Yaar Kemal

Yaar Kemal
Kemal Sadk Gkeli
Born

1923 (age8788)
Gkedam, Osmaniye, Turkey

Occupation

Novelist

Period

1943 present

Notable work(s)

Atlar ("Ballads"; debut) nce Memed ("Memed, My

Hawk"))
Teneke ("The Drumming-Out")
Ince Memed II ("They Burn the Thistles")

Notable award(s) Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger

1979
Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
1982
Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
1997

Yaar Kemal, (born Kemal Sadk Gkeli[1] 1923) is a Turkish writer. He is one of Turkey's leading writers.[2] [3]
He has long been a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, on the strength of Memed, My Hawk.[4]
As an outspoken intellectual, he does not hesitate to speak on sensitive issues such as the plight of the ethnic Kurds
in Southeastern Turkey.[5] His activism resulted in a twenty-month suspended jail sentence, on charges of advocating
separatism.[6]

Life
Kemal, who is of Kurdish origin, was born in Hemite (now Gkedam), a hamlet in the province of Osmaniye in
southern Turkey. His parents were from Van, who came into ukurova during the First World War. Kemal had a
difficult childhood because he lost his right eye due to a knife accident, when his father was slaughtering a sheep on
Eid al-Adha, and had to witness as his father was stabbed to death by his adoptive son Yusuf while praying in a
mosque when he was five years old.[1] This traumatic experience left Kemal with a speech impediment, which lasted
until he was twelve years old. At nine he started school in a neighboring village and continued his formal education
in Kadirli, Osmaniye Province.[1]
Kemal was a locally noted bard before he started school, but was unappreciated by his widowed mother until he
composed an elegy on the death of one of her eight brothers, all bandits.[7] However, he forgot it and became
interested in writing as a means to record his work when he questioned an itinerant peddler, who was doing his
accounts. Ultimately, his village paid his way to university in Istanbul.[7]
He worked for a while for rich farmers, guarding their river water against other farmers' unauthorized irrigation.
However, instead he taught the poor farmers how to steal the water undetected, by taking it at night.[7]
Later he worked as a letter-writer, then as a journalist, and finally as a novelist. He said that the Turkish police took
his first two novels.[7]
When Yaar Kemal was visiting Akdamar Island in 1951, he saw the island's Holy Cross Church being destroyed.
Using his contacts to the public, he helped stop destruction of the site. However, the church remained in a neglected
state until 2005, when restoration by the Turkish government began.[8]

Yaar Kemal

Marriages
In 1952, Yaar Kemal married Thilda Serrero,[9] a member of a prominent Sephardi Jewish family in Istanbul. Her
grandfather, Jak Mandil Pasha, was the chief physician of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II.[10] She translated 17
of her husbands works into the English language.[11] Thilda died on January 17, 2001 (aged 78) from pulmonary
complications at a hospital in Istanbul, and was laid to rest at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.[11] Thilda is survived by her
hushand, her son Rait and a grandchild.[11]
Yaar Kemal remarried on August 1, 2002 with Aye Semiha Baban, a lecturer for public relations at Bilgi
University in Istanbul. She was educated at the American University of Beirut, Bosphorus University and Harvard
University.[12]

Oeuvre
I don't write about issues, I don't write for an audience, I don't even write for myself. I just write.

[13]

Interview with The Guardian.

He published his first book Atlar ("Ballads") in 1943, which was a compilation of folkloric themes. This book
brings to light many long forgotten rhymes and ballads and Kemal had started to collect these ballads at the age of
16.[1] His first stories Bebek ("The Baby"), Dkkanc ("The Shopkeeper"), Memet ile Memet ("Memet and Memet")
were published in 1950. He had written his first story Pis Hikaye ("The Dirty Story") in 1944, while he was serving
in the military, in Kayseri. Then he published his book of short stories Sar Scak ("Yellow Heat") in 1952. The
initial point of his works was the toil of the people of the ukurova plains and he based the themes of his writings on
the lives and sufferings of these people. Yaar Kemal has used the legends and stories of Anatolia extensively as the
basis of his works.[1]
He received international acclaim with the publication of Memed, My Hawk (Turkish: nce Memed) in 1955. In nce
Memed, Yaar Kemal criticizes the fabric of the society through a legendary hero, a protagonist, who flees to the
mountains as a result of the oppression of the Aghas. One of the most famous living writers in Turkey, Kemal is
noted for his command of the language and lyrical description of bucolic Turkish life. He has been awarded 19
literary prizes so far and nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973.
His 1955 novel Teneke was adapted into a theatrical play, which was staged for almost one year in Gothenburg,
Sweden, in the country where he lived for about two years in the late 1970s.[14] Italian composer Fabio Vacchi
adapted the same novel with the original title into an opera of three acts, which premiered at the Teatro alla Scala in
Milano, Italy in 2007.
Kemal lays claim to having recreated Turkish as a literary language, by bringing in the vernacular, following
Mustafa Kemal Atatrk's sterilization of Turkish by removing Persian and Arabic elements.[7]

Yaar Kemal

Bibliography
Stories
Sar Scak, ("Yellow Heat") (1952)
Novels

nce Memed (Memed, My Hawk) (1955)

Teneke (The Drumming-Out) (1955)
Orta Direk (The Wind from the Plain) (1960)
Yer Demir Gk Bakr (Iron Earth, Copper Sky) (1963)
lmez Otu (The Undying Grass) (1968)
Ince Memed II (They Burn the Thistles) (1969)
Akasazn Aalar/Demirciler ars Cinayeti (The Agas of Akchasaz Trilogy/Murder in the Ironsmiths Market)
(1974)
Akasazn Aalar/Yusufcuk Yusuf (The Agas of Akchasaz Trilogy/Yusuf, Little Yusuf) (1975)
Ylan ldrseler (To Crush the Serpent) (1976)
Al Gzm Seyreyle Salih (The Saga of a Seagull) (1976)
Allahn Askerleri (Gods Soldiers) (1978)

Kular da Gitti (The Birds Have Also Gone: Long Stories) (1978)
Deniz Kst (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman) (1978)
Hykteki Nar Aac (The Pomegranate on the Knoll) (1982)
Yamurcuk Kuu/Kimsecik I (Kimsecik I - Little Nobody I) (1980)
Kale Kaps/Kimsecik II (Kimsecik II - Little Nobody II)(1985)
Kann Sesi/Kimsecik III (Kimsecik III - Little Nobody III) (1991)
Frat Suyu Kan Akyor Baksana (Look, the Euphrates is Flowing with Blood) (1997)
Karncann Su tii (Ant Drinking Water) (2002)
Tanyeri Horozlar (The Cocks of Dawn) (2002)

Epic Novels

Anadolu Efsanesi (Three Anatolian Legends) (1967)

Arda Efsanesi (The Legend of Mount Ararat) (1970)
Binboalar Efsanesi (The Legend of the Thousand Bulls) (1971)
akrcal Efe* (The Life Stories of the Famous Bandit akircali) (1972)

Reportages

Yanan Ormanlarda 50 Gn (Fifty Days in the Burning Forests) (1955)

ukurova Yana Yana (While ukurova Burns) (1955)
Peribacalar (The Fairy Chimneys) (1957)
Bu Diyar Batan Baa (Collected reportages) (1971)
Bir Bulut Kaynyor (Collected reportages) (1974)

Experimental Works

Atlar (Ballads) (1943)

Ta atlasa (At Most) (1961)
Baldaki Tuz (The Salt in the Honey) (1959-74 newspaper articles)
Gkyz Mavi Kald ("he Sky remained Blue) (collection of folk literature in collaboration with S. Eybolu)
Aacn r (The Rotting Tree) (Artciles and Speeches) (1980)
Yaymlanmam 10 At (10 Unpublished Ballads) (1985)

