Research sources & extracts from some of the teacher tributes & press references
Tributes to the hailed Teacher of Teachers, the late,
Orhan Seyfi Ari
Teaching & teacher tributes, social, education, teaching research sources on teacher, columnist, poet, thinker, Turkish Cypriot educator, cultural-educational reformer, also involved in setting up of cultural organizations, chairing a historical buildings preservation society, the late, Orhan Seyfi Ari -extracts (translated from Turkish/Greek) from some of the tributes & press references to the Teacher of Teachers, his teaching, popularity ~ a memorial to a country boy interested in teaching who captured the hearts & minds of pupils & people -they rhymed poetry & named streets after him.
Minister of Education KKTC -Esber Serakinci about teacher Ari -letter 18 December 1992
Teacher of teachers
Australian Turkish & Islamic Cultural Center -Hasan Dellal, President -letter 16 February 1992
He helped us...We shall remember the esteemed teacher, always, with respect
Cevdet Basaran, US Foreign Broadcast Information Service FBIS [retired], founder first Turkish Cypriot private school, author -email 21 January 2001
Having closely followed Orhan Seyfi Ari's activities, to have known him, greatly honors me
The University of London Institute of Advanced Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies have archived information on teacher Ari -fax 13 June 1997
Orhan Seyfi Ari will be added to our library
Prof. Dr. Salih Karaali, (Istanbul University [Dept. of Astronomy & Space Sciences], Turkey) -letter 8 February 1993
Condolences to the Turkish Community
Hasan Yucelen in 'The 100 Years of Struggle for Existence of the Turks of Loudrijina/Akincilar -A Documentation of Heroism' (*)
Mr. Orhan's such services (to Loudrijina)...
(inscribed) With debt of gratitude for services & in remembrance of Orhan Ari, the educational sun that has never set on Akincilar.
Dr. Slight, Director Cyprus Youth Rehabilitation Center, Principal Morphou Teacher Training College & Cyprus Rural Agricultural School, 1940 (**)
'There's (teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari's) sweat in establishing the (Cyprus) Rural Agricultural School'
Ali Nesim [Dept. of Turkish Language & Literature -YDU, Centre for Cyprus Studies -DAU], e-mail, 10 July 2009
The section in my book ('Our Forever Shining Suns on Education' (**) on teacher Ari) has been the part most used by researchers
Charilaos Kitromilides, [speaker in assoc. with Peloponnisian Assoc. & Ionian Society, Member Cyprus High Commission UK -rtd], on teacher Ari, in 'Images from my Life' [in Greek] (***)
He was a sagacious, extraordinary, most highly respected, man.
Award by School & Parents Association Haydarpasha
For unforgettable services rendered to education
Dogrudan: 'Alayli mi, Mektepli mi?' [Soldiering or Schooling? (Whether measure of competent teaching & teacher)]-Mustafa Dogrusoz in Kibris, 5 February 1999
Orhan Seyfi Ari was one of the greatest teachers of our time
He did not become a teacher, he was born a teacher.
...his mark on this nation's history of education can't be belittled...
Sometimes a great school is a man, sometimes a man is himself a great school.
Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Syndicate (on passing of teacher Ari) -Halkin Sesi, 19 December 1992
Condolences to our teachers
Editorial ('Gorus'), in Halkin Sesi -Akay Cemal, 27 December 1992
The defense in his newspaper columns was vigorous and fearless
of (our) freedoms and liberty, of teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari
~ and in Kibris, 'Halki, Milli Degerlerden Sogutma bir Politika' [Politics of Distancing from Nation's Values], 21 May 2008
On the occasion of Youth Day celebrations lists teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari among those whose struggles have enabled the survival of the society's values and achievements and the later achievements through, and to a great extent with share in the achievements also of, those who they raised, to be remembered with respect.
~ and... 'Iyi ki 23 Kasimi Gormediler' [Good, They didn't Live 23 November], (on Teachers Day teacher pay disputes) (Kibris) 25 November 2009
Quoting from teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari on teaching success's rewards on occasion of Cyprus-TRNC's Teachers' Day
hails the contribution of the efforts of such in education in the founding later in Cyprus-KKTC of universities
'Altin Cerceve' [Gold Frame] in Halkin Sesi Supplement, 9 May 2004 -Levent Tezel (interview -old trades: Master Shoemaker Suleyman)
"(on disputed formal apprenticeship contract)
This teacher Orhan Ari intervened, 'I'll be guarantor for both of you';
and I completed my apprenticeship -learned my trade properly."
Universal Unity Party, General Secretariat -Birlik, 19 December 1992
We're grieving the loss of the esteemed teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari
Salih Cosar, Deputy Prime Minister, Leader -Democrat Party, previous Minister of Finance &
Economy, former Minister of Education & Culture, KKTC/TRNC -telegram 18 December 1992
I am saddened by the death of the venerable (teacher Orhan Ari)
Olgun Pasalar, Member of Parliament, KKTC -Birlik, 19 December 1992
I am in grief over the loss of teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari
Among the awards presented to teacher Orhan Ari, one by the TRNC government is inscribed, simply
For Services to Education
Another by the Ministry of Culture & Education KKTC reads
With gratitude for valuable services to the education of the nation
Gunes Dogarken [Sunrise]: 'Cumhurbaskanimiz M A Talat'i Dinlerken' [As we Listen to President Talat], (on destruction of ethnic properties & heritage) -S. Mehmet Ersoy in Huryildiz 23 December 2008
At secondary school (in Paphos) our teacher the late Orhan Seyfi Ari used to take us to religious worship in them every week
Dasci [~'Rebuker']: 'O bir Ogretmen' [A Teacher] (on standards in teaching & education) -Omer Mehmet, in United Cyprus 19 September 2003
(In Nicosia) We had a teacher, Orhan Ari... there was teaching -education. One must love people -and t-e-a-c-h.
