The moment Atatürk felt sorrow for a tree...

Atatürk was very closely involved with the "Gazi Forest Farm," which he had commissioned himself.

Whenever he traveled, he had practically adopted a small oleaster tree located on the side of the road in the direction of Akköprü.

He would slow the car down as he passed, breathe in the beautiful scent of the oleaster, greet it by saying to those with him, "Look, this is my tree," and take pride in it.

He was one of the rare people who took pride in a tree.

The Akköprü side of the Gazi Forest Farm was set aside for orchards. Fruit saplings had been planted in rows.

Atatürk was looking with joy at these areas, which had become orchards, as he headed to the Gazi Forest Farm from this direction again. Workers were also laboring along the roadsides where poplar trees were located, planting new saplings. As Atatürk passed the spot where the oleaster tree stood, he suddenly shouted "Stop" to the driver. He opened the door and got out of the vehicle.

He looked around for the oleaster tree for a while but could not find it. He called out to the workers there.

-"There was an oleaster tree here, where is it?" he asked. None of the workers knew about the oleaster tree. They hadn't seen it. The workers there were planting new saplings. They were unaware of the old ones. Atatürk's joy vanished suddenly when he couldn't find the oleaster tree. He was deeply saddened. He did not get back into the vehicle. He walked along the road searching for the oleaster tree, but he could not find it.

The oleaster tree had been uprooted for road work.

-"The oleaster was an old and frail tree. But it was a living tree that spread its pleasant scents around in the spring," he muttered. His throat tightened as he spoke.

They arrived at the farm center. Atatürk asked the farm officials who had removed the oleaster tree from its place. He inquired.

He investigated who had uprooted it.

For a single tree, for a weak, scrawny tree. But he could not find out. No one could provide any information about what had happened to this tiny tree. Upon this, he warned the officials with sadness and helplessness. He gave orders. He told them to protect and care for the old trees as well.

Atatürk would fret over even a single tree. He would investigate and ask. Such people founded this country, and such people governed it.

Now, let alone a single tree, vast forests are burning, and many lives are being lost. The people governing the country do not care.

For the last five years, parliamentary motions have been submitted to investigate and find those who burn the forests, and those governing the country have rejected them.

Emotions have burned, hearts have gone cold, and consciences have turned to ash.

It seems the real fire is not in the forest, but in the parliament.

Aydın Keleşoğlu

aydınkeleşoğ[email protected]

@aydin_kelesoglu