Sar Defterdekiler (Contents of the Yellow Notebook) (Collected Folkloric works) (1997)
Ustadr Ar (The Expert Bee) (1995)

Yaar Kemal
Zulmn Artsn (Increase Your Oppression) (1995)
Children's Books
Filler Sultan ile Krmz Sakall Topal Karnca (The Sultan of the Elephants and the Red-Bearded Lame Ant)
(1977)

Awards and Distinctions

"Seven Days in the World's Largest Farm" reportage series, Journalist's Association Prize, 1955
Varlik Prize for Ince Memed ("Memed, My Hawk"), 1956
Ilhan Iskender Award for the play adapted from his book with the same name, Teneke ("The Drumming-Out"),
1966
The International Nancy Theatre Festival - First Prize for Uzun Dere ("Long Brook"), 1966 -Theater adaptation
from roman Iron Earth, Copper Sky.[15]
Madarli Novel Award for Demirciler ars ("Murder in the Ironsmith's Market"), 1974
Choix du Syndicat des Critiques Littraires pour le meilleur roman etranger (Et/Automne 1977) pour Terre de
Fer, Ciel de Cuivre ("Yer Demir, Gk Bakr").
Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger 1978 pour L'Herbe qui ne meurt pas (lmez Otu); Paris, Janvier 1979.

Prix mondial Cino Del Duca decern pour contributions a l'humanisme moderne; Paris, Octobre 1982.
Commandeur de la Lgion d'Honneur de France; Paris, 1984.
The Sedat Simavi Foundation Award for Literature; Istanbul, Turkey, 1985.
Paris, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, 1988
Doctor Honoris Causa, Strasbourg University, France, 1991.
Doctor Honoris Causa, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey, 1992.
Premi Internacional Catalunya. Catalonia (Spain), 1996
Lillian Hellman/Dashiell Hammett Award for Courage in Response to Repression, Human Rights Watch, USA,
1996.
Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 1997.
Premio Internazionale Nonino for collected works, Italy, 1997
Bordeaux, Prix Ecureuit de Littrature Etrangre, 1998
Honorary Doctorate, Bilkent University, 2002
Z. Homer poetry Award, 2003
Savanos Prize (Thessalonika-Greece), 2003
Turkish Publisher's Association Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003
Presidential Cultural and Artistic Grand Prize, 2008[16]
Honorary Doctorate, Bogazici University, 2009
Honorary Doctorate, ukurova University, 2009 [17]

