Çetin Altan facts for kids

Çetin Altan (born June 22, 1927, died October 22, 2015) was a famous Turkish writer, journalist, and even a member of parliament. He was known as one of the best writers in the Turkish language during the late 1900s.

Who Was Çetin Altan?

Çetin Altan was born on June 22, 1927, in Istanbul, Turkey. His father, Halit Bey, was a lawyer with roots from Crimea. His mother's name was Nurhayat.

Growing Up and School

When he was very young, Çetin was called Altan. In 1934, a new law in Turkey meant families had to choose a surname. His family picked "Altan," and so he became Çetin Altan.

At age eight, he went to a special school called Galatasaray High School. He was a boarding student, meaning he lived at the school. He sometimes felt lonely there. After high school, he studied law at Ankara University.

Even though his father wanted him to become a diplomat, Çetin chose to be a writer. He once said he did this "to escape the loneliness."

His Family Life

Çetin Altan grew up in a big family house in Göztepe, Istanbul. He married his first wife, Kerime, after meeting her at Radio Ankara. They had two sons, Ahmet (born 1950) and Mehmet (born 1953), and a daughter named Zeynep. Kerime passed away in 1991.

Later, in 1996, when he was 69, Çetin Altan married Solmaz Kamuran. She was a dentist who started helping him edit his writings. They had known each other for a long time.

Çetin Altan's Writing Career

Çetin Altan started his writing journey by publishing poems and stories in magazines like Varlık. His first book, Üçüncü Mevki, came out in 1946.

He then became a journalist, writing for newspapers such as Ulus and Hürses. He became a well-known columnist, sharing his thoughts in many different newspapers like Milliyet, Hürriyet, and Güneş.

In 1959, he joined the daily newspaper Milliyet as a columnist. He often wrote about important events and his opinions on society.

Çetin Altan in Politics

After a big change in the government in 1960, Çetin Altan decided to get involved in politics. He was elected to the parliament in 1965. He represented Istanbul as a member of the Workers' Party of Turkey until 1969. He even wrote a book about his time in parliament called Ben Milletvekili Iken (When I Was a Deputy).

Speaking His Mind

Çetin Altan was known for being very direct and brave with his words. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind, even in parliament. Once, he made a witty remark to a deputy speaker, saying, "Your seat is higher than mine due to a carpentry error!" When asked to take it back, he cleverly replied, "It is not a carpentry error that you sit higher than me!"

Because of his strong opinions and articles, he faced legal challenges many times. He was even arrested three times and spent two years in prison for his writings.

Çetin Altan's Books and Plays

Çetin Altan wrote many novels and collections of essays. His works often looked at and criticized the social and political situations in Turkey. He also explored the challenges of Turkish society and culture in the second half of the 20th century. Many of his stories included parts of his own life and struggles.

Some of his famous books from the 1960s and 1970s include Taş (Satire), Sömürücülerle Savaş (Struggle against the Exploiters), and Nar Çekirdekleri (Pomegranate Seeds).

His Time in Prison

In 1972, he wrote the novel Büyük Gözaltı (The Great Detention). This book shared his experiences from being in prison after the 1971 military intervention. It was one of the first books to talk about this period and won him the Orhan Kemal Novel Award in 1973.

Besides novels, Çetin Altan also wrote plays like Çemberler (Circles) and Dilekçe (The Petition). He wrote essays, a humor book called Zurnada Peşrev Olmaz (There is No Prelude in the Clarion), travel books, and even poetry.

His life story was also told in a novel called İpek Böceği Cinayeti (The Silkworm Murder), written by his wife, Solmaz Kamuran, in 1998. Some of his novels were even translated into French.

The End of His Life

In September 2015, Çetin Altan became very ill and was taken to the hospital. He had several health problems, including lung issues and infections. He passed away on October 22, 2015, at the age of 88, due to breathing problems caused by pneumonia and a severe infection.

He was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul. Çetin Altan is remembered for his powerful writing and his brave voice in Turkish society and politics.