Behzat Ay

Author (B. May 2, 1936, Arslankoy / Mersin – D. July 12, 1999, Istanbul). He also wrote with pseudonym Mehmet Gezer. He graduated from Duzici Village Institute (1954) and Gazi Education Institute, Department of Education (1970). He worked as primary and secondary school teacher in several provinces of Eastern Anatolia. He was among the founder of TOS (Turkish Teachers’ Union) and the members of the first executive board. He retired as a teacher (1980).

His poems, narrations and other writings were published in several newspapers and journals such as Varlık, İmece, Öncü, Sosyal Adalet, Yön, Vatan, Akşam, Türk Solu, Yansıma. He mostly reflected the problems of rural people who are urban wannabes and having problems in adapting the urban life. He received the award of Barış newspaper in 1973 with his article named Atatürkçülüğün Yorumu. He received an honorable mention in 1982 Abdi İpekci Friendship and Peace Award with his story named Sınır. He was the member Writers’ Trade Union of Turkey.

WORKS:

ESSAY-DIARY: Köyden Geliyorum (köy notları, 1961), Başkanın Ankara Dönüşü (köy notları, 1961), Atatürk’ten Sonra Kir Kin Yalan (1994), Çırılçıplak Yüreğimle (1994), Kan ve Gözyaşı (1997).

NOVEL: Dor Ali (1966), Sis İçinde (1973), Sürgün (1975), O Uzun Yalnızlık (1993).

TRAVEL LITERATURE: Gündoğusu (1970).

SHORT STORY: Kuşku ve Korku (1992).

RESEARCH: Çanakkale’den Laik Cumhuriyet’e (1992), Tarihimizde Önemli Günler ve Atatürk (1992).

REFERENCE: Muzaffer Uyguner / Türk Dili (March 1962), Tahir Alangu / Varlık Yıllığı (1967), Hasan İzzettin Dinamo / Yeditepe (September 1970), Mehmet Bayrak / Köy Enstitüsü Yazarlar-Ozanlar (1978), Yurt Ansiklopedisi (vol. V, 1982), Behçet Necatigil / Edebiyatımızda İsimler Sözlüğü (ed. 18, 1999), Şükran Kurdakul / Şairler ve Yazarlar Sözlüğü (exp. ed. 6, 1999), TBE Ansiklopedisi (2001).