HAYRETTİN İVGİN

He was born in 1943 in the Vezirköprü district of Samsun. He completed his primary and middle school education in Vezirköprü. In 1961, he graduated from Kuleli Military High School. In 1963, he left the Turkish Military Academy during his final year. He graduated from the Department of Literature at the Gazi Educational Institute in 1966. Later, he completed his undergraduate degree in Turkish Language and Literature at Anadolu University (1991).

Between 1966 and 1974, he served as a literature teacher and deputy principal at Sungurlu High School, and as a literature teacher and principal at Hereke High School. From 1974 to 1978, he held various positions within the Ministry of National Education including branch manager, deputy department head, and department head, in units such as the Correspondence Education Center, the Institution for Non-Formal Higher Education, and the Department of Planning, Programming, and Evaluation. For a period (1978–1979), he served as the principal of the Correspondence Education School, and as a deputy principal and literature teacher at the Open Higher Education School. From 1979 to 1993, he worked at the Ministry of Culture, serving as the deputy head of the National Folklore Research Department and as a department head within the Research, Planning, and Coordination Board. He retired in 1993. Following his retirement, he taught subjects such as literature, Turkish language, folklore, and the history of music at various educational institutions including high schools, colleges, and universities as well as at municipal conservatories.

Hayrettin İvgin, who has authored 57 books and over 2,000 articles, has produced works and written extensively on subjects including education, poetry, literature, folklore, folk literature, essays, criticism, cultural promotion, general studies, and political science. He has been involved in the founding of numerous journals and newspapers, serving as an editor-in-chief and a member of various editorial boards. He has held the position of editor-in-chief for the journal “TÜRKSOY”, published by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) as well as for “Karagöz”, a journal issued by the UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) Turkish National Center. He is the proprietor of “Karadeniz”, an international social sciences journal produced in collaboration with faculty members from the Faculty of Science and Letters at Ardahan University. Furthermore, he owns the international social sciences journals “Kültür Evreni (Universe of Culture)” and “Bilimsel Eksen (Scientific Axis)”, both published under the auspices of Kültür Ajans. All three of these journals are published quarterly and feature scholarly articles in Turkish, English, and Russian. He is also the owner of the journal “Kültür Çağlayanı”, which is published bimonthly by Kültür Ajans.

Hundreds of his articles and scholarly papers have been published abroad in various languages, including Chinese, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Romanian, Arabic, Italian, French, German, and English. His writings and biography are featured in the “Manas Encyclopedia” of the Kyrgyz people. Furthermore, his biography has appeared in numerous encyclopedias both in Turkey and internationally. Examples of such publications and encyclopedias include “Who’s Who in Turkey”; “Encyclopedia of Writers from the Tanzimat Era to the Present” (Yapı Kredi Publications); “Encyclopedia of Turkish Language and Literature” (Dergah Publications); “Names in Our Literature” (by Dr. Arslan Tekin); “Encyclopedia of Turkish Writers” (Elvan Publications); “Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors” (Elvan Publications); “Encyclopedia of Turkish Writers and Cultural Figures” (Elvan Publications); “Encyclopedia of Famous Turks” (Elvan Publications); “Encyclopedia of Turkish Writers” (Atatürk Cultural Center); and “Turkologists in Turkey and Contributors to the Turkish Language” (by Prof. Dr. Tuncer Gülensoy).

Hayrettin İvgin has presented papers at over 250 national and international congresses, seminars, and symposiums, both within Turkey and abroad. Furthermore, he has personally been involved in the organization of numerous such scientific gatherings.

