We are extremely delighted to bring an exclusive interview with the eminent Turkish Poet Tarik Gunersel, the Initiator of World Poetry Day. He has also held esteemed positions in PEN International and PEN Turkey —Abhilash Fraizer. (By MasticadoresIndia)
Q: How did you become a writer? What/who are the first influences in your life as a writer?
Tarık Günersel: Genetic factors, plus family, plus my desire when I was in the elementary school.
Q: Kindly tell us about your family background, education, literary circle etc.
Tarık Günersel:
I was born in Istanbul in 1953. My mother was 20 and my father was 27. I was 2 when they divorced. My mother Güngör Tanyeri brought me up. She loved literature, theatre, opera, and art. She had a beautiful voice and her stories were with songs. She worked as a librarian for a year, then for a bank, in the PR department, till she retired.
My father Ismet Günersel was a humorous politician. A good orator. He also loved literature and history. Also a good cook, he ran a restaurant for some years.
My grandfather Necmeddin Günersel was a thinker, author, and a politician. He was a free-thinking Muslim who supported a secular democratic regime. He admired Kant, Marx, Freud, and Einstein. At 80, he prepared his autobiography with photos and documents, including his high school diploma in 1916, his newspaper articles, correspondence with leading coumnists and politicians. He wrote a book: Destiny and Free Will. He wasn’t able to have it published. As a child I witnessed this dear old man reading and writing.
My uncle Dr Saffet Günersel is 95. A pediatrican, artist and translator. Among more than 50 translations from German is a play by Goethe.
I was lucky: At home with my mother, my grandparents and my dear aunt Râset (an economist and manager who is only 4 years older than me), I enjoyed freedom of expression. I was loved and respected. The same was true when I visited my father and his parents.
My paternal grandfather’s father was a Sufi derwish who was a poet and traveller. He had travelled in Asia, Africa and Europe for ten years. When he settled down in Edirne, in the European part of Türkiye, he opened a book shop before 1900. His wife worked in the bookshop with him.
My father married when I was 19. So I have a sister, Şen (Joyful) Günersel, 20 years younger. She studied public relations and management, then art history and philosophy. She holds a high position in a leading tourism company.
- Secondly, education:
Thanks to te secular republican education founded by Atatürk in 1920 and 1930s, I received a secular education. (The notebook I prepared when I was 10 in 1963 may be interesting. It was published as an e-book in 2017.) After the elementary school, I managed to pass the exams of one of the 5 schools of the country: Kadiköy Maarif Koleji. The first year was primarily for English. Then middle-schhol. Then high school. Focusing on literature and drama, I learned English and won an AFS Intercultural Scholarship, leading to a one-year stay in the USA. Hosted by the Donovan family, I finished high school in Wisconsin in 1971. (Forty-two years later, in 2013, I went to Sheboygan High School and gave a creative writing seminar.)
Then I took the university exam and won the place I wanted and studied English Literature at Istanbul University.
Friends: My close friends have always contributed to me. Good friendships are also vital in education, in personal development.
Q: While you were growing up, how was the literary climate in Turkey, and looking back from this point of time, how has it changed?
T Günersel:
First, necessarily, a political note: 1960s were relatively democratic. 1970s were not easy. 1980s were bad after the military coup d’Etat supported by the USA. That is why I left to work abroad, in ARAMCO, Saudi Arabia, as an English teacher for four years: August 1982-June 1986. As a family we did have a good time there, thanks to the camp which was like an American town with a wonderful library and facilities for kids. My daughter learned English there.
In Türkiye most of the good poets and writers have been leftists, by which I mean those who advocate democratization, labour rights etc.
The last fifteen years have been the worst. Getting worse and worse. Though secularism is in our constitution, the present ruler and his circle have been working against it. Reactionary Islam has been imposed in schools. There is no more “Philosophy” in high school. Folk dances have been stopped, because some reactionary fanatics do not want boys and girls do folk dances together, sometimes holding hand in hand. The theory of evolution has been withdrawn from curriculum. Terrible.
As for communication and publication, the internet became a turning point. Then social media. Like everywhere, I guess.
Q: You are a versatile literary figure in Türkiye, who has made an indelible impact in Türkiye and beyond. Tell us about your literary pursuit as a poet, actor, and translator.
