Sabahattin Ali English

8/13/2019 Sabahattin Ali English

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Translated by Meral Akay blak

TRAGIC end of a TURKISH WRITER

SABAHATTN AL

DURING COLD WAR ERA

By

TUNCER CCENOLU

Tran!a"ed #y

$ERAL AK%A& %IBLAK

T'n(er C'(eno)!'

e-mail: [email protected]@hotmail.com

www.tuncercucenoglu.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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CAST

Sabahattin Ali: Turkish novelist and story writer. About 40 years of age.

Ali Ertekin:Disharged !unior offier" who lai#s to have #urdered $abahattin Ali. About 40years of age.Man in Mask:%dentity not known. &ro# the beginning to the end of the 'lay" he overs hisfae with a #ask that gives hi# a serious look.

Aliye:$abahattin Ali(s wifeFiliz: $abahattin Ali(s daughter.Sheyla: $abahattin Ali(s sister.Talip Apaydn: )riter.nsal: A hildhood friend of $abahattin Ali.

Naci: A hildhood friend of $abahattin Ali.Sevgi Sanl: Translator" $abahattin Ali(s 'en friend.

Nihal Atsz: *+,teaher" raist" Turanist.Hasan zettin !ina"#: -oet and writer.Naz" Hik"et: -oet and writer.$ekeriya Sertel: wner of Tan /ews'a'er" !ournalist.Nail %akrhan: -oetarhitet.Hseyin: A onvit fro# $ino' -rison.Ay&e: Teaher" $abahattin Ali(s friend.Nahit: Teaher" one of $abahattin Ali(s beloved wo#en.Mediha Esenel: &aulty #e#ber.Meh"et 'aha: A friend of $abahattin Ali fro# $hool of *duationNiyazi A(rnasl: -olitiian" a friend of $abahattin Ali fro# #ilitary servie.

Meh"et: ne of $abahattin Ali(s relatives.)eli !e"ir*z: A teaher fro# 1illage %nstitute


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Aziz Nesin: 2u#orist.+,at -lgaz: 2u#orist.Hal.k /eti&: Diretor of Marko'asha /ews'a'erMeh"et Ali 0i"c#z: 3awyer.Hasan T.ral: arber" an i##igrant fro# ulgaria.

+asih N.ri leri: %nvestigative writer" friend of $abahattin Ali.Mzehher )a1N.: A lose fa#ily friend2e"al 'ayra": 5ournalist" writer.3kr 4#lat: 3iutenant in the ar#y.

$eki 2ayrakl: %ntelligene ffier25k Filiz: $abahattin Ali(s daughter about 6,7 years old.2adn: Ali *rtekin(s wife0e"al 2.tay: 5ournalist

Melek 0elal: A rih wo#an.Minister.6.dge

Important note:7ne act#r "ay play "#re than #ne character8

SCENE

&ro# the audienes view" the benhes are arranged on the left" right and at the enter of the

stage for all the ast #e#bers e+e't for the viti# 8$abahattin Ali9 and the defendant 8Ali*rtekin9. They will sit in designated two hairs in the #iddle of the stage. Also right arossfro# the audiene there is an elevated stage area where the #an in #ask resides at all ti#es.

&EAR* +,-./+,.0

1LACE* TURKE&

ACT I

The #an in #ask" a #ask that gives hi# a serious look" takes his 'lae on the stage.Throughout the 'lay" so#eti#es he will go through so#e files" take and 'lae 'hone alls andat ti#es he will wath other 'layers on the stage. $abahattin Ali and Ali *rtekin" he wholai#s to have #urdered $abahattin Ali" take their designated 'laes in the #iddle of thestage. )ith the start of the #usi" Ali *rtekin 'uts on a s#iling( #ask. 2iding a stik behindhi#" he starts walking around $abahattin Ali" waiting for !ust the right #o#ent...And hesuddenly starts hitting hard on $abahattin Ali(s head with the stik. &ew #ore

strikes...$abahattin Ali olla'ses and lies dead on the floor. Musi $to's. Ali *rtekin takes$abahattin Ali(s ring off of his finger and 'uts it in his own 'oket. 2e goes through


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$abahattin Ali(s 'okets and finds his wallet and noties the #oney in it. 2e 'uts the wallet inhis 'oket also. ;rabbing $abahattin Ali(s suitase he walks away fro# the sene.The rest of the 'layers take their sits on both sides of the stage where they will re#ain untilthe end of the 'lay. Ali *rtekin has taken his #ask off and he has sat in his designated hair.9the light ill ,#c.s #n the acting player;

HASAN ZZETTN DNAMO: % a# 2asan During an investigation of an organi=ation that is

believed to snuggle 'eo'le into ulgaria" a disharged breahed sergeant na#ed Ali *rtekinhas been sus'eted to have onnetion to the organi=ation and brought to the 'olieheadFuarters for interrogation2At his interrogation on K7 Dee#ber ?47" Ali *rtekin haslai#ed to be the #urderer of the dead body found" whih he also lai#s to be $abahattinAli(s body.I

TALP APAYDIN:)e had been drafted to the ar#y servie" and % was assigned as a sergeantby the order of the Ministry. )ith our bak'aks on" we were being trained in great e+ertionon AyaL #ountains. There were no news'a'ers to read" so we had no idea what washa''ening in the world. The lieutenant yelled during a training session: >Tali' A'aydnN>Oo#e hereN % assu#ed he would stand #e u' in front of hi#" urse" threaten and give #e along s'eeh as usual. % ran u' to hi# right u' on his order" and stood at his attention. 2e had anews'a'er in his hand. % ould never detet a trae of s#ile on his fae nor#ally" but he had adark s#ile on his fae this ti#e. 2e waved the news'a'er and added: >Do you know that oneof your guys have been =a''edPN2e handed the news'a'er to #e" and walked away with hishands rossed on the bak. My heart started 'ounding and #y vision getting dark. % washardly standing u'. % set down on a s#all #ound to read. % ould hardly see the headline of thenews: >The Oo##unist writer $abahattin Ali has been #urdered at the border of ulgariawhile trying to esa'e the ountry. 9as the light ,#c.ses #n Sabahattin Ali< all players #n the

stage;

LAMENT FOR SABAHATTN AL)e gave the la#b to the wolf"save hi# we said.)hat a 'ity it ould nothe was left in e+eutioner(s hands

The soft fae of infidelityDeeived hi# insidiously2ow ould he believe the#P2e gave his life to a s#ile

-uskin and ;orky on one side"


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/esi#i on the other.And his reading glasses on one side"the killer stik on the other

%s it worthy of hi#

to die like thisP)hat did he drea# of all his lifeother than a beautiful worldP

Qet" is it 'ossible to #urdera #an like hi#POan the world he reatedalso be buried with hi#P

AL ERTEKN:9 Stands .p8 He see"s very nerv#.s8 He acts as i, he is ansering =.esti#nsat a trial8 S#.nd #, a typeriter888;

*rtekin...Ali...QaLar...AyLe...EskC'. % was born in artal ounty of EskC'...%n Qugoslavia. % live in %stanbul...%n Anadolu2isar" in Qeni#ahalle...% a# #arried" % have a son...% #urdered $abahattin Ali" but % did not #urder hi# intentionally. % !ust wanted to knok hi#down so % ould have hi# arrested. Did not do this to take his #oney or belongings. % did it

beause of #y 'atrioti e#otions...% believe % have served #y ountry by doing this" and %e+'et a''lause fro# you all

MAN IN MASK:9reads ,r#" a ,ile that is in ,r#nt #, hi";$abahattin Ali was born in *Rridereounty of ;C#Cline on KG &ebruary" ?06. 2is father" Ali $elahattin of Oihangir" was aninfantry lieutenant. 2is #other" 2Csniye" was a Oirassian fro# Oauasia. 2Csniye(s fatherwas also an ar#y offier.9he cl#ses the ,ile< "arks a cr#ss #n it< and places #n the side8;

SABAHATTN AL9 as i, chatting ith a >#.rnalist9)hen #y 'arents got #arried" #y father was thirty and #y #other was fourteen years old. %nother words" #y father was si+teen years older than #y #other. % was born as the first hild of

the fa#ily in *Rridere. Do you want to know why #y father na#ed #e $abahattinP As youknow fathers tend to na#e their hildren after their 'olitial heroes. $o hildren(s( na#esusually arry in the# a hint fro# their fathers 'olitial tendeny. )ell" beause #y father wassuh an advoate of -rine $abahattin(s ideas" he na#ed #e after hi# My father was so

'roud of having #et -rine $abahattin 'ersonally. My brother(s na#e is &ikret. 2e gets hisna#e fro# the fa#ous 'oet Tevfik &ikret: another hero of #y father. % ould say #y fatherwas an o'en #inded ar#y offier who loved literature. 2e was also fond of Qoung Turks.2e was a 'artisan of freedo#. 2e knew #any of Tevfik &ikret(s 'oe#s by heart" es'eiallyhis fa#ous 'oe# The &og(. 2e would reite it anywhere" at any oasion when he had ahane.9>.st like his ,ather;888

Again the hori=on has been overed by a 'ersistent fog"


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%t is a white darkness that 'rogressively enlarges.*verything under it" looks as if erased"3ike a dense olletion of dust are the 'itures for#ed.$uh a dusty and fearso#e density thatno eyes an dare see through.

Qou deserve this dee' and dark over"Qou deserve this overing" you" the land of ruelQou" the land of ruel" you" the bright stage...

To the never ending great liesTo the rights being e+iled fro# the ourtsTo the 'eo'le who have lost sensible feelings out of fear and sus'iionTo the urious ears strething u' to the onsienes of 'eo'leTo the #ouths loked out of fear of being listenedTo the forgotten fae of honor and sha#eTo the great" fa#ous 'eo'le who have been doubled u'

by the heavy load of fear on their shoulders...To the heads bowed down"lear looking heads #ay be" but disgusting.To those desolate hildren...To those double faed laughters...Oover yourself u'" you" the disaster Oover yourself u'" you" the ityOover yourself u' and slee' to the eternityQou" the bastard world

My father would read suh 'rints likeServet- F!n"n# $a%&a' an( )t(at. 2e had taught #eto read even one year before % started ele#entary shool" so % knew he had olleted all theissues of these 'rints. 2e was interested in #usi also. 2e ould 'lay #andolin and flute. Qouould tell he was a #ulti,talented 'erson... My #other" 2Csniye" was a beautiful" attrativewo#an. $he en!oyed dressing u'. $he would read novels all the ti#e. 2owever" she wouldFuarrel with #y father onstantly. $he was never kind to #y father. $he was very aggressivetowards hi#" and she would always find a way to reate inidents at ho#e.% think she loved #y little brother &ikret #ore than she loved #e. $he had s'oiled hi#.)hen % turned seven years old" % started ele#entary shool in %stanbul" but after #y 'arents#oved to anakkale % ontinued #y eduation in anakkale. My father had rented a house atThe Dardanelles. ur shools were losed due to )orld )ar %" beause there were no

teahers left at shool. %t was not long before the shools were re,o'ened" but this ti#e theteahers were #ilitary offiers. My father was teahing Turkish at shool.2e would drink a double of Sak every night" and !ust before going to his bed he wouldwhis'er in #y ear: >% a# going to slee'" your #other is losing it againN My #other and&ikret would slee' early also. % would always sit on the balony and wath the idle vessels orthe few shi's trying to 'ass through the Dardanelles... ne night after everyone went toslee'" % got out of #y bed and went out to the balony again. The annons that were situatedin Dardanelles like iron fists to blok the way to %stanbul were at their everyday loation.3ike dark silhouettes were the annons. Although" aording to #y father" they were there forour seurity they were frightening. % es'eially 'referred wathing the shi's that were restingin the #oonlight and drea#. That was what % was doing again. % was drea#ing of getting on

the shi' and going to far away 'laes. Then" % was not willing to go alone. % wanted #y fatherto o#e with #e . ut never #y #other eause she always fights with #y father. % did not


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want #y little brother either. 2e ould stay with #o# sine #y #o# loves hi# #ore anyway.As % was having these thoughts" &ikret suddenly a''eared ne+t to #e. A''arently" he ouldnot slee' either. >Oan % stay here with youPN he asked. >$ureN % said. 2e Fuietly sat ne+t to#e. 2e was trying to be Fuiet even while he was taking breath. % guess he knew % did not like#y drea#s to be interru'ted. $o" he was wathing the shi's with #e.

