HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

The Writing of the Turkish National Anthem

When the Turkish National Anthem (İstiklal Marİı) was written, a great many cities throughout Anatolia were under occupation. The independence of the Turkish nation, who lost a mighty state in the brief space of only four years, was under threat. Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s compilation of the national anthem was by no means easy. This difficulty was not a question of the poet’s artistic flair. That which prevented the poet from writing this anthem was the fact that a monetary reward had been determined for this. Expressing the independence and patriotism of the Turkish nation in return for money, was to him unpalatable. This is why he did not participate in the contest that had been launched. Despite the submission of hundreds of entries, none of these were chosen. The Education Minister of the day, Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver, was of the opinion that the anthem they were looking for had not been written. In his view, only Mehmet Akif Ersoy could have penned this. Informing him that the prize money had been lifted, he requested him to write the anthem. The seven poems shortlisted from among 724 were recited in the Turkish Grand National Assembly and Mehmet Akif’s poem, being read three times in a row, was chosen. An important point regarding the Turkish National Anthem is its superiority and richness both in terms of lyrics and poetic quality when compared with other national anthems.

This anthem voices the contradiction of a nation like the Turkish nation with world domination one day being forced to salvage its own independence. Mehmet Akif is a poet who addresses social issues in all his poetry and who feels keenly what he says. Due to his sharing the feeling and belief of those participating in the War of Independence, he was able to best become their voice. The lines, “For soon shall come the joyous days of divine promise… Who knows? Perhaps tomorrow? Perhaps even sooner!” shows that he did not despair in the future and is a demonstration of his form conviction in the felicitous days that God would show the Turkish nation.

By means of the belief expressed in these verses, the morale of the troops increased and had a great impact on the ensuing victory. The War of Independence was the Turkish nation’s fight for survival. During such times, nations and peoples come to realize the core values sustaining them. The significance of such concepts as nation, people, freedom, independence, and religion are not quite understood in times of peace. There are even those who pay no mind to them.

Wars giving a people close brush with death pave the way for their comprehension of what these values actually mean. These become such powerful concepts that existence without them becomes impossible. It is for this reason that the people risk death for their sake.

Fear not! For the crimson flag that proudly ripples in this glorious twilight, shall never fade, Before the last fiery hearth that is ablaze within my homeland is extinguished. For that is the star of my people, and it will forever shine; It is mine; and solely belongs to my valiant nation.

The “crimson banner” referred in this stanza is the symbol of the Turkish nation.

The red color of the Turkish flag evokes conjures up flames in the poet. As long as a single family from among the Turkish nation continues its existence, the flames of this flag will not be extinguished in this dawn. Just as the hands of no one can reach the star in the sky, no one can lay hands on the flag that is the star of the Turkish people. Saying, “It is mine; and solely belongs to my valiant nation,” he lays claim to the flag.

Frown not, I beseech you, oh thou coy crescent, Smile upon my heroic nation!

Why the anger, why the rage?

Our blood which we shed for you might not be worthy otherwise; For freedom is the absolute right of my God-worshiping nation.

In these lines, he likens the Turkish flag to a jealous lover. The existence of the flags of the Greek, French, English occupying forces in our nation distressed the Turkish flag and caused it to scowl. He states that it should not frown, supposing that this would demoralize the soldiers, and endeavors to explain that it does not consent to the presence of other flags.

Should Your Father Come

(From the Epic of the Dardanelles)

Hafız Ali’s wife Adeviye moved her hand over her belly. Her tears were streaming. Pain and anguish always waited like so, around a corner, and every anguish concealed a hope within it.

“How ill-fated my unborn baby is, coming to the world at such an unfortunate time,” she said.

Hafız Ali kissed his wife by the forehead, consoling her.

“Don’t say that, my love. I am going to pay my debt to my nation. Our child will be proud of his father.”

“I’m sorry, my brave husband. You are right, but the heart wants what the heart wants.”

“My dear wife, don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it. You’re crying that I’m going. But there is also the prospect of returning to find no one remaining. I pray that I will find you and our child in our home when I return. Now it’s time to go. I entrust you first to God and then to my mother and father. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, my valiant one. Do not trouble yourself. May my Lord protect you.”

One month had passed and Adeviye called out to her mother-in-law, “Mother, I’m going to my sister’s place. If my Ali comes, inform me straightway so that he can find me at home.”

Whenever Adeviye left to go anywhere, she left the same message with those at home. After some time, she gave birth to a boy. The boy began to walk and talk, but Hafız Ali did not return. The Gallipoli front operations came to an end. The Turkish soldier formed the legend of heroism at Gallipoli. Some of the youths going to Gallipoli from the village returned wounded. The metal identification tags of others, as ‘martyred’, arrived, but there was still no news of Hafız Ali.

