Historian, politician
and statesman. He was born in Iskilip/ Çorum on December 23, 1945. He also used
such names as; Ertuğrul Afşin, Yazıcıoğlu, Korkut-Ata, Pars-Buga, Ertuğrul
Cengiz, Irkıl Ata in some of his writings. He completed primary and secondary
schools in Iskilip, high school in Amasya and later he graduated from Istanbul
University Faculty of Literature History Department (1970). In 1973, he began
to work as history teacher in Iskilip
High School. In 1976, he was assigned as the social
sciences group teacher in Istanbul Ortaköy Education Institute and worked as
vice principle. In 1978, he completed his Ph.D. in Istanbul University Faculty
of Literature History Department. Between 1978 and 1980, he has worked in
various high schools in Istanbul;
he was assigned as the Social Sciences group lecturer and vice principle in Istanbul
Atatürk Education Institute. In 1980, he began to work as lecturer in Hacettepe
University Social and Administrative Sciences Faculty, Department of History.
Later, the name of this faculty was changed to Faculty of Literature, where he
became an Associate Professor with the thesis titled “Sultan II. Kılıç
Arslan ve Zamanı” (1984), he
worked at the Institute
of Atatürk Principles and
History of Revolution and he became professor in 1989.
A.Mehmet Çay, also
worked as the specialist in General
Secretariat of the National Security Council Social Relations Presidency
and later he worked as a consultant here between 1985 and 1993. In 1983, he was
accepted as a member to Research Institute of Turkish Culture and worked in
administration. Between the years 1991 and 1995, he was selected as an
essential member to the Turkish History Institute. He worked as the general
secretary in Turkish
States and Communities
Friendship Brotherhood and Collaboration Foundation. Between the years 1993 and
1995, he worked as an secretary in the assemblies of the foundation. Between the
years 1997 and 1999, he worked as the responsible state president of TIKA. He
was the founding member and chairman of the executive board in Research Institute
of Turkish Culture, Turkish History Institute’s essential, TÜDEV Turkish states
and Communities Friendship Brotherhood and Collaboration Foundation. In 2000,
he became congressman in Çorum from MHP and worked in the Ministry of State,
which was responsible of Turkish Collaboration and Development Agency, Turkish States
and Communities Coordination, Coordination of Immigrants from Bulgaria, Coordination and Acceptance of Ahısta
Turks to Turkey.
He quit his work in 2002.
Çay began his publishing
life during his university years. He wrote about Turkish Patriotism, problems
of Turkey
in Millet, Bizim Anadolu, Hergün, Tercüman, Son Havadis, Türkiye,
Ortadoğu, Milliyetçi Çizgi, Türkeli, Büyük Kurultay newspapers daily and serial. His articles
had been published in Ötüken, Adsız, Son Kale, Türk’e Çağrı, Çığ, Yeni Çığ,
Türk Kültürü, Türk Dünyası, Azerbaycan, Fuzûlî journals.
WORKS:
II. Kılıçarslan (1987),
Doğu ve Güneydoğu Anadolu’da Kuva-yı Milliye Hareketleri (with Yaşar
Kalafat, 1990), Doğu ve Güneydoğu Anadolu Üzerine Araştırmalar (3 vol.,
1992).
REFERENCE: Zekai
Özçınar - Edip Ali Yavuz / Devlet Bakanı
Abdulhaluk Çay Görevden Alındı (Zaman, 25.12.2001), TDOE-TDE Ansiklopedisi 3 (2003), İhsan Işık (TEKAA, 2009).