9 Everyhere starts lighting .p s.ddenly8 Then gets dark right a,ter888Then n#ises likehistle888 And than the g.ns and b#"bs8 As i, he lives hat he tells888;&ikret i##ediately grabbed #y hand. -oor hild was shaking with fear. 2is eyes were wideo'en. % guess he was trying to understand what was ha''ening. % wra''ed #y ar#s aroundhi#. )e stayed !ust like that...&ro=en... o#bs started dro''ing near the shi's... As the

bo#bs were s'lashing in the sea" tall and white water olu#ns" !ust like #inarets" were beingfor#ed towards the sky. The shi's were trying to esa'e...ne gets hit9S.ddenly .pr#ar breaks #.t in the sky;Air'lanes are a''roahing...h #y ;od )here is #y fatherP )hy is he not o#ing to resueusP -eo'le are !u#'ing in to the sea fro# the targeted shi's. They are trying to swi# to theshore to save the#selves. &ikret has al#ost gotten hi#self glued to #e. 2e is shaking. h no"

you an(t all this shaking he is tre#blingout of fear.&irst #y father" than #y #other a#e running to us. Mo# grabbed &ikret" and dad grabbed#e. )e are heading to the streets. -eo'le are fleeing away on arriages. They are leaving theity. )e get on a arriage too. Mo# starts ausing dad: >Qou forgot the blanketsN Dad goes

bak ho#e without saying a word" and o#es bak with blankets...Together with all disoriented" onfused 'eo'le we are away fro# the ity now. )e an barelyhear the noises now. Then no noise an be heard any#ore... Then" &ikret to #y #o#: >% a#...% a#... % a#... % a# old.N That night &ikret started to stutter.&ew #onths later" dad resigned fro# his work due to serious heart 'roble#s he haddevelo'ed. Mother(s hysteria had gotten worse. % was the only nor#al 'erson in the fa#ily.ne day #y dad said > %t is i#'ossible to live here any#ore. The bo#bshells won(t likely tosto'. )e shell #ove to Don(t even go beause you are too late alreadyN And #y father would say N/o#atter what" we are going awayN % re#e#ber all of this" beause % was si+ years old then.)e had arrived to a 'lae alled avuLkUy where we started hearing first gun shots. )e wereeleven #ales. ne of the# was fro# Albania. *ven Albanian wo#en had guns. % was ridingon a horse and others were on their foot. )e were under fire The o''osite grou' wasonstantly firing on us. % saw a wo#an get hit. $he dro''ed her baby on a side and she was

fluttering. )e were trying to get ahead but the gunfire was getting denser. ur #en were alsofiring when #y father srea#ed >h #y ;odN 2e was shot by his foot. $o" % was taken offthe horse so #y father ould get on. % was 'raying for #y father. % did not want hi# to die.That night we settled by a s#all reek near a water#ill. The o''osite grou' surrounded us.They were large in nu#ber. My father tried to sneak away fro# us" but it was not long beforewe heard gunshots again. 3ater we learned that it was #y father who was shot to death. ur#en wra''ed their guns with white loth to hoist the white flag to surrender. 2owever" a

'riest a#e by the reek and started firing on us with his rifle. A or'oral fro# Sa#a yelledto the 'riest >)e surrender" we surrenderN Then he held his hands u' in the air. The 'riestfilled his gun few #ore ti#es fired again. )e all lied flat on the ground. 3ater we were takento a Turkish 2o#e. All of us were being hea'ed u' in that house. 3ater that night" three #an

with guns a''eared. They talked to our #en and left. At dawn in the #orning" wo#en


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suggested that no #en should get out. )e did not listen to the# an all of the #en were killedother than %. They looked at #e" and thought % was too young so they s'eared #y life.

SABAHTTN AL:)e settled in


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Berif ARa(s son Ali. Ali would always 'rotet $abahattin fro# bully boys for he was a huskyboy. %n fat one he had sto''ed Bakir when he atte#'ted to hit $abahattin. $abahattin Ali(s#other was an angry wo#enJ$he was loser to her younger son &ikret. $he would sold$abahattin on all oasions and even would s'ank hi# so#eti#es. 2is #other(s biased

behavior was hurting $abahattin dee'ly. Thus" he was attahed to his father. 2e ould

understand the struggle his dad was having to bring ho#e a loaf of bread. After all his dadwas going through" wathing his #other fight with his dad was da#aging hi# dee'ly. 2efound his father(s drinking habit nor#al beause of this.$abahattin was one of the best students at *dre#it *le#entary shool. Although he was Fuietand withdrawn he was a very bright and hardworking student. %n fat at ti#es he would giveletures to his lass when the teaher was absent. 2is unle /a=#i ey loved $abahattindearly. 2e would o#e to visit $abahattin often" and bring hi# books. $abahattin would readthese books with a great 'assionJarber 2Cseyin *fendi(s bookstore was another 'lae $abahattin ould find books to read.2Cseyin *fendi was an eduated" knowledgeable and affetionate 'erson. y all #eans" hewas an unonventional 'erson. 8ohe#ian9 2e would listen to $abahattin(s o##ents about

the books with 'atiene and hel' hi# understand the setions $abahattin ould notunderstand.

SABAHATTN AL:% started working to hel' &ather. % hang a bag over #y nek filled withgoods" and visited ;reek neighborhoods shouting" >Makaradis kovarikos MakaradiskovarikosN % seleted ;reek neighborhoods to sell goods" beause % would be verye#barrassed if any of our Turkish neighbors" who thought of us as a well off fa#ily" saw #esell goods on the streets.%n fat" % did not want the# to have 'ity on us.% would o#e bak ho#e fro# #y work late at night e+hausted. My father would take off #y

bag" and give #e a kiss. Then he would ount the #oney % earned. 2e would give #e anotherkiss if the ount was high. 2e would give #e a kiss even if % had not sold a single ite#. &or heknew how #uh % struggled to sell" when % ould not sell anything" he would be dee'lysaddened on #y behalf" but he would always try to hide his tears fro# #e. After a whilefather o'ened a store in *dre#it" but still he was going fro# one village to another like a

'eddler to sell #ore beause even with his own store he was having hard ti#e bringing ho#eenough #oney. 2e would want #e to write one day... write about all those 'eo'le % #et. %nfat" #y first writings onsist of #y observations of 'eo'le during those days.

SE+, SANLI:% a# $evgi $anl... % a# one of those who is honored to be $abahattin Ali(sorres'ondent.

2e would address #e as his onfidant. %n one of his first letters" he had told #e that he hadtaken his first writing lessons fro# his father. )ell.." % think it would #ake #ore sense if %told you how % #et $abahattin Ali" and how we started writing to eah other first.% #et $abahattin Ali during #y first adolesene years in %=#ir. % was a student at ;U=te'eA#erian ;irls Oollege. My father owned the 2alkin $esi 81oie of -ubli9 news'a'er. urho#e was always full of writers" artists and !ournalists. % #et very fa#ous and i#'ortant

'eo'le like $uat DerviL" 2alikarnas alks at #y father(s house. At that ti#e" $abahattinAli was teahing dition lasses at Ankara $tate Oonservatory. 2e was a well known writer.)e had heard of his na#e but" had never read his works. A#ong #y father(s visitors was ayoung #an" A=i= ey" who was very interested in literature. n one of his visits" he told usthat he knew $abahattin Ali well" and that in fat he was a friend of $abahattin Ali. )hen

A=i= ey saw #y interest in literature" he wrote $abahattin Ali a letter asking hi# to send hisautogra'hed books to #e. That is how % started reeiving books fro# $abahattin Ali one after


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anotherJ% and #other and father read his books in no ti#eJ)e were #es#eri=ed by hisworks. $o" % wrote hi# a letter stating #y ad#iration and thanks to hi#. 2e re'lied shortlyafter. %n this first letter written with green ink" his o'inions about writers affeted #e dee'ly.

SABAHATN AL: 8as i, reading ,r#" his letters9

Don(t overesti#ate the writers you like. An artist is like a hand filled with gold. %f you takeaway the gold" re#ains are sand and 'ebbles...Don(t deify writers in your #inds. They arealso 'eo'le !ust like you.

SE+, SANLI:2e liked $o'holes as a 'lay writer. f his works $abahattin Ali es'eiallyliked ing edi'us and Antigone. 2e would often say >%n these 'lays the way 'eo'le arede'ited" dra#ati 'rogress" and the beauty of the language is ine+'liableN. 2e thought ofthese 'lays as Fuite onte#'orary. As our orres'ondene 'rogressed our fa#ilies got toknow eah other also. )henever $abahattin Ali" his wife Aliye" and little daughter &ili= a#eto %=#ir they would visit us. )e were thrilled to have the# as our guests.ur #eetings and orres'ondene ontinued in Ankara and in %stanbul. 2e would #ention

about #any different sub!ets. %n one of his letters" he had #entioned about how he startedwriting stories. )hen his retired father was working as a 'eddler to #ake a living" he wouldtake little $abahattin with hi# fro# one ba=aar to anotherJ

SABAHATTN AL:9keeps #n reading?;3adies would buy silk thread fro# #y basket and stroke #y head at the ba=aar. &ather alwayswanted #e to write about what % saw at the ba=aar. ne day" % was given an assign#ent fro#shool to write an assay about how #y $unday was. % had started #y assay like this: >% wokeu' to #y father(s sweet voie early in the #orning....N &ather got #ad u' on reading this andyelled: >;et out of here" you liar son of a gun % an hardly wake you u' early in the#orning... My father(s sweet voie(...2ow an #y voie sound sweet to youP %f you want to

be a writer" you should write the way you feel" but you should only write the truthNAfter graduating fro# ele#entary shool" % attended alikesir Teaher Training $hool.My best friend there was /ai. % 'rodued #ost of #y first works during these years. % wassending #y works to be 'ublished" however no 'ublishers atte#'ted to 'ublish the# in theirnews'a'ers or #aga=ines. Qet" suh a great ha''iness it is to see your works 'ublished innews'a'ers or #aga=ines. % had no other hoie than solving #y 'roble# on #y own: % and#y friends started to 'ublish a news'a'er at shool. This wall news'a'er was the first 'laewhere #y 'oe#s and writings first a''eared. As % was evaluating #y writings" % was buildingonfidene. )ith all this e+ite#ent" % started kee'ing a !ournal also. 2eneforth" % wasreading novels" going to #ovies and when available in the town wathing 'lays with /ai.