T Günersel: I was 7 when my mother took me to the opera. We watched an Italian opera company touring in Istanbul. That famous opera about clowns made me weep. The tragedy of a clown who made people laugh though he was in distress.
When we went home, I put make up on my face to resemble a clown, and I improvised an aria in tears. That was the start of my acting career. Since then, acting has been an integral part of my life on stage, in cinema and on TV. I will be happy to act in international productions as a guest actor. In India, for example.
- Your translation of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ is one of the most eminent translations of the same in Turkish. Tell us about that work and its impact on Turkish literature and culture.
T Günersel:
I was 9 when a relative quoted “to be or not to be” and gave me its meaning. I was struck. Envious, not jealous, I thought: “I must write as briefly and deeply as this.” Since then, Shakespeare has been my best friend and rival in world literature.
Mine is the tenth translation of Hamlet into Turkish. Only one of the previous translators was a poet. But he was not an actor. Plus, or shall we say “minus”, yes, minus: He imposed his own poetic style in the translation.
For a refined translation of Shakespeare, one needs to be a good poet, an experienced translator, an actor, a dramaturg a researcher. If not an academic, then definitely with an academic discipline. In Türkiye, I’m afraid I am the only poet who is also an actor and a translator, also a dramaturg and a director. So in my translation process I needed -and made use of- all those skills. The outcome is highly appreciated. How would Shakespeare write if he wrote in Turkish today? The key question. Probably an interesting point is that I left the phrase “To be or not to be” in English. Who, among theatre lovers who have heard of Shakespeare, does not know that phrase and it meaning? That is Shakespeare’s trademark. Leave it as it is. I did, however, add the meaning in the following sentence, just in case. I am curious to know if any other Hamlet translator in the world left “To be or not to be” in English, as I did.
Q: Tell us about your major works of poetry and their impact.
T Günersel:
Since 1974, I have been working on a single literary work that has a federal structure. A multi-genre mosaic in progress. That is why I do not count my books. They are temporary entities, parts of a growing epic which impossibly tries to embrace the past and the future with alternatives and questions, focusing on the main dimensions of reality -nature, humanity, and technology.
Q: Who are your favorite poets in Türkiye and in the world at large?
T Günersel: There are many. I have just mentioned my most favorite one.
- You are a prominent figure in Turkish theatre and have dabbled in a few movies too. Kindly tell us about your career as an actor. We also wish to know more about contemporary Turkish theatre.
T Günersel: Dynamic and flourishing.
9 For a long time, you have been an integral part of PEN International and twice the oresident of PEN Türkiye Centre. We wish to know about your role in both. Kindly share your experience working with PEN.
T Günersel: Since 1997, I have worked as a member, twice as the president of PEN Türkiye, and two years on the International Board after I was elected in Tokyo in 2010. For nearly three years now, I have been a member of the Advisory Board of PEN Writers for Peace Committee, thanks to our International Chair Germán Rojas, the former president of PEN Chile. He invited fourteen PEN members from different part of the world to constitute the Advisory Board, a new step in PEN.
Being a PEN member gives one an opportunity to make friends and to learn more about current events. It also means responsibility. When you are aware, can you remain indifferent? One needs to learn to use time more efficiently without being crushed.
I enjoy saying this: Mind may be limitless, but time is not.
Q: You are the initiator and co-founder of World Poetry Day. That is a remarkable achievement to have played a key role in setting up World Poetry Day. Kindly tell us about how it happened – about your proposal and UNESCO’s acceptance that impacted the world literature.
I had initiated a global and multilingual platform called “Poetic Space Lab” in March 1996. I thought that a day for poetry, precisely World Poetry, would be good for world peace. So my friends and I -as Poetic Space Lab- celebrated World Poetry Day on 21 April (prior to Earth Day) in 1996 with poems in many languages.
Then I, with poetess Gülseli Inal, co-founder of Poetic Space Lab, became PEN members to promote the idea.
In August 1997, I attended the PEN Congress in Edinburgh to present the idea of World Poetry Day.
PEN General Assembly accepted the proposal (submitted by PEN Türkiye Centre and seconded by PEN Melbourne Centre through Judith Rodriguez (1936-2018).
