The Enduring Voice of Culture and Civilization; A Comprehensive Report on the International Conference on the Cultural Heritage of Turkic Poetry at the ECI

The Beginning of the Path and Opening Ceremony; Poetry as Collective Memory and Soft Power

The ceremony commenced with a keynote speech by H.E. Ambassador Muhammad Hassan, President of the ECO Cultural Institute. Addressing researchers from various Iranian cities such as Tabriz, Qom, Zanjan, Ardabil, and Saveh, as well as scholars from around the world, he emphasized the unparalleled status of poetry:

"Poetry is much more than an art form. It is a bearer of collective memory, a guardian of language and identity, and a powerful bridge connecting generations, societies, and civilizations."

Highlighting the geographical expanse of Turkic poetry from Turkistan to the Caucasus, and from Anatolia to the Balkans, the President of the ECO Cultural Institute noted that this precious heritage serves as a powerful tool in cultural diplomacy and in strengthening peace and mutual understanding within the ECO region. He also commemorated October 21st, "Uzbek Language Day," honoring the memory of Alisher Nava'i, a prominent figure in Uzbek literature.

During the opening session, Dr. Gökhan Çetinkaya, Counselor for Cultural and Information Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Tehran, delivered a speech pointing to the deep cultural and historical roots shared between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of honoring shared literary figures and great thinkers like Ziya Gökalp. He considered attendance at the conference a valuable step toward strengthening cultural diplomacy and solidarity among regional countries. Additionally, Dr. Ahmet Akalın (Assistant Director and Secretary of the Session) spoke on the necessity of sustaining such scientific and cultural collaborations.

Asst. Prof. Nur Yasemin Rahoojo's Keynote Speech; The Depths of Thought, Modernization, and Re-reading the Epic of "Ergenekon"

One of the most prominent and central parts of the conference was the keynote speech by Asst. Prof. Nur Yasemin Rahoojo, an esteemed professor in the Department of Turkish Studies at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Although unforeseen travel obstacles prevented her physical presence in the Tehran auditorium, her live video connection created a profound, meaningful, and academic atmosphere that captured the attention of all researchers and attendees.

A Bridge Between Islamabad and Istanbul; Inspiration Beyond Borders

Dr. Rahoojo’s presence at the conference reflected a profound cross-cultural bond. According to her, her primary motivation for introducing Ziya Gökalp's intellectual heritage to the younger generation of Pakistan rooted from interactions and inspirations among literary figures. She referred to her meeting with the prominent and esteemed Pakistani poet Iftikhar Arif—a sincere encounter in which the great Pakistani poet encouraged Rahoojo to promote and introduce Gökalp’s ideas to the subcontinent. This narrative demonstrated how the ideas of a Turkish thinker could take root in the heart of Pakistan and inspire new generations in recognizing a shared regional heritage.

Deconstructing Ziya Gökalp's Thoughts; Architect of Identity and Modernization

In the main body of her speech, Dr. Rahoojo dissected various dimensions of Ziya Gökalp (1876–1924) as an intellectual, sociologist, and prominent poet. She recalled that during the turbulent collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Gökalp faced a fundamental question: "How can a nation preserve its identity while moving towards the future?"

Dr. Rahoojo's presentation focused on several core axes of Gökalp's ideas:

• Historical Influence and Atatürk's Devotion: She pointed out the historical proposition that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stated regarding his intellectual pillars: "The father of my body was Ali Rıza Efendi, the father of my feelings was Namık Kemal, and the father of my ideas was Ziya Gökalp." This statement illustrates the extent of Gökalp’s influence in shaping the foundational thoughts of modern Turkey.
• Connection with Allama Muhammad Iqbal Lahori's Thoughts: Citing the monumental work The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam by Allama Muhammad Iqbal Lahori (the renowned Pakistani poet and philosopher), the keynote speaker addressed the intellectual connection between Iqbal and Gökalp. In his works, Iqbal analyzed Gökalp's views—which he had studied through German sources—at the intersection of Islamic modernism and international ideals, demonstrating an intellectual alignment between Turkish and Pakistani thinkers in facing modernization.
• Balance Between Tradition and Modernity (Hars and Medeniyet): Rahoojo emphasized that Gökalp never sought a blind return to the past or blind imitation of the West; rather, his authentic theory was built upon the synthesis of national culture (hars) and universal civilization (medeniyet) so that a society could advance toward progress without losing its historical memory.

The Resurgence of "Ergenekon"; A Voice from the Depths of History

A prominent and distinctive part of Dr. Rahoojo’s presentation focused on the epic and enduring poem "Ergenekon," written by Ziya Gökalp. With remarkable mastery, she analyzed dimensions of this work, which narrates the historical tale of the Turkic people breaking free from mountain enclosures and historical impasses. The added value of her research was the precise registration and translation of this epic into English, which has been registered as a recognized work with the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan.

Rahoojo demonstrated how the myth of "Ergenekon" in Gökalp's view is not merely an ancient narrative, but an allegory for times when societies face major crises and impasses—impasses that can be broken through solidarity, resilience, collective will, and reliance on wisdom and roots.

The Tribune of Thought; Detailed Accounts of Specialized Panels and Eight Distinguished Speakers

During the specialized sessions of the conference, seven other researchers and distinguished professors analyzed the lives and works of literary masters across the ECO region, portraying a tapestry of regional solidarity:

1. Dr. Metin Yıldırım and Elucidating Ziya Gökalp's Intellectual Connection with "Yunus Emre"

In his comprehensive speech, following expressions of gratitude to the President of the ECO Cultural Institute (H.E. Ambassador Muhammad Hassan), the Cultural Counselor of Turkey in Tehran (Dr. Gökhan Çetinkaya), and other organizers, Dr. Metin Yıldırım focused on the deep intellectual connection between two prominent figures in Turkic cultural history: Ziya Gökalp and Yunus Emre.

