Bilgel, Nazan (2008), In pursuit of Lost Time (Yitik Zamanların Peşinden), İstanbul: Cinius Yayınları

Şenol Baştürk

Uludag University

In the modern women’s movement and feminism in Turkey, two historical processes can be considered to be of critical value. Firstly, the feminist movement led by highly educated professional women broke its connection with the modernization project compared to the past, and took up a crucial position during the 1980s (Arat, 2005). Secondly, the nostalgia felt towards the early days of the Republic increased from the mid-1990s (Ozyurek, 2008). These two turns can be considered as introducing two types of “women’s arguments’ which could be seen to compete with each other in part. Turkish Feminists who adopted universal patterns of modernism criticism under the influence of the first process adopted a critical attitude against the Turkish modernism and particularly, against the period of foundation while the influence of the second process took a more popular shape against the marginal position of the first one (Arat, 2005). The masses stressed (sometimes exorbitantly) the “liberating” aspects of the idea of “woman” during the early period of the Republic and considered the betrayal of this ideal by the following generations as the basic cause of women’s problems in Turkey.

“Yitik Zamanlarin Pesinden(In pursuit of Lost Times)” can be seen as a novel that covers these two stages as well as their conflicts. In this respect, there may be those who find it inappropriate to use a novel in a social sciences analysis. However, it must be kept in mind that “Yitik Zamanlarin Pesinden (In pursuit of Lost Times)” has such aspects that would go beyond this criticism. The first reason is the fiction technique used in the novel. Even though the protagonist of the novel is fictitious, she forms relationships with other characters in the novel, some of whom are based on real historical figures. Lucy (2003) argued that this semi-fictional relationship established with history is an important feature of contemporary novels. In addition, he thought that the relationships between history, reality and fiction are destroyed to a great extent in these novels. Rather than such a trilateral destruction, explanation of the historical facts through the eyes of a fictional character was preferred in “Yitik Zamanlarin Pesinden(In pursuit of Lost Times)”, the influence of which manifests itself as another advantage for the novel. That is, it becomes a handbook through which the developments in “women’s rights” during the founding of the Republic can be followed.

Julide, who is the protagonist of the novel, loses her mother in the cholera epidemic and her father commits suicide devastated by the loss of his wife. The quick succession of these deaths forces Julide to go and live with her grandfather, Fehim Sevket Pasa, a former military judge (Kazasker) and her grandmother. Rebelling against the female identity imposed on her,,Julide has her hair cut and discourages suitors by her mischievous behavior, expressing her individuality. Her open-minded pasha grandfather supports her even though she is criticized by her grandmother for her unconventionality and insistence on education. After first being tutored at home, she is enrolled in the girls’ junior high school. Although she began her education there enthusiastically, several discouraging events occur, the most important of which is the attack of a crowd of rebels on the school during the 31 March case and the lengthy closure of the school. Despite the obstacles and severe criticisms confronted from time to time, Julide graduates from the junior high school.

Julide must make an important decision at this stage. Despite all the negative views of her environment, Julide wants to continue her education in the field of medicine. It seems miraculous to have such an opportunity under the circumstances of the period when even in the Western world it is a novelty for women to practice medicine. Nonetheless, she applies to Heidelberg and Paris medicine schools with the support of her high school teachers. She is accepted by both of them but cannot fight against the reaction of her grandmother, so undertakes teacher training at Dar’ul Muallimat. While there, Julide becomes withdrawn from family and friends as she engrosses herself in her studies. Furthermore, to make matters worse, Nuzhet, her close relative and a keen supporter of women’s rights, has an affair which is doomed to end in suicide. Julide is deeply influenced by Nuzhet’s eventual submission to social pressures despite her attitudes in favor of women’s rights. This sad event contributes to the clarification of Julide’s thoughts. The second incident which entails the maturing of her idea of women rights again takes place within the family. A distant relative, Raif, who is recuperating at her grandfather’s mansion from a serious illness sustained during the Turco-Italian war enjoys intensive discussions with Julide on matters of westernization and women’s rights. However, Julide is disappointed to realize that he considers this approach as a means towards marriage proposal. This attitude of Raif as a modern officer is an indicator of the fact that it is very difficult to change the social status of women.

Julide starts to campaign for the representation of woman in different areas during her teacher training.. She then goes on to train as a nurse in Hilal-i Ahmer Community and tries to show that women are important during times of war. Developing opinions about women’s rights influence her and she joins in the newly-founded Mudafaa-i Hukuki Nisvan Community. She also begins to work on a journal issued by this association writing articles on women’s problems. During the Great War daily life becomes difficult while the women’s rights movement develops.

However, during the post-war period, it is not possible to teach as a profession and to be indifferent to the difficult political conditions. Julide is at the forefront during the protest demonstrations by women especially after the occupation of Izmir. She has the opportunity to become acquainted with Halide Edip (Adivar) and strengthens her friendship with Sukufe Nihal (Basar), a women’s rights activist and poet. The occupation of Istanbul leads to women’s reactions ro enhance their social standing. During this period, women embark on a struggle which is at least as effective and distressing as that of the men. Julide, who feels sympathy towards the resistant opinions rising in Anatolia, begins to work on a humorous magazine named Ferda, which secretly supports the struggle for independence. Meanwhile, Istanbul witnesses intense conflict against the occupying forces, and Julide becomes an active member of the struggle. The confiscation of her grandfather’s mansion by the occupying forces, followed by his death, leads Julide to decide to go to Anatolia as a nurse.

Julide arrives in Anatolia along with many problems and experiences all the difficulties of war at a field hospital. For a couple of years on different fronts of the national struggle she witnesses traumatic experiences. Then following the liberation of Izmir she returns to Istanbul, where she continues to work for women’s rights. People began to hope for the improvement of women’s rights during the war and afterwards, with the foundation of the Republic. First of all, the new administration has modern ideas, and women have played a very active role in winning the war. Under the influences of these ideas, Julide takes part in the activities for establishing the Women’s People Party under the leadership of Nezihe Muhiddin. However, the Republic period expectations and experiences during the establishment process of this party end in absolute disappointment. First of all, the establishment of the party is prevented by the new government. What is more, many journalists known as progressive and intellectual write mocking and insulting critiques about the Women’s People Party.

Even though the struggle of the movement continues, women are not taken seriously by the rulers of the new period. The activities of the movement to be referred to later as the Women’s Association begin to cover only charities. The consequence of the desires of the leaders of the association to take part in politics in the Republican People’s Party will not be very different from other expectations. Despite all these negative conditions, Julide supports the actions of Nezihe Muhiddin in opening a political platform for women. Meanwhile, serious divisions take place in the association, which ends up with the trial of Nezihe Muhiddin. In time, all the founding leaders break off their connections with the women’s rights movement. Julide is deeply disappointed by Nezihe Muhiddin’s isolation and apologizes to the government in her memoirs in which she referred to her attempts to establish a party. Eventually, Julide loses all hope when her husband, whom she had met during the war, is banished by the new government. As a result, with great grief, she retreats by accepting the secondary role that society has cast for women. The novel ends with the discovery of this entire past by Julide’s grandson. Like the women’s movement and activists in the early Republic Period, Julide’s story will also remain missing and will be noticed belatedly.

The Turkish women’s movement could bring forward important individuals even though it has different description frames. For instance, Cuhadar (2006) mentioned that female leaders such as Nezihe Muhiddin were noticed very late, which is a significant loss. Yitik Zamanlarin Pesinden(In pursuit of Lost Times) could be described as a novel which comprehends the unnoticed history both with its richness and in a critical way. Bilgel mentioned the purpose in the epigraph as “reading and understanding of those deceived with the false pledge of liberation”.

Arat, Yeşim (2005), “Türkiye’de Modernleşme Projesi ve Kadınlar”, Türkiye’de Modenleşme ve Ulusal Kimlik (der. S. Bozdoğan, R. Kasaba), İstanbul: Tarih Vakfı Yurt Yayınları

Çuhadar, Bahar (2006), “Geçte Olsa Tanıştık”, Radikal Kitap, 15.09.2006

Lucy, Niall (2003), Postmodern Edebiyat Kuramı (çev. A. Aksoy), İstanbul: Ayrıntı Yayınları

Özyürek, Esra (2008), Modernlik Nostaljisi: Kemalizm, Laiklik ve Gündelik Hayatta Siyaset (çev. F.B. Aydar), İstanbul: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Yayınları