Mehmet Akif Ersoy
| Mehmet Akif Ersoy | |
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| Born |
20 December 1873 Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
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| Died | 27 December 1936 (aged 63) Istanbul, Turkey
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| Occupation | Poet, author, politician |
| Nationality | Ottoman, later Turkish citizen |
| Literary movement | The Republican Era |
| Notable works | Safahat, İstiklâl Marşı |
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Mehmet Âkif Ersoy (20 December 1873 – 27 December 1936) was an Ottoman born Turkish poet, writer, academic, member of parliament, and the author of the Turkish National Anthem. Widely regarded as one of the premiere literary minds of his time, Ersoy is noted for his command of the Turkish language, as well as his patriotism and role in the Turkish War of Independence.
A framed version of the national anthem by Ersoy typically occupies the wall above the blackboard in the classrooms of every public as well as most private schools around Turkey, along with a Turkish flag, a photograph of the country's founding father Atatürk, and a copy of Atatürk's famous inspirational speech to the nation's youth.
He currently has a university in his name in Burdur. Ersoy's portrait was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 100 lira banknotes of 1983–1989.
Ersoy was partly of Albanian descent, born as Mehmet Akif in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire in 1873 to İpekli Tahir Efendi (1826-1888), an Albanian born in the village Shushica of Istok which was part of the Ipek district (modern-day Peja in Kosovo) and tutor at the Fatih Madrasah, at a time when all institutions of the state were in terminal decline, and major crises and regime changes were underway. His mother, Emine Şerife Hanım, was of mixed Uzbek and Turkish descent. As he was about to complete his education at the Fatih Merkez Rüştiyesi, his father's death and a fire that destroyed his home, forced Ersoy to interrupt his education and to start working to support his family. He wanted to start a professional career as soon as possible, and he entered the Mülkiye Baytar Mektebi (Veterinary School), and graduated with honors in 1893.
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Wikipedia