We are in Bornova on April 11, 1934. There was a very different kind of excitement and commotion in Bornova that day. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was coming to Bornova to inspect the sites that would be visited together with the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, who was scheduled to visit Turkey in June.
It was such an important day for the people of Bornova that on the back of many souvenir photographs from that day — even those in which Atatürk does not appear — the note "the day Gazi Pasha was in Bornova" is written.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, after visiting Muradiye, Menemen, Foça, Uzunada, Selçuk, and Kuşadası on April 9 and 10, stopped by Seferihisar and Sığacık on the morning of April 11, and arrived in Bornova in the afternoon.
The Akşam Newspaper, dated April 12, 1934, describes that jubilant day in Bornova as follows:
"The scene in Bornova was also quite spectacular. Upon hearing that Bornova would be honored by His Excellency the President, the people had filled both sides of the streets and were waiting. When the automobile appeared in the distance, the immense crowd surged with an indescribable joy and respectful excitement. With the flowers thrown by the people, the entire avenue was transformed into a garden in an instant.
Many bouquets were also presented to him. The Great Leader, alighting from his automobile, mingled with this mass of citizens who were yearning to embrace him, and paid individual compliments to everyone. After attending to some affairs, he rested for a while at the officers' lodge, and departed from Bornova amid the same fervent demonstrations."
Source: Hikayeler Şehri Bornova – Altan Altın
