At Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU), a conference titled ‘Akif and the National Anthem in the National Struggle’ was organised within the scope of 12 March National Anthem Adoption and Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Day.
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU) continues to organise events, conferences and panels on important days and weeks that remind national unity and solidarity. In ALKU, a conference titled ‘Akif and the National Anthem in the National Struggle’ was held by the Faculty of Education, Department of Turkish and Social Sciences Education to commemorate the Adoption of the National Anthem on 12 March and Mehmet Akif Ersoy. The director of the panel held at the Faculty of Education Head Teacher Atatürk Conference Hall was Prof. Dr. Mustafa Uslu, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and the speakers were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bora Bayram and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan Karacan. ALKU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Karahan, Secretary General Hüseyin Er, deans, academicians and students attended the programme which attracted great interest from students. In the conference, the process of writing the National Anthem, its universe of meaning, symbols and the role of Mehmet Akif Ersoy in the national struggle were discussed. The speakers emphasised that the anthem is not only a poem, but also a summary of the national struggle. Following the activities, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Mustafa Uslu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bora Bayram and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan Karacan were presented certificates of appreciation by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Karahan and flowers were presented by Head of the Department of Turkish and Social Sciences Education Prof. Dr. Özgür Kasım Aydemir.
‘WE CONTINUE TO INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS WITH THE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE’
Drawing attention to the deep meaning and importance of the National Anthem for the Turkish nation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan Karacan said, ‘I would like to look at the National Anthem as a summary of the struggle for independence. Because it should be known that every anthem, whether it is a national or military anthem, carries the deep traces left by what happened at that time in the hidden history behind it and the purpose of transferring these deep traces within the framework of social partnership. Behind our National Anthem, there are deep traces left by such a deep struggle. When we look at the National Anthem from this perspective, we can see a summary of our national struggle. We can see that the values on which our nation is largely united, which we cannot think separately from each other, are expressed in a clear but at the same time impressive style. It is of course no coincidence that such an important and successful text comes from the pen and soul of a man of action who devoted his life to his nation and country, who knew the society he belonged to closely, and who was aware of the responsibility of being an intellectual during the periods when the country was struggling to survive and survive. Therefore, it is possible to understand that the National Anthem is not just a poem by knowing the historical process in which the national struggle was waged and by recognising the roles played by Akif in this process, or it is possible to understand why he responded to the question of whether it could not be rewritten with the prayer ‘May Allah not make this nation write the National Anthem again!’.
THE UNIVERSE OF MEANING AND SOME SYMBOLS OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WERE DISCUSSED
In the conference held for the 104th anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bora Bayram made a presentation on the universe of meaning of the National Anthem and some symbols. Stating that the National Anthem is a symbol of independence for Turks, Bayram said, ‘The fact that the National Anthem begins with the word “Korkma” reflects the siege of Anatolia with the Treaty of Sevres at that time and the anxiety of the Turkish people. Like the word ‘fear’, symbols such as ‘flag, dawn, hearth, star, crescent, race and civilisation’ also have an important place in the National Anthem. These concepts are not just words, they are moulded with the historical, cultural and spiritual values of the Turkish nation. Each of them carries a meaning extending from the past to the present and reflects the nation's struggle for independence and its belief. In the National Anthem, these symbols are used in a deep integrity of feeling and meaning.’ In the presentation, the deep meanings of symbols such as ‘fear, banner, dawn, hearth, star, crescent, race and civilisation’ were discussed in detail and a comprehensive and impressive perspective was presented to the audience.
