The life of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the acceptance of the March 12 National Anthem in his 99th year

He collected all his poems in SAFAHAT

Ersoy, who collected his poems in his book “Safahat”, which consisted of 7 books, explained the legitimacy period of the Ottoman society in the first chapter he wrote in 1911, and the Ottoman intellectuals in the second book “At the Suleymaniye Tribune” he wrote in 1912. Ersoy, who wrote the third part “People’s Voices” in 1913, wrote “Fatih’s Chair” in 1914.

The writer and poet Ersoy completed the 7th episode “Shadows” in 1933, following the “Memories” of 1917 and “Asım” of 1924, which included his views on the First World War.

Ersoy, who has agreed to translate the Holy Quran into Turkish as a result of intense insistence, has terminated the agreement he signed by not being satisfied with the result despite working for 6-7 years.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy did not put the “National Anthem” as a gift to the Turkish nation and put it in Safahat.

After his death, the work of “Safahat”, which was reprinted by Ömer Ziya Doğrul and M. Ertuğrul Düzdağ, “The Verses and Hadiths from the Qur’an” and “Articles of Mehmet Akif Ersoy” met with the reader after he died.

DEPUTY ELECTED IN THE FIRST ASSEMBLY

Ersoy, who was elected to the First Grand National Assembly as Burdur Deputy, settled in Ankara Taceddin Dervisi in 1921.

The poet, who did not participate in the Turkish National Anthem competition because of a 500 lira prize, began to be persuaded by the request of Minister of National Education Hamdullah Suphi Bey and the encouragement of his friend Hasan Basri Bey.

The National Anthem of Mehmet Akif Ersoy was published in Sırat-ı Müstakim and Hakimiyet-i Milliye on February 17. The National Anthem, which was read and listened by Hamdullah Suphi Bey in the Assembly, was accepted as the “National Anthem” on March 12, 1921. Ersoy donated 500 lira awarded to charity.

The master poet, who lived in Egypt for a long time after the War of Independence and victory and gave Turkish lessons there, returned to Istanbul on 17 June 1936 for treatment.

Ersoy, who returned from Egypt as sick and tired, stayed in the apartment on the fourth floor of the Egypt Apartment in Beyoğlu, owned by Abbas Halim Pasha until 27 December 1936, when he died.

Istiklal Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s tomb, which is visited by thousands of people every year, is located in Edirnekapı Martyr’s Cemetery.