PEN International sent the idea to UNESCO (details in my autobiography).
What happened within UNESCO is mentioned on the related page of the UNESCO website: The Moroccan National Committee submitted a form, and after consulting and discussions UNESCO declared World Poetry Day in November 1999 – as 21 March.
UNESCO’s account of the process of World Poetry Day needs improvement, because it lacks the steps taken before UNESCO.
Important: World Poetry Day is not an “International Poetry Day” -but it is a “World Poetry” day. Poems in many languages should be shared for world peace. Celebrations in only one language is not compatible with the idea of World Poetry Day.
I still think 21 April would be better, and I refuse to give up the idea and organize Earth Poems Day on 21 April, in relation to Earth Day, 22 April. I suggest the concept of “Earth Day Eve” as an opportunity to celebrate the symbolic re-birth or our planet.
After my presentation, I learned that a similar day had been celebrated in some countries in October. I am simply the initiator of the process leading to the UNESCO calendar, with a lot of efforts of numerous poetry and peace lovers.
Q: You are a great advocate for peace and fraternity on earth. With this objective, you have founded ‘Earth Civilization Network’. Tell us about its founding, its vision, objectives, and activities.
T Günersel: In 1968 I considered myself a world citizen. In 1969 I decided to contribute to the formation of a global secular democratic system and society beyond borders. In 1995 I wrote an article: The Movement of Concerned Earthlings. In 2013 I needed to name the goal, so I borught three words together: Earth Civilization Project. I wrote a declaration and invited some friend from various countries to sign it. After a lot of thought, research and discussions, in 2021 I started to do international interviews. I then initiated a network: Earth Civilization Network. In 2023 I prepared a website: www.earthcivilization.net. That is our Mother Website. Last year we began to prepare Earthmates’ Magazine, which is published, thanks to dear Earthmate Dušan Gojkov, in relation to Balkan Literary Herald, which is the first literary e-jpurnal of Europe, active for 30 years now.
Diogenes is among the first people who considered himself a world citizen. Countless people have desired a peaceful world without discrimination. A global unity. The Earth Civilization Goal-Path has its roots in all the positive contributions of humanity. We need to add more. The idea is not new, but in 2013 when I wanted to give it a name and dared to say Earth Civilization, I saw that, according to Google, I was the first person the bring these basic words together. So there is already an Earth civilization in progress. A civilization based on the awareness of the limits of our planet and th possibilities of synergy. Readers migh enjoy visiting our website. I call it Mother Website, because if the simple fruitful model can be considered helpful, several Earth Civilization Circles may pop up.
Q: The world is torn apart by frequent wars – in Gaza and Ukraine currently. As an advocate of peace, and a powerful representative of PEN how do you respond? What are the solutions? You are a member of the Advisory Board of PEN Writers for Peace Committee.
T Günersel: Non-acceptance, non-silence. It is vital to improve intercultural communication with concrete projects. Most people simply pray and/or expect a solution from a supernatural being or some other people. As humans, we need to assume responsibility and acknowledge our rightful power.
Where cultures differ in minor aspects, no problem. But Human Rights including gender equality and Nature Rights must be upheld without concession. Key points must become universal in real life. Overture for World Peace, which I wrote in 2013, is a brief text which is available in 133 languages for now.
Q: Tell us about your current literary activities and other cultural and social activities.
T Günersel: I am preparing the parts of my mosaic-epic in English for publication.
Q: Wish to know about your family and home?
T. Günersel: Education goes on in real life. I met a wise and charming lady named Füsun, which means “Magic” in Persian. We married in 1978. Our one and only child was born in 1980: Her name is Adalet Barıș Günersel. Adalet is an Arabic word which means Justice. Barış is a Turkish word which means Peace. Dr Adalet Barış Günersel lives in Texas with her two children. My wife and I try to visit them twice a year.
My wife has translated 25 plays. Our daughter wrote three novels in English when she was a teenager. Also impressive poems. She then did her PhD in Educational Psychology. Her dissertation is on four leading Turkish novelists.
Both my wife and our daughter have also helped me in my struggle to become more mature. Now my grandchildren are educating me.
I am lucky and happy, after several crises, at age 72. My mind is finally clear. I can easily focus and write for long hours. Each person’s life is a different adventure.
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