Today in History – 19 February

Halkevleri (People’s Houses) are opened

Halkevleri (People’s Houses) were opened on February 19, 1932 to help build a fresh society in the Turkish Republic, which was established as a nation state. Initially inaugurated at fourteen centers (Afyon, Ankara, Bolu, Bursa, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Eskişehir, İzmir, Konya, Malatya, Samsun, and Aydın), the primary objective of the Halkevleri was to introduce to the public the values of the Republic and have them be embraced by the people in order to create and organize a secular and modern society.

In his opening address at the inauguration, Prime Minister İsmet İnönü summarized this objective of the Halkevleri as follows:

We believe that institutions such as the Halkevleri are far more effective than any guns, coercion, or force. A nation and a national life united by the same ideas shall bring us greatness and strength. That is mower powerful than any weapon.

Hence, the first article of the bylaws of the Halkevleri read:

This is a place of gathering and work for those who feel the same love for their country in their hearts and minds with a passion for progress. Members and non-members of the Party alike, the doors of the Halkevleri are open to all people.

Important endeavors were achieved from 1932 to 1951 during which the Halkevleri were actively in operation. Working in nine major fields including language-literature, fine arts, theater, sports, social aid, public courses, libraries and publications, village operations, history, and museums, the Halkevleri were shut down in 1951 when the Democrat Party was in power.