Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism

The Most Famous Figures of The City

Celal Ada (1963) : Celal Ada, born in Adana, won more than 20 madals in taekwondo. One in Europe in 1982, he got the third place in International Belgium Tournament in 1984, he got the first place in Belgium Tournament in 1985 and he got the second place in Yugoslavia and Cyprus Tournaments. 

Akşemseddin (1390-1459) : His real name is Mehmet Şemsettin. He was born in 1390. He was the religious scholar and a doctor of Ottoman Empire. He was the student of Hacı Bayram Veli and he was the caliph of Bayramilik Tariqah. He worked as a teacher in İzmir an Göynük. He served in İstanbul conquest upon Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s desire with his friend Akbıyık Abdullah. He played a great role to increase the power of Turkish Army. He got a great fame after he had found the grave of Eyyüb Sultan. He died in Göynük.

Aşıkpaşa  (1270–1333) : He was grown up with the education of Sufism. He was a sufi and folk poet. He wrote his pieces in Turkish and he is famous for his piece Garipname which has twelve thousand verses. He was influenced by Yunus Emre and Mevlana in his poems. His grave is in Kırşehir.  

Âşık Paşazade (1392–1484) :He was born in Elvan Çelebi village in 1392. His real name is Derviş Ahmet. He is the grandson of Aşık Paşa. He lived during the period Sultan Çelebi Mehmet and he participated in the wars of that time. With his Tevarih-i Al-i  Osman , which he started to write in 1484, he is the vivid witness of Ottoman history. He became famous with his “Aşık Paşazade History” . 

Mahmut Atalay – (1934-2004) : Çorum – He was born in Cemilbey. He started wrestling in 1952. His coaches were Adil Candemir, Celal Atik, Nasuh Akar , Halit Balamir.

1959 – The champion of Beirut Lebanon Mediterranean  Games– Free Style 73 kilos

1963 – The champion of İstanbul Türkiye Balkan Games  - Free Style – 70 kilos

1963- The champion of Napoli İtaly Mediterranean  Games – Free Style - 73 kilos

1963- The fourth place in Sofia Bulgaria – Free Style 70 kilos

1964- The fourth place in Tokyo Japan Olympic Games – Free Style – 70 kilos

1967- The champion of Balkans in Yanbolu – Free Style – 78 kilos

1965- The second place of the world in Machester England – 70 kilos

1968- The second place of Europe in Kalsruhe Germany – Free Style- 78 kilos

1966- The champion of the world in Toledo USA – Free Style- 78 kilos

1969- The second place of Europe in İstanbul Türkiye- Free Style – 78 kilos

1967- The fourth place of the world in New Delhi India – Free Style- 78 kilos

1970 – The first place in Mexico City Olympics – Free Style – 78 kilos 

He had more than 150 matches and the became a champion 18 times in Türkiye. He trained the national team. Chest Cross, Underarm holding are the techniques he used. Atalay, who  was married and he had three children, was a tradesman. He died on 5th December, 2004.

Nazmi Avluca (1975) : He was born in Kargı, Çorum. He started wrestling in 1987 in Bolu Wrestling Training Center. He continued in TEDAŞ sports club. His trainers were Rıza Doğan, Güner Yıldız, Aydın Dal, Bilal Tabur, Mehmet Acak

1991- Seventh place of the world  in Alma Canada - Greco-Roman wrestling 51 kilos

1992- First place of the world in İstanbul Türkiye - Greco-Roman wrestling 60 kilos

1994- First place of Europe in İstanbul Türkiye - Greco-Roman wrestling 74 kilos

1994- Second place of the world  in Hungary - Greco-Roman wrestling 74 kilos

1995- Third place of the world in Iran - Greco-Roman wrestling 74 kilos

1996- First place of the Europe in Budapest  Hungary- Greco-Roman wrestling 74 kilos

1997- Sixth place of the world in Warsaw Poland - Greco-Roman wrestling 76 kilos

1998- Third place of Europe in Minsk Belarus - Greco-Roman wrestling 76 kilos

1998- Third place of the world in Gavle Sweden - Greco-Roman wrestling 76 kilos

1999- Champion of the world in Athens Greece - Greco-Roman wrestling 76 kilos

2001 – The third place of Europe in İstanbul Türkiye - Greco-Roman wrestling 76 kilos 

He still goes on wrestling in İstanbul Emlakbank Sports Club. 

