Osman Türkay, who was nominated twice for the Nobel Prize for literature, and known as the “Space Poet”, was commemorated with a ceremony held in the 17th year of his death.
Girne Manyor – Nidai Güngördü, Municipality Councillor – Serhan Kaşif, Ozanköy Muhtar – Mustafa Uzun, Osman Türkay Culture and Art Foundation Chairman – Tuncay Özdoğanoğlu, Head of the Turkish Cypriot Writers Union – Şevket Öznur, Şht Hasan Cafer Elementary school teachers and students participated. At the ceremony, the students read poems written by Osman Türkay.
Özdoğanoğlu: We need a museum where items will be exhibited.
Osman Turkay Culture and Art Foundation Chairman Tuncay Özdoğanoğlu thanked the Mayor of Girne, Nidai Güngördü, who arranged for the Osman Turkay Monument. Ozdoganoglu also pointed out the importance of a museum to showcase the personal belongings of the late Osman Turkay.
Öznur: We announced our voice to the world
Şevket Öznur, the head of the Turkish Cypriot Writers Union, stated that Osman Türkay shared his poetry and journalism and the voice of Turkish Cypriots with the world, not just in Cyprus, but also overseas. Şevket Öznur said that thanks to the memorial built by the Municipality of Girne, Osman Türkay was allowed to be remembered in the village and that a museum needed to be organised for Osman Türkay, for his hundreds of awards and books.
Güngördü: We will publish the books
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü said that Osman Türkay, who was born in Ozanköy, was nominated for the Nobel award, the most important literary prize in the world, and that he promoted Cyprus and Cypriots together with Ozanköy. Nidai Güngördü stated that a memorial was erected in the village where Osman Türkay, who is known as the space poet, lived and he will be remembered by future generations by meeting with the family and muhtarlik in the village.
A museum must be made available for the transfer of Osman Turkay’s memorabilia, the Mayor said that they will help in this regard. Güngördü also noted that they were ready to publish Osman Türkay’s books.