He holds over 150 letters of appreciation, certificates of commendation, and honorary citations, as well as more than 100 awards and plaques of achievement. He is the recipient of several highly significant awards, including the “İhsan Hınçer Service to Turkish Folklore Award” (Folklore Research Association, 1989), the “High Art Award for Turkish Poets” (Kastamonu Daday District Governorship, 1987), and the “Award for Contributions to the Tradition of Folk Bards” (Folk Bards Foundation, 1984). Some of the notable awards he has received include: the “Award for Service to the Folk Bard Tradition” (Mersin Governorship, 1995), “Award for Service to Traditional Turkish Theatre” (UNIMA Turkish National Center, 1998), “Award for Service to the Culture and Arts of Samsun” (Samsun Association of Folk Bards and Poets, 2001), “Award for Service to the Culture and Folklore of the Turkic World” (Hüseyin Gazi Cultural Association, 2006), “International Award for Service to the Turkic World” (Azerbaijan Vector International Science Center, 2007), “International Gold Medal for Service to the Turkic World” (International Academy of Sciences for Turkic World Studies, Azerbaijan, 2008), “Award for Service to the Literature of the Turkic World” (KIBATEK, 2010), “13^th Süleyman Brina International Award for Service to Balkan-Turkish Culture” (Doğru Yol, Prizren/Kosovo, 2009), “Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement” (ILESAM, 2011), “Ahmet Tufan Şentürk Honorary Award for Turkish Poetry” (Ankara, 2010), “Award for an Honorable Life” (Azerbaijan Care and Patronage Fund, 2011), “Qızıl Qalem (Golden Pen) Award” (Trade Union of Mass Media Workers of Azerbaijan, 2011), and the “Award for Service to the Culture of Ankara” (Ankara Club, 2013). Furthermore, he has also been honored with… In 2009, in Moscow, he was awarded the A. S. Pushkin Gold Medal, an honor bestowed by the Russian Academy of Literature for “significant contributions to world literature”, and was recognized by the Writers’ Union of the Russian Federation as one of the “500 Prominent (Respected) Writers in the World.” Furthermore, in 2012, on the occasion of the 90^th anniversary of its founding, Baku State University awarded him the Heydar Aliyev Gold Medal in Baku.

Hayrettin İvgin, who holds a “Radio and TV Programming Certificate” issued by the Ministry of National Education in 1974; between 1989 and 1990, he served as an expert for the program “Those Who Contribute to Our Folklore” (52 episodes) on TRT Ankara Radio, and acted as both producer and expert for the 10-part documentary series “Turkish Handicrafts” on TRT Television. He also served as a scriptwriter and consultant for the 8-part documentary series “The Tradition of “Âşıklık” (Minstrelsy),” which was broadcast on TRT Television. Throughout his career, he has contributed to hundreds of radio and television programs and documentaries as a scriptwriter, expert, producer, and consultant, occasionally appearing as a featured speaker. For an extended period, he produced and hosted cultural programs for various radio stations. His most recent work includes serving as an expert for the TRT-TSR (TRT International Radio) programs “Social Assistance and Solidarity Among Turks” which focused on traditional customs as well as the educational-entertainment program “İnci Mercan” and the “Karagöz” (shadow puppetry) program “Perde Kurdum Şema Yaktım.” In 2010 and 2011, he served as both a consultant and an expert commentator for the TRT-TSR program “In the Language of Folk Songs” (“Türkülerin Dilinden”), which spanned 104 episodes. He also produced and hosted the 13-episode television series “Books on the Shelves” (“Raflardaki Kitaplar”) and wrote the scripts for the 13-episode TRT television series “Folk Tales” (“Halk Hikâyeleri”). Currently, he serves as a consultant for the program “Deep Roots” (“Derin Kökler”), which is broadcast on TRT television. Between 1988 and 1991, he worked with the Ministry of Culture’s Turkish Folk Music Repertoire [Department]… Hayrettin İvgin, who serves as the chair of the board, was a member of the TRT Turkish Folk Music Repertoire Board in 2012 and 2014. He continues to hold this position.

Hayrettin İvgin has served as a founder and member of numerous foundations and associations, holding positions on the boards of directors of several of them. He is a member of various national and international organizations, including the Folklore Research Association (FAK), the Turkish-German Friendship Association, the Turkish-Pakistani Cultural Association, the Capital City Folk Dance Ensemble (BAŞ-HOT), the Ankara Folk Poets’ Culture and Research Association (AŞDER), the Turkish Association of Tourism Writers and Journalists (ATURJET), the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET), the Contemporary Atatürkists Association (ÇAĞ-ATA-DER), the Eskişehir Culture, Art, and Tourism Foundation, the Bolu Culture and Art Foundation, the Republic Culture and Promotion Foundation, the Entrepreneurial Development Foundation (MESVAK), the May 21^st Military Academy Graduates Association, the Professional Union of Authors of Scientific and Literary Works (İLESAM), the Eurasian Friendship, Culture, Art, and Tourism Association, the Turkish-Romanian Culture, Art, and Friendship Association, the Ankara-Warsaw Friendship Association, the Aegean Researchers and Writers Union (EGAY-DER), the Language Association, the World Academy of Words (DÜSA), and the Turkish National Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA). Furthermore, he is a full member of the Azerbaijan Ashiqs Union and the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union. He also serves as the Turkish representative for the “Vector” International Science Center, based in Azerbaijan. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the International Academy of Turkic World Studies which operates in Azerbaijan, and also serves as the head of its Turkey branch. He is a member of the Trade Union of Mass Media Workers of Azerbaijan (AZERKİVİHİ). Furthermore, he is a full member of the Writers’ Union of the Russian Federation and has served since 2007 as a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Commission, established by the Governorship under the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.

