Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the father of whom hailed from the village of Shushica, once part of Peja, now part of the Municipality of Istog, was the author of the National Anthem of the Republic of Turkey.
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| Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Source: Wikipedia |
Born on December 20, 1873, in Istanbul, to a religious and intellectual family, Mehmet Akif's father was Tahir Efendi, a well-known preacher at the famous "Fatih" Madrasa in Istanbul. Tahir was born in Shushica, Peja.
Here are six lesser-known facts about him:
Mehmet Akif Ersoy was not only involved in literary and artistic creation but also left behind a treasure trove of works, spanning both poetry and prose.
He spent his final years in Egypt, where he taught Turkish to foreigners, a role still carried out today by institutions like the Yunus Emre Institute.
His poetic works are compiled under the general title "Safahat" or "Pages."
Despite being born in Istanbul, Turkey, Mehmet Akif proudly identified as Albanian. In many of his writings, he mentions Albania, Kosovo, Prizren, Peja, and Gjakova.
When his health declined, he returned to Istanbul, where he passed away on December 27, 1936.
The story behind Turkey's National Anthem:
In 1921, at the request of military officials, the Ministry of Culture announced a competition for the National Anthem. Despite over 700 submissions, none met the criteria. Minister Hamidullah Suphi and the evaluation committee turned to Mehmet Akif to write the anthem. He agreed, under the condition that he wouldn't receive the prize money even if he won. With this condition, he penned the text. The National Anthem, known as the "Independence March" (Istiklal Marsi), written by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, was read in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on March 1, 1921, and officially adopted on March 21, 1921.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy's legacy extends far beyond his literary contributions, cementing him as a prominent figure in Turkish and Albanian history alike.