NA: During the last two years at *dre#it *le#entary $hool % and $abahattin werelass#ates. oth of our fathers were ar#y offiers. After graduating fro# ele#entary shoolin ?K?" we a''lied for free boarding shool of #ilitary. 2owever" we were infor#ed that bythe order of the Oali'h" that year the #ilitary shools were not ae'ting new students. )ewere dee'ly sorry for the newsJ ne year later we a''lied to alikesir Teaher Training$hool and registered at the shool. $abahattin(s nu#ber was K@" and #y nu#ber was K6.)e were sitting ne+t to eah other. $abahattin was a #anly" trustworthy" s#art and honorablefriend. 2e was not a hardworking student. 2owever" he would always get the highest gradesfro# e+a#s.2e loved reading novels. During study hours" he would 'ull hi#self to the bak of the roo#

snaking on dried 'u#'kin seed he would read 3es Mserables" -ardaillans" and Around the)orld in 70 Days in a blink of ti#e.


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2e started writing seriously in his seond year at shool. 2is first work was a short storyna#ed 2oro= Meh#et. ur literature teaher Mr. ;a=ali ey liked the story very #uh hes'oke very highly about $abahattin in front of the whole lass. This enouraging talk gave$abahattin ourage. 2e started writing 'oe#s. 2e loved the shoolJut" everything hanged one day. There was a 'erfor#ane at ;irls Teaher Training $hool

and we were not allowed to attend to this 'erfor#ane. 2owever" $abahattin suggested thatwe all went and wathed the 'lay no #atter what. /obody wanted to break the rules but$abahattin. 2e 'ulled a over over his head and went to the 'lay. Hnfortunately he wasre'orted to the 'rini'al by another student" AbdClkadir" who was the #ost hardworkingstudent of our lass but never got the sa#e attention fro# the literature teaher for hiswritings. The 'rini'al literally waited for $abahattin(s return and before $abahattine+'lained anything with a roaring voie: >Don(t s'end your #oney" % a# sending you bak toyour fatherN the 'rini'al yelled at $abahattin. $abahattin was sent to the disi'linary board.2e was saredJ2e was sared of being e+'elled fro# shool. 2e a#e to #e with anenvelo'e in his hand one night.

SABAHATTIN AL: ee' this envelo'e. Qou shall o'en it later.

NAJ2e said and walked away. % notied the ro'e he had wra''ed around hi#self. )hyshould % o'en the envelo'e laterP % got sus'iious. % found a Fuiet orner and o'ened theenvelo'e. %t was a 'oe#

SABAHATTN ALMy dear friend /ai"They are going to e+'el #e fro# the shool.)hat would you doif they e+'elled youP

2ere" % have deided"% a# going to die tonight.Don(t be sad"&or % will be in the skiesJ

NA: h #y ;od $abahattin is going to o##it suiide 2e is going to hang hi#self with

that ro'e )hat should % doP % ran to the teaher on duty and told hi# the whole story. 2e was'aniked. &irst we ran to the dor#itory.. 2e was not there. Then we took the stairs to thebakyard... The teaher was running and asking any student he run in to: have you seen$abahattinP )ith an ar#y of students behind us we a#e to the bakyard. )hat a sight #etour eyes $abahattin had li#bed u' to a tree and he was trying to fi+ the ro'e to the largetrunk of the tree. 2e was getting ready to hang hi#self The teaher srea#ed with fear: Areyou out of your #indP /obody will e+'el you fro# the shool. 3et that ro'e go$abahattin released the ro'e without even 'aying attention to the teaher(s last words. 2eated as if he had antii'ated suh kind of a res'onse fro# the shool. 2e li#bed down thetree as if nothing out of ordinary had ha''ened... % still re#e#ber the gratitude filled s#ile heseretly

gave #e after all...


12/55


SABAHATTN AL:% had really thought that they would e+'el #e fro# shool. 2ow ould %fae fatherP 5ust when % was about to graduate fro# shool in a year" all #y efforts would goto waste. % used #y talent as a story writer and #ade the# believe #y story to avoid beinge+'elled fro# the shool. % sueeded...% wanted the# to e+use #e but % did not want to begfor an e+use that would hurt #y 'ride. )ell" #y story worked % got #yself out of trouble

NA:That is right. $abahattin was only given a notie. 2owever" $abahattin lost interest inshool after this event. 2is o''onent AbdClkadir was onstantly re'orting hi# to the

'rini'al: >$abahattin reads novels" writes e#'ty 'oe#s" and never studies during studyhoursN

SABAHATTN AL: AbdClkeri# was really bothering #e. As #y stories and 'oe#s werebeo#ing 'o'ular a#ong our teahers and the students" he was getting #ore !ealous. 2e wentfurther than !ust re'orting #e to the 'rini'al. )here ever we a#e aross eah other" hewould shoulder #e and try to tri' #e down. %n fat" on one oasion he had tri''ed #e downso harshly that our teahers had hardly sto''ed #y nose fro# bleeding. 2owever" % never told

on hi#. eause #y father had instruted #e on not telling on anyone. % would be !ust likehi# if % told on hi# rightP $ine he was a well built hild % ould never handle hi# by #yself.2is behaviors got worse. % wanted to ontinue #y eduation in 3et go off #e % want to die... &ather was soe#barrassed" but he was still trying to sto' #other fro# !u#'ing in to the water. )e the kidswere holding on to #others legs and lothing to sto' out boat fro# sinking. &inally we got

bak ho#e but in what ondition: all torn u' &ikret wasn(t even able to sta##er any#ore.

*ventually" #other was hos'itali=ed in the &renh 2os'ital in


13/55


#onths he ould not afford it any#ore. $o we had to take #other bak ho#e although shewas not fully reovered. 3ater on with the hel' of a friend we were able to 'ut her in Veyne'a#il 2os'ital for free. %n the #ean ti#e" &ather had to withdraw &ikret fro# shool forfinanial reasons and he was also trying to take are of $Cheyla. 2e ould not bear all this onhis shoulders any#ore and finally he got ill towards the end of fall....And he died... 2e ould

not even see that #other was doing better... 2e left us !ust like thatMother was rying with guilt > % know % #ade your father suffer but believe #e it was all outof #y hands" % ould not ontrol #yselfN 3osing #y father was so unbearable for #e. $uh a

'ain to lose your father... % guess those who have lost their fathers will understand what %#ean rightP

My dear ;odToday"is the darkest day of #y 'oor life.

Today" % learned the dark news:

The death of #y father% a# du#founded with sorrow2The !oy of life is gone.The news took away the s#ile fro# #y li's.

%t feels as if #y heart is being arved.3ord 2ow 'ainful the death is.

The hands that stroked #y fae"5ust few days ago"Are turning in to dirt now.

Those that were lose to #e !ust like #y own body"Are drifting away now.

h &ather...5ust u' until yesterday% was able to rest #y head on your hest.

elieve #e &ather"This fire has dried #y tears.

AL ERTEKN:)e fled to Turkey in ?K4. &irst we settled in ars" and after a year we#oved to


14/55


SABAHATTN AL: % graduated fro# Teahing $hool in ?K6. % was a''ointed to anele#entary shool in Oentral Anatolia. Those days % was e+hanging letters with literatureteaher /ahit. /ahit was a beautiful girl.

NAHT: % and $abahattin #et eah other at a training ourse. 2is writing skills had attrated

#y attention. )e started writing to eah other after he was a''ointed to his first !ob as ateaher. %n one of his letters that had started with >Dear /ahitN he was telling #e about the

'laes he was living.N This 'lae is going to drive #e ra=y There is nothing here. %#agine a'lae where there is no single 'erson to have a real talk ... *veryone is so ordinary and banal.The whole ity is surrounded by ste''es. All #ountains are as bare as they an be ut rightahead there is a 'ine forest... *ven that forest does not blend well with the rest of the landhere. elieve #e it looks like a green velvet,'ath on a dirty s#ok of a groery store lerkMountains.... They have no trees or even a big rok on the#. All are overed with 'ebbles noteven soil% have been taking strolling in and around the ity in ho'es of finding a 'erson to hat. %t isi#'ossible to find an intelletual 'erson here. % a# very lonely. &eeling so lonely in this big

rowd is 'ainful. % #iss everything about %stanbul the ho#es" the 'eo'le and the os'orus...N

SABAHATTN AL: f ourse there was love in this longing. 9t# Nahit;% love you so #uh.

NAHT: % love you too $abahattin" but !ust as a friend -lease let(s not take this relationshi'to different 'oints.

SABAHATTN AL:*verybody needs so#eone to share their 'ain and thoughts /ahit" and %an(t thing of a better 'erson than you who ould understand #e. % love you like a real friendtoo. % wish % had a sibling like you... % was saying these but" still writing 'oe#s for /ahit...

% devoted #yself to a ho'eless love"/ever" % was given any affetion or o#'li#ent.)hile kneeling down to announe #y love"% felt a sla' at #y fae in her eyes.

This is a single sided love dear ;od)hile des'air is invading by brain"% still love her... My ;od% have not seen a love affair like this...

)hen % a#e to %stanbul for $u##er voation % learned that Ministry of *duation wassending teahers to *uro'e for eduation. % needed to take an e+a# for it. % took the e+a# and'assed. % was going to stay in ;er#any for four years. After staying in erlin for a while %#oved to -otsda#. % had settled in a board house... % had to learn ;er#an as Fuikly as

'ossible. % started taking lessons fro# an e+, sergeant who s'oke so#e Turkish. % was alsoattending a language institute. ;er#any was not Fuite stable those days. 3eft wing was strong

but une#'loy#ent" ho'elessness and haos" was nurturing 2itler. 2e was gaining 'owerslowly. ;er#an nationalis# was on the rise. Qoung ;er#an sergeants were the #ainsu''orters of this nationalisti rise. %n fat" ;er#an a'italis# was trying to o'e with haos"and establish its own ditatorshi'. There was an inreasing anti,$e#itis#" and ani#ositytowards all foreigners.


