of Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s Turkish National Anthem, the adoption of the anthem, and our Çanakkale Victory together. We once again sent our gratitude to our martyrs who entrusted us with this homeland.’’

‘’THE CELEBRATION FROM ÇANAKKALE TO THE TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEM AND MARTYRS MEMORIAL PROGRAM’’ IN TRNC

‘’The Celebration from the Çanakkale to the Turkish National Anthem and Martyrs Memorial Program’’ was held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The event organized by Nicosia Yunus Emre Institute was attended by Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri, Nicosia Embassy Military Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Doğu Aydın, military personnel, and many other guests.

The event held at Yunus Emre Institute started with the TRNC Security Forces Command Band performing Çanakkale folk songs after the Turkish National Anthem and continued with a panel in the conference hall.

Moderated by the European University of Lefke Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Oğuz Karakartal, the panel was attended by the European University of Lefke Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Saadettin Yıldız and continued with Girne American University Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences  Prof. Ulvi Keser’s interviews on Çanakkale and the National Anthem and the prisoners of Çanakkale in Cyprus.

After the panel, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Başçeri presented a plaque to the speakers.  

The event ended with a tour of the photo exhibition ‘’Prisoners of Çanakkale in Cyprus’’ which is located in the archive of Prof. Ulvi Keser.

THEY REVIVED THE PROCESS OF WRITING OF TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEM

Turkey’s Ambassador to Bishkek, Ahmet Sadık Doğan, in his speech here, said, ‘’The biggest result of the Çanakkale Victory is the Republic of Turkey and the existence of the Turkish nation. Long live the Republic of Turkey; long live the Turkish nation. Çanakkale Naval Victory is the symbol of our nation’s independence and future; it is proof that those who covet our country’s sovereignty and independence will not allow it; it is the basis of our struggle for independence and victory.’’

Emphasizing that the Çanakkale Victory is an example of pride and honor for every Turk, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Bishkek Latif Gandilov also could not hold his tears while talking about the lines of the poem written by the Azerbaijan poet.

Turkish Embassy in Bishkek Education Counselor Harun Karcı said, ‘’Those who do not know the Çanakkale Victory, those who do not understand where this war was fought, under what conditions, and with what sacrifices, can not comprehend what we are going through today and what we can do. The air, water, and bread of our country will not be permissible for those who can not comprehend the struggle in Çanakkale.’’

While the Kyrgyz-Turkish Anatolian High School students portrayed the writing process of the Turkish National Anthem as a sketch, the oratorio attributed to the Çanakkale Martyrs accompanied by the folk song ‘’Çanakkale İçinde’’ was watched with interest.

In the program, Bishkek Turkish School Class 2B students who won all the awards in the Turkish National Anthem Special Issue Newspaper Design Competition were presented their awards.

SPECIAL CELEBRATION PROGRAM FOR THE 101st ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE TURKISH NATIONAL  ANTHEM IN KYRGYZSTAN

A program to celebrate the 107th anniversary of the Çanakkale Naval Victory and the 101st anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Organized by the Kyrgyz-Turkish Anatolian High School at the Bishkek Turkish School, the program started with a moment of silence for the martyrs of Çanakkale and the Turkish National Anthem performance.

Turkish Embassy in Bishkek Military Attaché Colonel Ertan Önal, explained the role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Turkish soldiers in the Çanakkale Victory and the importance of the Çanakkale Boğazı (Dardanelles) on maps.

Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU) Faculty of Letters Lecturer Prof. Cevat Özyurt also talked about Mehmet Akif Ersoy in his presentation.

A STORY OF INDEPENDENCE

During the Turkish War of Independence, it was decided to open a competition for the writing of the national anthem by the Grand National Assembly. This competition was announced by the Ministry of National Education in the newspaper Hakimiyet-i Milliye on October 25, 1920, stating that 500 liras would be awarded.

After the announcement of the national anthem competition, none of the 724 works submitted until December 23, 1920, were found sufficient to reflect the national excitement. Mehmet Akif, who did not like the idea of competition and an award, did not participate in the competition.

Akif, who did not participate in the competition because of the award, was convinced that he would not receive an award, and he completed the poem that everyone was looking forward to in 10 days at Taceddin Dervish Convent, where he was living alone in those days. The National Anthem was published on the first page of the Sebilürreşad journal on February 17, 1921, with the dedication of ‘’Our Heroic Army’’.

The Assembly, which experienced one of its historical days on March 1, 1921, convened under the presidency of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. During the meetings held in the General Assembly, the National Anthem poem was presented for the election of the Assembly, with the last six poems that passed the elimination.

The National Anthem was performed for the first time by the Minister of National Education of the time, Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver. ‘’Fear not, the crimson flag, waving in these dawns will never fade’’ received intense applause from the deputies. Hamdullah Suphi recited ten continents of the National Anthem, accompanied by applause in each.