Yusufu Bahri (?-1828): He began his education in Amasya. He got his madrasa (educational institution) diploma in İstanbul and he continued his education in Egypt. He came to Çorum in 1785 and he married to a girl from Seydimoğlu family. He settled down in Çorum. He is an important poet and scholar of prophet’s sayings. He has 78 books which he wrote and copy himself in the handwriting section of Hasan Paşa Kütüphanesi. It is thought that 53 of these boks were compiled by Yusuf Bahri. 

İsmail Beşikçi (1939): Researcher writer. After he had graduated from Faculty of Political Science and he started to work as an sociology assistant in Atatürk University. He worked on ethnical and economical form of Eastern Anatolia. Beşikçi , who was dismissed due to his political thoughts , was arrested during 12th March period. He was released in 1974. He stayed in prison for his publishes. His major pieces are : Alteration and Structural Conflicts In East, The Structural System of East, The Opinions On Kurdish Intellectuals, State Democracy and Kurdish Conflict .

Dr. Mustafa Cantekin (1878–1955): Mustafa Cantekin, a doctor and a politician, was born in 1878 in Çorum. While he was studying in İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, he was expelled to Damascus in order to prison him in a fortress because of the fact that he was related to politics. He founded Association of Nation and Independence with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with whom he met in Damascus.He came back to İstanbul after the Second Constitutional to be able to graduate from the Faculty of Medicine.He was in the first parliament as the Kırşehir representative. He stayed in the parliament continuously until 1950. While he was in parliament, he also worked as the head doctor of Afyon Military Hospital.  

Tuncer Cücenoğlu (1944) : Playwright. He graduated from the Ankara University  Faculty of Foreign Languages , History and Geography. He worked in Ministry of Education between 1964-1983. The plays that he wrote was staged by State Theatres, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres and private theatres. The plays Çıkmaz Sokak, Kadıncıklar, Dosya and Kördüğüşü were staged in different countries , as well. His pieces were awarded. His masterpieces are Kördüğüşü, Öğretmen, Kadıncıklar , Dosya ,Çıkmaz Sokak and Biga 1920. 

Elvan Çelebi (?-?) : He is the Turkish Ancestor, whose name was given to the village which is in Çorum Mecitözü Town. His father is the famous Aşıkpaşa.”Menakıb-ül Kudsiyye is the only book which reflects his and his grandfathers’ sufist Works. As a sincere person  he lit a candle  around him. Elvan Çelebi built a mosque, a tomb for him near the mosque , a lodge and Turkish bath.  

Âşık HüseyinÇırakman (1930):He was born in the village of Körkü which is started to be administered by Çorum Sungurlu. He graduated  the primary school. He was a farmer and he learned how to play the saz (a Turkish stringed instrument). He worked as construction worker. He settled in Ankara. He worked as a servant in radiohouse but he couldn’t stand the conditions. He participated in Hacı Bektaşi Veli commemoration. He read “Hoş geldiniz Erenler” which everybody liked a lot. He was one of the founders of Cultural Association of folk poets. Hüseyin Çırakman, who is from an alaouite  family and first kept his folk literature traditon , changed his style and content of the poems later. He reflected the individual, social problems and situations in a very realistic and populist way. He defended Kemalism, modernization, peace , nation and country love. He was against degeneration and uncivilization. He wrote a book with his poems. His published pieces are :   Hüseyin Çırakmans life and his sayings (1956)  God Helps Every Worshipper, You Keep Going To Your School (1963) , Welcome Saints (1969) , Our Voice ( 1973) ,  Folk Poets Who Are The Voice of People (1975).

Fazıl Hayati Çorbacıoğlu (1925–1990): Playwright. He became famous with Pirinç Mangal in Ankara Radio. His many plays such as Hamide Kaçırıldı, Kabzımal Cemile, Erkek Satı, Koca Sinan, Satılık Şapka were staged in İstanbul theatres. He has another piece named The Technique How To Write Radio Play. 

Gürkan Çoşkun (1941):Gürkan Coşkun, who is known as Komet in the field of art , studied in İDGSA Painting Department between 1960-1967. The artist who settled in Paris in 1971,  has been working in Paris and İstanbul since then. Gürkan Coşkun who opened his first personal exhibition in 1974 in France Rouen, has been participating in the famous exhibitions such as “New Realistics”, “Salon de Mai”  in France, Sweden, Austria and the USA. His pieces took place in special collections abroad and in Türkiye ( İstanbul, Ankara, Paris, Vienna, Lozan and Copenhagen) In Komet’s pictures, fantasy and reality, dream and experiences are all together.  

