Qedrîcan
Encyclopedia
Qedrîcan or Qedrîcan, was a Kurdish
poet, writer and translator. He was born in Derik
, a small village (present-day Mardin Province
, south-eastern Turkey
). At a time when schooling was the subject of jokes and when few people studied Qedrîcan's father, known as "Cano" (hence the last name) sent him to school. He was a very successful student, especially in the areas of science and mathematics. Seeing that his son was a successful student Cano decided to send his son to Konya
to study at the teachers' college there. During his days as a student there Qedrî Can was blacklisted for cultivating "political strife"; he was made a target for writing poetry in Kurdish
and was forced to escape Turkey. At a time after the defeat of the Sheikh Said Rebellion
, he escaped to Syria
and lived in Damascus
until his death in 1972.
Qedrîcan is remembered for openly teaching the Kurdish Language to students in Northeastern Syria. Among his circle of friends are the well known names of renowned Kurdish intellectuals: Celadet Bedir Khan, Kamuran Bedir Khan, Dr. Nurettin Zaza, Dr. Nuri Dersimi, krem Cemilpaşa, Kadri Cemilpaşa, Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
, and more.
style. His poetry is similar to that of Mayakovsky
and Nazim Hikmet
and he promoted socialism
through his poetry. In addition to poetry, he also wrote short stories and biographies. Most of his works were published in the Kurdish journals Hawar, Ronahî and Roja Nû.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
poet, writer and translator. He was born in Derik
Derik
Derik , is a district of the Mardin Province in the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. It has borders with Mazıdağı, Viranşehir and Kızıltepe. The Assyrian/Syriac People formed once a majority in this district....
, a small village (present-day Mardin Province
Mardin Province
Mardin Province is a province of Turkey with a population of 744,606. The population was 835,173 in 2000. The capital of the Mardin Province is Mardin...
, south-eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). At a time when schooling was the subject of jokes and when few people studied Qedrîcan's father, known as "Cano" (hence the last name) sent him to school. He was a very successful student, especially in the areas of science and mathematics. Seeing that his son was a successful student Cano decided to send his son to Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
to study at the teachers' college there. During his days as a student there Qedrî Can was blacklisted for cultivating "political strife"; he was made a target for writing poetry in Kurdish
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
and was forced to escape Turkey. At a time after the defeat of the Sheikh Said Rebellion
Sheikh Said rebellion
Sheikh Said Rebellion was a rebellion of a Kurdish clergy Sheikh Said and a group of former Kurdish Hamidieh soldiers in 1925.-Background:The Azadî was dominated by officers from the former Hamidiye, a Kurdish tribal militia established...
, he escaped to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and lived in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
until his death in 1972.
Qedrîcan is remembered for openly teaching the Kurdish Language to students in Northeastern Syria. Among his circle of friends are the well known names of renowned Kurdish intellectuals: Celadet Bedir Khan, Kamuran Bedir Khan, Dr. Nurettin Zaza, Dr. Nuri Dersimi, krem Cemilpaşa, Kadri Cemilpaşa, Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou was a Kurdish political leader.Ghassemlou was the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1973 to 1989, when he was assassinated by perpetrators thought to be agents of the Islamic...
, and more.
Works
Qedrîcan was one of the first Kurdish poets to write poetry in the modern Free verseFree verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
style. His poetry is similar to that of Mayakovsky
Vladimir Mayakovsky
Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky was a Russian and Soviet poet and playwright, among the foremost representatives of early-20th century Russian Futurism.- Early life :...
and Nazim Hikmet
Nazim Hikmet
Nâzım Hikmet Ran , commonly known as Nâzım Hikmet , was a Turkish poet, playwright, novelist and memoirist. He was acclaimed for the "lyrical flow of his statements"...
and he promoted socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
through his poetry. In addition to poetry, he also wrote short stories and biographies. Most of his works were published in the Kurdish journals Hawar, Ronahî and Roja Nû.
Stories
- Tayê Pora Sipî, Ronahî Journal, No.3, 1931.
- Hewar hebe, Gazî li dayê, Hawar Journal, No.1, 1932.
- Gundê Nû Ava, Hawar Journal, No.2, 1932.
- Silêman Bedirxan, Hawar Journal, No.3, 1932.
- Hêviya çarde şevî, Hawar Journal, No.6, 1932.
- Gelo newisan, Hawar Journal, No.10, 1933.
- Tabûta bi xwînê, Hawar Journal, No.11, 1933.
- Bihara Dêrikê, Hawar Journal, No.13, 1933.
- Dabê, Hawar Journal, No.14, 1933.
- Sehên zozanan, Ronahî Journal, No.14, 1933.
- Gulçîn, Ronahî Journal, No.16, 1933.
- Guneh, Hawar Journal, No.16, 1933.
- Rojên Derbasbûyî, Hawar Journal, No.52, 1943.
- Sond, Hawar Journal, No.33, 1944.
Poems
- Tabûta bi xwînê, Hawar Journal, No.2, 1932.
- Berdêlk, Hawar Journal, No.6, 1932.
- Hesinker, Hawar Journal, No.7, 1932.
- Di Şorezarekêda, Hawar Journal, No.10, 1933.
- Cegerxwîn, Hawar Journal, No.12, 1933.
- Xewna hişyartî, Hawar Journal, No.13, 1933.
- Dadê, Hawar Journal, No.14, 1933.