Gozun Ucundan [From the Corner of the Eye]: 'Bir Ogretmenin Duygulari' [Sentiments of a Teacher] -Osman Guvenir on teachers day, in Halkin Sesi, 27 November 2004
~ and... in [Also Die Kings] (****)
Look what our teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari has said
(quote in a remembrance notice from the teachers of teachers on teaching, teachers, his teaching career -upon retiring from teaching)
"...my spiritual reward.. my beloved 'children' -my pupils.. achieved success..."
Monumental (educational) deeds, do, most certainly, justify greatest pride
Oguz Metiner, -in his column Sohbet in Birlik, 29 January 1993
On the teacher of teachers, his teaching, in verse 'Bir Yildiz Kaydi'[in Turkish]
A Star's Passed Away
Passed away from amongst us a star-true,
In the last days of nineteen-ninety-two,
Inspiring all around his deeds of illumination,
Speedily as he moved on to his destination;
And to our senses having he brought us,
We, quietly, buried him in our hearts.
Well known and versed, none other was he
Than the pilgrim, The Teacher: Orhan Ari
His concern -so sincere!
Greatly respected everywhere!
Years spent to illuminate!
More: hearts, his sultanate!
With his pupils was spent half his lifetime at schools
And at places of worship the other with the faithfuls,
As built his honesty a throne, in every heart, that rules!
Revealed was his departure-shortly for the here-after
For, late-before, he had told his friends-closer
It was time he would meet his maker.
It did not take long.. he attained his ultimate desire;
And, having left his worldly possessions to his near and dear,
He settled on the throne of omniscience in the world after here.
Lie in radiance, in paradise you rest!
The exalted prophet himself to intercede for you -the best!
Rejoice his grand soul, with God's best graces blest!
President Rauf Denktas, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus -letter 18 December 1992
The death... of the estimable Orhan Seyfi Ari caused me great sadness
Hakki Atun, Leader Cyprus KKTC Parliament -on loss of teacher of teachers Orhan Seyfi Ari, letter 22 December 1992
Those by him taught have made, both, the state and the nation proud. We shall always remember him with respect and love...
Harid Fedai, 'Bu Dunyadan Seyfi Gecti' [A 'Seyfi' (='a sword of' / defender) has left the World], on teacher Ari's death, in Halkin Sesi, 27 December 1992
Such nice things I had heard of him!..
Efforts in education, help to schools and students...
Later, also on youth morality I would hear his praises -from the highest of religious offices.
He it was who gave the poet (...) his first knowledge of poetry
Gladdens his soul, I hope, this quatrain...
Aware was not I; unbeknown, harmony was you all through
Under skins, treasured forever by thoughts innermost too
Seeking of you insight the wonders of the universe into
I knew, at last, this, that the universe was you
~
Internet Adviser UK -Best Sites: Teacher of Teachers, July 2001
Read.. the life of this extraordinary.. poet and thinker-
~
(Streets named after teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari are in Nicosia [1993] and in Loudricina/Lysi [2006] in Cyprus [KKTC/TRNC])
~
* 'Akincilar (Luricina) Turkleri'nin Yuzyillik Varolus Mucadelesi -Bir Kahramanalik Belgesi', (pp. 86-87) [in Turkish]
[The 100 Years of Struggle for Existence of the Turks of Loudrijina -A Documentation of Heroism], by Hasan Yucelen, Ates Press Lefkosa 2006
** (biographical) 'Batmayan Egitim Guneslerimiz (Kibris Turk Egitimi Hakkinda Bir Arastirma)', KKTC Milli Egitim ve Kultur Bakanligi Yayinlari (pp. 350-358) [in Turkish]
[Our Forever Shining Suns on Education -research on Turkish Cypriot Education, KKTC Ministry of Education & Culture Cyprus publication]: 6, Ulus Ofset Baski 72959 Lefkosa 1987,
by Ali Nesim (Dept. of Turkish Language & Literature [Near East University] and Centre for Cyprus Studies [Eastern Mediterranean University])
*** (semi-biographical) [Images from my Life] (pp. 49 & 201) Charilaos I. Kitromilides (occasional speaker in assoc. with Ionian Society London
and Peloponnisian Association of Great Britain), Member Cyprus High Commission UK -rtd.), Nicolas Printers London 2002 [in Greek]
**** 'Krallar da Olur' (p.149) [in Turkish] [Also Die Kings] by Osman Guvenir, ISBN: 978-9963-9211-1-9, Halkin Sesi Publishing Lefkosa 2009
(biographical) There is information on teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari also in [The Biographical Dictionary of Cypriots 1800-1920], 6th ed., (p. 52 ) [in Greek]
Pierides Foundation publication, ISBN: 878-9963-7856-3-6, Nicosia 2010, by Aristides L. Koudounaris (formerly, President, Cyprus Historical Society)
More info on Teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari