Novelist and playwright (b. 5 April 1944, Onar village / Arapgir /
Malatya - d. 3 January 2022, Istanbul). He attended Akçadağ Primary Teacher Training School, Malatya High
School and graduated from İstanbul University, Faculty of Literature,
Department of Classical Language and Literature. He worked as a class teacher
for 12 years. He received certificates from his studies on Ancient History and
Classical Archeology. He completed his doctorate in the department from which
he graduated. He worked as a lecturer in the same department for 9 years. He
took part in archeological digs in Van-Urartu, Enez and Perge. He did research
on the Byzantine language and epigraphy in France and on Alawitesm in different
universities in Paris and London. Kaygusuz, who went abroad in 1985, lived in
Paris for 6 years. He could not continue his study on 13. yüzyıl Türk Halk Tasavvufu ve Bizans Mistikleri (13th Century Turkish Folk Sufism and Byzantine
Mystics) which he began with his registration at Strasbourg University in 1987,
because of problems in his private life. But he carried out extensive book
research in Paris, where he lived, and concentrated on studies of Alawism
attending seminars and lectures related to the subject in different
universities in Paris. Kaygusuz, who settled and continued his research and
studies in London later, has published books about faith institutions,
philosophy and the history of Alawism. He still continues his studies in
London.
His articles have been published in the reviews Anadolu
Araştırmaları, Belleten, Arkeoloji ve Sanat ve Türk Arkeoloji, Kavga and
Kervan. Silvanlı Kadınlar (Women of Silvan), which is one of his three
plays in the repertoire of the State Theatre, has been staged by İstanbul
Municipal City Theatre, Adana State Theatre and Diyarbakır Municipal City
Theatre. His other play İsmail Maşuki Duruşması (The Trial of İsmail
Maşuki) received an honorable mention in the Bakırköy Yunus Emre Original
Playwriting Contest. He became well known with his play, Silvanlı Kadınlar
(Women of Silvan).
WORKS:
NOVEL: Son Görgü Cemi I (The Last Experience of
Cem I, 1991), Kentin Kızı Plankia Magna
(Plankia Magna, the Girl of the City, 1997).
PLAY: Silvanlı Kadınlar (Women
of Silvan, 1999), Satılık (For Sale,
play about marriage, 1999), Kısır
(Unproductive, 1999), Pascal ile
Stephanie (Pascal and Stephanie, 1999), Plankia
Magna (Plankia Magna, 1999), Oğlan
Şeyh Maşuki Duruşması (The Trial of Young Şeyh Maşuki, 1999), Baba Erenler (Bektaşi Father, 1999), Baba Resul (Father Resul, 2001).
STUDY-RESEARCH: Onar Dede
Mezarlığı ve Şeyh Onar (The Graveyard of Onar Dede and Şeyh Onar, 1983), Musahiblik (Bektaşi Friendship, 1991), Alevilik'te Dar ve Pirleri (Ceremonies and Founders in Alawism,
1993), Alevilik İnanç Kültür ve Siyaset
Tarihi I (History of Belief, Culture and Politics of Alawism I, 1995), Görmediğim Tanrıya Tapmam (I Do Not
Worship the God I Cannot See, 1996), Hünkâr
Hacı Bektaş Veli (Sultan Hacı Bektaş Veli, 1998).
MEMOIR: Darbe Günleri (Days of
the Military Coup, 2001).
REFERENCE: Baba Resul - Darbe Günleri (Kitap Rehberi, Aralık 2001), TBE Ansiklopedisi (2001), İhsan Işık / Türkiye Yazarlar Ansiklopedisi (2001, 2004) – Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2005) - Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, gen. 2. bas. 2007), Eğitimci-Yazar İsmail Kaygusuz, Hakk’a yürüdü (pirha.net, 03.02.2022).