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From Press / Radikal Newspaper
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GULTEN DAYIOGLU IS CELEBRATING HER 70TH BIRTHDAY
AN AUTHOR TO BRING UP THREE GENERATIONS
Gulten Dayioglu’s writing career starts as early as primary school years - her teacher whispers the magical words in her ear: `You will be an author`… This year the renowned author is celebrating her 70th birthday with the launch of her 70th book “Mystical Powers of Yada”
Having produced a number of works for children and teenagers over the forty-two years of her writing career, starting with her first book ‘The Gardener’s Son’ in 1963, Gulten Dayioglu has certainly earned the love and respect in the hearts of her readers generation after generation. Her work is mainly comprised of short stories and novels for children – from seven years old – and teenagers. In her latest book “Mystical Powers of Yada” Dayioglu opens a door to science fiction.
Dayioglu sets up her mind to write a novel to take part in Children’s Novel Competition, held by Dogan Kardes Publishers. This is how she starts working on her very first novel ‘Fadis’ on her frequent ferry trips to the Princess Islands, where she was working as private tutor for primary school kids. She starts writing down the very first lines of ‘Fadis’ on the back of her husband’s half used company receipt book. The date on this company book is 1963.
School teacher Gulten Dayioglu has no experience with writing a novel at the time - hence she tells the story of Fadis in a very novice, friendly way. Night after night, she works late hours on the plot after she puts her own kids to bed. After a few months, when she has completed writing her book, she needs a typewriter to properly type and edit it, ready to go in to the competition she has for so long been preparing for. She turns to the Head Master of the school she is teaching at for help, who in the end reluctantly agrees to lend her the typewriter after school hours, so that she can take it home and work on her script.
Attracting attention of the masters
“Yapi Kredi Publishing House was then in Kuledibi”, says Dayioglu, “and that is where I went script in hand, happy and proud. Onat Kutlar agreed see me. He offered me a seat and began reading the very first pages of Fadis. At that moment, Vedat Nedim Tor walked into his office and greeted me, as if we were close friends. Tor asked me some questions regarding my profession and my work in children’s literature. Kutlar was also listening to our conversation attentively. Over a cup of tea, I explained to them my ideas and dreams about the genre. Their interest had made me build up my self confidence. Over time, we became close friends.”
Her heart was bursting with anxiety and excitement as Dayioglu waited for the results of the competition to be announced. She had so much confidence in Fadis that she was convinced her novel would be the winner. Nevertheless, she was let down…Fadis did not win. The Publishing House had listed Fadis among the ten novels to be published in the future, but Dayioglu decides to retrieve her script: “I felt disheartened and let down. But I had not lost my belief in Fadis or writing. I retrieved my script and put in my library. My broken heart was soon healed by the publishing of my first book “The Gardener’s Son”. I was elated! Then, my other books followed, one after the other.”
Although Fadis was not published by the first publishing house it was presented to, it surely opened a few doors for its author, including invitation to “Producing Children’s Literature Seminar” held with the collaboration of Ministry of Education and experts from America. Along with a number of ‘authors-to-be’ attending this seminar, Gulten Dayioglu was exposed to significant indications and suggestions of the masters of children’s literature genre for a whole week.
Addressing Socio-cultural Matters
Ever since she has first started writing, Gulten Dayioglu makes a point of addressing socio-cultural matters in her short stories many of which have been printed in various newspapers and magazines. One of her short stories (The Delivery) wins second place award at Yunus Nadi Short Story Competition 1964-1965. This is the story of a poor, pregnant peasant going into labor while working in the fields, trying to give birth to her baby all by herself, holding unto a rope tied to a tree, for support. This award presents her with a tremendous opportunity: As she was receiving the award, Editor Ecvet Guresin offers her a column in the prominent newspaper Cumhuriyet. “I was over the moon”, says Gulten Dayioglu, “I started writing in the column straight away, focusing my articles mainly on the matters of education and children’s literature.” In 1967, Dayioglu transferred to one of the other major newspapers, Milliyet. “Working at Milliyet with masters like Abdi Ipekci and Ali Gevgili provided me with invaluable education and training in the art of writing. I learned a great deal from their broad experience about preparing articles on research documents and interviewing techniques. They were my mentors - they would read and study my articles and criticize them, make comments…”
‘Fadis’ finally gets published (ten thousand pieces, to be sold out in two and a half months) in 1971 at Milliyet Publishers, founded by Abdi Ipekci. ‘Fadis’ gets a second edition at Altin Kitaplar Publishing House in 1979 and has been published over and over again to this day, being read and enjoyed by generation after generation of children.