He is a co-founder and owner of “Kültür Ajans Tanıtım ve Organizasyon Ltd. Şti.,” a company that has been operating in Ankara since 1994. Between 1996 and 2013, he served as a representative for the European University of Lefke (Cyprus). His life and work have been the subject of a graduation thesis prepared within the Departments of Turkish Language and Literature at both Cumhuriyet University and Erciyes University.

Hayrettin İvgin has traveled extensively, visiting a large number of countries across Europe and North Africa, as well as neighboring Arab nations, the Arabian Peninsula, various Asian countries including China, and the Turkic Republics. He has been awarded academic memberships, honorary doctorates, and professorships by numerous academies of sciences and universities abroad. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the “VECTOR” International Science Center in Azerbaijan. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Baku Asia University (Azerbaijan) and was granted the status of honorary visiting faculty member by Baku State University (Azerbaijan) in 2012.

In 2006, he was named an honorary professor by both the “VECTOR” International Science Center and the International Academy of Turkic World Studies. Furthermore, he received an “Honorary Diploma” from the editorial board of the journal “Language and Literature”, a joint publication of several departments at Baku State University that is recognized globally for its rigorous scientific peer-review process. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the International Academy of Turkic World Studies. Hayrettin İVGİN, who has initiated and implemented numerous projects within both the bureaucracy and civil society, is married, a father of two, and speaks French.

WORKS:

Techniques for Writing Course Correspondence in Distance Education (with N. Aslan and A. Şeren, 1976), Âşık Sıtkı – Pervane (1976), Folk Literature II (with N. Aslan and A. Şeren, 1977), Folk Literature III (1977), Turkish Language and Its Pedagogy II (with Ö. Ünal, N. Aslan, and A. Şeren, 1977), The Folklore Research Association on Its Thirtieth Anniversary (1978), A Bibliographical Essay on Distance Education (1979), Atatürk’s Turkey (The Life and Poems of Âşık Eminî Düştü, 1981), We Follow in Atatürk’s Footsteps (The Life and Poems of Âşık Kul Ahmet, 1981), Come, Friends, to Atatürk’s Path (The Life and Poems of Âşık Kul Ahmet, 1981), Verses for Âşık Veysel (with İ. Ü. Nasrattınoğlu, 1983), Âşık Tahirî – His Life and Bibliography (with N. Tan, 1984), Âşık Fedaî from Zile (with M. Yardımcı, 1984), Bibliography on Cooperatives from “Karınca” Journal (with N. Tan and İ. Ü. Nasrattınoğlu, 1984), İhsan Hınçer Award for Service to Turkish Folklore ’87 (1987), Âşık Zefil Necmi from Zile (with M. Yardımcı, 1988), Troubles Upon Me (Âşık Yanık) The Life and Poems of Umman (1988), Take Me to the Land of Friends (The Life and Poems of Âşık Yoksul Derviş, 1989), My Wounds Have Reached a Hundred Thousand (Poems of Âşık Yoksul Derviş, Ankara 1989), Âşık Figanî of Gerede (1994), Old and New Karagöz Play Scripts (co-authored with M. Özlen, 1996), Âşık Ceyhunî of Zile (co-authored with M. Yardımcı, Ankara 1996), Perspectives on Turkish Folklore and Folk Literature (1996), If I Were a Shah to Rule the World (The Life and Poems of Âşık Kul Ahmet, 1996), My Heart Took Wing (The Life and Poems of Âşık Çoban Hüseyin, 1998), AŞ-DER in the World of Âşıks (Anthology, co-authored with A.E. Bozyiğit and H. Çemrek, 1998), Folk Culture Compilations from Vezirköprü (1998), Our Art of Karagöz and Puppetry (2000), Nail Tan (Biography-Bibliography, 2003), Anatolian Folk Tales (2003), Proceedings of the International Turkish-Armenian History and Culture Symposium (with O. Sanan, 2003), Âşık Mir’ati from Kalecik (with A.E. Bozyiğit, 2004), Our Strings Call Out to Atatürk (Poems by Âşık Eminî Düştü, 2004), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Atatürk and the Fine Arts (with N. Tan, 2005), Do Not Be Proud, O Beauty (Writings on Folk, Minstrel, and Dervish Literature, 2005), Manas: The Tiger of the Altai Mountains (Mythological Novel, 2005), Behlül Danende: The Wise Man in the Guise of a Madman (2005), Melancholic Poems (Edited by Erhan İvgin, 2006), Prof. Dr. Taciser Onuk Festschrift (with F. Akpınarlı, H. S. Ortaç, and N. Tan, 2007), “Bilirem Gelmeyeceksen” [I Know You Won’t Come] (Poems; edited by Prof. Dr. Elçin İsgenderzade, Baku 2007), “Karakuş Kadı” Anecdotes in Turkish Folk Literature (with Prof. Dr. S. Akten and N. Tan, 2008), Proceedings of the Fuzuli Symposium (with G. Öz, 2008), The Poet Hüznü-Hizbi Baba from Yozgat (with Ö. Ünal and F. Öncül, 2008), “Sözün Gözesi” [The Source of the Word] / The Life and Poems of Âşık Erol Şahiner (2008), Proceedings of the Eurasia Institute Symposium (2008), Folk Poets from Sungurlu: From the Past to the Present (2009), Folk Songs and Dance Melodies of Yozgat (with S. Turhan and Ö. Ünal, 2009), Proceedings of the Eurasia Institute Symposium (5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Symposia on the Path of Love and Peace from Nizami to Yunus Emre, and from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to Heydar Aliyev; 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), Festschrift for Nail Tan (with T. Gülensoy, 2011), “Hüzünlü Şeirler” [Melancholic Poems] (Poems; edited by Elxan Yurdoğlu, 2010), Principles of Writing Course Notes for Distance Education (with A. Şeren, 2010), “Hz. Ali Mevlüdü” [The Nativity of Ali] and “Düvaz İmamlar” [Hymns to the Twelve Imams] by Âşık Yoksul Derviş – Nevruzîyeler (2012), Proceedings of the Eurasian Institute Symposium (9^th Symposium on the Path of Love and Peace: From Nizami to Yunus Emre, and from Kemal Atatürk to Heydar Aliyev, 2013), and Deep Mythology (In Beliefs, Legends, Folklore, and Traditions, 2013).