15/55


NHAL ATSIZ: % a# /ihal Ats=J $abahattin Ali was #y friend then. Although he wasreading Turgenyef" ;orky" ;ogol" -uskin and likes of Sussian writer(s works he was alsovery 'atrioti. )e had a great friendshi'. 2e had told #e how he got e+'elled fro# his shoolin ;er#any: ne day one of his ;er#an lass#ates #akes a o##ent to $abahattin >)eshould kik all 'arasite Turks fro# our ountyN $abahattin !u#'s fro# his hair and: >our

govern#ent 'ays your govern#ent #oney for us to be here" we are not 'arasites" take yourwords bakN f ourse the ;er#an student does not take his words bak and $abahattinsla#s hi# on the fae very hardJ Hnfortunately this event beo#es the news and ;er#an$hool delares that they don(t want a student like $abahattin. $o" $abahattin gets sent bak toTurkey. )ho ould i#agine that suh a 'atriot would have ideas of trading and betraying hisountry8 The "an in "ask starts ,#ll#ing Sabahattin Ali ith his eyes888;

ZEKERYA SERTEL: At the ti#e $abahattin returned fro# ;er#any we were 'ublishingSesi#li Ay. 2e a#e to #y offie and asked :N Are you Vekeriya $ertelPN" >QesN % said. 2ewas a short" blond" ute young #an. )e all loved hi# in suh a short ti#e. %t was i#'ossible

not to love so#eone like hi# so s#art" full of life" a 'ersonality that did not reogni=erestritive boundaries. 2e liked reading ;oethe and Tho#as Mann a lot. 2e would alwaystake their books with hi# where ever he went. %n the #ean ti#e /a=i# 2ik#et was alsoworking at Sesi#li Ay. /a=i# also thought $abahattin was a 'ro#ising treasure

NAZIM HKMET: % was working at Sesi#li Ay as an editor and tehnial seretary. Sesi#liAy had attrated #any intelletual and 'atrioti elites. %t had o'ened a war against ulturaland religious organi=ations suh as >ible $oietyN and >Qoung Ohristians AssoiationNwhih were in fat believed to be the voie of A#erian i#'erialis#. n the other hand"$oviet Hnion was being introdued to 'ubli by Sesi#li Ay. ne day a s#all built young #anwith glasses a''eared at the #ain offie of Sesi#li Ay.

SABAHATTN AL: My na#e is $abahattin Ali.

NAZIM HKMET:And % a# /a=# 2ik#et.

SABAHATTN AL:% know your na#e as well as your 'oe#s. % ad#ire you... % know;er#an. % write short stories. %n fat % brought one with #e. % would be honored if you ouldread and give #e your o'inion.

NAZIM HKMET:% will red it right away. ;lad to #eet you.

SABAHATTN AL:$o a# %.

NAZIM HKMET: $aid the young #an" and left. % read his story right away. The story wasabout e'isodes fro# workers of &orestry. Although the effet of ;er#an ro#anti=# wasobvious in the story" it was a new ste' in Turkish writing as far as the ontent was onerned.Qou ould notie that he was a talented writer fro# his first sentenes. y bringing his storyto Sesi#li Ay to be 'ublished" $abahattin Ali was aware that he would be 'art of the waragainst i#'erialis#. During our ti#es together $abahattin #e#ori=ed Tolstoy" Oehov" ;orkyand Bolohov. 2is relationshi' with #e and with 'eo'le around Sesi#li Ay hel'ed hi# reali=ethe soialist ideas. %sn(t that so Mrs. $abihaP


16/55


SABHA SERTEL: $abahattin had learned about soialist literature in ;er#any and wasalready leaning towards soialist ideas when he returned to Turkey. Qou ould see the luesof this fro# the stories he brought to us" or atually to you. 2owever the idea of soialis# hadnot o#'letely for#ed in his #ind. Qou 'ulled hi# not only in to realis#" but also in tosoialist ideas. %n fat you were also the one who enouraged hi# to write novels. 8The "an

in "ask "akes a ph#ne call8 N#thing can be .nderst##d ,r#" his talk #n the ph#ne;

SABAHATTN AL:% had started working at Aydn oys Art $hool as a teaher afterreturning bak fro# ;er#any. 5ust when % had o#e to %stanbul for $u##er vaation % wasarrested by seret servie and brought bak to Aydn. Aording to allegations a news'a'erna#ed > Sed


17/55


SABAHATTN AL: )hy should % be 'atientP Qour sales have gone u'. The a#ount youwill 'ay #e is so little. -lease res'et #y rights" and #ake #y 'ay#ent as soon as 'ossible.

EMAL K.TAY: A# % going to learn res'et fro# youP

SABAHATTN AL: f ourse you will -ay #e for o'yrights i##ediately

EMAL K.TAY:)hat if % won(t 'ayP

SABAHATTN AL: % won(t let you 'ublish #y novel

EMAL K.TAY:Then sto' it if you an %f you try any suh thing you will 'ay a big 'riefor it

SABAHATTN AL: 2e was threatening #e by saying this. % left his offie angry.% sent hi# an offiial notie fro# the notary 'ubli. They had to sto' 'ublishing #y novel.

Sight in the wake of this % reeived a notie fro# the ourt. Allegedly" % had ited a 'oe#before 'ubli seven #onths ago in whih % atiri=ed our -resident AtatCrk.

2ear #e those who an not se'arate fro# #otherland2ave the dirty reeks leared u'P2as the blood sto''ed sheddingP2ave the big goals being ahievedPDo they still hang those who believe in 'eo'lePDo they a''oint the lowns as senatorsPDoes eah villager have a 'low nowP2ave all the bony o+en o#e to lifeP

8The "an in "ask places ph#ne calls9The trial ourt was 'aked with students and other audienes. My lawyer had o#e fro#%stanbul... % said this in su##ary: > Qour 2onor" the 'oe# in Fuestion was ins'ired fro# aektasi 'rotest that took 'lae in $ivas. %t was written in ;er#any. $o#e 'arts of the 'oe#have been hanged by these delators. The na#e of AtatCrk is never #entioned in the 'oe#.

The fat is that Mr. utay 'ublished #y novel in his news'a'er and #ade no 'ay#ents to #e.2ene" % sto''ed the 'ubliation. 2e is trying taking revenge now along with his fellow friendteaher Mustafa by trying to bring #e down. These witnesses" Se#=i and *#in $oysal are hisrelatives Qour 2onor. After all" how an % or anyone dare to satiri=e AtatCrkP )e all owe andres'et hi#N. H' on #y talk" #y students gave #e su''ort with their a''lause...My lawyerdid not even see a need to talk on #y behalf any#ore beause everything see#ed to be in #yfavor...8The #an in #ask 'hones so#eone in anger92owever" % was sentened to a year in 'rison for insulting the -resident indiretly. All #ystudents were in tears. They knew how % felt about Mustafa e#al. % talked highly about hi#in #y lasses. $o % was arrested... &irst night in onya -rison % was loked to guard(s roo#.

Then % was taken to >yC=e gelen #ah'uslarN ward. As % was walking a#ong 'risoners" so#e!ust sitting on ushions on the floor and hatting" so#e 're'aring beans" so#e reading oran


18/55


in the oil la#' light" they briskly stood u' and saluted #e" showed their affetion with kindwords. % was well res'eted 'risoner. % wanted to know these folks... These were #y folks" #yown 'eo'le" fro# #y soil" #y soure. % started observing the#" their behaviors. % waslistening to their stories with no boredo# what so ever. % was disovering the way theythought" their own ideas... %t was #onth and a half later... The guard showed u': > ;et ready

Mr. $abahattin you are leavingN &irst" % sent #y book hest to the door. All in#ates werewathing #y books with res'et. They were talking about #y release. % did not Fuiteunderstand what was ha''ening. % was brought to the door by gendar#e. )ith #y oat on #yar# % was 'assing a#ong the 'risoners in the yard. $o#e 'oor 'risoners were asking for#oney. % tried to give the# as #uh as % ould. % was 'leased to #ake these 'risoners ha''ywhile being released. 2owever" when we arrived at the door % sensed that % was not beingreleased. % and an offier boarded on a train. There in the train % notied the transferdou#ents. % was being transferred to $ino' -rison. % was struk by this. % was sodisa''ointed. $o down % i#agined a single standing 'rison by the sea. A dungeon where %knew no one % was brought to a ward alled araka whih was loated on the seond floor ofthird division. This is where % #et 2Cseyin.

H*SEYN:All of the fifteen in#ates in our ward were fro# $ino'... Most of the# were in'rison for shooting and #urder. There were no bunk beds in wards then... )e were slee'ingin beds on the floor. il la#'s were used for illu#ination. The 'risoners were busy withhandrafts. )e were arving souvenirs fro# walnut wood suh as trays" bakga##on boards"and igarette bo+es. Mustafa would sell these and give us twenty 'erent fro# the sales 'rie.The rest of the #oney was his... The diretor of the 'rison Mr. Oevded" fro# Mr. $abahattin is under your ustody now" and he will be staying in your wardN.3ater we learned that he was $abahattin Ali. 2e was a friendly 'erson we all #ingled Fuikly.2e was single when he a#e to 'rison. 2e did not have visitors Fuite often either. nly therewas a teaher o#ing to visit hi# fro# $ino': Teaher &at#a fro# olu They used to #eetin diretors offie.$abahattin Ali reeived books and #aga=ines via #ail. The #oney he had was hardly enoughfor food. $ine we al#ost all in#ates in our ward were fro# the sa#e town we all liked thesa#e kind of food. % was the designated ook for the ward. % would kee' the bills and s'lit itat the end of the #onth. %n our ward no one had lue about 'oetry or story. )hile we drankand 'layed ards" $abahttin would lay in his bed" and read books in the 'oor light of the oilla#' until late nights. 2e had lots of books" #any in ;er#an. During the day he wouldutili=e hests as table and write on the#. 2e would not talk to us if we did not ask hi#

so#ething. ne day he had #entioned about the orru't govern#ent offiials about how weould not #ake any 'rogress unless this orru'tion was sto''ed...8The "an in "ask places a ph#ne call;Mustafa would say >This govern#ent has s'ent #oney on you" eduated you. %sn(t it unfairfor you to talk about govern#ent in this #annerP Mr. $abahattin: > 2ere" you see how % live...And you Mr. Mustafa" what ould be said about youP Qou drink in the ward" ga#ble" and usethese in#ates( labor to #ake #oney...Qes" you are 'roduing work here" but you aree+'loiting these 'oor in#ates. 3ive #e alone and #ind your business Mr. MustafaN Mustafawas s'eehless 2e never said a word against $abahattin again beause he knew $abahattinwas right. $abahattin did not give any 'olitial s'eehes again either. 2e only read... 2ewould !oin our singing fro# ti#e to ti#e.

9al#ng ith ba(la"a all t#gether888;


19/55


This era did not beo#e #y o#'anion.*ah and everyday is another 'oison% e#braed the iron fenes of the 'rison

% take short walks in the ourtyardThinking at ti#es" andsitting now and then.% daydrea#"ut the days are not 'assingThe days are not 'assing....

8p#e" by Sabahattin Ali;

H*SEYN:As the days 'assed" rother Mustafa brought us new designs to i#'rove our

handrafts Fuality. 2e was hel'ing us i#'rove ourselves.

