Ahmet KABAKLI

Ahmet Kabaklı (1924-2001) was a Turkish journalist, writer, teacher and cultural figure. He made great contributions to Turkish literature and journalism and left important traces on the intellectual development of society.

Who is Ahmet Kabaklı?

Ahmet Kabaklı was born in 1924 in the Harput district of Elazığ. Kabaklı completed his primary and secondary school education in Elazığ and completed his high school education at Elazığ High School. He then graduated from Istanbul University, Department of Turcology. He started his writing career in 1946 with an article titled "Yunus Emre or Gölpınarlı?" published in Son Saat Newspaper. Kabaklı's literary and journalistic journey continued after graduating from Istanbul Faculty of Literature, Department of Turkish Language and Literature in 1948. He wrote articles in various magazines and frequently expressed his critical point of view.

Kabaklı is also known as an educator. In 1948, he started teaching in Diyarbakır, where he worked for two years and then taught Turkish at Aydın Trade High School. In 1956, he won the first prize in a joke contest organized by Tercüman Newspaper with his article "University Debates" and was sent to Paris for a year by the Ministry of National Education to do his educational internship. With the experiences he gained here, he both breathed new life into his writings and made in-depth studies on Turkish culture and language. He returned to Istanbul in 1958 and was appointed as a teacher at Çapa Education Institute, and in 1961 he joined the Istanbul Bar Association and practiced law for a short time. In the meantime, he started writing columns for Tercüman newspaper. Kabaklı continued his education career as a lecturer at Istanbul Higher Teacher Training School and retired in 1974. He also taught literature at Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory.

Influence and Legacy

Ahmet Kabaklı's writing and journalism made significant contributions to 20th century Turkish literature and thought. In 1961, he started writing a column called "Gün Işında" (In the Light of the Day) in Tercüman Newspaper and his columns attracted great public attention. With his depth and knowledge in his writing life, he has left important accumulations on Turkish literature and culture. Kabaklı was one of the founders of the Turkish Literature Foundation and served as its president until his death. In 1995, he was elected as a full member of the Turkish Language Association and carried out this duty with great devotion. In addition to his 5-volume work Turkish Literature, he published many other works, including History of Literature, The Trial of Foundations, Cultural Imperialism, and Literary Movements.

Ahmet Kabaklı paid great attention to the protection of cultural values and always displayed a scientific approach in his writings on language and literature. In his writings, he emphasized the social function of literature and aimed to raise public awareness. He also published the book Kanlı

Before the May 1 events, he drew attention with his writings on social events and invited the public to bear social responsibility.

Kabaklı was not only a writer, but also a teacher and a cultural figure. He tried to enlighten young generations both as an educator and through his writing activities, and established himself not only as a writer but also as a thinker who enlightened the society. In 1996, he was awarded the title of "Sheikhülmuharririn" at the Atatürk Cultural Center with the support of the Quarry of Intellectuals and 55 volunteer organizations. Ahmet Kabaklı passed away on February 8, 2001.

Ahmet Kabaklı's legacy will always live on with his contributions to Turkish culture and literature. In 2011, a library named after Ahmet Kabaklı was opened in Fatih district of Istanbul. This library, which bears his name in Ali Emiri Efendi Cultural Center and contains Ahmet Kabaklı's private book collection and around 30 thousand books, continues to keep his book collection and his contributions to Turkish culture alive. In addition, the Ahmet Kabaklı Male Student Dormitory in Elazığ is an important building representing his legacy in the field of education. Ahmet Kabaklı's name is kept alive in many primary and high schools in Turkey and his contributions to the world of literature are passed on to future generations.

Ahmet Kabaklı has taken his place in our history as an important name by preserving the cultural heritage with the works he left to Turkish literature and the world of thought. He left deep traces in the world of literature with both the columns he wrote and the articles he published in magazines. His influence was not only limited to literature, but also contributed greatly to the development of social consciousness.