Life and Works
Life
Ahmet Kabaklı was born in Harput as the son of Ömer
Effendi, working as the muezzin of Harput Sarayhatun Mosque and Munire Hanim from Pertekli
Bölükbaşı family on 24 May 1924. He lost his father in 1926 when he was just two and a
half years old. Kabaklı, who has no memories about his father, lived a poor childhood and
youth life. He completed his primary and secondary school education in Elazığ Numune
School where he entered in 1931 and his high school education in Elazığ High School in
1944. He graduated in 1948 from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of
Faculty of Letters of Istanbul High Institute of Teachers which he entered in the same
year.
- He began teaching in
Diyarbakır in the year of his graduation. He attracted interest and was respected by the
people of Diyarbakır during his duty in this city. He knew that Diyarbakır was an
efficient cultural atmosphere. He was given the post of the editor of Karacadağ Magazine
published by the Community Center. He arranged meetings in the memory of sons of
Diyarbakır in thought and literature field such as Süleyman Nazif, Cahit Sıtkı and in
particular Ziya Gökalp. He arranged night meetings of Divan Literature. Many people from
Diyarbakır, in particular his students and their guardians were attached to him during
his post. He proved that a serious nationalism atmosphere come there. Kabaklı, whose duty
in Diyarbakır lasted for two years went to perform his military service thereafter. His
colloquies, students and people loving him coming to see him off comprised a huge crowd.
- He was very happy for
such respect and love of Diyarbakır people for him. After completing his military service
in Manisa, he was appointed as literature teacher by the Ministry of National Education in
1951 to Aydın Commercial High School. In Aydın where he worked, he met the mathematics
teacher, Meşkûre hanim from Elbir family of Aydın and married her. He wanted to study
law in order to provide better service toward right and justice. In 1955, he attended the
article contest arranged by Tercüman Newspaper between 1 April-1 May 1956 with his
article titled “Münazaralar (Negotiations)” which made him win the first prize under
Ferhat Fırat name. Kabaklı, winning the contest, became one of the two persons being an
author with contest in Turkey. He was still teaching as a Literature teacher in Aydın
Commercial High School at that time.
- He was sent to Paris
for one year for educational internship by the Ministry of National Education during his
duty in Aydın Commercial High School in the fall semester of 1956. In 1958, when he came
back from Paris, he was appointed to Istanbul Çapa Educational Institute as a teacher. He
graduated in 1959 from the Law Faculty which he had begun to study in 1955 during his
times as a teacher in Aydın. He joined Istanbul Bar Association lawyers on 26 Octobe
r1961 with the registry number 4806. He worked as a lawyer for a short time. His work as a
teacher in Çapa Educational Institute lasted until 1969. He went on as instructor in
Istanbul Institute of Teachers. He retired in 1979 while performing this duty. Afterwards,
he taught literature classes in Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State
Conservatory.
- Ahmet Kabaklı, who had
a chemical engineer, M.A. son named Taner and two grandchildren, became ill suffering from
his heart on 17 November 2000. He was first taken to Türkiye Newspaper Hospital
Cardiology Service. He was kept in intense care for two days here. Then he was transferred
to Florance Nightingale Hospital for angiography on 20 November 2000. He was subjected o a
second medical examination on 23 November 2000 and was taken to a medical operation. Five
of his heart veins were changed. However, he got an infection in the intense care unit.
He had to lie in
hospital for twenty days despite that he should have been released in three days. At the
same time, his wife of 48 years, retired teacher Meşküre Hanim passed away on 23
December 2000, on the day of the Night of Power (Kadir Gecesi). After being released from
the hospital, he could go to visit the grave of his dear spouse Meşküre Hanim. Although
he was thought to be recovering rapidly, he was taken to the hospital due to lung
infection. Ahmet Kabaklı passed away in Florance Nightingale Hospital at 14.20 on 8
February 2001 Thursday. His corpse around which Turkish and Eastern Turkestan flags were
wrapped was taken to Fatih Mosque on 10 February 2001 Saturday. After the funeral prayer
performed after to the Noon Prayer performed by tens of thousands of his relatives,
students and lovers, he was buried to the family graveyard in Eyup Sultan-Pierre Loti
where his spouse was buried too.
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