SABAHATTN AL: %n this 'rison that was surrounded by strong walls and the sea" thewater would s'lash against the walls" and the sound of this s'lash would reverberate in thestone roo#s. This sound...This sound was inviting #e for long !ourneys...The sea birds woulde#erge fro# behind the walls water dri''ing fro# their wings... As soon as they saw the ironfenes of the 'rison they would fly away... Qou ould do a 'risoner a big favor if you lokedhi# in a ell isolated fro# the rest of the world. The #ost devastating thing for a 'risoner is tosee the freedo# so lose however" i#'ossible. )hat ould be a better torture than listening tothe waves of the see" the sy#bol of freedo#" but not being able to see the#P8$abahattin Ali starts singing" the rest of the 'risoners !oin hi# slowly...9

Do not bow your head"3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it goDon(t let your ries be notied"3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go

The u' roaring wild waves of the sea"brushing against the walls"Those sounds that divert you3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go

*ven if % #ay not see the seaTurn your fae u' to the sky&or the sky is !ust like the sea3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it goThe bullets will end by shootingThe roads will end by walkingThe i#'rison#ent will end by serving3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go

)hen you are #ost de'ressed"$end a o#'laint to the ;od


20/55


The beautiful days are still ahead3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go

AL ERTEKN:% graduated on the tenth anniversary of the Turkish Se'ubli. )e werewaiting for orders to be a''ointed. % was sent to irklareli. % went to irklareli while otherfew friends stayed in abaeski. % was a avalry in the ar#y. /aturally we also had infantriesand artillery#an a#ong us. % was assigned to seond avalry troo's. % o#'leted #y initialtraining in irklareli in ?4W. The 'lae known as BiLli MosFue today was our shool then.ur o##ander was a young graduate &aik. 2is last na#e was TCrCnJToday we know hi#as &aik TCrCn -asha 2e has a strong su''ort so he stayed in&riends" ongratulations A#nesty has beendelaredN To #y sur'rise everyone was stunned They sto''ed doing what they were busywith at the #o#ent. 2Cseyin was 'eeling 'otatoes and he re#ained #otionless with his knifein his hand. 5ust like the ga#e we 'layed in our hildhoodP /o talk" no #ove )e werelonging for suh news. All we talked about day and night was the drea# of suh news. After awhile the sene began to hange. They started #u#bling and #oving. Then suddenly theystarted srea#ing as if they were being tortured. &irst 2Cseyin dro''ed the knife fro# hishand. 2e i##ediately ran and 'laed a gra#o'hone reord on the 'layer.

8A dance "el#dy is heard8 This lively ".sic had al"#st d#"inated the Tenth /ear Anthe"8First Hseyin< and then the rest #, the act#rs< eCcept Sabahattin Ali and Ali Ertekin< startdancing8 Hseyin "#ves t#ards Sabahattin Ali dancing< takes his hands t# invite hi" t#dance8 Sabahattin Ali d#es n#t resist l#nger8 Alth#.gh he can@t dance as ell as #thers< hetries gen.inely8 They all dance ,#r a hile than the ".sic st#ps s.ddenly8 Every#ne sits8 TheTenth /ear Anthe" still c#ntin.es t# play slightly #n the backgr#.nd;8

SABAHATTIN ALI: % would be in !ail two #ore years if it was not for a#nesty. As % wassaying farewell to in#ates" they had no idea % was #olding the new heroes of #y novels too#e on #y #ind. Sight after getting out of 'rison" % went to %stanbul then to Ankarai##ediately. % wanted to find % !ob as soon as 'ossible. % a''lied to the Ministry of eduationfor a 'osition. They ke't #e waiting for seven #onths. % was re!eted due to #y ideology. %was being asked to 'rove that % had hanged #y ideas. % tried to e+'lain to the# that it was allfabriated that % was innoent to begin with. % reFuested fro# the $tate Oounil to review #ysituation so % ould work and be useful again. %n the #ean ti#e % had one of #y 'oe#s" #ylove" 'ublished in 1arlik Maga=ine.

%t is you that beats in #y hest" not #y heart"

%t is you that stands u'right in #y #ind as #y ideal"%t is you who fill #y days of Fuarter of a entury"


21/55


%f % take you out" #y life will sei=e before it starts.

)hat differene it will #ake if % 'ut all these in a verseP% gave #y heart to AtatCrkMy heart is filled with love"

only for 2i#.

% #ade an a''oint#ent with Ministry of *duation right away. The deision of the $tateOounil on one hand and this 'oe# on the other % went for #y a''oint#ent.)hy are you not assigning #e for a teahing !obP

MINISTER: )e are not bound by law to #ake use of you.

SABAHATTN AL:ut % have a sholarshi' that % have to 'ay bak by working for thestate.

MINISTER:% release you fro# your debt to us.

SABAHATTN AL:8ith a l#.d v#ice9 % do not owe you sir" % owe to #y state Qou are notauthori=ed to erase #y debt to #y state

MINISTER8re"aining cal"9. There is nothing our #inistry an do for you.

SABAHATTN AL: )hyP

MINISTER:3ook son )hat you have done is diretly related to Mustafa e#al. Qou havewritten a 'oe# against 2i#. )e an not e#'loy you.

SABAHATTN AL: The Minister was trying to get rid of #e. >%f it is so" % will go to Mustafae#al" and tell hi# in 'erson. % will infor# hi# that you are not assigning #e for a 'ositionN% told the Minister. 5ust when % had turned away to the door" the Minister a#e running to #ein fear.

MINISTER:)ait a #inute 'lease % will try to do so#ething. 5ust o#e bak a week laterJ

HASAN ZZETTN DNAMO:efore the 'oe# in Fuestion gets in to hands of Mustafae#al" his for#er seretary #entions to hi# at a dinner table: >That 'oet who wrote a 'oe#against youJ$abahattin AliJ 2e has been released fro# the 'rison" and wants to go bak to

teahingN Mustafa e#al: > %s there any legal ob!etion for his assign#ent as a teaheragainPN >/o Mr. Oo##anderN. Mustafa e#al with a fir# tone > $o why are you asking#ePN >The ri#e has been o##itted against you Oo##ander.N >% a# offended $o youthink % regard #y 'ersonal feelings over lawP A# % that selfishP A''oint hi# to the firsto'ening 'ossible.N

SABAHATTN AL:&irst % was a''ointed as Ohief of -ublishers then to theMinistry of National Education as the examinigofficial.

% started #y work i##ediately. % was staying with #y friend *#in sine % was out of 'rison. %needed to get #y own 'lae. % had started thinking about #arriage seriously. 2owever thereare #any Fuestions in #y #ind. %sn(t it easier to be a single writer in this ountryP )hat if %

get arrested after % get #arriedP )hy should % #ake a wo#an suffer with #eP )hat if % haveto ensor #y work to 'rotet #y fa#ily" won(t it devaluate #y Fualifiations as a writerP n


22/55


the other hand % thought #arriage was neessary too. % needed to get #arried to have ao#fortable ho#e to write" but with who# should % #arryP % an(t #arry #y love /ahit

beause she is #arried to another #an now. /evertheless" she never returned #y love. $hould% #arry so#eone traditional who an ad!ust to #y life or should % #arry so#eone who is frees'iritedP f ourse it should be the first one. AyLe" #y friend and history teaher" is a good

andidate. $he understands and likes literature. % should write and 'ro'ose to her. The answerwas 'ro#'t.

AY$E: Ora=y $abahattin /ow % understand you will never behave Qou !ust got out of'risonJ Qou went through so #uh trouble and still in trouble. Qou !ust got a !ob to en!oyyour life and you are trying to get yourself in to a big trouble againP % take your 'ro'osal as a

!oke now. %f you really thought of suh a 'ro'osal seriously" you are ating hildish. That isright" now that there is nothing else left for you to do you thought of #arriageJ Qou thoughtabout few na#es to 'ro'ose and % was one of the#. /o" $abahattin don(t try to 'ull #e in totrouble or % will ut off your ;reek nose% don(t think seriously about this sort of a #arriage" es'eially with you %t would #ake #e

burst in laugh. )hat is wrong with you $abahattinP Are you bored of #y friendshi'P %f so !ustlet #e know and % won(t bother you any #ore. % value our friendshi' so #uh and % don(twan to sarifie it for anything. %f you really want to #arry it an not be %. 2owever" we antogether look for a good andidate for you. % a# sure as you read these sentenes the wo#anyou wanted the #arry died in your #ind already but again % feel so lose to you that % an not#arry you to ruin this. Qou should #arry so#eone who is al# and ordinary who an be aho#e#aker beause % believe you an only be ha''y with suh kind of a girl. Se#e#ber youhad indiated this in one of your letters to one of our #utual friendP

SABAHATTN AL:The girl that % will #arry should be Fuiet and like an angel. $he shouldbe in and out of #y study roo# like an i#ageJ$he should #ake #y writing easy. $he shouldnot ob!et to #y reading. $he should not disturb #eJ %n short" she should dediate herself to#e. $he should e+ist only for #e.

AY$E:That is right Qou are s#art and you should have suh s#art ideas about #arriage too.;od forbid" think about what an ha''en if we #arry eah other. )e will turn our lives andour ho#e in to hell. /ot only we will suffer" but also our neighbors fro# our yelling andFuarrels. 3ets end this talk about #arriage $abahattin. 3et our beautiful friendshi' lastforever.

SABAHATTN AL:Qou are right AyLe...Qou are very right $o who should % #arryP

8s.ddenly;h yes % found her Aliye )hy didn(t % think about her earlierP Aliye Qes" yesAliye...

ALYE:Those days we lived in


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Muhittin" Mr. $alih(s brother in law. Though % was not in love with 3ieutenant Muhittin forhe was Fuite older than %. % never saw $abahattin afterwards" beause Mr. $alih had retiredand his fa#ily had #oved to Ankara...Two years later Mr. $alih(s wife sent #y #other a letter : > $abahattin wants to #arry Aliye.*verything will be taken are of by us. All gifts are fro# us. )e are waiting for an answer

fro# you.8the "an in "ask ph#nes s#"e#ne9My father was against of this #arriage 'ro'osal. 2e told #y #other that he thought$abahattin had trouble with the state and this would #ake #e suffer in the future. % wouldlearn this later... 2owever" % wanted to #arry $abahattin. Des'ite of #y father(s resistane %wanted $abahattin. % was going to live in Ankara &ather had to ae't it. Mother sent the# aletter stating our ae'tane of the 'ro'osal. Due to harsh winter season the engage#ent wasdone through #ail... The 'resents were sent to us fro# Ankara. % had #y olored 'iture takento send to $abahattin. 2e wrote #e a letter u' on reei't of #y 'iture. 2e was e+'ressing hisfeelings about how beautiful #y 'iture was. 2e started sending his books along with hisseond letter...

