Page 8 - Young Wise

Eren YILMAZ

TURKISH LITERATURE SELECTION:

The Voice of Independence

Mehmet Akif ERSOY

Every nation has a strong voice that gives people hope in dark times. For Türkiye,
that voice is Mehmet Akif Ersoy. We know him as the writer of the Turkish
National Anthem (İstiklal Marşı). However, he is much more than a poet. He is
a great symbol of honesty, hard work, and true love for his country.

A MAN OF MANY TALENTS THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Mehmet Akif was born in During the Turkish War of Independence, the country was going
1873 in İstanbul. From a very through very difficult days. The government decided that the
young age, he loved reading nation needed an anthem
and writing poems. But he to motivate the soldiers
did not study literature. and the people. They
Instead, he studied organised a competition
veterinary medicine and with a big prize. Over
became a very successful 700 poets joined this
student. competition.
He was also very active However, Mehmet Akif
in his daily life. He loved did not want to write
sports, especially traditional a poem for it. Why?
wrestling and swimming. He Because he strongly
was very good at learning believed that a person
languages, too. He could cannot write a national
speak Arabic, Persian, and anthem for benefit.
French perfectly. His life shows us a great lesson: you can be good For him, writing for his
at science, sports, and arts at the same time. You just need to country was a duty, not
work hard. a job.

6