SOVIET IDEOLOGICAL-POLITICAL THOUGHT IN CRIMEAN TATAR LITERATURE

The founders of a new direction in Crimean Tatar literature-Abdurrahim Altanli, Ziyaddin Javtobeli, Omer Ipchi, Jafar Gaffar, Irgat Kadir, Ashraf Shemizade, Kerim Jamanakli, and others-entered the literary scene after 1920, vividly reflecting the enthusiasm of socialist construction in their works. The traditional forms of poetry and prose were enriched with new socialist content. Among these, A. Latifzade’s “Mujde”, O. Ipchi’s “The Sea”, I. Kadir’s “Irgat’s Memoir”, Z. Javtobeli’s “Red Dawn and Komsomol Song”, and Ilyas Tarkhan’s “We Are Young Sailors” were examples of socialist-themed works. However, representatives of the older generation could not accept the newly imposed conditions-writing according to state orders. For instance, when the poet Cemil Kermenchikli was asked why he remained silent and was not writing, he replied:

“I do not have a red pen to write what you want.” (4, 85).

             With the establishment of Soviet power in Crimea, new newspapers and journals emerged. In 1926, A. Ozenbashlı’s “The Crimean Tragedy” was published, followed by Bekir Çobanzade’s “Storm” poetry collection in 1927. H.Geraybey’s journalistic poems were published. Ömer Ipçi also made significant contributions to prose and drama (4.85).

            During World War II, young and talented prose writers such as M. Dibaq, A. Dermanci, P. Tincherov, S. Alyadin, R. Murad, and others entered the Crimean Tatar literary scene. M. Dibaq’s stories “Concert” and “Ferat”, R. Tincherov’s novel “The Shovketovs”, Y. Polad’s stories and the first part of his novel “Alim”, as well as the short stories of S. Alyadin, were published in the press (7).

After the Crimean Turks were exiled to Turkestan in 1944, their literature was almost entirely suppressed. Only after Stalin’s death, when Crimean Turks began returning to their homeland, did Crimean Tatar literature start to flourish again.