Noman Çelebicihan
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Noman Çelebicihan (Numan Çelebi Cihan) (1885-1918) was one of the most popular Crimean Tatar leaders of all time. He was the first President of the short-lived independent Crimean Democratic Republic, established on November 26 (December 9 under the Gregorian Calendar), 1917.
In January 1918, just barely two months after he was elected to lead his nation at the historic Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people, the Bolshevik forces invaded Crimea. He was arrested and imprisoned in Sevastopol. On February 23, a firing squad of the Black Sea Fleet executed him and threw his body into the sea.
The Crimean Tatar nation continues to mourn the brutal murder of its promising young leader at the age of 33, who was a lawyer, an elected Mufti (Muslim jurist) of Crimea, and also an accomplished poet and writer.
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[edit] Biography
Noman Çelebicihan was born in 1885, in the village of Büyük Sonaq, in Çonğar region of Crimea. His father's name was İbraim Çelebi, a member of a well to do Crimean Tatar family. His mother also was from a well to do family, daughter of Cihanşah Çelebi. He received his early education in his village. Afterwards, due to lack of opportunity, Çelebicihan was sent to Gülümbey Medrese, one of the well known madrassas of that time, with the help of his uncles. Later on he was sent to Istanbul to further his education.
Noman Çelebicihan arrived in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire in 1908. He attended Vefa Lisesi (High School) and later Law School. He resided in Karagümrük section of Istanbul where a small group of Crimean Tatar students lived. One of the first organizations he founded, while a student in Istanbul, was "Yaş Tatar Yazıcılar Cıyını" (Young Tatar Writers' Association). He founded this association with his friend Abibulla Temircan in 1910, and published his first literary works such as Qarılğaçlar Duası (Swallows' Prayer), Altın Yarıq (Golden Light) and Şiirler Cönkü (Collection of Poems). He was one of the original founders of "Crimean Tatar Student Association" and also "Vatan" (Homeland), which became the seed for the political organization Milliy Fırqa (National Party) to carry on the independent movement in Crimea during the most turbulent period in its history.
After graduating from Law School, Çelebicihan returned to Crimea to get involved in the independence movement, and was elected to represent the Or region of Crimea in the upcoming historical Crimean Tatar Qurultay. He was one of the most popular delegates because of his young age and education he received in Istanbul. Soon during the historic opening of the Qurultay on November 26, 1917, Noman Çelebicihan was elected the first president of the young Crimean Republic.
Çelebicihan was not only the first president of the independent Crimean Republic and Mufti of Crimea, he was also an accomplished poet and writer. In addition to his aforementioned works, his poems such as Ant Etkenmen (I've Pledged), Bastırıq (Prison), Ay gidi... (Oh for...), Savlıqman Qal Tatarlıq! (Farewell Tatarness!), Yolcu Ğarip (Poor Traveler), and Tilkiden Selâm (Greetings from the Fox) are his most popular poems. Ant Etkenmen became so popular that it became the lyrics of the Crimean Tatar national anthem, and according to Şevki Bektöre (another popular Crimean Tatar poet), "... was sung for the first time during the historic Qurultay (1917)...." His most memorable poem, however, is Savlıqman Qal Tatarlıq!, which he scribbled on the walls of Simferopol train station on his way to report to military service during World War I.
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[edit] Further reading
For additional information on Noman Çelebicihan and his poetry, please check the web site of International Committee for Crimea.