Şahinkaya Dil (1931): Poet. His poems were published in various magazines. In 1955, he published a new magazine called Çağdaş. His master poetry books are : Mısra Mısra, Seni Yaşamak, Alaca Soluk, Ebem Kuşağı, Işık Çığlığı 

Ebuss’ud Efendi (1490–1574): He was the son of sheikh Muhiddin Yavsi. He was educated by sheikh Muhiddin Yavsi and the great Turkish Scholar İbni Kemal. He was appointed as the İnegöl Madrasah teacher. In 1527, he became the fourteenth sheikh ul-islam of Ottoman Empire after working as  an İstanbul Kadi. He played a great role in preparing the laws of Kanuni which organized the state. Having worked as a sheikh ul-islam for 29 years ,he died.  

İsmet Eker (1877–1962): Politician. Eker who involved in Union and Progress Party  , worked as the representative of Çorum in First World War. On 29th October 1923 when republic was announced, he presided the parliament and provided the law to be approved in one session. İsmet Eker who was the representative between 1914 and 1950 continuously. When he died in 1962, he was buried in his village Bayat.

Ahmet Feyzi (1839–1909): He graduated İstanbul Beyazıt Madrasah. He worked as a judge and mufti. He established a library in Çorum which has 6112 books. Ehadis-i Mevzuat,  Redd-i Batıl,  Risalei Müntehebat,  Tahrir-i Mantık,  Şerh-i Kafiye,  Kanunu Arazi are the pieces he wrote in the field of religion, law, literature and logic. The number of the books which Ahmet Fevzi wrote is 287 and they are in Hasan Paşa Library.  

Ahmet Hamoğlu (1946): He was born in 1946, Çorum. He graduated from Haydarpaşa High School and he started his business life in brick sector. He founded Volkan 1,2 and 3 brick factories. In 1989, he opened Silivri Classis Hotel. He founded Klassis Golf and Country Club where the Golf World Championship was held. In 1996, he opened Maxi Shopping in İstanbul and one year later in Tekirdağ. Hamoğlu , still the head of Hamoğlu Holding Administrative Board, serves in tourism and industry sectors.  

Hasan Paşa (Yedi-Sekiz Hasan Paşa) (1831–1902):He was born in Çorum Gülalibey Quarter. He was the guard in Beşiktaş in the period of Abdülhamit. In Sultan Abdülaziz period he became a commander. His name was changed into Hasan Bey. After a while, he became a general. He made a good job in Caucasian   front in  Ottoman-Russian War.  He built the clock tower and repaired Hıdırlık Mosque which was damaged during the earthquake.He founded a library which was named with his name. The project to bring the Sağmaca water to Çorum was first mentioned in his time. 

Bedri Karafakioğlu (1915 – 1978): Scientist . He studied telecommunication in France after he had graduated İstanbul Senior Engineer School. In 1939, he was an associate professor and in 1948 he became a professor. He was elected as the member of constitutional assembly. He worked as the President of İstanbul Technical University and Dean of Electricity Faculty.He founded the ITU Television which is regarded as the core of İstanbul TV. 

Tevfik Kış (1934): He was born in Pelitçik village which is in the district of  Çorum Kargı. He started wrestling in 1956.

1959- Second place in İstanbul Türkiye - Greco-Roman wrestling- Free Style 87 kilos

1959- First Place in Beirut Lebanon - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style 87 kilos.

1960- First Place in Roma Olypic Games - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style 87 kilos.

1961- Fourth place of the world in Yokohama Japan - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style 87 kilos.

1962- First place of world in Toledo USA - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style 87 kilos

1963- First place of world in Helsinki Finlad- Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style- 87 kilos

1965 – The fourth place of the world  in Tampera Finland - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style – 87 kilos.

1966- The second place of the world  in Toledo USA- Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style – 87 kilos

1966- First place of Europe in Essen Germany - Greco-Roman wrestling Free Style 87 kilos

1967- Fifth place of Europe in Minsk Soviet Union - Greco-Roman wrestling 87 kilos

His famous techniques are suplex, waist plays. He quit wrestling in 1968. He was a coach in national team, he was also a director in Wrestling Federation. He is the director of Turkish Wrestling Foundation which he established. He is married and has two kids. He is now a tradesman and lives in Ankara. 

Koyunbaba:His real name is Seyit Ali. It is claimed that he is the 7.son of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Hz. Huseyin and 12th son of Ali Rıza. He was born in Khorassan. He is a legendary Saint. His life was mentioned in legends.

