The 1st National Symposium “Those Who Left Their Mark on Çorum from Past to Present: Historical Figures” Was Held.

The 1st National Symposium “Those Who Left Their Mark on Çorum from Past to Present: Historical Figures” Was Held.

The symposium was attended by Çorum Deputy Mayor Lemzi Çöplü, Hitit University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Eşref Savaş Başçı, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Işık, researchers from various universities and institutions, faculty members, students, and guests.

In his opening speech at the symposium, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Işık touched upon the following points: “Revealing the historical and cultural fabric of a city academically, reconstructing and revitalizing it architecturally, is only possible through a holistic approach moving from the particular to the general, with multifaceted, comprehensive, patient, determined, and diligent studies carried out in different fields.

By the end of the 19th century, according to archival records, Çorum had become an important center representing Turkish-Islamic civilization with its 51 neighborhoods, Grand Mosque, 23 mosques with minarets, 21 masjids, 10 madrasas, 2 libraries, dervish lodges and zawiyas, 11 inns, 1,100 shops, bazaars, and marketplaces.

Today, unfortunately, a large portion of these structures has been worn down, crushed, and lost amid the gears of modernity.

Saving what remains, regardless of the condition in which they are found, and passing them on to future generations is the foremost duty of all of us as a city, especially those individuals and institutions that bear responsibility.

For every historical place and every historical monument is the common mind and memory of society, the ancestral hearth.

The Castle, Grand Mosque, Hıdırlık, Çöplük Bazaar, Paşa Bathhouse, Taş Han, Güpür Bathhouse, and many others are the shared cultural heritage, namely the ancestral hearth, of this society.

In the expression of ancient Anatolia, keeping these hearths alive and transmitting the national and spiritual values, traditions, and customs that have become identified with these places and endured through centuries from ancestors to future generations is a historical obligation and responsibility.”

Expressing his satisfaction with the extensive reconstruction and revitalization works concerning historical and cultural heritage carried out by the Çorum Municipality, Prof. Dr. Işık continued his remarks as follows:

“Today, in the opening session, we will also present on the restoration of the inn built by Veliyyüddin Pasha, popularly known as Veli Pasha, and the opening of a square in front of it. I would like to state that we highly appreciate our Municipality’s responsible and visionary efforts in presenting our historical and cultural heritage in all its harmony.

Today, the silhouette of the city has almost changed with the emergence of a historical island. Taş Building, Yeni Bathhouse, Kubbeli Mosque, Clock Tower, Veli Pasha Inn, Çöplük Bazaar, Taş Han, Paşa Bathhouse, Grand Mosque, Dikiciler Bazaar, and with the restoration projects planned for Güpür Bathhouse and the Bedesten, a historical island has emerged. On this occasion, we would like to thank our Municipality, in the person of our Mayor Dr. Halil İbrahim Aşgın, for all these works and efforts.”

Stating that, as the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hitit University, they had decided “to organize a symposium every year under the general title ‘Those Who Left Their Mark on Çorum from Past to Present’ with different themes in order to contribute to all these processes by revealing the historical, social, and cultural fabric of the city through scientific studies, especially in untouched and unstudied subjects and fields,” Işık said:

“This year the theme is historical figures; next year it will be historical places, followed respectively by tribes, clans, and foundations, and we will continue the series in this manner.

Following a workshop focused on Çorum held last year, we published the first volume of our book titled ‘Çorum: City, History and Culture.’ We will continue publishing this series every year according to the themes of the symposiums with the valuable contributions of our scholars.

Thus, like pieces of a puzzle, we will collectively produce a series of studies that complement the valuable works carried out so far, especially under the roof of Hitit University and under the leadership of various institutions and organizations, contributing scientifically to the revelation of the city’s historical and cultural heritage in many aspects.”

Providing information about the symposium and thanking the contributing authorities, Işık continued his remarks:

“Scholars from 9 different institutions are participating in our symposium. During the program, which will continue throughout the day, a total of 34 papers will be presented simultaneously in different halls across 4 sessions.

The papers to be presented will scientifically address the lives and contributions to the historical and cultural fabric of the city of many figures who had significant impacts on Çorum’s history from past to present, ranging from Veliyüddin Pasha and Gülabibey to Süheyb Rumi Karafakıoğlu; from Abbas Külahi Efendi to Mufti Ahmet Abdulkadir Efendi; from our world-renowned wrestlers Mahmut Atalay and Tevfik Kış to Nazmi Avluca, including statesmen, scholars, mystics, artisans and craftsmen, jurists, athletes, poets, and many others.

I extend my gratitude to our Governor Mr. Ali Çalgan, our Mayor Dr. Halil İbrahim Aşgın, and our Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Öztürk for their contributions to our symposium.

I would also like to thank all our professors from the other academic units of our university who contributed to this interdisciplinary symposium.

Finally, I express my gratitude to all my colleagues serving in the academic and administrative staff of our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who undertook the major burden of the symposium.”

Following Prof. Dr. Işık’s speech, the Opening Session began. In the session moderated by Prof. Dr. Özer Şenödeyici, Head of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Gündoğdu, faculty member of the Department of History at the Faculty of Languages, History and Geography of Ankara University, presented his paper titled “The Grand Vizier Who Determined the Fate of an Empire: Baltacı Mehmet Pasha”; while Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Işık, faculty member of the Department of History at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hitit University, presented his paper titled “A Biographical Study: Veliyyüddin Pasha.” The program concluded with the presentation of participation certificates to the panelists.