İstanbul Kadın Müzesi - Hayriye Melek Hunç

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Hayriye Melek Hunç

First Circassian female writer in the Ottoman Empire

"The greatest kind of courage is not exhibited in war, nor are the greatest victories won in war."

Date of Birth: 1896

Place of Birth: Hacıosman Village, Manyas, Balıkesir

Date of Death: 24/10/1963 24/10/1963

Place of Death: Istanbul

Burial Site: Karacaahmet cemetery, Istanbul

Topics

Gallery

Etkinlik Alanı

Yazar

"The whole of humanity, and especially small nations like Circassians, are going through a difficult, grief-ridden and challenging period. We feel all this difficulty and grief, (. . .) Circassians, who for a hundred years never bowed before Russian Tsardom, have shown the purity and nobility of their heroic character to the world. (. . .) Now, however, another part of the Circassian presence demands a defense. Circassian women, who named their magazine 'Diyane' to spread their views, are concerned that the heroism and enthusiasm demonstrated in war may reach the extent that it undermines other qualities. Circassian women think the greatest kind of courage is not exhibited in war, nor are the greatest victories won in war."
(Hayriye Melek Hunç)
Quoted: jinepsgazetesi.com, (access 6.3.2012)

Hayriye Melek Hunç was the editor of Diyane (Our Mother), a women's magazine published in Turkish and in the Adige language in 1920. She was also editor of Qhuaze (Guide), a newspaper published in Turkish and in the Adige language during 1911-1914.

Seza Polar published the first number of Diyane women's magazine on the 10th of Mach, 1920. Diyane was the official magazine of the Çerkez Kadınları Teavün Cemiyeti (Circassian Women's Solidarity Association) and was published twice a month. One of the first editions of Diyane is in Mehmet Sevket's collection; another copy is in the in the Hakkı Tarık Us Collection, which is currently kept at the Beyazıt State Library in Istanbul.

Mahinur Tuna, a researcher of Diyane, states it is not known how many issues of Diyane were published. The first edition of Diyane has been translated into modern Turkish by Mahinur Tuna and Fikri Tuna and published 2004.
Source: Mahinur Tuna, "Diyane", facebook.com, (access 29.4.2012).

Publications

Zühre-i Elem (Girls of Sorrow), novel, Istanbul, 1910.
Zeynep, novel, Istanbul, 1926.

Awards

(No information available)

Memberships

Çerkes İttihad ve Teavün Cemiyeti (Circassian Unity and Solidarity Association)
Şimali Kafkas Cemiyeti (North Caucasian Association)
Çerkes Kadınları Teavün Cemiyeti Circassian Women's Solidarity Association

Education

Notre Dame de Sion French Girls High School, Istanbul
In addition to Turkish and French, Hayriye Melek Hunç spoke the Adıge, Vubıh and Abkazinan languages.

Contributions to Society

Hayriye Melek Hunç was one of the founders of the Çerkes Kadınları Teavün Cemiyeti (Circassian Women's Solidarity Association) which was established in 1918 in Istanbul and existed until 1922. She was also a president of this association.

Besides Hayriye Melek Hunç, the other the founders of the Circassian Women's Solidarity Association (Çerkes Kadınları Teavün Cemiyeti) were Berzeg Makbule, Zalıko Emine Reşid, Pooh Seza (Seza Polar) and Ulagay Faika.

Family and Friends

Mother: (No information available)
Father: Hunc Kasbolet Bey
Older brother: Ali Sait Akbaytugan (General)
Marriage: Met Çunatuka Yusuf İzzet Paşa, Professor Aytek Namitok (academician)
Friends: Halide Edip Adıvar (writer, politician, academician, translator), Berzeg Makbule, Zalıko Emine Reşid, Seza Polar (editor), Ulagay Faika Hanım, Professor George Dumezil (Caucasianologist)

Commemorative Projects