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 Turgut
Özakman, the author of the widely read book “Şu Çılgın Türkler,” came to
Bilkent for a meeting organized by the Basın Yayın Kulübü on November
18. He gave an inspiring talk on the Turkish National War of
Independence and shared his views about the formation of the modern
Turkish Republic with the audience. Afterwards, he signed copies of his
book and conversed with students.
In his talk, Özakman
stated that the Turkish National War of Independence had important
political, legal and social dimensions. He said that he has been doing
research on the war for more than fifty years, in order to inform young
people about its realities. Over time, his interest in researching the
subject became, in his words, “a life-long passion.”
Özakman said that if
Turkish students learn about the realities of the war, they will be
proud of their history and love their country as fervently as their
grandfathers did. He also noted that it is necessary to understand the
past in order to perceive the current problems of Turkey and find
solutions for them. He pointed out the importance of “modernization” in
the formation of Republican Turkey, and stated that it is crucial to
understand the achievements of the republic in order to protect
them.
Ekin Enacar (HIST/MA)
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