Noting that the National Anthem contains many meanings as a national symbol, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı said, “While nations reinforce their national identities, feelings of unity and solidarity, and self-esteem with the help of national symbols, all these shared positive feelings are remembered and refreshed through the anniversaries related to these symbols.” Odabaşı stated that declaring 2021 as the Year of the National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy is important for strengthening historical common memory, and added that as a university, Mehmet Akif Ersoy will be commemorated with an online panel to be held on Friday, March 12, 2021.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi History Department Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı stated that the National Anthem is the symbol of our country's existence, unity, and independence.
The emergence of national symbols was not a coincidence
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı stated that national symbols such as anthems, flags, and national holidays became indispensable elements in sharing the feeling of unity and solidarity from the end of the 19th century. She added, “Undoubtedly, the prominence of this phenomenon from the end of the 19th century is not a coincidence; because the same period points to the time when nation-states became widespread. The famous social psychologist Serge Moscovici observed that the birth of a new collective way of life also gave birth to a new type of human. Indeed, with nation-states, both a new collective life and the 'new human' type, who is the subject of this collective life, gradually took shape.”
National anthems concretize nation-states
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that national symbols like anthems played an important role in the emergence and reinforcement of the unity, solidarity, identity, and sense of belonging of this new human community. She explained, “Because the nation-state was not born inherently, it is a phenomenon that needs to be learned. National symbols such as flags and anthems concretize an abstract phenomenon like the nation-state, making it visible. Thus, a national identity and a sense of belonging develop in nations, along with a national self-perception. In this process, these symbols are imbued with many meanings. First and foremost, they symbolize the existence, integrity, and independence of a country.”
The National Anthem is a work of transformation
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that in the Ottoman Empire, which was an empire, there was a Mehter Band, even if it did not fully assume the function of the National Anthem. She said, “At the beginning of the 19th century, with Mahmud II, the Mehter Band transformed into the Muzika-yı Hümayun Organization, and the Mahmudiye Anthem was composed in 1829. After that, a new anthem was composed for each sultan. The Sultan Mecit Anthem was accepted as a kind of national anthem. The establishment of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) during the National Struggle years and the acceptance of the principle 'sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation' clearly show that a new collective life was being built. The transition from the understanding of the sovereignty of a dynasty and person to the understanding of the sovereignty of the people, of course, also changed the understanding of anthems composed for previous sultans. Our National Anthem is the product of such a transformation; our National Anthem is the anthem of our people.”
The National Anthem Competition was organized to revive national unity and enthusiasm
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that among a series of developments such as the opening of the TBMM, the passing of the first laws, the preparation of the Constitutional Law, and the establishment of a regular army organization, the Assembly launched a National Anthem competition at the end of 1920. She stated, “As can be seen, the date of this competition is not a coincidence. In fact, despite being in a state of war, a new state organization was being built, from its laws to its army. We see that a newly established state, in addition to its state organization, also felt the need for a national anthem. İsmet Pasha was the one who brought this proposal to the government, and the reason was to revive national unity and enthusiasm.”
The patriot Mehmet Akif Bey rendered great services
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that Mehmet Akif Bey had not yet moved to Ankara during those days, and said: “However, since the Balkan War, he rendered great services as a patriot with his sermons in the Beyazıt, Fatih, and Süleymaniye mosques, his writings in Sırat-ı Müstakim, his activities within the Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa, and his speeches to Muslim soldiers fighting against the Ottomans in Berlin in 1914. Mehmet Akif initially did not want to participate in the National Anthem competition due to the monetary prize. Indeed, when he received the 500 lira prize, he donated it to Hilal-i Ahmer.”
Written in 10 days
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı stated that Mehmet Akif Ersoy wrote the National Anthem in 10 days at the Tacettin Dervish Lodge in Ankara, where he arrived on April 24, 1920. She added, “It was published on February 17, 1921, on the first page of Sebîlürreşâd, dedicated 'To Our Heroic Army.' Mustafa Kemal Pasha expressed the value of the anthem with these words: ‘This anthem tells the spirit of our revolution... In the National Anthem, there are verses that have great meaning in explaining our cause. The parts I like most are these lines: 'Freedom is the right of my flag that has lived free, independence is the right of my nation that worships God.' These are the lines I never want this nation to forget… This means, gentlemen, the freedom of the Turk cannot be touched!’”
Declaring 2021 as the Year of the National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy is very meaningful
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that the National Anthem contains many meanings as a national symbol. She said, “While nations reinforce their national identities, feelings of unity and solidarity, and self-esteem with the help of national symbols, all these shared positive feelings are remembered and refreshed through the anniversaries related to these symbols. In this regard, declaring 2021 as the Year of the National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy is undoubtedly for the benefit of our country and nation, as it strengthens historical common memory and thus keeps alive the positive feelings of the past for today and the future.”
The 100th anniversary of the National Anthem will be celebrated with a panel
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı noted that for this purpose, Üsküdar Üniversitesi will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem while commemorating Mehmet Akif Ersoy with mercy and gratitude once again during an online panel to be held on Friday, March 12, 2021, at 11:00 AM.