Vedat Türkali, man of letters, poet, screenwriter, has passed away at the age of 97. Türkali’s funeral at the Teşvikiye Mosque was attended by Republican People’s Party (CHP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) politicans.

Attending the funeral with Che t-shirts on, students from Dev-Lis has read Nazım Hikmet’s poem “The Song of The Sun Drinkers” with their left fists up in the air.

Many politicians and artists had mentioned Türkali with respect and love at the funeral.

During the ceremony someone in the crowd read Türkali’s poem “Wait for Us Istanbul.” After the ceremony Türkali’s coffin was carried on shoulders and transfered to Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

Türkali, whose real name was Abdülkadir Pirhasan, was born in the northern province of Samsun on May 13, 1919. After graduating from Istanbul University’s Department of Turkology, he served as a literature teacher but was arrested in 1951 after being accused of conducting political activities. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and was paroled seven years later.

He embarked on working in cinema in 1958 after his release from prison. He wrote over 40 screenplays and directed three films. He wrote his screenplays under the pen name Vedat Türkali.

His works, which appealed to an extensive audience, had an effectual role in the establishment and development of early Turkish cinema.

Türkali won many national and international awards with his plays, screenplays and novels. The year from May 1, 2004 to May 1, 2005 was declared the “Year of Vedat Türkali” with the support of intellectuals, artists, cultural and artistic institutions and human rights activists. Celebrated with diverse activities, the one-year period was the first devoted to a living intellectual.

Türkali was known as one of the most prominent names in Turkey’s left-wing literature along with his ties to the then-underground Communist Party of Turkey (TKP).

Following the 1980 coup, Türkali was tried on several cases. Between 1989 and 1999, he lived in London.

He also served as a deputy from the Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP), a predecessor of current Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) between 2002 and 2007.

Özgür Altuncu – Güven Usta / İstanbul DHA