Journalist
and writer (b. 1889, İstanbul – d. 4 October 1982). He attended the Üsküdar
Ravzay-ı Terakki Primary School, School of Political Science, and graduated
from Istanbul School of Law (1911). He worked as the first secretary of the
Foundations Construction Department, as the assistant counselor at the Ministry
of Trade, and finally, as the director of the İstanbul Food Supplies. He worked
as a teacher of Turkish and French at various schools in İstanbul, and teacher
of writing at the İstanbul Journalism Institute. He established many sports
clubs, besides serving as a football referee. In 1907, he joined the founders
of the Anadolu Sports Club, as well as the Turkey Training Association with Ali
Sami Yen and Yusuf Ziya Öney. He initiated the Balkan Games in 1930. He became
the chairman of the Turkish Olympic Committee and a member of Physical
Education Information Committee (1938-65). He embarked on journalism in the
review Donanma. He was the sports correspondent in the newspaper Tasvir-i
Efkâr (1918).
One
of the first writers of anecdotes in Turkey, Burhan Felek published his works
in the newspapers Vakit, Millet, Yeni Ses, Milliyet and Tan after
1925; and in the newspaper Cumhuriyet (for 29 years) at most and again
in Milliyet (between 1969 and 1982). By using the humour in his
articles, he intended to reach readers of all levels. He received the degree of
“Şeyhü'l-Muharririn” (Master of Authors, in February 28, 1976) from the
İstanbul Journalists Association, where he was the chairman for years. After
his death, his name was given to some sport halls.
WORKS:
ANECDOTE-RESEARCH-TRAVEL
LITERATURE-MEMOIR: Hint Masalları (Indian Tales, impressions from India,
1944), Adem'den Bugüne Büyük Aşklar (Big Loves since Adam to present,
1945), Felek (Fate, 1947), Vatandaş Ahmet Efendi (Citizen Ahmet
Efendi, humorous stories, 1957), Eski İstanbul Hikâyeleri (Old İstanbul
Stories, 1971), Yaşadığımız Günler (The Days We Live, memoir-short story,
1974), Nasrettin Hoca (Nasrettin Hoca, 1982).
Besides,
he made translations from Giovanni Guarechi and adapted plays from novels.