• Theory of National Culture (Hars): Dr. Yıldırım noted that as one of the founders of modern sociology in Turkey, Gökalp believed the fundamental elements constituting a nation include language and folk culture, which he termed hars (national culture). The fundamental distinction he drew between civilization (international) and national culture urged intellectuals to return to the common people.
• Manifestation of the Theory in the Thirteenth Century: The highlight of Yıldırım's speech was that Yunus Emre had put this theory into practice centuries before Gökalp formulated it in the twentieth century. At a time when intellectual elites primarily composed works in Arabic and Persian, Yunus Emre turned to the people of Anatolia and elevated Oghuz Turkish to the peak of splendor and refinement.
• Statistical Research on a Century of Yunus Emre Scholarship: In another part of his presentation, Dr. Yıldırım introduced his comprehensive academic research titled "The Bibliography of Yunus Emre (1911–2024)." Based on this major study—which examined a total of 4,833 academic works on Yunus Emre (including 1,081 books, 99 academic theses, 2,410 articles, and 1,243 conference papers)—it became clear that nearly one-third of this literature was produced during the years of UNESCO's commemoration of Yunus Emre, with about 413 works (roughly 10 percent) published in foreign languages, signifying global dimensions and the poet's role in Turkey's cultural diplomacy.

2. Prof. Dr. Hossein Khoshbaten and Examining the Heritage of "Alisher Nava'i"

Prof. Khoshbaten, a scholar at Nur-Mubarak Kazakh University, focused on the lofty status of Alisher Nava'i, portraying the extensive impact of this poet, statesman, and thinker of the Timurid era on Chagatai and Turkic literature.

• He explained how Nava'i, through creating his monumental works, proved the capabilities of the Turkic language in expressing the most delicate mystical, philosophical, and epic concepts.
• At this conference, the coincidence of the session with "Uzbek Language Day" (October 21) provided a timely opportunity to further honor the memory and works of Alisher Nava'i as a shared and identity-forming heritage of the ECO region.

3. Dr. Amir Ali Barghi and Re-reading the Epic and Thought of "Magtymguly Pyragy"

Dr. Amir Ali Barghi, a lecturer in the Department of Turkic Language and Literature at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran, examined the personal dimensions and poetry divan of Magtymguly Pyragy, the renowned Turkmen poet and mystic.

• Pointing to humanistic, patriotic, and mystical themes in Magtymguly's poetry, he introduced the poet as a clear symbol of solidarity, unity of nations, and awakening among Turkmen communities.
• Barghi analyzed how Magtymguly Pyragy’s verses stem from folk beliefs and the region's historical memory, continuing to serve as a bridge connecting the emotions and thoughts of different generations.

4. Dr. Ali Permu and the Aesthetics of "Fuzuli's" Poetry

Dr. Ali Permu, an independent researcher, investigated the literary career of Fuzuli—one of the three pillars of classical Turkic poetry (alongside Nasimi and Nava'i)—with an analytical approach.

• Pointing to linguistic subtleties and Fuzuli's synthesis style across Turkish, Persian, and Arabic literature, he demonstrated how mystical yearning and genuine love in Fuzuli's words transcended geographical boundaries.
• Elucidating the connections between Fuzuli's poetic style and the philosophical-mystical thoughts of the Islamic domain formed another key axis of this speech.

5. Mr. Seyid Heydar Bayat and Deconstructing the Persona of "Mehmet Akif Ersoy"

Mr. Seyit Haydar Bayat, a prominent seminary researcher and poet from Qom, introduced the life, intellectual, and militant career of Mehmet Akif Ersoy (the lyricist of Turkey's national anthem, İstiklâl Marşı). With deep insight, Bayat analyzed Ersoy's epic spirit, profound religious and social commitment, and reformist perspective within the context of the political and social crises of the late Ottoman era and the emergence of modern Turkey. He emphasized that the Turkish National Anthem, written by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, is not only a national anthem but also a manifesto of freedom, independence, and democracy; and he demonstrated that Ersoy's poetry is not merely an artistic creation, but the crystallization of Islamic awakening, moralism, and national resistance.

6. Mr. Erfan Eshghinour and the Thoughts of "Seyid Nesimi"

In his speech, Mr. Erfan Eshghinour examined the intellectual dimensions and passionate mystical poetry of Seyid Nesimi. He explained how Nesimi, through courage in speech and the manifestation of mystical and philosophical thoughts, left a profound and lasting impact on classical literature and regional intellectual schools.

7. Dr. Tara Mokhtari and the Folk Heritage of "Tilim Khan"

Focusing on the works and status of Tilim Khan, Dr. Tara Mokhtari analyzed the poetry, lifestyle, and folkloric heritage of this well-known poet. She explained how vernacular wisdom, moral values, and the simple, sincere language of the people are reflected in Tilim Khan's verses.

Looking Forward; Beyond Borders

This multi-hour event at the ECO headquarters proved once again that cultural heritage and Turkic poetry are not merely museum pieces, but living, dynamic, and advancing tools in cultural diplomacy. As echoed in the conference’s closing messages and slogan:

"A nation does not live merely by remembering its past. It lives when each new generation gives that past meaning and carries its values into the future."

In a world where political borders sometimes widen distances, institutions like the ECO Cultural Institute in Tehran have proven that the language of art, poetry, and the thoughts of thinkers like Ziya Gökalp, Yunus Emre and other poets of ECO region represent the safest and most authentic pathway toward a brighter future based on peace and human solidarity in the region.