The years flew by. Hafız Ali’s parents, too, died. Adeviye was left helpless and destitute. Going to fields, vineyards and orchards to work, she left her son Cevdet at home, always. She told her son when leaving, “I’m off to the fields. You stay right here and whatever you do don’t leave. Should your father come, let me know right away, so that he can find us at home when he comes.”

Her son Cevdet grew up, but Hafız Ali did not return. Adeviye perpetually gave the same instructions to her when leaving home:

“You stay right here, my dear. Should your father come, let me know right away!”

“I’m going to the market. Should your father come, call me right away, OK?”

Long years went by. Hafız Ali still had not returned. Cevdet married and started his own family. He opened his own store and established his own business. Adeviye never lost hope, not once. When leaving home, she would go to her son’s shop and give him the same instructions:

“My dear son, I’m going to the shops. Should your father come, let me know immediately!”

Years passed and Adeviye grew old. She could no longer visit her neighbor frequently. When leaving her house, she gave her daughter-in-law the same instructions:

“My dear, I’ll be at the neighbor’s place. Should your father come, you’ll let me know right away, won’t you.”

Adeviye fell ill. Her time had come. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she fell very weak. On her deathbed, she said her parting words and sought forgiveness from her son Cevdet, her daughter-in-law, and her grandchildren. Affectionately addressing her son, she said, “My son. You have taken good care of me and treated me well. May God treat you well also. My time is up. If your father comes, tell him that I waited for him always.”

Cevdet could not say anything. The words stuck in his throat and his eyes welled with tears.

Adeviye suddenly seemed to straighten herself up. It was as though her eyes had seen something extraordinary. She was smiling. Calling out in the direction of the door, she said,

“O my God! Welcome, O dearest Ali! Welcome!”

And she closed her eyes. She had passed away and a sweet smile remained suspended on her face.

The Sound of the Call to Prayer (From the Epic of the Dardanelles)

The nightlong conflict ended towards morning, and a sorrowful sound of the call to Prayer spread throughout the surroundings in waves. The day broke slowly from Kumkale.

As the sun rose, the lifeless human bodies eluded their dark shadows. There was a stirring movement in the sea. The death-spitting barrels of the cold-colored steel piles were still directed towards the heights.

The soldiers were still in their positions following the nightlong combat. They did not raise their heads from the trenches, as despite the ceasing of gunfire, ceasefire had not been reached. The first to raise his head from the trench was Lieutenant Ahmed Halid. There were countless French dead around. Smoke was rising in places. Supposing those lying on the ground to be wounded, he tried to get out of his trench. The other soldiers had also raised their heads from the trench.

Suddenly, a French soldier began running towards the Turkish trenches. He had a grenade in his hand. It was clear that he was going to approach the Turkish position and throw the bomb. He advanced rapidly, stepping over the corpses of his friends. Bullets began raining down on the French soldier from the Turkish side, but because the soldier was zigzagging, none struck him. Lieutenant Ahmed Halid took aim and pulled the trigger. The French soldier fell to the ground and began struggling desperately. The grenade in his hand had fallen. Creeping, Lieutenant Ahmed Halid approached the shot French soldier. He checked the soldier’s pulse. The soldier had no pulse and no heartbeat. He checked his breathing. He was dead. Lying dead was an African soldier in French uniform. He immediately checked the ID tag hung around his neck. The name of the French soldier was Hasan. Lieutenant Ahmed Halid was astonished. In great haste, he began searching the soldier. There was a little book in his inside pocket: the Qur’an.

A deep sadness engulfed Lieutenant Ahmed Halid. He stood aghast for some time. He then began trying to console himself saying, “If I hadn’t killed him, he was going to kill a great many of our soldiers.” “Ah, those French colonialists,” he said sighing deeply. It was clear that they had gathered the Muslims from their colonies and brought them to Gallipoli to fight. Who knows the lies with which they deceived these Muslims, in order to bring them here for battle.

The Lieutenant took the Qur’an and placed it against his chest and crept back to his post. It became clear, with ceasefire declared that day and the resultant gathering of the dead and wounded, that most of the French soldiers killed were Muslims. There were some Muslim soldiers among the wounded prisoners of war also. Interrogating the French soldiers one by one, the Lieutenant was trying to ascertain the truth of the matter. A Muslim soldier of Algerian origin and donning French uniform explained everything that had happened.

He began relating all that he knew to Lieutenant Ahmed Halid:

“The French deceived us. ‘We are allies with your Caliph and are fighting against the Germans, the enemies of the Muslims. You too need to support the Ottomans in this battle, as supporting the Caliph is a religious obligation upon you,’ they said. Some of our friends defied the French even before coming to the front line. They didn’t want to come to fight. They must have learned the truth back then, but they were subjected to various kinds of torture. Their houses were burned, their families were tormented. Some were imprisoned. Those not going to war were threatened with having their families killed. Our mothers, fathers, and children are held hostage in their hands. Who knows where they are now?”