SABAHATTN AL:%f you are an artist" the best way to i#'ress a wo#an is to 'resent heryour works. There is no doubt that if you are a good writer or a #usiian or a 'ainter you willhave less trouble i#'ressing a wo#en. % think there is hardly any wo#an in the world thatould refuse a beautiful voie or a beautifully written 'iee of work. As a #atter of fat beingan artist is a valuable advantage. 2ere is what an old saying says: >%f you let your daughterhoose she will either #arry a dru##er or a wind,blowerN

ALYE:% fell #adly in love with $abahattin after % read his books. 2e was 'resentingdifferent worlds to #e. My drea#s of living in Ankara had transfor#ed in to living with$abahattin in Ankara.2e a#e to %stanbul in May and stayed at our ho#e for a night. /e+t day we went to adikUy#atri#onial ageny" signed out #arriage dou#ents and together went right bak to Ankara

by train. )e stayed at Mr. $alih for a week. % had a gorgeous wedding dress #ade by anAr#enian tailor. )ithin a week we had our wedding ere#ony" and we #oved in to our owna'art#ent whih was a ute 'enthouse. $abahattin had a seond !ob as a ;er#an teaher at a#iddle shool so we had no finanial 'roble#s. 2e would 'ull hi#self to his study roo# toread and write...% would Fuietly bring his offee or tea to his roo# and leave the roo# in thesa#e #anner. 2is novel uyuakl Qusuf got 'ublished in Tan. )e are both very ha''y

SABAHATTN AL:%n the beginning of ?W6 % was alled u' to #ilitary servie. )e #oved

to %stanbul beause the #ilitary shool was in 2arbiye"


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SABAHATTN AL:They want to 'ro#ote #e down as a sergeant. % won(t get 'aid if thatha''ens.

ALYE:2ow an we #ake a livingP

SABAHATTN AL:The #inister is $affet Arkan. 2e likes and su''orts #e. % #ust go toAnkara...

ALYE:$o he said and left. 2e was bak fro# Ankara in a day. 2e see#ed ha''y. 2e had#et the Minister and Afet #illions of Sussians were killed by;er#an invaders.N % burst in rying. $o did $abahattin. $o#e si+ty #illion 'eo'le would die

by the end of the war...

NHAL ATSIZ:Oan you see how he is ryingP

SABAHATTN AL:And you are en!oying

NHAL ATSIZ:Qou are a 'artisan of Sussia. As if your real brothers are dying...SABAHATTN AL:-eo'le are dying" 'eo'le And you are about to dane out of !oy

NHAL ATSIZ:Qes % will dane...)on(t your heaven Sussia dissolve if $talingrad fallsP

SABAHATTN AL:And how would this benefit youP

NHAL ATSIZ:Then the ;er#ans will grant us the Turki Se'ublis that are under ontrolof Sussia...


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SABAHATTN AL: % think you are forgetting that these fasist ;er#ans first killed the5ews" then the foreigners" then the non,/a=i ;er#ans... And now they are after other nations.Also don(t forget that they regard Turks as the lowest of all 'eo'le.

NHAL ATSIZ:%f we take our 'lae with the# and su''ort the# everything will be different.

SABAHATTN AL:% an(t believe this" you are so hildish /ihal 2ow an you believesuh ridiulous ideas. % believe that ;er#ans will lose but even if they win" do you think theywill give you the Turki re'ublisP

NHAL ATSIZ:Qes they will. f ourse if we go to war on their side. %f they don(t give usthe Middle Asia then we will sei=e by ourselves

SABAHATTN AL:Qou will sei=e Didn(t we sarifie one hundred thousand soldiers onAllahuekber Mountain beause of suh e#'ty drea#P )e have not even i#'roved Anatoliayet. 3et go of suh e#'ty drea#s...

NHAL ATSIZ:$o#e nations are su'erior to others and so#e 'eo'le are su'erior to others.Trying to treat all 'eo'le eFual by fore is #ore ridiulous and against nature.. Qou should getreal" and let your ridiulous drea# go.

SABAHATTN AL:2ere lays the differene between our ideas Ms. Ats=. )e do notategori=e 'eo'le by their olor" eyes" ears" height or sull. )e treat the# all as hu#ans. urideals are so o''osite that we an not agree on anything with you. &ighting to sto' the likes ofyou is our duty. )e should sto' you before you start to har# 'eo'le. 2ad 2itler been sto''edwhen he delared his 'lans" hu#anity would not have lived this tragedy...

MEHMET:% a# Meh#et $abahattin(s ousin. $abahattin was disharged one #ore ti#e. %invited hi# to #y wedding ere#ony so he a#e to *dre#it. 2e would hardly go out.8the "en in "ask ,#ll#s Sabahattin ith his eyes;ne day he got u' in the #orning and went out for a walk. %t was about noon ti#e an offiera''eared at our door and gave us the order to go to the 'olie station with hi#. There stood$abahattin... A''arently" while $abahattin strolling through the ity he was taking so#e notes.The seurity guard" Ali" found hi# sus'iious and brought hi# to the 'olie station. Thosedays were very ritial days. Anybody sus'iious ould be a s'y 3ukily the Mayor took theharge of $abahattin and ordered hi# to be released.

ALYE:H' on our return bak to Ankara $abahattin was a''ointed to Oonservatory for heknew ;er#an very well. Those days #any sholars" artists were esa'ing fro# ;er#any toTurkey" and the Oonservatory was established by one of the#" Oarl *bert. Although a littleold" *bert was a very handso#e teaher. 2e was a very well known and res'eted ondutor.2e had two daughters. They were Fuite friendly folks. Mr. *bert and $abahattin got alongvery well. *bert(s would often invite us for dinner. They es'eially adored our daughter &ili=.

FLZ:There was a 'erfor#ane stage at the Oonservatory. My father was working as atranslator to Oarl *bert who did not know a word of Turkish. Although he was a translator" hewas in harge of all 'lays and o'eras that were going to be 'ut on the stage. 2e would waththe rehearsals" deal with the students and the stage setting. %n short #y father was in harge of

everything related to stage. 2e was very busy. 2e would take #e to work with hi# so % knewall about his work.


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ALYE:Qou look so ha''y $abahattin.

SABAHATTN AL:2ow an % not be ha''y AliyeP % a# engaged in arts. )e have greatstudents" Mua==e= Mada#eutterflyN as their first 'erfor#ane. Mesude aRlayan and Ayhan Aydan were the leadingators... >i=i# Behir" ur OityN and > QanlLlklar o#edyas" The Oo#edy of

Misa''rehensionsN were 'resented as stage 'lays. % got a hane to wath OCneyt ;Uker andother students there for the first ti#e. $abahattin was right. % ad#ired Mr. OCneyt... %n fat %ad#ired all other students too.ur days were filled with ha''iness like this. 2owever" it would not last long. )hyP )ait %will tell you why: >The Devil )ithin HsN" $abahattin(s novel" had been 'ublished when hestarted working at the Oonservatory. 2e had targeted raists and Turanists. /aturally he drovethe fasists ra=y so he bea#e their target. /ihal Ats= wait not long to 'ublish a brohuretitled > The D*1%3$ within usN. $abahattin was being harshly slandered in this brohure.

SE+, SANLI:2usband and wife had dediated the#selves to their daughter. *s'eially$abahattin loved her so 'assionately. ne day their house in Ankara got raided by

'olie...Aliye was waiting hel'lessly. &ili= was wathing 'olie take his fathers books in adisgusted #anner. $he did not have any idea about what was ha''ening. $he was fro=en

SABAHATTN AL:%t was few days after this inidene. %t was after #idnight. Aliye and&ili= were already sound aslee'. $uddenly % heard a noise in #y daughter(s roo#.8He gets .p< and listens t# the n#ise8 Filiz appears888She alks in t# the living r##" ith tiny

steps hal, asleep8 A b##kcase appears s.ddenly8 Filiz changes her directi#n t# the b##kcase8Dith her eyes hal, sleepy she t#.ches the shelves as i, t# see i, the b##ks are still there #rn#t8;

CURTAIN

1ART II

NHAL ATSIZ:Dear Mr. -ri#e Minister"% won(t kee' it long. % a# writing to e+'ress #y onerns about our Ministry of *duation.

Oo##unists have infiltrated in to our Ministry of *duation. These traitors have taken theadvantage of the negligene of the Ministry and ou'ied i#'ortant 'ositions. /ow" they are


27/55


s'reading their 'oisonous ideas. There is a #e#ber of the 3anguage %nstitution and $tateOonservatory. 2is na#e is $abahattin Ali. This fellow is a known Oo##unist. 2e wassentened to !ail for satiri=ing AtatCrk" and ritii=ing the e+isting state order.This reature" now under the 'rotetion of 2asan Ali" is having a o#fortable life with ourta+'ayer(s #oney

MEDHA ESENEL:% a# Mediha *senel. % was an instrutor at Ankara Hniversity thosedays.To desribe you the at#os'here of those days is hard. )henever there was a whis'er about>ho#e searhN by the 'olie" of ourse without a warrant" everyone would try to ollet all ofthe books banned by the state order and sFuirrel the# away. Most 'o'ular of suh books wereof /a=# 2ik#et(s books who was in 'rison in ursa those days. ;od forbid" if you gotlabeled one" then you would lose everything dear to you" your !ob" life" and your fa#ily. /oone ould #ention the word >de#orayN.

/ihal Ats= in fat was targeting 2asan Ali QCel" beause 2asan Ali was sinerely trying toeduate the 'ubli. Two #a!or 'ro!ets were in 'rogress during his ti#e: The translation of

)orld Olassial 3iterature )orks and the establish#ent of 1illage %nstitutes. These instituteswere eduation enters where the young and bright hildren fro# villages thrived. Theseinstitutes were like seeded fertile lands These institutes s'read all over Anatolia in no ti#e.All of the volunteers and teahers had dediated the#selves to these institutes. They builtthese institutes fro# srath. % would visit these institutes fro# ti#e to ti#e. During #y visits% ould see in the eyes of these bright forgotten village kids( eyes the hunger for learning"their talents and their beautiful #inds. ;irls and boys were so eager to learn. They 'ut all theirefforts to reate the#selves a new" better world. 2owever the onservatives and the &asistsof this ountry" who were Fuite uno#fortable to see the awakening of the 'ubli" were lauderthan ever: >1illage %nstitutes are nests for Oo##unistsN" >1illage %nstitutes are institutes for

'rostitutionN" >2asan Ali su''orts Oo##unists" and he should be taken down fro# his'osition...N

SABAHATTN AL:% filed a suite i##ediately...

+EL DEMR0Z: % a# a graduate of ifteler 1illage %nstitute. Sight wing #ove#ents hadreahed its 'eak es'eially after ?44. /o day was 'assed uneventful in Ankara or $abahattin Ali is o#ingN There was an overwhel#ing silene that youould even hear the sound of a single fly in the sky. >The roads are 'aked" how is he going towalk throughP )hat if so#eone attaks hi#PN % was thinking to #yself. $uddenly $abahattinAli a''eared. As he walked through the rowd along with a o#'any the rowd s'read in totwo to #ake hi# a way...2e looked very onfident...2e did not see# nervous at all. Togetherwith his friends he walked in to the Oourt 2ouse.


