The students and teachers of Kabatas High School paid a 7-day visit to Hungary in memory of the fallen soldiers of Hungary & Turkey in World War I. The group accompanied by the students & teachers of Kispest Deak Ferenc High School attended the ceremony held at Galicia Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery on the occasion of the March 18th Martyrs’ Day and the 104th anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory on March 18. Following the ceremony, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Hungary Ahmet Akif Oktay received the group at the embassy. Furthermore, Szigetvar Castle, which Suleiman the Magnificent passed away due to an ilness in the course of the siege of it, was visited on March 19. While Szigetvar was about to fall, Suleiman the Magnificent passed away on the night of Sept. 7. The siege was coming to the end. In such a situation, the death knell of the sultan could cause the one-month-long effort go down the drain if it was heard among the soldiers.

The Grand Vizier, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, ordered those who knew of the death to keep it a secret. He also said the Sultan would be buried under where he had lived, after all the necessary procedures were performed. The body of the sultan was put under his throne temporarily after his internal organs were taken out, musk and amber smells were applied and a funeral prayer was secretly performed. A man also laid the bed of the Sultan like a patient.

Even though the official resting place of Suleiman the Magnificent is the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, a second tomb containing his inner organs was believed to be in Szigetvar. Newly discovered map cleared the doubts on Suleiman the Magnificent’s lost tomb in Hungary and the excavations started to unearth it in 2018. Moreover, Vice-President of the Hungarian Parliament Istvan Hiller received the group on March 20 at the parliament building.

The commemorative event was held at Yunus Emre Institute, Budapest in cooperation with Kispest Deak Ferenc High School & Kispest Municipality with the participation of the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Hungary Ahmet Akif Oktay, Vice-Mayor of Kispest Municipality, the director of Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest Yakup Gül, the director of TİKA in Budapest Seda Dağlı, some students and teachers from Kispest Deak Ferenc High School on March 21.

The event started with a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen soldiers of Turkey and Hungary in World War I. Afterwards, Turkish Ambassador and the principals of the high schools delivered their speeches concerning the event respectively.

Following the speeches, “In the flower of their youth” movie about the fallen students & teachers of the Turkish schools during the wars was screened with English subtitles. The cast of the movie is comprised of the students and teachers of Kabatas High School.

Then the music teacher of our school Ali Salih Köse and the students Selin Ünal, Deniz Chousein and Elif Acar performed five songs as follows;

1. “Çanakkale içinde vurdular beni”  song was  sung in remembrance of the fallen students, teachers and soldiers of Turkey at the Battle of Gallipoli, Battle of Galicia and the other battles of World War I

2. “You are not alone” and “Heal the world” songs of Michael Jackson were sung in memory of the fallen soldiers & people of Hungary and Turkey during the Battle of Galicia & the other battles of World War I.

3. “Bir başkadır benim memleketim” song was sung for a better and more peaceful world.

4. “Tavaszi szel” song was sung in memory of the soldiers & people of  Hungary who lost their lives in World War I.

On the occasion of the event, tree donations made in memory of the fallen soldiers of Hungary & Turkey were presented to the Turkish Ambasador Ahmet Akif Oktay and the principal of Kispest Deak Ferenc High School Livia Fencz.

As the students and teachers of Kabatas High School, we will always remember the fallen heroic soldiers of Hungary and Turkey in World War I with respect.

Tomb of Gül Baba, Budapest’s most sacred landmark from the Ottoman era, was visited by the group on March 22. Gül Baba, whose real name was Jafer, was a Bektashi dervish from the Veli Baba Lodge. Gül Baba is known as the "Father of Roses," a literal translation of the meaning of his names in Turkish; he is said to have introduced the flower to Hungary. Suleiman the Magnificent called for this bold and courageous dervish and invited him to Hungary. Serving as a guiding light for the army, Gül Baba joined the Buda Expedition and died on September 2, 1541. Tomb of Gül Baba is currently one of the best symbols of Turkish-Hungarian friendship as both nations pay great respect to him. TİKA Directorate in Budapest was visited by the group on the same day and the Director of TİKA in Budapest Seda Dağlı shared valuable information regarding the efforts and aids of TİKA in Hungary.

Esztergom Castle and the city was visited by the group on March 23. The Siege of Esztergom occurred between 25 July and 10 August 1543, when the Ottoman army, led by emperor Suleyman the Magnificent, besieged the city of Esztergom in modern Hungary. The city was captured by the Ottomans after two weeks. Esztergom Castle is one of the most siginificant castles in the history of Ottomans.

By attending some activities at Kispesti Deak Ferenc High School and outside the school, the students & teachers of both schools had the opportunity to develop their visions regarding cultural comprehension, friendship and mutual understanding.

March 17 – 24, 2019

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