Mehmet Emin Yurdakul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul
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| Born | May 13, 1869 |
| Died | January 14, 1944 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Ottoman, Turkish |
| Occupation | Politician, author |
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul (born May 13, 1869 – died January 14, 1944) was an important Turkish writer, poet, and politician. He believed strongly in Turkish nationalism, which is a feeling of pride and loyalty to one's country and culture. He also supported Pan-Turkism, an idea that aimed to unite all Turkic peoples. His poems and writings greatly helped to explain the meaning of vatan, which means Fatherland or homeland.
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul's Early Life and Learning
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul was born in Istanbul (then called Constantinople) on May 13, 1869. This was during the time of the Ottoman Empire. His father, Salih Reis, was a fisherman, and his mother was Emine Hatun.
He started his education in Istanbul. However, his family faced money problems, so he could not finish school formally. After leaving school, he began working as an intern in the Ottoman government.
In 1891, he published a book called Fazilet ve Asalet. This book impressed the prime minister, who then gave him a job. Mehmet Emin Yurdakul became the director of documentation in the prime minister's office.
His early writings were inspired by Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī. This political thinker and Islamic leader met Yurdakul in Istanbul in 1892. After al-Afghānī passed away in 1897, Yurdakul published a collection of his own poems. This book, called Türkçe Şiirler, included beautiful paintings by Fausto Zonaro.
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul's Political Journey
In 1907, Mehmet Emin Yurdakul joined a group called the Committee of Union and Progress. This group later led a big change in the government in 1908. They organized a coup (a sudden takeover of power) against the ruler, Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
After this change, Yurdakul continued to work for the Ottoman government. He was sent to Trabzon, a city in Turkey. From 1909 onwards, he served as the Governor of several different provinces in the Ottoman Empire.
Starting in 1911, he became involved with groups that supported Pan-Turkism. These included the Association of Turks (Türk Derneği) and the Turkish Hearths. During World War I, his writings became very popular. Many people who supported the Committee of Union and Progress liked his nationalist ideas, which also included religious beliefs.
In 1913, he became a member of the Ottoman Parliament. He represented the area of Mosul. After Turkey became a new country in 1923, he joined the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In this assembly, he supported the idea of using the new Turkish alphabet.
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul passed away on January 14, 1944. He was buried at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul, Turkey.
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul's Famous Works
Mehmet Emin Yurdakul wrote many important books and poems. Here are some of his well-known works:
- Fazilet ve Adalet (Virtue and Justice, 1891)
- Türkçe Şiirler (Poems in Turkish, 1898)
- Türk Sazı (Turkish Instrument, 1914)
- Ey Türk Uyan (O Turk Wake Up, 1914)
- Tan Sesleri (Voices of the Dawn, 1915)
- Ordunun Destanı (The Legend of the Army, 1915)
- Dicle Önünde (In Front of Tigris, 1916)
- İsyan ve Dua (The Uprising and the Prayers, 1918)
- Zafer Yolunda (On the Way of Victory, 1918)
- Turan'a Doğru (Towards Turan, 1918)
- Aydın Kızları (Girls of Aydın, 1919)
- Türk'ün Hukuku (The Law of Turk, 1919)
- Dante'ye (To Dante, 1928)
- Kıral Corc'a (To King George, 1928)
- Mustafa Kemal (Mustafa Kemal, 1928)
- Ankara (Ankara, 1939)
