Numan Celebicihan

Numan Çelebicihan (1885-1918) is one of the most popular Crimean Tatar leaders of all time. He was the first President of the short-lived independent Crimean Tatar Republic, established on November 26 (December 9 under the Gregorian Calendar), 1917. In January 1918, just barely two months after he was elected to lead his nation at the historic Kurultay of the Crimean Tatar people, the Bolshevik forces invaded Crimea. He was arrested and imprisoned in Sevastopol. On February 23, a firing squad of the Black Sea Fleet executed him and threw his body into the sea. The Crimean Tatar nation continues to mourn the brutal murder of its promising young leader at the age of 33, who was a lawyer, an elected Muftu (Muslim jurist) of Crimea, and also an accomplished poet and writer.

Numan Çelebicihan (or Çelebi Cihan) was born in 1885, in the village of Buyuk Sonak, in Congar region of Crimea. His father's name was Ibrahim Çelebi, a member of a well to do Crimean Tatar family. His mother also was from a well to do family, daughter of Cihansah Çelebi. He received his early education in his village. Afterwards, due to lack of opportunity, Çelebicihan was sent to Gulumbey Medrese, one of the well known medreses of that time, with the help of his uncles. Later on he was sent to Istanbul to further his education.

Numan Çelebicihan arrived in Istanbul in 1908. He attended Vefa Lisesi (High School) and later Law School. He resided in Karagumruk section of Istanbul where a small group of Crimean Tatar students lived. One of the first organizations he founded, while a student in Istanbul, was "Yaş Tatar Yazgiclar Ciyini" (Young Tatar Writers' Association). He founded this association with his friend Habibullah Temircan in 1910, and published his first literary works such as Karilgaclar Duasi (Swallows' Prayer), Altin Yarik (Golden Light) and Siirler Cunku (Collection of Poems). He was one of the original founders of "Crimean Tatar Student Association" and also "Vatan" (Homeland), which became the seed for the political organization "Milli Firka" to carry on the independent movement in Crimea during the most turbulent period in its history.

After graduating from Law School, Çelebicihan returned to Crimea to get involved in the independence movement, and was elected to represent the Or region of Crimea in the upcoming historical Crimean Tatar Kurultay. He was one of the most popular delegates because of his young age and education he received in Istanbul. Soon during the historic opening of the Kurultay on November 26, 1917, Numan Çelebicihan was elected the first president of the young Crimean Republic.

Çelebicihan was not only the first president of the independent Crimean Republic and Mufti of Crimea, he was also an accomplished poet and writer. In addition to his aforementioned works, his poems such as Ant Etkemen (I've Pledged), Bastirik (Prison), Haygidi... (Oh for...), Savlikman Kal Tatarlik! (Farewell Tatarness!), Yolcu Garip (Poor Traveler), and Tilkiden Selam (Greetings from the Fox) are his most popular poems. Ant Etkemen became so popular that it became the lyrics of the Crimean Tatar national anthem, and according to Sevki Bektore (another popular Crimean Tatar poet), "... was sung for the first time during the historic Kurultay (1917)...." His most memorable poem, however, is Savlikman Kal Tatarlik, which he scribbled on the walls of Akmescit (Simferopol) train station on his way to report to military service during World War I.

For additional information on Numan Çelebicihan and his poetry, please check the web site of International Committee for Crimea.

See also