Nâzım Hikmet

Nâzım Hikmet
Hans-Joachim Koch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Nâzım Hikmet
Birth date	January 15, 1902
Birth place	Salonica, Ottoman Empire
Death date	June 3, 1963
Death place	Moscow, Soviet Union

Nâzım Hikmet was a renowned Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist, known for his influential works in the Turkish literature scene, alongside notable figures such as Orhan Kemal and Aziz Nesin. His poetry was heavily influenced by the Russian Revolution and the works of Vladimir Mayakovsky, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky. Hikmet's life was marked by his involvement with the Communist Party of Turkey and his subsequent Bursa Prison sentence, which had a profound impact on his writing, much like the experiences of Fyodor Dostoevsky in Omsk and Mikhail Bulgakov in Kiev. His work was also shaped by the Turkish War of Independence and the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

● Early Life and Education

Nâzım Hikmet was born in Salonica, Ottoman Empire, to a family of Turkish intellectuals, including his father, Hikmet Bey, and his uncle, Baha Tevfik. He spent his early years in Istanbul and Ankara, where he was exposed to the works of Omar Khayyam, Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan, and Tevfik Fikret. Hikmet's education took him to the Galatasaray High School in Istanbul and later to the University of Paris, where he studied alongside notable figures such as Louis Aragon and André Breton. During his time in Paris, he was introduced to the works of Guillaume Apollinaire, Paul Éluard, and André Gide, which had a significant impact on his literary style.

● Literary Career

Hikmet's literary career began in the 1920s, during which he published his first collection of poems, 835 Satır, influenced by the Dadaism movement and the works of Tristan Tzara and Hugo Ball. He went on to write numerous plays, including İntihar, which explored themes of socialism and anarchism, reminiscent of the works of Bertolt Brecht and Erwin Piscator. Hikmet's novels, such as Yeni Dünya, reflected his interest in Marxism and the Russian Revolution, as well as the influence of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. His writing often explored the struggles of the Turkish working class and the impact of imperialism on Turkey, much like the works of Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca.

● Imprisonment and Exile

In 1925, Hikmet was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in Bursa Prison for his involvement with the Communist Party of Turkey and his alleged role in the Sheikh Said Rebellion. During his imprisonment, he wrote extensively, producing works such as Jokond ile Si-Ya-U, which reflected his experiences in prison and his continued commitment to socialism. After his release in 1934, Hikmet went into exile in the Soviet Union, where he lived in Moscow and Tbilisi, befriending notable figures such as André Malraux and Pablo Picasso. His time in exile had a profound impact on his writing, as seen in works such as Kuvâyi Milliye, which explored themes of nationalism and revolution.

● Poetry and Style

Hikmet's poetry is characterized by its use of free verse and its exploration of themes such as love, death, and social justice. His work was heavily influenced by the Surrealism movement and the works of André Breton and Paul Éluard. Hikmet's poetry often incorporated elements of Turkish folklore and Ottoman history, as seen in works such as Memleketimden İnsan Manzaraları, which reflected his interest in the Turkish people and their struggles. His poetry also explored the intersection of politics and art, much like the works of Mayakovsky and Vladimir Lenin.

● Legacy and Impact

Nâzım Hikmet's legacy is profound, with his work influencing generations of Turkish writers, including Orhan Pamuk and Elif Şafak. His poetry has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, and Spanish, and has been praised by notable figures such as Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca. Hikmet's commitment to socialism and human rights has made him a celebrated figure in Turkey and around the world, alongside notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.. His work continues to be studied and admired in institutions such as the University of Istanbul and the British Museum.

● Personal Life

Hikmet's personal life was marked by his relationships with women, including his wife, Münevver Andaç, and his mistress, Vera Tulyakova. He was known for his charismatic personality and his love of music and dance, often attending performances at the Bolshoi Theatre and the Istanbul Opera House. Hikmet's health declined in the 1950s, and he died on June 3, 1963, in Moscow, surrounded by his friends and family, including André Malraux and Pablo Picasso. His funeral was attended by notable figures such as Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev, and he was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery alongside other notable figures such as Anton Chekhov and Vladimir Mayakovsky. Category:Turkish writers