"New Century of the Republic" Selected Stories

Beneath the majestic canopy of a century-old tree, the final emblem of thousands of years of state tradition and civilization, we lean against its trunk and gaze at the light of eternity through its grand branches and leaves stretching into the sky: the Republic. It is the most cherished treasure of the exalted Turkish nation, a legacy to be preserved and honored forever. From the depths of Mother Earth’s embrace, roots extending into infinity, reaching beyond the celestial dome and across seas and oceans, we find fresh branches and leaves—our youth. Our Republic is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

This year, the theme of the fifth annual “Traditional High School Story Competition” organized by the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Cappadocia University was “The New Century of the Republic.” With this book, we will explore the past and future of our Republic through the eyes of the youth who carry the hopes of our founder. Each line we read will offer a glimpse into many more centuries to come, honoring our history that continues to impact the world. We will witness that the Republic is not just a sentiment but the essence of life itself. Through “Republic Witness,” we will affirm that the Republic represents life in its fullest form. We will remember the proud history and victories of the century-old tree with “The Epic of Aykız Castle” and hold onto the belief that even in the darkest times, we can move from “Pitch Darkness to Light.” We will recognize the timeless nature of our Republic through the writings of our young authors. They will help us appreciate the “Legacy” handed down from their ancestors, challenging centuries with the vision of “A Hundred Generations of the Republic,” and sharing the “Centennial Good News” through their “Century-Spanning Adventure” from past to future. They will proclaim “The Headline of the Republic” to every corner of the globe, living out the Republic dream with “Firsts,” remembering the “First Martyr,” and preserving the flame of “The Republic Within Us” in “A Nest of Hope,” deeply connected to “This Land.”

May the insightful contributions of our youth, inspired by their noble heritage, light their paths and guide them in sustaining the great Republic of Turkey for generations to come.

Yusuf GÖKKAPLAN
Cappadocia University
Department of Turkish Language and Literature

Duygu Oylubaş Katfar completed her non-thesis master’s degree in Turkish Language and Literature Teaching at Ege University in 2010. She earned her thesis master’s degree in 2014 and her Ph.D. in 2020 from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Erciyes University, specializing in Modern Turkish Literature. She has participated in workshops and seminars on gender issues organized by the Women’s Studies Research and Application Center at Erciyes University. Her research, which covers genre theory, narrative studies, psychoanalytic literature, and historical novels within the contexts of literary history, sociology, and philosophy, has been presented at academic conferences and published in scholarly journals and books. Since 2020, she has been teaching courses on the history of Turkish literature from the 19th century to the present and on critical reading.

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