 According to Evliya Çelebi, he is the khalif of Hacı Bektaşi Veli. His grave is in a tomb which has his name in Osmancık. 

Sait Maden (1932):Painter, writer. After he had graduated Fine Arts Academy he worked as a graphic artist. He published his poems and interpretations in magazines such as İstanbul, Varlık, Gösteri. He collected his poems in an antology called Poem Temple.  

Kul Mustafa: He was born in 17th century in Çorum and lived here. He was a minstrel. He wrote on various subjects. These are available in poem books randomly. The epics he wrote on killing of the empire Osman II. are really attractive. These epics tell about the war between the people from Çorum leaded by the officer Kurdoğlu Süleyman and undisciplined group of people in Düvenci plain. 

Aycan Önel (1933): Aycan Önel, born in Çorum, started athletism in 1946. She broke Türkiye record in 1948 when he raced in 80-meter-hurdle race. She also broke Türkiye record in 100 meter, 200 meter, long jump, throwing bar shot, discus throw, pentathlon. He wore the national uniform for a long time and he became the captain of national team. 

Baltacı Mehmet Paşa (1660–1712): He became famous after the Prut War in 1711. He joined the army at a very young age and he managed to start to serve in the palace. He became the vizier first and he became the head vizier during the Ahmet III. He died when he was in exile in Lemnos Island. 

Şekip Şahadoğru (1932): He was born in Evci Village which is in the district of Çorum. He graduated primary school and quit his education. He worked as a farmer until 1970. He learned to play saz. He started to utter sayings while playing. He settled in Çorum in 1970. He found a suitable environment here in order to develop his poetry. Some minstrels joined his meetings. Ali and Ehl-iBeyt are the main subject of his poems with the idea of reaching the god with person’s nobility, maturity, and saintness.These pieces haven’t been published yet. 

Salim Uslu (1955):He was born in Çorum Alaca. He worked in private and state sectors after finishing high school He started to deal with union activity with the establishment of Hak-İş. He worked in various jobs.He was the general education secretary of Hak-İş Union and Öz Gıda İş Union between 1980-1995. After 3rd December 1995, he worked both as the president of Hak İş Union and Öz Gıda İş Union. He is the member of International Economical Relationship Association, EU- Türkiye Joint Consultative Committee on Economic and Social Council , Solidarity Trade Union Council of Türkiye-Eurasia , Executive board of the European Trade Union Confederation , Economic and Social Council . He has two books named “ The First of May with its all aspects” and “ Modern Union Concept”  

Mehmet Yaldız (1951):He was born on 27th July 1951 in Çorum. He graduated primary and secondary school here. He did a degree in Hacettepe university and he did his master’s degree in Arts History. He started to work as the section manager of Karatay Museum which is administered by Ministry of Culture and Tourism Directorate of Museums in Konya. He worked as an assistant in İznik Museum. He worked in the two sessions of Roman Theatre excavations. He worked in various museums in Türkiye. He worked in Perge Museum ,1998; in Fethiye Ships (Saint Nicholas) Island, 2000 ; and in Alanya Castle Excavations , 2001. He made many researches related to his job and his education. Some  of his articles, poems and writings were published in Yapıt, Dönemeç, Oluşum, Ankara Sanat, Yeni Halkçı Yeni Binyıl, Culture Magazine published by Ministry of Culture, Ana Britannica, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Almanac.  

Şeyh Muhittin Yavsi (?-1516): His father is brother of Ali Kuşçu who is known as the mathematician astronomer of Ottoman Lecturers. Born in İskilip, Yahşi continued his education in Amasya and İstanbul. He was the teacher of Amasya Governor Beyazit II and he became a sheikh during his period. He died in 1516 in İskilip and was buried in the garden of Şeyh Yavsi Mosque. Şeyh Muhittin Yavsi , father of Ebüssuud Efendi, has many pieces. 

Soner Yalçın: He was born in 1966. Soner Yalçın, originally from Çorum, started to work as a journalist in the magazine of “2000’e Doğru”. Then, he started to work in the newspaper of Aydınlık until 1995. He served in instutions such  as Siyah Beyaz Newspaper, Show TV, Star TV. He worked as the editorial director in Sabah. Soner Yalçın, whose articles were published in foreign newspapers and who contributed some domestic and foreign documantaries, still works for CNN.  

His Pieces: Efendi, Bay Pipo, Beco, Memories of Behçet Necati, Confessions of Major Ersever, Reis, Teşkilatın İki Silahşörü, The Özal Bir Davanın Öyküsü, Hangi Erbakan, Beyaz Müslümanların Büyük Sırrı Efendi 2. 

