VIEW OF THE OTTOMAN AND MUSLIM WORLD FROM THE TRAVNIK CHRONICLE AND KADI KOSE NOVEL

TRAVNİK GÜNLÜĞÜ VE KADI KÖSE ADLI ROMANLARIN PENCERESİNDEN OSMANLI-MÜSLÜMAN DÜNYASINA BAKIŞ

Abstract

Bosnia, deriving from the word 'Bos' which means river in Ilir language, has been the cradle of many civilizations throughout history. Balkans' geography where different nations as well as religious beliefs unite is rich in terms of culture; therefore, this cultural richness engendered wars and conflicts. Even though the Balkan Peninsula belongs to the European continent, it has never been been considered to be a part of Europe and it has always been scouted as the 'backyard' of Europe. Moreover, having been set as a transitory route between East and West, Balkans are known to be the land where cultural transition is at most. Balkans' geography where many contrasts coexist has been the inspiration for several literary works with the conflicts and differences it generated. Literary works are the documents that best reflect the change or transformation in the lives of nations. They shed light on the cultural, religious and social lives of the societies in which they are produced. Bosnian writer Ivo Andric draws the picture of a certain period in his novels by depicting cultural, polical and social characteristics of that period. The effects of Ottoman identity which had prevailed in the lands of Bosnia for almost five hundred years can be seen in every line in his novels. Both in Ivo Andric's novel “The Travnik Chronicle” showing traces of Ottoman culture- and Kadi Kose written by Bahaeddin Ozkisi, it is possible to see the mentality, sociocultural and religious structure of the society living in a specific period in history. Belonging to different nations, both Andric and Ozkisi have different viewpoints. It could be claimed that these differences stem from the fact that these writers interpreted certain events from a different perspective The Balkans have become a region where there have been the scenes of constant changes throughout history. This region in which different cultures and religions exist, many struggles for dominance have occurred and hence; have been taken over, cannot ensure the stability due to wars and disorders. Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Austro Hungary are the civilizations that stayed for a period in the Balkans and left traces. The dominance of various civilizations have also led to the presence of different religions. The Balkans were seen as Europe’s backyard, named the east of the West, characterized as a region where wars, bigotry and disorders were dominant. Although the Balkans is Southeast Europe, Europe has never counted them as its own geography. They were treated as a stepchild, and excluded as they were thought to be undeveloped. Maria Todorova, states that Europeans feel superior to the Balkans and regard them as “I and the others.” Literary works are the best documents that represent the changes in societies’ lives. They explain the society on cultural religious and social ways. The ottoman culture had dominance on Bosnian land for nearly five hundred years, is seen in every line of the piece. But this cultural reflection caused Ivo Andric to be criticized by Muslim Bosnians. The discussion on him having statements against Muslims and reflecting Ottoman history and Muslim culture in an unfair way in his pieces still continues. As the Ottoman image is seen in the nobel prized writer Ivo Andric's many novels, also in his novel called “The Travnik Chronicle”, we can see different beliefs, ethnicity and Ottoman image. Bahaeddin Ozkisi writes about the Ottoman Empire conquering Hungary and the empire’s struggle with Austriain his piece called “Kadi Kose”. Durin this invasion, the Turk/Hungarian, muslim/non-muslim relations and the socio-cultural life can be seen. Comparing the “The Travnik Chronicle” of Ivo Andric and “Kadi Kose” of Bahaeddin Ozkisi is possible in three sections as; social life, religious life and muslim womens’ image. “The Travnik Chronicle” which Andric wrote in 1942 is a historical-psychological novel. The novel is a historical panorama which takes place in a small town of Bosnia, years after the French revolution when Bonaparte was successful and made a sensation, tackling the issues of French, Austrian, Ottoman state affairs and sociocultural condition of the native population. All characters in the novel see themselves as a prisoner of this town, where conflicts, hostilities, machinations, different religions and nations meet. Muslims in Travnik and Ottoman Empire represent Eastern culture. On the other hand, consuls assigned to Travnik represent Western culture. Austrian and French consuls in Travnik representing the West compete between each other while carrying out 19th century’s political ideologies of their countries. Ottoman Empire comes to the forefront with its unjust governance and cruelty. The story starts in 1806, with a conversation between a group of old men, assembled in a hall named “Lutfiya’s Coffeehouse”, commenting about new consulate period for their own perspectives and interests. Narrating eight years of social and political events, the novel ends in 1814, again in “Lutfiya’s Coffeehouse”, there people gathered and talked about the latest situation. It is the same place where the events both started and ended. In this period of time everything turns into the very begining as if nothing ever happened. After the consuls left, this mid-term is sunk into oblivion. Through the conversations in the beginning of the novel we see that people from different religions and different nations lived in Travnik for centuries in peace. There are plenty of voices through the story. However, by the beginning of the 18th century this situation changed and the differences caused conflicts. Underneath of this change lie the effects of the French revolution. The nationalization movement started. Besides French revolution, Ottoman Empire’s late period regime influences the nationalization movement. In the novel, ottomans are always pictured as schemer people. The chief doorman was murdered, however his death is then covere

Özet

İlirya dilinde akarsu anlamına gelen "Bos" sözcüğünden türeyen Bosna toprakları tarih boyunca farklı medeniyetlere ev sahipliği yapmıştır. Farklı milletlerin, dinlerin birleştiği Balkan coğrafyası, kültürel açıdan zengin olmakla beraber aynı zaman da bu zenginlik savaşları, çatışmaları da beraberinde getirmiştir. Balkanlar Avrupa'da kara parçası olmasına rağmen tarih boyunca hiçbir zaman Avrupa'nın tam bir parçası olarak görülmemiş olup arka bahçe muamelesi görmüştür. Bununla birlikte doğu-batı geçiş güzergâhında olduğu için kültürel geçişin en fazla olduğu topraklar olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Zıtlıkların bir arada olduğu bu coğrafya çatışmalarıyla ve farklılıklarıyla edebi eserlere de konu olmuştur. Edebî eserler, milletlerin hayatlarındaki değişimi, dönüşümü en iyi yansıtan belgelerdir. Üretildikleri toplumun kültürel, dinî, sosyal hayatlarına ışık tutar. Nobel ödüllü Bosnalı yazar İvo Andriç, romanlarında dönemin kültürel, siyasî, sosyal özelliklerini yansıtarak romanlarında dönemsel bir tablo çizmiştir. Beş yüz yıl kadar Bosna topraklarına hâkim olan Osmanlı kültürü her satırına sinmiştir. Ancak bu kültürel yansıma şekli Ivo Andriç'in Müslüman Boşnaklar tarafından eleştirilmesine sebebiyet vermiştir. Romanlarındaki ara satırlarda Müslümanların aleyhinde söylemleri olduğu ve taraflı bir gözle Osmanlı tarihini ve müslüman kültürünü yansıttığı konusunda tartışmalar bugün de sürmektedir. Osmanlı kültürünün izlerini bulduğumuz İvo Andriç'in "Travnik Günlüğü" ile Bahaeddin Özkişi'nin "Köse Kadı" adlı romanlarında dönemin zihniyetini, sosyal-kültürel, dinî yapısını gözlemlemekteyiz. Farklı milletlere ait olan Andriç ve Köse'nin bakış açılarında da farklılıklar olduğu görülür. Bu farklılıkların yaşanmasında iki yazarın durumlara fikirsel olarak aynı düzlemde bakmamış olmalarını söyleyebiliriz