Yaar Kemal

References
[1] Yaar Kemal - YKY (http:/ / www. yasarkemal. net/ eng/ bio/ index. html)
[2] Ertan, Nazlan (1997-03-06). "French pay tribute to Yasar Kemal" (http:/ / tdnarchives. blogspot. com/ 1997/ 03/
french-pay-tribute-to-yasar-kemal. html). Turkish Daily News. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. turkishdailynews. com. tr/ archives.
php?id=2229) on 2008-11-15. .
[3] Perrier, Jean-Louis (1997-03-04). "Yachar Kemal, conteur et imprcateur" (http:/ / www. lemonde. fr/ cgi-bin/ ACHATS/ acheter.
cgi?offre=ARCHIVES& type_item=ART_ARCH_30J& objet_id=251930) (in French). Le Monde. . Retrieved 2008-08-17.
[4] "lene kadar Nobel aday olacam" (http:/ / hurarsiv. hurriyet. com. tr/ goster/ haber. aspx?id=5621617& tarih=2007-07-02) (in Turkish).
Hurriyet. 2007-07-02. . Retrieved 2008-04-04.
[5] Norman, Roger (1997-06-05). "Yasar Kemal and the last of the nomads" (http:/ / arama. hurriyet. com. tr/ arsivnews. aspx?id=-503844).
Turkish Daily News (Hrriyet). . Retrieved 2008-12-15. "...for Yasar Kemal has become perhaps the best known champion of human rights in
Turkey, the godfather of freedom of conscience. He is no stranger to prison and currently has a suspended prison sentence hanging over him."
[6] "Yasar Kemal asks Germans not to mistreat Turks" (http:/ / tdnarchives. blogspot. com/ 1997/ 10/ yasar-kemal-asks-germans-not-to. html).
Turkish Daily News. Reuters. 1997-10-19. Archived from the original (http:/ / turkishdailynews. com. tr/ archives. php?id=4644) on
2008-11-14. .
[7] Bosquet, Alain (1999). Yaar Kemal on his life and art. Syracuse University Press. ISBN9780815605515.
[8] Asbarez, 1st October 2010: The Mass at Akhtamar, and Whats Next (http:/ / asbarez. com/ 86018/ the-mass-at-akhtamar-and-whats-next/ )
[9] Taylor & Francis Group (2004). "KEMAL, Yashar" (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=phhhHT64kIMC& pg=PA290& lpg=PA290&
dq=thilda+ serrero+ 1952& source=web& ots=e_pvFOMtxq& sig=Hg2BiOwm9MbwM_tPPobX4w3Jv7s& hl=en& sa=X& oi=book_result&
resnum=5& ct=result). In Elizabeth Sleeman. International Who's Who of Authors and Writers. Routledge. p.290. ISBN1857431790. .
[10] Uzun, Mehmed (2001-01-22). "Thilda Kemal: The Graceful Voice of an Eternal Ballad" (http:/ / www. tranchida. it/ sections.
php?op=viewarticle& artid=491). Turkish Daily News. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. turkishdailynews. com. tr/ archives.
php?id=21877) on 2008-07-11. .
[11] "Thilda Kemal, wife and translator of novelist Yasar Kemal, dies" (http:/ / tdnarchives. blogspot. com/ 2001/ 01/
thilda-kemal-wife-and-translator-of. html). Turkish Daily News. 2001-01-19. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. turkishdailynews. com.
tr/ archives. php?id=21514) on 2008-11-14. .
[12] Kayar, Ayda (2002-08-11). "Yaar Kemal evlendi" (http:/ / webarsiv. hurriyet. com. tr/ 2002/ 08/ 11/ 164909. asp) (in Turkish). Hrriyet. .
Retrieved 2008-07-11.
[13] Birch, Nicholas (2008-11-28). "Yasar Kemal's disappearing world of stories" (http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ books/ 2008/ nov/ 28/
yasar-kemal). The Guardian. . Retrieved 2009-01-03.
[14] Gkta, Ltfullah (2007-06-30). "Yaar Kemalin Tenekesi talyanca opera" (http:/ / www. ntvmsnbc. com/ news/ 412307. asp) (in
Turkish). NTV-MSNBC. . Retrieved 2008-07-11.
[15] Ky Seyirlik Oyunlar, Seyirlik Uygulamalaryla 51 Yllk Bir Amatr Topluluk: Ankara Deneme Sahnesi ve Uygulamalarndan ki rnek:
Bozkr Dirlii Ve Gerek Kavga Nurhan Tekerek (http:/ / dergiler. ankara. edu. tr/ dergiler/ 13/ 905/ 11574. pdf)
[16] "Cumhurbakanl Kltr ve Sanat Byk dlleri datld" (http:/ / www. milliyet. com. tr/ Siyaset/ SonDakika.
aspx?aType=SonDakika& Kategori=siyaset& KategoriID=& ArticleID=1024766& Date=04. 12. 2008& b=Yasar Kemal torende yurumekte
zorlandi) (in Turkish). Milliyet. Anka news agency. 2008-12-04. . Retrieved 2008-12-04.
[17] "Yaar Kemal: Umutsuzluk umudu yaratr" (http:/ / www. ntvmsnbc. com/ id/ 25007751/ ) (in Turkish). ntvmsnbc.com. Anadolu Ajans.
October 7, 2009. . Retrieved October 8, 2009.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Yaar Kemal Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=452256600 Contributors: Abbaqwerty123, Adoniscik, Alex Bakharev, Alpaydin, Artist In Flight, Axpde,
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