İsmet İnönü’s letter to Behçet Kemal Çağlar
During his time as opposition leader, İsmet İnönü was injured by a stone thrown at him in Uşak on May 1, 1959. Following this unfortunate incident, renowned poet Behçet Kemal Çağlar wrote the poem, “Shove that Stone!” that condemned the perpetrator. The government of the period terminated Behçet Kemal Çağlar’s contract at İstanbul Radio. After the poet’s expulsion, İsmet İnönü sent the following letter to Behçet Kemal Çağlar on May 13th:
Dear Behçet Kemal Çağlar,
They have robbed you of your position at the radio because of me. I am devastated. This incident alone attests to the open protection of the biggest offenders. Your personal income is also affected by this incident. I have not done you any favors in my life. I am therefore further embarrassed by the grief I have caused.
I lovingly kiss your eyes my dear brother.
Behçet Kemal Çağlar replied to İnönü as follows:
My Dear Pasha,
I received one of the most meaningful letters of my life from you. Am I not a citizen of a country you rescued with Atatürk, a member of the generation you brought out of World War Two without so much as a nosebleed? What more could you have done for me? I thought; however, that you would have known me better. You put your head out for our cause…I put my salary on the stake–is that too much? Is patriotism in your monopoly my dear Pasha?
I kiss your hands.
