Türkiye to celebrate 103rd anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem

Türkiye will commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem, one of the turning points in the deep-rooted and glorious history of the Turkish nation, and Mehmet Akif Ersoy, one of the most important figures in the national struggle of the Turkish nation, with various events on March 12.

The National Anthem was adopted as the National Anthem of Türkiye at a session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on March 12, 1921.

During the War of Independence, upon receiving a request from the army to write a national anthem, the Ministry of Education (Ministry of National Education) opened a competition with a 500 Turkish lira prize.

The Ministry selected 6 of the 724 poems submitted to the contest, printed them and distributed them to the members of parliament. However, Hamdullah Suphi (Tanriover), the Minister of National Education of the period, who did not find these poems sufficient, wrote a letter to Mehmet Akif (Ersoy), a Burdur MP, who he learned had not participated in the contest because of the prize money, and asked him to participate in the contest.

At the meeting of the Assembly held on March 12, 1921 under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Istanbul Deputy Dr. Adnan (Adivar) Bey, 7 poems were discussed together with Mehmet Akif’s poem. After discussions, Mehmet Akif’s poem, which was accepted as the National Anthem, was read by Minister Hamdullah Suphi from the rostrum of the Assembly.

Mehmet Akif did not want to receive the prize money. When it was stated that he had to take the prize according to the specifications of the competition, Mehmet Akif donated the money to a charity organization called “Darul Mesai.”

After the acceptance of the anthem, the Ministry of Education opened a composition contest this time. 24 musicians participated in the competition, but the results were delayed due to the war, and the Ministry announced in 1924 that a special commission had chosen Ali Rıfat Cagatay’s composition as the “National Anthem”.

However, on the grounds that Cagatay’s composition was under the influence of classical music, Osman Zeki Ungor’s composition was adopted as the “National Anthem” in 1930.

The Turkish national anthem was written in 1921 during the War of Independence as Türkiye battled occupation by foreign forces after World War I.

It was penned in order to encourage the fighting army and to motivate the struggling nation. It is also the official anthem of the Republic of Türkiye, founded two years later in 1923.

The anthem, consisting of 41 lines and 12 quatrains, centers around timeless themes such as independence, war, civilization, faith, spirituality, courage, heroism and hope.

Source: Newsroom & AA