Hidayet Karakuş Enlightened Hearts in Bornova

The first guest of Bornova City Talks in 2026 was poet and writer Hidayet Karakuş. One of the survivors of the massacre at the Madımak Hotel, Karakuş shared the painful hours he lived through and said, “Darkness will surely end. Bright days will come like daisies blooming in spring.”

Organized monthly by Bornova Municipality and now completing its first year, the City Talks series hosted its first guest of 2026. Poet and writer Hidayet Karakuş met with the audience at the Uğur Mumcu Culture and Arts Center Multi-Purpose Hall, blending moments from his life with his poetry. The talk was moderated by İbrahim Aktaş.

“Darkness Will Surely End”

Held under the title “From Darkness to Light,” the talk saw Karakuş touch not only on his literary journey but also on painful events that have marked Turkey’s recent history. As one of the survivors of the Madımak Hotel massacre, Karakuş recounted the events of that day with deep sincerity. Conveying memories in which pain and resilience were intertwined through his poems, he emphasized hope with the following words:

“Darkness will surely end. Bright days will come like daisies blooming in spring.”

His remarks were met with long applause from the audience.

From Novels to Poetry, from Memories to Collective Memory

Speaking about his novels as well, Karakuş drew attention to the role of literature in keeping social memory alive throughout his writing journey. He stressed that poetry is not merely an aesthetic form of expression, but also a space of witnessing and resistance.

Striking Observations on Language

Known also for his identity as a Turkish language teacher, Hidayet Karakuş devoted a significant part of the talk to the proper use of Turkish. Giving examples of frequent language mistakes made by radio and television presenters, he voiced his concern about the degeneration of the language.

Karakuş explained that the Turkish Language Association (TDK) had drifted away from its original mission over time, which led him and like-minded scholars and intellectuals to establish the Turkish Language Association in 1987. He emphasized that their aim was to protect and develop Turkish on a scientific and contemporary basis.

Atilla Er: “We Are Honored to Host Such a Valuable Figure”

In the opening speech of the event, Atilla Er stated that they were proud to bring together an important figure of literature and thought like Hidayet Karakuş with the people of Bornova. He also thanked everyone who contributed to the consistent continuation of the City Talks over the past year.

A Musical Touch from Group İlyada

The event gained further meaning with songs performed by Group İlyada, composed of Bornova Municipality music instructors. The musical performance reinforced the emotional intensity of the talk and offered participants an unforgettable evening.