From ‘Fadis’ to ‘Yada’
Starting her journey in children’s literature with ‘Fadis’, Gulten Dayioglu works her way into the depths of science fiction with her latest book ‘Yada’. She had already familiarized with some features of this genre in ‘The Mystery of Mo’ and ‘Flowers of…….’ . She bases her ‘Birds of the Twilight Zone’ on the Evolution Theory. In ‘Mystical Powers of Yada’ Dayioglu’s readers will experience a mysterious and breathtaking adventure crossing between the past, present and the future. “It makes me feel very happy and satisfied to know that my books have been enjoyed by three generations…”says Dayioglu, “It is true that I am inclined more towards science fiction in my later works. I am traveling around the world, being exposed to all kinds of fantastic stories in all these different cultures. Combined with the fairy tales of my childhood, these stories have significantly expanded my horizons in writing children’s novels. The heroes/heroines of my stories have all got real- life representations. I would really like to write a book one day on the analysis of all my story characters, from Fadis to Yada… I base my characters on real life people – because no matter how imaginary, how far-fetched science fiction can be, there must always be a connection to realty. As a writer of children’s literature, one must feel the responsibility of blending in just the right amount of fantasy into the story, always keeping in touch with reality… With ‘Yada’ I am celebrating my forty-second year in literature…She is not only the heroin of the present, she is also a heroin for the future.”
“I am, too, constantly changing, developing”
Dayioglu bases her stories on real life. She writes about the world we are living in. However, while doing that, she blends in her colorful world of fantasies, where there is peace, freedom, friendship, understanding and kindness…She bases all these virtues on the root of her works, love. She believes it is love that will ultimately make people happy and it is her wish to help children through a smooth transition into the era of information by means of science fiction.
While producing literature for children, teenagers and adults, she is very well aware of the changing society. “I am very well aware of the change in people and society. Hence, when writing for today’s people, I take on a totally different approach than some of my works thirty years ago. The mind-blowing speed at which communication tools and technology is advancing has a significant effect on the change in how people think, feel and establish their values. I have been taking this fact into consideration in my work for the last ten years. I read, observe and research a great deal…blending this awareness with my author’s intuition; I try to portray the contemporary, the present-day in my work. I fully understand that I need to do this to be able to get through to the people of our day.”
“Being a truly long –lived author means, that your work will be enjoyed and appreciated by several generations” Dogan Hizlan points out as we were discussing the works of Gulten Dayioglu. “Dayioglu has been very productive over the years and her work certainly has been serving three generations now.” From ‘Fadis’ to ‘Mystical Powers of Yada’ Dayioglu holds the rare honor of being the author of three generations in Turkey.
Commentary on the works of Gulten Dayioglu, by Talat Halman
Ever since the beginning of her writing career, Gulten Dayioglu has been striving towards ‘broadening horizons’, if you like, for children. Her novels are governed by the basic foundations of the genre: exciting events, easy and simple story telling, interesting observations, colorful language…The warmth of fairy tales, the clarity of masterful prose, a poetic flow… ‘Horizons’ would be the one term I would choose to best describe Gulten Dayioglu’s contributions to children’s literature. The first horizon is that she takes the child as a whole with its childish character. Each and every hero/heroin in her novels has a distinct and individual character. The second horizon is ‘respecting the child’. Dayioglu shares the children’s world with them without overstating their roles as future parents, while staying in context with the past and present.
The third horizon is ‘the horizon of love’. There is no enemy, no menace; there is love, there is friendship and kindness. The forth horizon is ‘being equal’. In the ‘republic of children’ she has created, every boy and girl are equal, no matter their race, color, religion or social background. All nations and societies in the world are equal. There is no superiority or chauvinism. The fifth horizon is ‘the horizon of creatures and varied values in life’. Dayioglu also embraces other creatures than humans with love and kindness as well as pointing out that although values and traditions may differ in other cultures than ours, all should be respected and treated as equal.
The sixth horizon is looking into self and opening up. With each and every novel, Gulten Dayioglu looks into the soul of the child, as well as taking him/her to different countries and/or dimensions. There is a traditionally used term in Anatolia to describe a female story teller with exquisite skill: ‘tale mother’. I can sincerely say that Gulten Dayioglu is among the most distinguished tale mothers of Turkey and of the world. With her short stories and novels for children – and for those who have remained children at heart- she is our treasured ‘tale mother’.
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