İstanbul University 29 October Republic Day ceremony was held in the Rectorate garden of İstanbul University Beyazıt Campus. İstanbul University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak said: “We are members of a great nation that sees independence as the reason for existence.’’

The ceremony, which began with the moment of silence for respect and the recitation of the National Anthem, was attended by the Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak. It continued with Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak laying a wreath at the Atatürk and Youth Memorial. After the wreath ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak delivered a speech.

“We Are a Nation That Sees Independence as the Reason for Existence”

Prof. Dr. Ak started his words by wishing the Republic Day to be happy and auspicious for the entire Turkish nation. Prof. Dr. Ak noted that one of the most basic characteristics of the Turkish nation's existence on the land in which it is located is the spirit of independence. Professor Dr. Ak who noted that the Turks, in the historical process, walked on the roads in Central Asia with the desire to reach a land that will be independent. Prof. Dr. Ak made the following explanation: “We are members and representatives of a great nation that prefers to leave our land for the sake of independence and change; we see independence as the reason for existence. In fact, our love of independence is not just a love of independence that has been exhibited against the invaders. It is the main philosophy, the spirit that brings us to this land.”

“Our State Has Concluded Many National and Local Projects”

“Even at a time when the belief that the Ottoman State was destroyed and the Turkish nation was at a point where it could no longer lift its head prevailed in this environment, the Turkish nation, a nation whose physical and financial power was destroyed, entered into a supreme struggle with the love of independence and became an example for all nations fighting for independence.” Prof. Dr. Ak expressed gratitude to all the veterans of this blessed struggle, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and said: “We are members of a great nation that does not avoid sacrificing its blood, and life on the front, who carry out Atatürk's order. Atatürk had said: ‘I do not order you to attack, I order you to die’ without thinking for a second. The struggle we face today is the same, both economically and commercially. As a nation that chooses to be independent even in the most difficult times, we are at the same point today. We are members of a state that has implemented and concluded many national and local projects that will not be granted to any nation. We are in a pioneering revival with both road networks and energy projects that will serve not only our own geography, but also the entire wide geography in which we are located, as well as the people of different nations.”

“The Goal of İstanbul University is Also the Goal of the Turkish Nation”

Prof. Dr. Ak drew attention to the following issue: İstanbul University is an institution that has adopted the goal of the Turkish nation to develop, progress and go beyond contemporary civilization in every aspect, with every unit. Prof. Dr. Ak also made the following explanation: “We are happy to express our gratitude to our nation as practitioners of all kinds of information, culture, art, and technology development in the name of both the peace and prosperity of the Turkish nation in terms of the development of Turkey, as well as the hope that friendly and fraternal countries that have their eyes turned to us look to the future. I wish you a happy Republic Day. I hope that we will meet again here as a community that has provided new prosperity to our nation by seeing that even bigger projects are developing and with the convenience of this.”

29 October Republic Day Ceremony ended with the University members’ group photo shoot after Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak completed his speech.

News: Tuğçe Ayçin
Translation: Lect. Yasemin Uğurlu
Photographs: Başar Uzun, Ayşe Akkuş