A commemoration event was held in Russia for the 120^th anniversary of poet Nazım Hikmet's birth.

The event was held on January 25, 2022, in the historical hall of the Moscow Writers and Publishers Union, hosted by the Moscow Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation.

The event was organized in cooperation with Moscow Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) and Moscow Nazım Hikmet Library. Turkey’s Ambassador to Moscow Mehmet Samsar, Moscow Yunus Emre Institute Director Ömer Özkan, Russian Writers and Publishers Union (ASPI) President Sergey Shargunov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation Assoc. Prof. Daria Zhigulskaya, Russian and Turkish academics, representatives of the Russian-Turkish business world, and many Turkish and Russian citizens attended the memoriam.

NAZIM HİKMET LED THE PATH FOR FRIENDSHIP

In his speech at the commemoration event, Ambassador Samsar stated that Nazım Hikmet left behind countless works. Also, he said "Nazım has been instrumental in establishing a path for friendship even after all these years, and in this context, he has been a prominent figure in terms of gathering us here from both Turkey and Russia.”

Expressing that the works of Hikmet, known as the Blue-Eyed Giant and the great poet of Turkish language, have a unifying effect, Samsar said, "We will continue to protect the memory and legacy of our national poet Nazım. On this occasion, we would like to express our gratitude to Russia, which continues to embrace his life, as it was when Nazım Hikmet was standing."

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş, in his message published at the event, stated that it is a great gain for Turkish and Turkey for Russian participants of all ages to read Nazım Hikmet's poems in Turkish, and stated that it is important Yunus Emre Institute to acknowledge and remember our valuable poets and writers all over the world.

Moscow Yunus Emre Institute Director Özkan stated that Nazım Hikmet appeals to people’s emotions with his works and said, “We have been able to come together with our Turkish and Russian friends at least twice a year on thanks to Nazım, since the Moscow Yunus Emre Institute was opened.”

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Başkanı Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş, etkinlikte yayımlanan mesajında her yaştan Rus katılımcının, Nâzım Hikmet’in şiirlerini Türkçe okumasının Türkçe ve Türkiye için büyük bir kazanç olduğunu ifade ederken, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü olarak değerli şair ve yazarlarımızı tüm dünyada anmanın ve anlatmanın önemli olduğunu dile getirdi.

Moskova Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Müdürü Özkan, Nâzım Hikmet'in eserleriyle insanlarda güzel duygular yarattığını belirterek, "Biz, Moskova Yunus Emre Enstitüsü açıldığından beri senede en az iki defa Türk ve Rus dostlarımızla Nâzım vesilesiyle bir araya gelebiliyoruz." ifadesini kullandı.

NAZIM HİKMET INSPIRES TURKISH AND RUSSIAN PEOPLE

Shargunov, President of the Russian Writers and Publishers Union, said that Nazım Hikmet is a "legend" and that they are proud of Nazım, for he lived in Russia.

Shargunov talked about the fact that Nazım is a man of letters, he inspired not only the Turkish people but also the Russian people, and he was always shown as an example with his grace and superior literary personality, expressing their pride in the poet's membership in the Moscow Writers Union.

In the event, Nazım Hikmet's verses echoed with songs and poems prepared by the Moscow Nazım Hikmet Foundation Student Committee. In addition, students staged a play. Also, while the personal belongings of Nazım Hikmet and his wife Vera were exhibited at the commemoration event, the unforgettable lines of the poet were sung accompanied by a live piano performance.

Event continued with a concert during which the guests were treated with Turkish cuisine delicacies.

NAZIM HİKMET IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR POETS OF 20TH CENTURY

Nazım Hikmet, who left important works in Turkish literature, is the first practitioner of free verse in Turkey and one of the most important names in contemporary Turkish poetry, is among the most popular poets of the 20th century worldwide.

Hikmet spent the later years of his life in Sofia, Warsaw and Moscow. World-famous poet Nazım Hikmet Ran, born on January 15, 1902, died on June 3, 1963, at the age of 61, due to a heart attack.