Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, a poet, teacher, veterinarian and politician, who reflects the national will and patriotism in his works, was commemorated at
Istanbul Gelisim University on the 86th anniversary of his death. The ceremony, which started with the video about Mehmet Âkif Ersoy's life, continued with a moment of silence and the National Anthem. Istanbul Gelisim University Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Sahin and Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education Branch Manager Mahmut Bıyıklı made the opening speeches of the ceremony.
“HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE REMEMBERED FOREVER”
Expressing the spirit of the National Struggle, the unity, solidarity and independence of the nation, Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, the author of the National Anthem, is commemorated with various activities during the week of December 20-27. Mahmut Bıyıklı, Branch Manager of the Provincial Directorate of National Education said: “Even if 100 years have passed since his death, he will be remembered and will continue to be remembered forever. As the Directorate of National Education, we designed a program for 1 week, including the schools Mehmet Âkif Ersoy attended, the places where he left his mark, and even the streets he walked. This week, we are making commemoration programs in a district of Istanbul every day, but this was the most beautiful, the most sensitive and the most labored one. There is much to talk about. There are many qualities that our students will take from Akif's student years. I regret to say that when we enter the classrooms and asked, "Who is Mehmet Akif Ersoy?", students only say, ‘’He is the poet of the National Anthem". Other than that, they do not know anything about him. We, as teachers, wanted to feel this responsibility ourselves and tell and remind Mehmet Âkif in schools.”
“A HERO WHO DEVOTED HIMSELF TO SOCIETY”
Istanbul Gelisim University Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Sahin indicated the following: “If you ask me how would you describe Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, I would say this: He is a hero of independence who has devoted himself to community. Artists go to the field and serve the society. Literature is a talent. Mehmet Akif Ersoy should be commemorated on every occasion.”
At the ceremony, which continued with the speech of Prof. Dr. Saban Saglik from Fatih Sultan Mehmet University, Avcılar Anatolian High School Music Choir performed a concert. Writer Tahsin Yıldırım, who talked about Mehmet Âkif Ersoy and his works with his speech, gave instructive information to the participants of the program.
