Namik KEMAL

Who is Namik Kemal, one of the pioneers of Turkish nationalism, a member of the Young Ottoman Movement, journalist, statesman, famous writer and poet who lived during the Tanzimat period? What did he write? What did Namik Kemal defend in his works? In which language did he write his poems and plays? Why is he called the "Homeland Poet"?

Who is Namik Kemal?

Namık Kemal, known as the "Homeland Poet" and "Poet of Liberty", was born in Tekirdağ in 1840. Until the age of 18, he lived with his grandfather Abdüllâtif Pasha in various cities of Rumelia and Anatolia. He learned Arabic and Persian. At the age of 18, he started working as a clerk in the Translation Room of the Bâb-ı Âli in Istanbul.

Namik Kemal, who included in his writings concepts such as "patriotism", "freedom" and "nation", which were unheard of in the Ottoman state until that day, fled to Paris when he learned that he was wanted to be arrested for writing articles criticizing the government in the newspaper "Tasvir-i Efkâr" within the framework of these concepts he introduced into Turkish thought and literature.

Joining the Young Ottomans movement, Namik Kemal then moved to London and started writing for the newspaper "Muhbir". He then published a newspaper called "Hürriyet". He returned to Istanbul upon the call of Hüsnü Pasha, the then Minister of Police. Due to the article he wrote in the newspaper "Ibret", he was appointed as the mutasarrıf of Gallipoli to be removed from Istanbul.

Why is Namik Kemal called "Homeland Poet"?

When the play "Vatan Yahut Silistre", which he started writing there, was staged at the Gedikpaşa Theater in Istanbul, it caused riots among the audience. The play was banned. When he returned to Istanbul and wrote about the events in the newspaper "Ibret", he was exiled to Magosa together with his friends who published the newspaper.

After the declaration of the First Constitutional Monarchy, he returned to Istanbul. He became a member of the Council of State (State Council). He took part in the committee that prepared the Kanun-i Esasi (Constitution). After the 1877 Ottoman-Russian War broke out, he was arrested after Abdülhamid II closed the Parliament. After being imprisoned for five months, he was sent to the islands of Midilli, Rhodes and Chios as a governor and died in exile.

Namik Kemal's understanding of art

Namik Kemal adopted the understanding of "art for society" and used art as a tool for the Westernization of society. He aimed to write his works in a simple language that the public could understand. He described the theater as "the most useful of entertainments", saw it as a school, and gave successful works in terms of stage language and technique.

Namik Kemal, who has novels, theater works, poems, criticism and historical books, is especially known for his novels "İntibah" and "Cezmi", the theater play "Vatan yahut Silistre" and many history books.