Mahir Çayan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahir Çayan
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| Born | March 15, 1946 |
| Died | March 30, 1972 (aged 26) Kızıldere, Niksar, Tokat, Turkey
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| Nationality | Turkish |
| Alma mater | Ankara University |
| Known for | One of the most well-known Turkish communist leaders |
| Political party | THKP-C |
| Partner(s) |
Gülten Savaşçı
(m. 1970–1972) |
| Parent(s) | Aziz Çayan Naciye Çayan |
Mahir Çayan (born March 15, 1946 – died March 30, 1972) was a Turkish revolutionary leader. He was known for leading the People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey (THKP-C). This group aimed for big changes in society. Çayan followed the ideas of Marxist–Leninism. He was killed on March 30, 1972, in Kızıldere village. This happened during a clash with the Turkish Military Forces. Nine other members of his group were also killed that day.
Early Life and Education
Mahir Çayan went to Haydarpaşa High School. After that, he received a scholarship to study at Ankara University. He attended the School of Political Science there.
Political Ideas and Actions
While at university, Çayan joined the Workers Party of Turkey. He quickly became a leader among young activists. However, he often disagreed with the party's main leaders. They had different ideas about how to bring about change.
Çayan was a strong supporter of Joseph Stalin's ideas. He admired guerrilla groups in Latin America, like those in Colombia. He created his own plan for change, which he called the People's Revolution. He believed that the Soviet Union and the Workers Party of Turkey were not revolutionary enough. He strongly supported Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution.
In 1965, Çayan left the Workers Party of Turkey. He then helped form the Revolutionary Youth Federation of Turkey. This group later grew into the People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey (THKP-C) in 1970. He became a leader of this new party alongside Ulaş Bardakçı.
Çayan was a deep thinker about revolutions. He developed a theory called "artificial balance." He believed this balance happened when powerful groups and ordinary people seemed calm. But this calm was not real. He thought it was caused by foreign influence, especially from American imperialism. This influence made problems seem less urgent. He believed this allowed powerful countries to control others more easily.
Death
In March 1972, Çayan and ten of his friends kidnapped three NATO technicians. They took them from a radar station in Ünye. Their demand was that Deniz Gezmiş and his friends should not be executed.
The group was hiding in a country house in Kızıldere village. Soldiers found them and surrounded the house. A gunfight broke out. Everyone involved, including the hostages, was killed. Only one person from Çayan's group, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, survived the event.
In Culture
Mahir Çayan has been remembered in many songs and books.
- Songs about him include Sen Olacağız by Grup Yorum.
- Grup Adalılar sang Mahir'i gördüm and Ankara'dan Bir Haber Var.
- Emekçi created Mahir İle Yoldaşları.
- Ali Asker sang Kızıldere Adın Ahire Kalsın.
- Sevinç Eratalay sang Mahir'in Türküsü and Mahir Yoldaş.
- Several groups, including Grup Yorum and Selda Bağcan, have songs titled Kızıldere.
- In the TV series Hatırla Sevgili, Kanbolat Görkem Arslan played Çayan.
- Books about him include Mahir by Ali H. Neyzi and Mahir by Turhan Feyizoğlu. Another book is Mahir Çayan'ın Hayatı ve Fikirleri: Bir Devrimcinin Portresi by Tarkan Tufan.
See also
- Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front