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Şadi Kurtuluş / Hayrettin İvgin and Our Bards – Gülten Çiçek / Interview with Writer and Folklorist Hayrettin İvgin (Size magazine, Oct 25, 1984), İrfan Ünver Nasrattınoğlu / Hayrettin İvgin and His Works (Size magazine, Sept 1988), Ahmet Özdemir / Our Karagöz and Puppet Art (Bizim Gazete, Apr 19, 2000), İsa Kayacan / Our Karagöz and Puppet Art (Vakit, Aug 9, 2000), İhsan Işık / Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2001, 2004) – Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2005) – Encyclopedia of Turkish Writers and Cultural Figures with Illustrations and Text Samples (2006, 2^nd expanded ed. 2007) – Famous Scholars (Encyclopedia of Famous Turks, Vol. 2, 2013) – Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013), Kardaş Alişoğlu / Congratulations on Your Honorary Doctorate, Dear Brother (3. Hedef newspaper, Azerbaijan, Nov 13, 2003), Tamilla Abbashanlı / A Friend of Azerbaijan Is Our Friend, an Enemy Is Our Enemy… (Adalet, Apr 19, 2003), İsa Kayacan / Anatolian Folk Tales (Fethiye, Sept 27, 2003), İsa Kayacan / Living Celebrities: Hayrettin İvgin (Belde, Jan 23, 2003), İsa Kayacan / Two [Works] by Hayrettin İvgin (Book (Afterword, June 19, 2004), M. Halistan Kukul / Anatolian Folk Tales (Karınca Kooperatifçilik magazine, July 2004), information provided by the subject, 2015).

Theses Written About Him: Nuriye Demirdağ, “The Life and Works of Writer and Folklorist Hayrettin İvgin” (Undergraduate Thesis, Erciyes University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Turkish Language and Literature; Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bayram Durbilmez, Kayseri, 2003); Burcu Yıldız, “Biography of Hayrettin İvgin” (Undergraduate Thesis, Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Turkish Language and Literature; Thesis Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Doğan Kaya, Sivas, 2005); Prof. Dr. Elçin İskenderzade, “Prof. Dr. Hayrettin İvgin (Biography-Bibliography)” (Vektör Publishing House, Baku/Azerbaijan, 2008); “Ihlamur” magazine, special issue on Hayrettin İvgin (Issue 5, November 2010); Gülaye Şınıxlı, “O Biriler Kimisen” (Focusing on the Creative Work of Hayrettin İvgin; in Azerbaijani Turkish, Adiloğlu Publishing, Baku, 2012).