At the conference titled "From Çanakkale to the National Struggle: The Consciousness of Anti-Imperialist Resistance and the Turkish National Anthem", held at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), the consciousness of resistence extended from Çanakkale to Independence War and the historical and intellectual background of the National Anthem were evaluated through an academic perspective.
The program featured speeches from Prof. Dr. Muhammed Fatih Andı, former Rector of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University and faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, and Prof. Dr. Ali Kurt, a faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Kırklareli University. The event attracted great interest from the BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Bekir Hakan Bakkal and Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu, academic and administrative staff, and students.
The program, held at the Farabi Campus Doç. Dr. Ali Arslan Conference Hall, began with a moment of silence in memory of our revered martyrs and the recitation of the National Anthem.
Rector Özölçer: “The Spirit Rising in Gallipoli Is the Will of a Nation’s Existence”
Delivering the opening speech of the program, BEUN Rector İsmail Hakkı Özölçer drew attention to the place of the Çanakkale spirit in the history of the Turkish nation and stated the following:
“Today, we have gathered here to once again comprehend the meaning of one of the greatest epics written by our nation on the stage of history. The expression that forms the title of our program, ‘From Çanakkale to the National Struggle: The Consciousness of Anti-Imperialist Resistance and the Turkish National Anthem,’ in fact contains the deepest truth and the greatest will of resistance in the recent history of the Turkish nation. The spirit of resistance that rose in Çanakkale is the strongest manifestation of a nation’s awakening and its devotion to independence. The blood shed in Çanakkale is the symbol of a struggle for existence in which brave men from every corner of Anatolia stood shoulder to shoulder. The mines laid in the dark waters by the Nusret and the shells carried with extraordinary strength by Seyit Onbaşı showed the whole world that the will of the Turkish nation would never surrender.
Our National Anthem, which emerged from the profound wisdom of our National Poet Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, his deep love for his nation, and his unwavering belief in independence, has been the powerful voice of our nation from the day it was written until today. Expressing in the most concise way the unique resistance and passion for independence of our nation during the years of the War of Independence, this National Oath represents the will of existence of a nation and its determination for independence extending into eternity. Before concluding my words, I respectfully commemorate the upcoming Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial Day and the 111th anniversary of the Çanakkale Naval Victory on 18 March. I remember with mercy, gratitude, and respect our beloved martyrs who ran to martyrdom saying ‘Who would not sacrifice themselves for this heavenly homeland?’ as well as our heroic veterans who have passed away, especially the founder of our Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and our National Poet Mehmet Âkif Ersoy.”
Prof. Dr. Andı: “World War I Was a Total War”
Following the opening speech, Muhammed Fatih Andı took the floor and evaluated the developments that occurred in the historical process extending from Çanakkale to the National Struggle from a broad perspective.
Prof. Dr. Andı stated that World War I was not limited only to the Çanakkale front, and that many historical periods such as the Italo-Turkish War, the Balkan Wars, and the subsequent Turkish War of Independence should be evaluated in connection with one another. Andı noted that World War I is described in the literature of world wars as “Total War”, emphasizing that, unlike classical wars, this conflict involved not only armies but entire societies.
Andı stated that within the understanding of total war, societies behind the front lines also became part of the war. He explained that all segments of society—from children to the elderly, from literate individuals to statesmen, and from farmers to workers—shouldered the burden of the war. However, he also noted that the generations immediately before the war still had to fight with muzzle-loading rifles and swords, and that traditional weapons were used.
The Great Transformation in War Technology
Andı emphasized that with the outbreak of World War I a major transformation occurred in war technologies, stating that within a short time aircraft, tanks, poison gas bombs, and machine guns began to be used on the battlefields. Andı noted that the Western world introduced weapons of mass destruction during the war, leading to one of the most destructive wars in world history, and that this situation also demonstrated that war was conducted not only with human power but also with industrial power.
In his speech, Andı also gave examples from the poem “Çanakkale Şehitlerine” by Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, stating that these lines strongly reflect modern war technologies and the destructive nature of war. He noted that the lines “Bomba şimşekleri beyninden inip her siperin; Sönüyor göğsünün üstünde o arslan neferin” describe bombs thrown from the sky, while the line “Saçıyor zırha bürünmüş de o nâmerd eller” points to armored vehicles and war technologies. He also emphasized that the line “Ölüm indirmede gökler, ölü püskürmede yer” strikingly reveals the destructive impact of modern warfare.
Andı stated that the West caused great tragedies by driving colonized societies onto the battlefields, explaining that United Kingdom and France brought soldiers from regions such as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, and India to fight in Çanakkale. He also noted that Muslim soldiers brought from Senegal were made to fight on the front lines, emphasizing that this situation reveals the heavy effects of war on colonized peoples.
Emphasizing that the Çanakkale Victory was not only the name of a war, Andı stated that it also represents the rebirth of the Turkish nation on the stage of history and a great resurgence. He underlined the importance of raising Turkish youth with a strong sense of historical awareness, recalling the words of Alija Izetbegović: “A forgotten genocide is repeated,” and drew attention to the importance of historical consciousness. Continuing his speech, Andı also referred to recent developments, particularly the 2016 Turkish coup attempt carried out by FETÖ, emphasizing that as a nation it is necessary to learn lessons from the past.
Stating that similar conflicts continue today, Andı also evaluated the humanitarian tragedy in the region, referring to attacks carried out by Israel against civilians in Palestine and Iran. He stated that the hostile attitudes historically displayed by Zionism toward the Turkish nation can be traced back to the period of Çanakkale, emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity within the Turkish-Islamic world.
The National Anthem and the Intellectual World of Âkif
At the end of his speech, Andı touched upon the world of meaning of the İstiklâl Marşı, stating that the intellectual world of Mehmet Âkif continues to serve as a guiding value for the Turkish nation today. Andı thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of such a meaningful program, especially the Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and all participants.
Prof. Dr. Ali Kurt: “The National Anthem Reflects the Spirit of a Nation”
The second speaker of the conference, Ali Kurt, addressed the process of Mehmet Âkif Ersoy writing the İstiklâl Marşı and the world of meaning of the anthem. Kurt stated that Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver, who was the Minister of Education of the period, played an important role in the adoption process of the National Anthem and read the anthem several times in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye with great excitement and emotional intensity.
Drawing attention to the fact that the first word of the National Anthem, “Korkma” (Fear not), carries a very deep meaning, Kurt emphasized that this expression is in fact a strong call of morale and courage addressed to the Turkish nation. According to Kurt, this address represents a powerful message reminding a nation that has overcome great hardships throughout history of its determination to stand up again and continue the struggle.
Kurt stated that Mehmet Âkif did not merely write a poem in the National Anthem, but that this work is also an epic reflecting the spirit, faith, and will for independence of the nation.
At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Kurt thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of such a meaningful program, especially the Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, as well as everyone who contributed and those who followed the conference with interest.
The Conference Concluded with the Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation and a Commemorative Photograph
The program concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers by Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer and the taking of a commemorative photograph to mark the day.