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SABAHATTN AL:As we walked it % notied #ost of the audienes were of Ats=. They didnot notie that % was nervous. The 5udge is about to take his 'lae... $o#ething is going toha''en" but whatP

HOIR8s.ddenly;The 2ell with the Oo##unists The 2ell with Sussian agents

The 2ell with Sussian agents The 2ell with the Oo##unists The 2ell with Sussian agents

1.D,E:%f you kee' srea#ing like this % will end the session. % will end the session80h#ir starts singing the Nati#nal Anthe"888 Nat.rally the 6.dge keeps silent t##8;

HOIR8,r#" #.tside9: The 2ell with the Oo##unists 2ell with Sussian agentsLA2YER8 hispering in t# Sabahattin Ali@s ear9 This is getting dangerous. % a# glad we areon the first floor. 3est Fuietly sneak out through the window...

SABAHATTN AL: % a# walking through the noisy rowd and Fuietly getting out of thewindow

FLZ: Hnle -ertev had told #e...My fathers esa'e was on the news that night. 2oweverthat night there was a 'lay. My father needed to go to this 'lay due to his 'osition in theOonservatory. Hnle -ertev and his wife a#e to 'ik u' #y dad to go together. As they werewalking down the street so#eone threw a stone to the# whih landed right ne+t to #y father.Atually it slightly hits #y father(s shoulder... 2ere is what Hnle -ertev told #e: >$abahattin tuned around and start running towards darkness. % had never seen anyone run sofast in #y life. )e were running after hi#. )hen we finally athed $abahattin he hadgrabbed so#eone and beating hi# already. 2owever" the offender #anaged to esa'e

SABAHATTN AL:% feel down...My friends are advising #e not to go out alone. ne day-resident welo#e Mr. -residentN % said. >2ow are you $abahattinP 2easked. >/ot very well" % a# being botheredN % said. 2e s#iled again > Don(t worry everythingwill get betterN /evertheless the at#os'here of the seond trial had hanged dra#atially. Thelawyer of the other 'arty had resigned. Ats= a#e to the trial alone looking #iserable.$o#ebody had twisted the ears of folks around Ats= % guess f ourse Mr. -resident was onhis Minister side. Although Ats= was wrong" % felt 'ity for hi#. Ats= was sentened to

'rison for four #onths.

MEDHA ESENEL:The raists were very #ad at $abahattin Ali...They were raged

lakening of $abahattin was ontinuing...$abahattin was shown as target to the youngfasists.

ALYE:2e had o#e ho#e late one night. 2e was overed with dirt. 2e looked disturbed. 2ewas trying to hide his fae. >)hat is the #atter $abahattinN % asked. >% fell downN he said. > %shall wash #y fae and hands before &ili= sees #eN 2e went to the bathroo#. 3ater % wouldlearned that he was in fat attaked by students fro# the Hniversity who were su''orters ofAts=.

MEDHA ESENEL:Hnfortunately 2asan Ali QCel and his institutions" The 1illage%nstitutes" lost the battle against onservatives. -resident


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SABAHATTN AL: % know our ti#e is going to o#e too. 2ow an % #ake a living if % getfiredP % should start looking for an alternative. 5ust as % was thinking % reeived a letter fro#Mr. Oa#i. 2e was asking us to 'ublish so#ething in %stanbul alled >2o#eland and )orldN.% had a !ob but" % needed to look in to other 'ossibilities !ust in ase. $o % started writing for2o#eland and )orld. 2ene" % was traveling to %stanbul fro# ti#e to ti#e. )ell" % was laid

off fro# #y !ob at the Oonservatory in two weeks following the a''earane of #y work in2o#eland and )orld.

M*ZEHHER +A-N.: % a# MC=ehher 1a,/u... The ountry was in a total den of intrigue.*ah day so#eone was being arrested and sent to 'rison ell. There was a 'ainter... &aris washis na#e. My husband 1ala would tell #e. >MC=ehher" this 'ainter &aris is one of the #ost

beautiful folks on earth. 2e never thinks badly of anyone" he an share anything he owns withothers. nly if everyone ould be like hi# the world would be a 'lae to liveN &aris was ill"

but still he was taken by the 'olie one night. And few days later his death was announed...%twas suh a bad 'eriod ti#e in the ountry. All the intelletual sholars were being laid offfro# the universities... $o#e were suddenly disa''earing fro# the fae of earth $i#'ly

vanishing )ere they being e+iled to so#e unknown 'laesP 1ala was reeiving lettersrelated to these issues everyday. $o#e writers were brave enough take the risk to write:>$o#eone has been killed... $o#eone has been taken under ustodyN

MEDHA ESENEL:The newly a''ointed Minister of *duation" SeLat Be#settin $irer"started leansing of all sholars known by their leftist ideas. f ourse the 1illage %nstitutestook their share too" and now it was turn for Ankara Hniversity. %t was our turn now: -ertev

/aili oratav" /iya=i erkes" ehie oran and us.$A)e absolutely have no fasists in our ountryN in AkLa# /ews'a'er. $ure you don(t need#agi to say that. )e don(t have fasists" beause the na#e of fasis# is de#oray in ourountry. De#oray is suh an international #ask that one you wear it you an do whateveryou want *s'eially if you have a su''orter like the governing 'arty" no worry for you. Qouare safe8The "en in "ask #rders s#"e#ne #n the ph#ne9

ZEKERYA SERTEL:2Cseyin Oahit Qaln was the first to res'ond to $abiha with his

writing >Sise all 'eo'le of the ho#eland" These 'eo'le an not be shut by the govern#ent. %tis the duty of the writers and free iti=ens of this ountry to shut the# u'N )e were


30/55


e+'eting so#ething like this lately. )e even knew the organi=er of this #ove#ent: AlaattinTiritoRlu" the 'olitial ins'etor of the urrent ad#inistration. A day after" ?G thousandstudents" holding u' flags and the 'iture of


31/55


ALYE:)e had a house in *dre#it that was inherited fro# his father. $abahattin sold thehouse to be able to 'ublish Marko'asha.

HAL.K YET$:2aluk QetiL...Those days the irulation of daily news'a'ers was abouttwenty thousand...ut Marko'asha(s irulation had reahed si+ty thousand right after its

'ubliation. The owner was $abahattin Ali. The editorial artile of Marko'asha was writtenby hi#.

MEDHA ESENEL:3ife is strange $abahattin was fired fro# his work" but he went to%stanbul to ontinue his fight with his 'en. Through his writing he was disintegrating thead#inistration. 5ust like uyuakl Qusuf who had direted his gun to all evils...

SABAHATTN AL:8reading ,r#" his articles9 Qes" Se'resentative of Turkish Se'ubli tothe Hnited /ations has suggested that sine ErdCn was an inde'endent and free ountry sheshould be ae'ted into the Hnited /ations Oo##ittee. 2owever" we know as a fat thattwenty five years ago" Mustafa e#al did not a''rove of suh inde'endene as inde'endene

of ErdCn and deided to fight for a true inde'endene for his own ountry. %n our belief" any#e#ber of a foreign ar#y be it a general" tehniian" or anyone dressed as a ivilian" oranyone in their !ee's" an not 'er#anently be on duty in a true inde'endent ountry.%t is said that foreign invest#ent is o#ing to our land again. Through these invest#ents thenew roads will be built" the e+isting roads will be strethed the air'lanes will fly in the skies"we will have non,sto' #ine 'rodution" everyone will live in 'ros'erity. )ell" if we were to

beg for foreign invest#ent then why did we fight so hard to get rid of it for forty yearsP )hatwas that struggle forP %f we were to eventually beg for foreign invest#ent" then why did wehave all those elebrations when we kiked the# outPur de#and is that any deision #ade should not only benefit s'eial interest grou's. %tshould benefit the whole nation. )e don(t want the 'eo'le of this land to be 'enali=ed fortheir ideas. )e want the# to only be evaluated by the good and bad they have done for thisountry. )e don(t want the 'eo'le of this land to be 'u''ets of other nations. )e don(t wantto give u' even an inh of our land or a single iti=en. These are all we want %f this is a ri#eof any kind then we should be infor#ed by the authorities so we an sto' o##itting thisri#e of writing and thinking. %f this is not a ri#e" then they should sto' stabbing us in the

bak1illage %nstitutes were 'ro#ising eduational institutions. They were radles of ulturalenrih#ent.)hat about the understanding of inde'endeneP Hntil reently" we were standing u'rightagainst nations of #illions" but now we even bow to 'u''et nations.

)e had se'arated religion fro# the state" but now we are 'roduing bigots with the hel' ofthe state. $uh revolutionary 'eo'le They reversed the KG,year revolution in KG weeks. Thehell with those who regard their interest above the national interest The hell with those whofor their own interest forefully try to kee' this nation in the darkness of ignorane The hellwith those who do not believe in any dotrine hene in any idea. The hell with those who arethe ene#ies of eduation and basi hu#anly traitsAs we all know 2enry )allae" the e+,vie 'resident of the H$A" stood u' againsti#'erialis#. 2e is fighting with his own govern#ent for the inde'endene and freedo# ofs#aller nations. )hen we try to infor# 'ubli that the gift of AtatCrk" The Se'ubli" is indanger we get sworn at. $ort of like in our ase" )allae is being attahed by his own state.2ere are so#e headlines fro# our national news'a'ers: >ur nu#ber one ene#y o##unist

)allaeN" >$ha#eless" arrogant reatureN >)allae is being ridiulousN And #oreo##ents like this...)hereas )allae said: > The big nations are trying to take over and share


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the s#all nations. Those s#all nations should su''ort eah other to defend the#selves.N )eabsolutely agree with )allae.;overn#ent su''osedly has been trying to lower the ost of living. To ahieve this they will

bring an e+'ert fro# the H$A. )e don(t thing this ad#inistration an solve this 'roble#"sine 60X of the #erhandise in our #arket is #ade in H$A. *ven the tariff has been ut

down by half to hel' the H$ e+'ort. 5ust like a &renh !ournalist indiated one: >The ost ofliving an only be ut down by inde'endent" national eono#ial 'oliy.N 2owever" thisad#inistration does not even have any indiation of inde'endent eono#y. ur hands are tiedwhen it o#es to the H$A.