The Algerian Muslim soldier wept while explaining all this. It was clear that he felt deep sorrow both due to being deceived into fighting against the Muslims and due to the desperation of his family faced. Lieutenant Ahmed Halid reported everything explained to him by the Muslim soldiers in French uniform who were taken captive, to his Commander Tayyar Pasha. Tayyar Pasha set to implementing an ingenious plan one day later. Before the Morning Prayer, he ordered for all the soldiers with beautiful voices to be brought before him. There were soldiers who sang long unmetered folk songs from time to time in the trenches. Even the enemy soldiers were affected by their touching voices. Dozens of soldiers with pleasant singing voices were gathered in a short time and brought before Tayyar Pasha. The Pasha attentively eyed each of them one by one. The naivety of the Anatolian peoples could be read on the faces of them all. The Pasha began his words saying, “My sons! Not just weapons are used to strike the enemy. Now is the time to struggle in God’s way with your voices. You are now all to recite the call to Prayer with those beautiful voices of yours. Not only the Kumkale ridges, but all the hills of the Dardanelles should resound with this sacred sound also. May your struggle be sanctified!”

Soon after, the time for the call to Prayer had come. The call to Prayer began reverberating from the Turkish trenches. That sacred sound filled the air and reached the enemy post. When it ended, it was as though all Gallipoli’s ridges had been purified of the pollution of the sound of enemy gunfire. Turkish soldiers in their positions were weeping. The call to Prayer had shown its effect. Soon after, bits of paper wrapped around rocks began pouring in from enemy lines. Written on the pieces of paper were the words, “Who are you?”

The Turkish position was quick to respond: “We are Ottoman soldiers.” The opposite side asked again, “This can’t be! The English told us that we would be fighting with the Ottomans against the Germans!”

“Muslims can’t lie. We are Ottoman soldiers and we are fighting against the English. And who are you?”

“We are Indian Muslims!” The cries “God is Great!” at once began reverberating from the Turkish position. Followed by a period of silence… This silence was a good sign. Some time later, white flags began to appear from the enemy stronghold. The Indian soldiers had given up fighting.

The Humility of Sultan Selim I

Ottoman Sultan Selim I held Iran in the palm of his hand in as brief a space of time as eight years, returned with victories from Mercidabık and Ridaniye, and passed away when he succumbed to carbuncle during a campaign he was instigated into embarking on. These successive moves served to break his own record: When returning with the Sacred Trusts following the conquest of Egypt, and approaching the capital of Istanbul, he became aware that the people were going to receive him with magnificent ceremony. Thereupon, he turned to his Lala and said, “My Lala, such a thing is not befitting. What have we done anyhow! Better yet, let us spend the night in Üsküdar and then we can quietly proceed to Topkapı when the people are asleep.”

This great sovereign enchained fame and glory and trampled upon it when it had in fact fallen into his lap; while proceeding with all his stateliness behind his teacher Ibn Kamal, the mud splattering from the foot of his teacher’s horse soiled the cloak of this valiant sultan. Concerned that that great person of justice would fear the wrath of the stately ruler, Sultan Selim immediately turned to his associates and instructed, “It is my last wish that you drape this robe I am wearing, with the mud splattered from beneath my master’s feet upon it, over my coffin, for I wish to appear before my Lord with this robe.” In those felicitous minutes where he retrieved the Sacred Trusts belonging to the Caliphate, assumed the office of Islam’s standard bearer and all rulers fell to their knees before him, where the sermon was read in his name, and where one could easily be overcome by the intoxication of victory, he replied to the preacher’s addressing him as, “Ruler of the Two Sanctuaries,” with the following words: “I cannot be ruler. The ruler of this place is Prophet Muhammad. I can, at best, be servant of this place.” As such, he sought to be addressed as “Servant of the Two Sanctuaries,” thus showing his true greatness. This is because the mark of greatness is humility and self-effacement. In social life, there are windows through which everyone can see and be seen. The great person shrinks to be seen and becomes bent double. The small person stands on their toes, trying to appear great. This is why those appearing great perpetually reveal their smallness and those who are humble reveal their greatness.

Questions

1) Among how many poems was the Turkish National Anthem chosen as the winning entry?

A) 715 C) 824

B) 723 D) 724

2) Which of the following is not one of the countries occupying Turkey during the War of Independence?

A) Germany C) France

B) Greece D) England

3) Which country was deceived by the French into fighting against the Turks at the Battle of Gallipoli?

A) Tunisia C) Algeria

B) Morocco D) Libya

4) He held Iran in the palm of his hand in as brief a space of time as eight years and returned with victories from Mercidabık and Ridaniye. Due to which illness did Sultan Selim I pass away?

A) Plague C) Carbuncle

B) Tuberculosis D) Influenza

5) Which of the following is Sultan Yavuz Selim’s teacher?

A) Hasan Can C) Aq Shams al-Din

B) Lala Pasha D) Ibn Kamal