ATATÜRK AND BORNOVA

Atatürk and Thessaloniki

Oh, Thessaloniki...

A chance encounter, a childhood friendship, and a lifelong longing. The poignant story of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's yearning for Thessaloniki, as told by Tahsin Çatıkkaş.

June 18, 1926 • Bornova School of Agriculture

On June 18, 1926, three days after the uncovering of the assassination attempt, a magnificent ball was being prepared in the garden of the Bornova School of Agriculture to help alleviate, even slightly, the sorrow that Mustafa Kemal Pasha was feeling.

It was no small matter — that evening, Gazi Pasha was coming to Bornova… Imagine the excitement that Bornova was experiencing! The garden of the School of Agriculture had been lavishly decorated, and everywhere was adorned with light bulbs to illuminate the night. From the district governor to school principals, all officials were in a flurry of activity. They had to host their Gazi Pasha in the finest manner possible.

June 18, 1926 — Atatürk's ball in the garden of the Bornova School of Agriculture

Kars Primary School Principal Tahsin Çatıkkaş with his students

Tahsin Çatıkkaş (“Arap Tahsin”)

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived around 9:00 PM and spent pleasant hours with the people of Bornova until late into the night. The district governor, military officials, and local bureaucrats conversed with Gazi Pasha throughout the evening.

That night, Tahsin Bey, the principal of Kars Primary School, was also present. Known to the people of Bornova as “Arap Tahsin,” he later took the surname Çatıkkaş after the Surname Law. He was watching for an opportunity to speak with Gazi Pasha, even if only for a minute.

Tahsin Bey could only find his chance in the later hours of the night. After slipping through the crowd and taking a few steps, he finally found himself face to face with Gazi Pasha. “My Pasha,” he said, “my wife and I are also from Thessaloniki. My wife is from the same street as you. You used to play many games together with the neighborhood children.”

Atatürk suddenly became attentive. “I wonder if I would recognize her? What is your wife's name?” he asked. When Tahsin Bey replied, “My wife is Nazmiye,” a joyful surprise spread across Atatürk's face.

“Nazmiye is in Bornova? I wish we could have met,” he said. But it was very late. And from Atatürk's lips fell those famous words: “Oh, Thessaloniki…” Although Atatürk came to Bornova several more times after that night, the two old neighborhood friends never met again.

Source: Hikayeler Şehri Bornova – Altan Altın

“Oh, Thessaloniki...”

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – June 18, 1926

Final days...

Atatürk and his adopted daughter Afet İnan

On the morning of September 28, 1938, upon opening his eyes right after a severe coma, he said to his adopted daughter Afet İnan, who was waiting at his bedside, “So this is what death will be like, my daughter.” Then, gazing at the painting titled ‘Four Seasons’ on the wall across from him, he said: “Let us go, Afet… Let us go there. Let us leave everything behind. A simple house, a room with a hearth… Yes… Yes… Let us go to the forests right away… If only I could get well first…”

Perhaps with these words, he was expressing his longing for the highlands of Rumelia, for Thessaloniki.