The third stop of the “4 Cities 4 Venues 4 Akif” symposiums, organized in four cities that left a mark on the life of the Independence Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, was Burdur.
Under the auspices of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş, and hosted by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, the event comprehensively examined the national poet's political stance, resilience, and his period as a Burdur deputy.
Four Interpretations of Akif from Four Cities
In the Burdur leg of the symposium series hosted by Adana, Hatay, Ankara, and Burdur, the intense interest of the participants was noteworthy. The event began with a moment of silence and the recitation of the National Anthem. In the opening speeches, both academic and emotional emphases came to the fore.
The coordinator of the symposium, Ankara Social Sciences University Faculty Member Dr. Gazi Doğan, summarized the project's aim as “Re-understanding Akif through cities”. Doğan said, “This is not just a commemoration, but an original project aiming to read his spirit of struggle and depth of character by associating them with cities.” He emphasized that Akif lived a period intertwined with poetry in Adana, had an intellectual interest in Hatay, and served as a deputy carrying the spirit of national struggle in Burdur.
“Burdur Became the Symbol of Resilience”
Ankara Social Sciences University Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan evaluated Akif’s Burdur deputyship through the concept of “resilience.” Arıcan stated that Akif was not only a man of ideas during the challenging years of the National Struggle but also a unifying force, saying, “During the period when the National Anthem was written, Akif was a Burdur deputy. The determination he showed during this period was one of the greatest elements that kept the nation’s morale high.”
Conveying Akif to Future Generations: The University’s Mission
The host university’s rector, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, emphasized in his speech that Mehmet Akif Ersoy is not just a figure from the past but a personality that will guide today. Dalgar said, “We want to share Akif’s dream of a hardworking, productive, and world-integrated youth as ‘Asım’s Generation’ with you.” Touching on many projects from social media campaigns to international commemoration programs conducted by the university, Dalgar conveyed the message, “Burdur is now Akif’s home.”
“Mehmet Akif is a Timeless and Placeless Value”
Burdur Governor Tülay Baydar Bilgihan also described Mehmet Akif’s spiritual greatness as a “timeless and placeless” value in her speech. Bilgihan said, “It is not possible to limit Akif to just four cities; it is possible to see his traces throughout the geography. As Burdur, we are aware of and responsible for carrying this legacy,” and emphasized that Akif’s virtuous stance should be conveyed to young generations.
Akif from a Scientific Perspective: Multidimensional Evaluation in the Panel
In the academic panel of the symposium, Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s multifaceted identity was discussed. In the panel chaired by Prof. Dr. Abdullah Uçman, many topics such as Akif’s resilient stance, approach to women, and understanding of unity and solidarity were evaluated from interdisciplinary perspectives.
* Prof. Dr. Abdullah Uçman highlighted Akif’s determined stance in the National Struggle,
* Assoc. Dr. Güngör Göçer discussed the concept of “resilience” in a philosophical and moral framework.
* Assoc. Dr. Canan Olpak Koç analyzed the strong female characters in Akif’s stories.
* Dr. Lecturer İbrahim Öztürkçü emphasized Akif’s clear stance against “discord.”
* Dr. Zuhal Kondu evaluated the national poet’s Burdur deputyship in a historical context.
A Symposium in the Footsteps of Akif: A Spirit Illuminating from Past to Present
The symposium provided a meaningful academic platform that carried Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s world of ideas to the present, beyond being just a commemoration event. At the end of the program, the first Safahat work, published in Ottoman Turkish and Turkish facsimile by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, was presented to the panelists as a gift.
With the “4 Cities 4 Venues 4 Akif” project, Akif’s spirit continues to travel from city to city; Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the symbolic figure of resilience, determination, and love of the homeland, is once again taking his place both in the world of science and in the hearts of young generations.
Diğer Haberler
