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Mehmet Doğan, founder of the Writers Union of Turkey, passes away (Who is Mehmet Doğan?)

Mehmet Doğan, founding president of the Writers Union of Turkey, has passed away. Doğan, who died in Ankara at the age of 77, will be laid to rest following funeral prayers at the Hacı Bayramı Veli Mosque tomorrow afternoon.

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Mehmet Doğan, founder and honorary president of the Writers Union of Turkey (TYB), has passed away in Ankara at the age of 77.

In a statement released on the TYB's social media account, the following information was provided regarding Mehmet Doğan's passing:

"Our Honorary President Mehmet Doğan, who had been undergoing treatment for some time, has completed his journey and returned to the mercy of God. His funeral prayer will be held at the Hacı Bayramı Veli Mosque on Monday, August 12, 2024, following the afternoon prayer. Our condolences to our country."

 

WHO IS MEHMET DOĞAN?

Born in the Kalecik district of Ankara in 1947, Doğan successfully completed his studies in the radio-television specialization department at the SBF School of Press and Broadcasting, known today as the Ankara University Faculty of Communication, following his graduation from Ankara Gazi High School.

After graduating, Doğan worked as a documentalist at the Turkish Historical Society's New Turkey Research Center between 1972 and 1974, and after completing his military service, he served as an editorial director at Dergah Publications.

In 1977 and 1978, Doğan served as an advisor to the General Manager at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and returned to work at Dergah Publications.

Taking a break from publishing to return to Ankara and begin preparing the "Great Turkish Dictionary," Doğan carried out the founding efforts of the Writers Union of Turkey and established Birlik Publications.

Having worked as a contract film producer and screenwriter at the Ministry of Culture's Cinema Department, taught writing courses at the Gazi University Faculty of Communication, and served as the general manager of Birlik Medya A.Ş., Doğan was elected to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in 1996, a position he held until 2005.

Married and a father of three, Doğan wrote daily and weekly columns for many newspapers and magazines starting in the 1980s, including "Yeni Devir," "Zaman," "Yörünge," "Vakit," "Akit," "Vahdet," "Karar," and "Gerçek Hayat."

Doğan, who planned the publication of the Encyclopedia of Turkish Language and Literature and managed the publication of its first volumes, wrote various entries for this encyclopedia and managed the three-volume publication of the Turkish Family Encyclopedia.

In addition to his work in fields such as political and social history, history of thought and press, and language, Mehmet Doğan contributed to the Encyclopedia of Turkish Language and Literature and the Turkish Family Encyclopedia. He wrote television scripts and screenplays, and took part in the production of various television programs and films.

Among the founders of the Mehmed Akif Foundation for Thought and Art, the Writers Union of Turkey Foundation, and the Turkey Voluntary Organizations Foundation, Doğan served as the general president of the TYB between 1978 and 1996 and as the editorial director of the "Turkey Culture and Art Yearbook" published by the TYB.

Engaging in activities aimed at defining the field of writing, gathering writers under a professional organization, commemorating great writers, and introducing living writers, Doğan also signed his name to many works related to Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the National Anthem.

He led the organization of the "International Poetry Festivals of Turkish," which began in 1992 and played an important role in the process of re-establishing relations with the Turkic World and developing cultural and literary ties; the holding of poetry festivals in city and district centers such as Çorum, Konya, Erzurum, Dursunbey, and Suçıktı; and the taking of the first steps toward teaching writing in Turkey starting in the 2000s.

Doğan received the "Turkish National Culture Foundation Incentive Award" in 1978, the "Writers Union Language Award" in 1982, the "Uzbekistan Writers Union International Kashgari Mahmud Award" in 1995, the "7th Balkans Turkish Culture Service Award" in 2004, and the "Karaman Language Award" in 2012.

Presented with the "2017 Ministry of Culture and Tourism Special Literature Award" by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Doğan was deemed worthy of the "Mehmet Akif İnan Culture, Art and Literature Award" in 2021.

Furthermore, Doğan prepared dictionaries titled "Great Turkish Dictionary," "Great Turkish Dictionary for Schools," "First Dictionary," "Basic Great Turkish Dictionary," and "Great Turkish Dictionary" from 1981 to the present.

Contributing to the preparation of numerous works for publication, Doğan also authored film texts and screenplays starting in 1977, such as "Art Dictionary," "Ulucami," "Poets' Square," "Lost Cities," "Nureddin Topçu," "Mehmed Akif," "Living Past," and the 3-part "Mimar Sinan" documentary.