Özdemir Asaf

Özdemir Asaf (11 June 1923, Ankara – 28 January 1981, Istanbul) was one of the prominent Turkish poets during the early Republican period.

Biography

Life He was born on 11 June 1923 in Ankara. His real name is Halit Özdemir Arun. His father, Mehmet Asaf, is one of the founders of the Council of State. In 1930, the year his father died, he entered the first part of Galatasaray High School. In 1941, in the 11th grade, he went to Kabataş High School for Boys with an additional exam and graduated in 1942. He attended the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics (until the 3rd grade), and the Faculty of Journalism for one year. Meanwhile, he worked for Tanin and Zaman newspapers and made translations.

Career His first article published in Servet-i Fünun (Uyanış) magazine. He is founder of Sanat Basımevi (1951) and published his books under the name of Yuvarlak Masa Yayınları. He became one of the founders of the Temel Hakları Yaşatma Derneği (Fundamental Rights Survival Association), which was founded in 1962 under the leadership of Mehmet Ali Aybar.

Together with Attila İlhan, he was the most loved poet of the literary matinees, which was the favorite activity of the 1950s.