WHEN my dear friend Dr. Khalil Toker asked this question, “Farooq Bhai, shall we watch a film?”, I was taken aback.
Those who know him understand that Dr. Toker is a serious scholar and writer — so much so that even fiction has to strive to capture his attention. Against this background, his invitation to a movie was surprising indeed. This happened last week when, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement, “Turkiye Week” was being celebrated across Pakistan.
The month of October holds great significance in Turkiye’s national history. During World War I, the imperial powers dismantled the Ottoman Empire and occupied Istanbul, threatening Turkiye’s independence. Under Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s leadership, the national army fought courageously, defeating colonial forces. The 1915 Battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli) dealt a decisive blow to the Allies and on 29 October 1923, Ataturk declared Ankara the capital of the newly founded Republic of Turkiye. This day is celebrated by our Turkish brothers with pride and grandeur. It was against this historic backdrop that Dr. Khalil Toker invited me to watch a film.
The film The Last Letter — a moving story of courage and love centred on Salih, a brave pilot of the Ottoman Air Force — left a deep impression on me. Having spent considerable time in Turkiye, I often visited Istanbul’s lively İstiklal Avenue, always teeming with tourists and cultural vibrancy. Amid its bustling streets, Turkish film posters stood prominently, reminiscent of the golden days of our own cinema. I once noticed a film titled Baba Mirası, which sparked curiosity — do Turks also have “Miraasis”? Later, I learned that mirası in Turkish means inheritance, not our traditional genealogists or storytellers. Our own Miraasi, once the revered keeper of family genealogies and memories, has sadly faded from the social prestige he once commanded.
But I digress. Observing Turkish movie posters along İstiklal Street had led me to assume that Turkish films resembled ours. Perhaps that view would have changed if I had watched one in Turkiye, but I never had the chance. Now, years later, at Dr. Toker’s invitation, I finally saw a Turkish film — and realized that the country’s cinema has reached such technical and artistic excellence that even Hollywood could feel humbled. The experience brought double joy: first, the film’s outstanding quality; second, the Prime Minister’s decision to celebrate Turkiye Week — without which I might never have seen it.
Some months earlier, on a pleasant winter evening, Dr. Khalil Toker had hosted a dinner for two guests: my esteemed friend Professor Dr. Yousuf Khushk and myself. Dr. Toker heads the Pakistan branch of the Yunus Emre Institute, Turkiye’s cultural organization. Pakistan is not foreign to him — he is not only the son-in-law of this land but also a devoted son of Urdu. Over the past 35 to 40 years, he has enriched Urdu literature through his numerous works. The author of more than thirty books, he even compiled the first grammar of the Hindko language.
Thus, whether in Turkiye or Pakistan, he has never been a stranger to us. Yet, since he is here on an official assignment, both he and we shared a quiet sense of loss — the awareness that when he eventually leaves, the cultural vibrancy his presence brings may fade. That sentiment made that dinner unforgettable, for it was during that evening’s conversation that the idea was born: to establish an organization dedicated to deepening Pakistan–Turkiye friendship and cultural ties.
Though the idea lingered for some time, progress was slow. Dr. Yousuf Khushk’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai University in Khairpur rekindled the urgency. The circle of consultation expanded, bringing together distinguished colleagues including Khurshid Ahmad Nadeem, Dr. Mujeeb Memon, Dr. Zahid Majeed, Naeema Fatima Alvi, Dr. Muhammad Kamran and Dr. Sadaf Naqvi. With unanimous consent, the DOST — Pakistan-Turkiye Friendship Forum — was founded. Its establishment was announced on October 30 at an international conference held at Allama Iqbal Open University in collaboration with the Yunus Emre Institute as part of Turkiye Week celebrations. The event drew teachers and students from various universities and colleges of Islamabad.
The week’s festivities were vibrant and well-attended. With the support of the PNCA, a concert of Turkish music was held, while The Last Letter was screened as part of the program. At Lok Virsa, dancers performed Horon, the famous folk dance of the Black Sea region. In Turkiye, every region has its own traditional dances reflecting its distinct culture and rhythm. Watching them, one grasps the meaning of harmony in cultural expression — and Horon stands out as the most spirited of all.
Turkiye Week proved successful and splendid in every respect. Pakistanis and their Turkish brothers celebrated it together with remarkable enthusiasm. Along with six art exhibitions in Islamabad, additional ones were held at Khairpur and Karachi universities. Guests were treated to authentic Turkish coffee. Behind all this activity was the driving energy of the Yunus Emre Institute, under the tireless leadership of Dr. Khalil Toker.
Recently, Dr. Irfan Nazir Oglu assumed office as Turkiye’s ambassador to Islamabad. All Turkish ambassadors are known for their dynamism, but Dr. Oglu’s people-centred approach has infused new vitality into the Turkish Embassy’s outreach. As a result, the festivities were not confined to the federal capital alone — even distant regions like Khairpur witnessed their lively glow. Until now, we were used to seeing the legendary Bosphorus Bridge illuminated in Pakistan’s colours on our national days. This year, however, it felt as though the entire Pakistan was bathed in the radiant hues of Turkiye.
—This writer is former advisor to the President of Pakistan, author & mass media theorist.
(farooq.adilbhuta@gmail,com)
