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THE FISHERMAN HONORED IN BODRUM ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

13.10.2023

In an event organized by Bodrum Municipality, Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı with his pen name “The Fisherman of Halicarnassus” was remembered on the 50th anniversary of his death at his gravesite in Gönültepe.

On Friday, October 13th, the Culture and Social Affairs Directorate of Bodrum Municipality, in collaboration with the Press, Publications and Public Relations Directorate, organized a commemoration ceremony for the Fisherman of Halicarnassus in Cevat Şakir Neighborhood, Gönültepe.

The commemoration event was attended by Bodrum Mayor Ahmet Aras, CHP District Chairman Tuna Işın, former CHP Deputy Chairman Mustafa Özyürek, Deputy Mayor Yaşar Çelikkan, Chairman of the Mukhtars Association Ahmet Cemil Gündüz, Cevat Şakir Neighborhood Mukhtar Göksel Çamlı, President of the City Council Arif Yılmaz, retired teachers Hatice Yücel and Nuran Yüksel, Sponge Diver the famous Aksona Mehmet of Bodrum, Bodrum Author Hüseyin Yeter Şakar, Cevat Şakir's grandchildren Sibel and Derya Kabaağaçlı, along with students and teachers from Bodrum Bahçeşehir College, Bodrum Turgutreis Uğur Anatolian High School and Hüseyin Boyacı Elementary School, city council members, municipal department heads, media representatives and the local community.

During the commemoration event hosted by Banu Tarancı, students from Bahçeşehir College brought to life the letters written by Bodrum children to the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, which were published in the Cumhuriyet Newspaper on January 23, 1979, and the heartfelt responses he provided.

In her speech during the commemoration event, retired teacher Hatice Yücel shared her memories of the days when she first learned about the Fisherman of Halicarnassus and expressed her happiness that the younger generation of students is getting to know and learn from him.

The President of the City Council Arif Yılmaz spoke about what the Fisherman brought to Bodrum, stating, "The Fisherman created a brand in blue voyages. We, however, are not preserving this blue sufficiently. That is why I want to apologize to the Fisherman this year. I hope we learn from this."

"Read The Fisherman’s works"

Mayor Aras, in his speech where he expressed his emotions and thoughts about the Fisherman, said that Balıkçı entered their lives during their childhood and they internalized him by reading his books. He emphasized, "The greatest advice we can give to children is to read the Fisherman’s books. Balıkçı's books narrate the story of Anatolia, these lands, from mythology to the present day. They are literary works written in a very fluent style. So, read the Fisherman’s books first to understand, where you are living. Because the Fisherman wanted to convey to future generations: 'Where are you living? What are the sources of civilization? How did this civilization come to the present day?'

Mentioning that civilizations were founded by the sea and water as well, Mayor Aras said "The Fisherman, in all his works, tells about the sea people and the sea culture, indicating that civilization also originates from water and the seas."

"We want to keep his name alive with his memories and works,"

Mayor Aras said that the Fisherman of Halicarnassus extensively traveled the region, collected information about plant species, civilizations and monuments wherever he went, and documented them. "Today, Anatolian civilizations have come to the forefront thanks to his research and have taken their place in the academic world. The Fisherman, a very important philosopher, is who we want to keep alive today with his memories and works. Thanks to the arrangement we made here last year, there are samples of the plants he brought from all over the world to Bodrum and planted," Mayor Aras said.

Mayor Aras concluded his speech by saying, "We have great hope in future generations. They shall protect the Fisherman on the 100th anniversary of the Republic."

After the speeches, flowers were placed on the grave of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, and attendees visited the Fisherman of Halicarnassus Memorial House & Museum, which was established by Bodrum Municipality in previous years. The guests were provided Refreshments by the municipality at the end of the ceremony.

From October 13th to 15th, a series of events were organized by Bodrum Maritime Museum in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic and the 50th anniversary of the death of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus.