Abstract
TURKEY IN THE POEMS OF AZERBAIJAN’S NATIONAL POET AHMET CEVAT
Ahmet Cevat is an Azerbaijani Turkish poet who lived between 1892-1937, and one of the thousands of intellectuals who fell victim to the Stalin-era. The artist influenced by the national literature and Turkism ideas in Turkey, has been one of the most important figures of romantic national literature in Azerbaijan. Ahmet Cevat was a part of the reformation movements that gained momentum in Azerbaijan at that period. The aspect that distinguishes him from other poets is that he verbalizes Azerbaijan’s independence and the national spirit that will establish a state in Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918.
Under the influence of national literature movement and Turkism ideas in Turkey, Ahmet Cevat has been involved with every movement and affected by every development in Caucasus, Azerbaijan -and partially in Turkey- between the years of 1914-1918, and reflected these in his poetry. In this respect, reading Ahmet Cevat means to know and learn the hopes, national fervour, and feelings of the Azerbaijani Turks in these years.
Turan idea and Turkey hold an important place in Ahmet Cevat’s poetry. The artist closely followed the political and social movements in Turkey, and gave them a place in his poetry. Moreover, he dedicated an important part of his poetry to Turkey and Turan ideas. A. Cevat, as a member of the Caucasus volunteer troop formed in Istanbul during the 1912 Balkan War, fought on the Thrace front. Again under the command of Nuri Pasha, he fought together with the volunteer units formed to support the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which entered Azerbaijan to save Baku from the British occupation. The poet, who is recognized and loved in Turkey as well as Azerbaijan, was executed by firing squad in consequence of his love for Turkey and his Turkist ideas. The lyrics of the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan also belong to the artist.
Keywords
Ahmet Cevat, Selam Türkün Bayrağına, Azerbaijan National Anthem, Azerbaijan National Literature.