Origins & Early Life

Yaşar Kemal (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈjaʃaɾ ceˈmal]; born Kemal Sadık Gökçeli; 6 October 1923 – 28 February 2015) was a leading Turkish writer of Kurdish descent and a human rights activist. He received 38 awards during his lifetime and had been a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature on the strength of his 1955 novel Memed, My Hawk. An outspoken intellectual, he often did not hesitate to speak about sensitive issues, especially those concerning the oppression of the Kurdish people. He was tried in 1995 under anti-terror laws for an article he wrote for Der Spiegel highlighting the Turkish Army's destruction of Kurdish villages during the Turkish–Kurdish conflict.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was released but later received a suspended 20-month jail sentence for another article he wrote criticising racism in Turkey, especially against the Kurds. Yaşar Kemal was born Kemal Sadık Gökçeli to Sadık and Nigâr on 6 October 1923 in Hemite (now Gökçedam), a Turkmen hamlet in the province of Osmaniye in southern Turkey. He was born into the only Kurdish family in the village but didn't face discrimination despite his ethnic difference. Kemal had a difficult childhood, and his family...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• André Gorz — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Austrian-French philosopher known for critiques of work and political ecology.
• Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher) — Contemporary (Died in 1923) (1923): Influential English philosopher and political theorist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Assia Djebar — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Pioneering Algerian feminist novelist celebrated for chronicling women's experiences.
• Anwar Sadat — Shared historical date (10-06 · Died) (1981): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Basil Zaharoff — Shared historical date (10-06 · Born) (1849): Greek industrialist and arms dealer, known as a 'merchant of death' in global conflicts.
• 3rd Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (02-28 · Born) (1543): Founding figure of the Dalai Lama lineage, pivotal to Gelug school's rise in Tibet.
• Alfonso XIII — Shared historical date (02-28 · Died) (1941): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• October 6 (10-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 6
• 2015 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2015
• February 28 (02-28) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 28