Architect, poet, and writer. Mehmet
Kadri Göral (full name) was born on 5’th of January 1948 in Diyarbakır, Turkey.
He graduated from Ziya Gökalp Elementary School in 1961, Ziya Gökalp High
School in 1967 and Department of Architecture of Ankara Government Engineering
University in 1971. After working as an Architect, National Park Planning
Specialist and Project Implementation Manager at the Ministry of Forestry,
General Directorate of National Parks, he retired in 2002 of his own accord. He
resided in Sydney, Australia from 1996 to 2000. During this time, he had talks
on SBS Radio and poetry recitals at cultural events which were organized by the
Consulate General. In Turkey, he made several talks on both national and local
radios and televisions, and attended conferences and poetry recitals at
schools.
His
interest in poetry began by memorizing and reading poems in school magazines.
He wrote poems on love in high school years, on social content in university
years, and educational and instructive poems when he started life. His notable
poems were composed while he was a high school student. With the morale and
power of reading his poem dedicated to Mehmet Akif Ersoy at the "Mehmet
Akif's Memorial Night on December 27th, he continued to write poetry.
While
attending the High School, he served as the "Culture and Literature Branch
President of Student Union" and "Head of Culture Branch of Diyarbakır
Higher Education Association". In those years, his articles and poems were
published in “Yükseliş”, “Bazaltkent” and “Esmerim” magazines.
Based
on the idea that "poetry is the mirror of the poet and the poet is the
mirror of society", he tried to reflect the daily lives of the people of
Diyarbakır with a poetic expression in his book "Küçe Kapısı", which
was published in 1996. After this date, his poems in the "Küçe
Kapısı" were published in the "Literary Architects Anthology"
and in many magazines and newspapers nationwide.
His
book “Vuşşş…Kele”, in which he presented the similarity of the words in local
Diyarbakır dialect with English language, was published in 1997. His work on
this subject continues. His book “Cevahir Çıkını”, which deals with the
history, culture and folklore of Diyarbakır, was published in 2009.
In
1996, he was deemed worthy of an award by the “Diyarbakır Promotion and Culture
Foundation”. Mr. Göral is an influential poet and writer, who reflects
Diyarbakır dialect, folklore and culture with great success in his poems and
books. He also has important researches on Diyarbakır history and culture.
BOOKS:
Küçe
Kapısı (poetry, 1996), Vüşşş, Kele (poem, essay, review, 1997), Cevahir Çıkını
(Research-review, 2009).
REFERENCES:
Recep
Acay / Ben-u Sen Gülleri (interview, 2002), İhsan Işık / Encyclopedia of
Turkish Writers (2001, 2002, 2004) - Encyclopedia of Turkish Literary and
Cultural Men with Illustrated and Text Examples (2006, gen. 2nd ed. 2007) ) -
Diyarbakir Encyclopedia (2013) - Diyarbakir Scientists, Writers and Artists
from Past to Present (2014).