İskilipli Atıf Hoca: (1876–1926):  Atıf Hoca was born in İskilip Tophane. He finished his primary eduation in the village of Tophane. He finished his madrasa education in İstanbul, 1893. He started Darü’s Fünun Faculty of Theology in 1902. When he graduated, he preached as Ders-i Amm in Fatih Mosque. He was expelled to Sinop after the 31st March Case. He was sent to Sungurlu from Sinop but he was released after announcing he was mistakenly captured. When The Greek first occupied İzmir, the first reaction was made by means of the Community of Teal-i İslam which he founded. Anatolia that recovered after a short while was able to get rid of the people who were named as the foreigners. His mother is Lady Nazlı who is from Ben-i Hattap Clans and immigrated from Mecca. Mehmet Atıf ,who orphaned when he was only 6 months old , was grown up by Hasan Kethüda. He was executed on 4th February, 1926.  

Hıfzı Veldet Velidedeoğlu (1904–1992):One of the contemporary writers, Veldet Velidedeoğlu graduated Trabzon High School. He graduated Faculty of Law.He worked as a secretary in the first parliament which was founded on 23rd April, 1920. He did his phd in France. He lectured in İstanbul University Faculty of Law until 1975. He became an ordinarius. He wrote weekly in Cumhuriyet. He rewrote Atatürk’s Speech. He was honored as the Best Lecturer of All Times.He died in 1992.  

Nihat Nikerel: He was born in 1950. Though he has been staying in İstanbul since the year of 1966,  he is originally from Çorum. Between the years of 1972 and 1976, he went on a long and worldwide tour. He became a member of cinema in 1985 by writing a story. With the serios of “Sıcak Saatler” series in which Mehmet Aslantuğ and Arzum Onan performed and with the role of Seyfo Dayı in the series of “Kurtlar Vadisi” , he became one of the favourite actors of many people. He has some writings in magazines and newspapers. He has 4 books.   

Koca Mehmet Paşa (? —1439): He worked as the head of viziers for 12 years during  Sultan Murat II. Koca Mehmet Paşa is from Osmancık. His father is Hızır Danişmend. His birth date is not known for sure. He became the governor of Anatolia in 1415. Upon Murat II’s came on power, he became the head of viziers. His and his family members’ graves are in the mosque which he was built in Osmancık. 

Abdülkadir (Kara Müftü) : He is from the family which is called Emir Ahmet in Çorum. After he had completed his education in İstanbul, he came back to Çorum and he worked as the mufti for 40 years in Çorum. Because of his dark skin, he was named as the Black Mufti. His personal library is in Çorum Hasan Paşa Library. 

Nur’ul Hüda : He is the sixth son of Akşemseddin. He died in the house in Evlik village where Akşemseddin lived for a while. The mosque and the fountain which were built on behalf of Nur’ul Hüda who was known as the miracle worker. 

Şeyhülislam Sanullah Efendi (H 960–1021): He is the son of Kazasker (a military judge) Cafer Efendi. He was born 960 AN. He started to work as a lecturer in military. He worked as kadi (muslim judge) in Bursa, Edirne and İstanbul. First he became the Anatolian Kazasker then he became the Rumelian Kazasker. He became sheikh ul-islam  during the period of Mehmet III. He died in 1021 an.His grave is in İstanbul. He was famous for his scientific studies and pieces. 

Kara Halil Efendi (1804–1880):He was born in Mecitözü. After completing his education in Amasya , Konya and İstanbul, he worked as a lecturer, Foundations Inspector and Fatwa Officer. He became a senator and then he became a sheikh ul-islam. He died in 1880, İstanbul. 

DEDEMOĞLU (XVll. yy.): He was born in Çorum Sungurlu Araf Village. He is a minstrel His pieces are Dürr-i Meknun and Yüzname. 

AŞIK GÜLABİ (1950): Folk poet. He was born on 1st January, 1950 in Çorum Sungurlu Çayan Village. His real name is Gültekin but he is known as Aşık Gülabi due to the fact that he took the pen name of Gülabi. He started to play saz (turkish stringed instrument) after the age of 15. His instrument information starts and continues during the period in which minstrels walk from village to village giving concerts in village rooms. Gülabi started to play reed after he had come to Çayan village and listened to singers playing saz. Aşık Gülabi still lives in İstanbul and he deals with the textile trade.