A Panel on the Adoption of the National Anthem Was Held at Our University

On March 12, 2024, our university hosted a panel discussion titled “The Anniversary of the Adoption of the National Anthem.” The event, organized by the Atatürk Research Center, featured an opening speech by Associate Professor Gökçen Çatlı. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvin Yıldırım, Head of the History Department, the panel featured presentations by Prof. Dr. Necat Birinci and Prof. Dr. Kâzım Yetiş.

Speaker Prof. Dr. Necat Birinci provided information about the path that led to the National Anthem. In this context, he made the following statements: “Our nation has been able to continue its life across a vast geography and has maintained its vitality. Mehmet Akif Ersoy is the author of the poem that protects this vast geography and conveys its importance. Ersoy is not merely a poet. Above all, he is a statesman.”

Speaker Prof. Dr. Kâzım Yetiş provided information about the discussions surrounding the National Anthem and the types of criticism that have been raised. Yetiş stated: “There has been a great deal of discussion and writing about the National Anthem. If all of this were compiled, it would fill volumes. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey opened with a conference. Hamdullah Suphi also organized a competition. Mehmet Akif Ersoy did not want to participate in this competition at first. After a while, Ersoy agreed to participate in the competition due to insistence. A total of 724 poems were submitted to the competition. Each of these poems was related to the National Anthem. After the preliminary selection, only 6 poems remained. Suphi read Ersoy’s poem from the podium. The poem received a great deal of attention, was read many times, greatly impressed the assembly, was accompanied by applause, and thus became the National Anthem of the Republic of Turkey.”

The panel concluded with Associate Professor Elvin Yıldırım thanking the participants and academics.