On the 103rd anniversary of the adoption of our National Anthem, a conference titled “Awakening of Independence” was held, in which Yıldız Technical University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Süleyman Doğan participated as a speaker. Our national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy was commemorated with respect at the conference.
Our Rector Prof. Dr. Abdulhamit Avşar also attended the “Awakening of Independence” conference held at Istanbul Ticaret University Seminar Hall and made a short greeting speech. Prof. Dr. Avşar said that it is not possible to understand our recent history, culture and world of ideas without understanding two important concepts such as Mehmet Akif Ersoy and our National Anthem. Stating that he sees events that bring young people together with our cultural codes as important, Prof. Dr. Avşar congratulated the Young Thought Student Club for organizing the conference. On the other hand, before starting his speech, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Doğan presented a copy of Sebil-ur-Reşad Magazine, which was pioneered by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, to Prof. Dr. Avşar. Prof. Dr. Doğan reminded that he and Prof. Dr. Avşar contributed to the new issues of the magazine.
A PERSONALITY THE LIKES OF WHOM I HAVE NOT COME ACROSS IN TWO CENTURIES OF HISTORY
Our guest, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Doğan, introduced Mehmet Akif Ersoy with the following words in his speech: “I have written many biographical works, including encyclopedic books, but I have not come across a personality like Mehmet Akif Ersoy in two centuries of history. In addition to being a fully-fledged uncompromising believer, a strong hafeez, a good poet, a good writer, Ersoy was a very good ney (reed flute) player, a good wrestler, a good swimmer, a good shot putter, a good runner, fluent in Arabic, Persian and French, and had many other qualities.” Prof. Dr. Doğan pointed out that Ersoy’s most important feature is that he was the best in his field in all the fields he dealt with, just like at the schools he attended. The conference ended with the Young Thought Student Club presenting a gift to our guest, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Doğan.