HAL.K YET$:A=i= /esin was also writing besides Mr. $abahattin. 2e was in harge ofal#ost all of the writing...M. Hykusu= was illustrating...Two #onths later Sfat %lga= also

!oined us. 2e took the load fro# A=i= /esin(s shoulders. %n addition to being the diretor ofMarko'asha % was also taking are of the finanes. Mr. $abahattin had trust in #e. 2e neverasked #e bout the aount" never Fuestioned #e about it. % still feel 'roud for this.2e would live his writing with us and leave right away. 2e did not s'end #uh ti#e with the

ad#inistration. 2e was a very energeti #an. 2ere now" there in a #inute 2e was kind oflike #erury...2e would often visit his fa#ily in Ankara. 2e was very fond of his fa#ily"es'eially of his daughter.8The "en in "ask "ake a ph#ne call< he =.ietly #rders s#"e#ne...9

AZZ NESN:Dear $abahattin to tell you in short" Marko'asha is selling great.%ts irulation has gone u' es'eially in Anatolia. The #oney is rolling...2owever the ;overnor(s ffie is ausing so#e trouble. Al#ost everyday they send us so#edou#ents to fill out. As if we have so#ething ino#'lete. They are trying to sto' us byrolling these bureaurati stones before us. Qou have thundered orders and ritii=ed #e inyour letter. % don(t like the esthetis and the 'olitial ontent of #y own writings either. % haveno lai#s. % read the# to everybody and get their o'inions before 'ublishing the#. % knowyou are #ore e+'eriened than %" and % welo#e your logial ritiis#. % will take yourritiis#" 'ut it through sieve of #y own disretion" and disuss it with you. 2owever" % donot like dry orders % want you to knowthat.This news'a'er is #ine too as #uh as it is yours. %t is #ine through #y effort" #y labor. %fMarko'asha loses or gets losed down % will have harder 'osition than you will. % will feele+tre#ely bad if you have hard ti#e beause of #e for % feel so lose to you. % want you toknow this. 3ets talk about the real issues now. )e need a new 'ress. &ind so#e #oney"

borrow" beg do so#ething to find so#e #oney so we an buy a new 'ress. eause the

'rinting house that is 'rinting our news'a'er is under 'ressure now. Qou are talking about#oving the news'a'er to Ankara. % don(t think it is feasible now. A hange like this an effetthe irulation also. f ourse if anything bad ha''ens then we have to #ove it to Ankara.Qou stay alert" and get ready for suh a 'ossibility.% a# sorry you are sik...% ho'e you get well soon. The last editorial artile that you sent wasnot i#'ressive o#'ared to the 'revious ones so % did not use it in the 'resent issue. %f youinsist % will 'ublish it in the ne+t issue but with one ondition: write it over. n suh ani#'ortant issue you ated owardly. -lus the writing stile was not i#'ressive either % guessthere is nothing left to write. $ay hello to all friends" and -ertev too...

RIFAT IL,AZ:The news'a'er was onstantly being shut down.... )henever the santions

were lifted we were 'ublishing again. MCa' fluoRlu had !oined us as editor in hief for ashort ti#e.


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M*AP OFL.O/L.:)e had 'ublished an artile about 5ews in our news'a'er... Abouthow owards the 5ews are...$abahattin walked in to the roo# swiftly and with rage: >Don(twrite suh things in this news'a'er 5ews are fighting against the ritish... Qou an not #akefun of nations fighting for their freedo#. Qou an not #ake fun of any nation *s'eially

Marko'asha an not be the tool for thisN And he left the roo# with sa#e #anner...

HAL.K YET$:-olie had started its une+'eted visits freFuently. Al#ost every week theyvisited the ad#inistration. )e would hear a sudden knok on the door and the so as the dooro'ened they would gush in to the roo#: >&ree=e $tay where you areN They would get uslined u' side by side like Musli#s ready for ablution" and start searhing us...S'33oed!yThey were looking for so#e sale onfir#ation dou#ents to $oviet Hnion Allegedly" we hadsold our ountry to $oviet Hnion...The ru#or is that Marko'asha sold the ountry to $ovietHnion...)e were used to being arrested and released bak again. h ;od There was anoffier alled Ah#et De#ir at the 'olie station. 2e had even beaten A=i=. )e were taken inagain one night. )hyP Although we were told to shut down the 'ress verbally we had not

done so. f ourse we had not reeived any written order to shut down. That day $abahattinand A=i= were not there. Sifat" M.Hykusu= and % were arrested. They stuffed us in to a roo#where we have been waiting for W@ hours...%ts in the #orning. *veryone is u' and looking outthe window. )e see the streets are u' too" 'eo'le walking and trolley 'assing by" but nosound )e ould see everything" but not hear anything. %t is like in Oharlie Oha'lin(s early#ovies" we see 'eo'le get on and off...After wathing outside for a while M. Hykusu= turnedto Sfat: >% an(t even tell you how #uh heart is filled with the desire to be on that trolleynowN

RIFAT IL,AZ: &inally" Marko'asha was shut down 'er#anently. )e will kee' 'ublishingof ourse" but under what na#e nowP

AZZ NESN:)ell" sine they killed Marko'asha" we should na#e it >Deeased 'ashaN...8He s"iles; -eo'le will understand right away.

SABAHATTN AL8Starts reading8;Qoung friend" kee' your ho#eland and your 'eo'leabove everything. Hse the very reason for your 'resene to bring !oy to this land and the

'eo'le of this land. $how your affetion and su''ort to all 'eo'le who want to live in 'eae.Don(t be fooled by those who shed blood for their own selfish 'rofit. Segard suh 'eo'le asthe ene#ies of hu#anity" your ho#e and your 'eo'le. Don(t enourage the foreigners whoo#e to settle in your land be it legally or illegally. &ight against those ene#ies" who 'lan to

enslave and e+'loit you" with your intelligene" 'en and if neessary with your blood. Don(tbe fooled by those who have no faith in this nation" and who finds it neessary to de'end onanother ountries...Don(t go after worthless and 'ointless adventures" beause you #ore#ature than those who are burning in su'eriority o#'le+. The last and the #ost i#'ortantdon(t be fooled by those ene#ies who want to get you involved in dirty business. now howto tell your friends fro# your ene#ies.8The "en in "ask "akes a ph#ne call9

)e are ready to fight with those who are the ene#ies of our ideas. )e will fight the# bywriting" talking" 'ublishing news'a'ers. )e will fight" even if it #eans serving ti#e in 'rison.$o far everyone has witnessed how we stood u'. )e endured all ynial blakening and

attaks. 2owever % #ust say that so#eti#es our hands are tied against the ene#y for we arenot using the sa#e wea'ons. )e regard their wea'ons as so dirty and oward To sto' the


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sales of a legal news'a'er by blak,#ailing" to reollet fifty thousand news'a'ers already inirulation... /o This an not be our business...)e are behind our ene#ies on this #atterMy dear" unfortunate nation Qou have been e+'loited by either outsiders or your own 'eo'lewho have beo#e foreigners to the#selves. Qou left your fate into hands of those whoseinterests" and 'leasures" and arts and languages were foreign to you. f ourse they did not

have heartahes when they took you away fro# your fa#ily and land to send you fro# onefront to another. )hen you were dying in ooking heat and drought they were building

'alaes and kiosks and drinking ie,old rak $o#eti#es" they referred to you as their slave"and so#eti#es as their 'atron" but nothing hanged... %f you do not take your future in to yourown hands" and let others s'eak u' for you" nothing will i#'rove for you. 3ook at thosewho# you followed one /ow they are 'artners with your su''ressors. )hat did youe+'etP Did you thing the wolfs yesterday would turn in to la#bs by #agiP Don(t go aftere#'ty drea#s At ti#es they #ight fight over who gets the big 'iee" but they will always

bak eah other u' against you e areful nowadays $ee#s like they are sharing out your'eltver a year we tried to bring u' different ideas in this news'a'er ho'ing they would

hallenge us with their ideas. %n vane &ro# ;a=iante' to etrayers" olshevik s'ies" ene#ies ofde#oray" Sed voies of Mosov" ene#ies of the state" anarhists" o##unistsN This kind ofa battle was nor fun...2owever" one good" 'ro#ising fat and is that the nation is always onour side. They know what is bad and what is good.

ALYE:$abahattin" % won(t kee' it long. ad things are ha''ening here. As you know % wasbeing followed by so#e #an. /ow they have set u' a a#' aross our ho#e...They are onduty all the ti#e. *veryone in the neighborhood is giving #e a strange look when % take &ili=to shool. $o#e of the# obviously have 'ity in their looks" but #ost have hatred. *ven your

best friends an not o#e to our house any#ore. *ven if they do it is e+tre#ely rare. )orst ofall the other day kids yelled at &ili=: >Daughter of a Oo##unistN $he is so afraid. $he hasnight#ares" and she an(t even go to slee' any#ore. )hat is this we are going through$abahattinP )hat kind of a revenge they are trying to take fro# usP % a# hel'less -leaseforgive #e for writing all this to you" but % want you to know that % love you #ore than ever...

SABAHATTN AL:/ot only fro# #e"They are getting their revengeAlso fro# #y beloveds: &ili= and Aliye.

Qaar a#anee a#anee

RIFAT IL,AZ:Merhu#'asha has been shut down too... Are we still going to 'ublishP

AZZ NESN:Do we have any other hoieP % have already found an na#e for it:>Malu#'ashaN should be our new na#e...

RIFAT IL,AZ:$abahattin was down beause of what was ha''ening to his fa#ily. 2e wentto Ankara. )e will kee' going though...

SABAHATTN AL:8reads9 A news'a'er was 'ublished within the borders of Turkish

Se'ubli. 5ust like this >news'a'eretteN we are holding in our hands today" a news'a'er offour 'ages was 'ublished in


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'ublished inter#ittently beause of interru'tions. The Fuality of the 'rint was so bad that the'ublishers were e#barrassed of their readers. *ven so" it held the irulation reord in theountry. $i+ty thousand o'ies were sold. The tehnial eFui'#ent needed to 'ublish this

'a'er was in the hands of greedy" and oward owners who were giving us hard ti#e with the'rinting 'ries. All the news'a'ers started blakening this news'a'er. All the 'rinting houses

were reeiving onfidential orders not to 'rint this news'a'er. All of the news'a'er vendorswere 'ressured not to sell this 'a'er...Those seven to eight year old kids who were sellingthis news'a'er with their bare feet to #ake a living were arrested and their finger'rints werereorded. %n addition" the first ti#e in the ounties history" the sale of this news'a'er byunder fifteen year olds was banned. Also those who atte#'ted to sell this news'a'er wereasked to show a ertifiate and a health reord. And there were thirty,three loud, walksarranged in Ankara"


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ti#e... %n the #ean ti#e $abahattin was being tried on #any harges. 2e was sentened to'rison after his first trial and sent to -aLaka's -rison...

SABAHATTN AL:

% was an eagle in the sky";ot shot at #y wings.% was a 'ur'le flower baring branh"that was ut off right in the s'ring ti#e.

h #y heart" you were like a bird one"Qou an not fit in the ages.Qou are used to flyingQou an not take 'rison...

HASAN T.RAL:8ith a h#arse v#ice;)elo#e Mr. $abahattin.

SABAHATTN AL8ith s.spici#n9 2ow do you know #eP

HASAN T.RAL8hardly heard9 2ow an % not know youP % have read all your books.Marko'asha" Merhu#'asha" Malu#'asha...Ali aba at last... % a# one of those who likes youMr. $abahattin.

SABAHATTN AL:)hat do you doP

HASAN T.RAL:% a# a barber... % have a sho' near *dirneka'. % #ean it is a rented sho'" %don(t own it of ourse. % a# an i##igrant fro# ulgaria...

SABAHATTN AL:)hy are you inP

HASAN T.RAL:% a# not a writer like you" however % a

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