Hüseyin Sayram (1905 – 23 December 1988) was a Turkish politician, provincial chief of the
Republican People's Party
The Republican People's Party (RPP; , CHP ) is a Kemalism, Kemalist and Social democracy, social democratic political party in Turkey. It is the oldest List of political parties in Turkey, political party in Turkey, founded by Mustafa Kemal ...
(CHP). He was the second of the three sons of the Turkish theologian
Hacı Zühtü Efendi
Hacı is the Turkish spelling of the title and epithet Hajji. It may refer to:
People
* Hacı I Giray (died 1466), founder and the first ruler of the Crimean Khanate
* Hacı Ahmet ( 1566), purported Turkish cartographer
* Hacı Arap Yaman (born ...
. He also had a younger and an older sister. Hüseyin Sayram was the starter and patriarch of
Sayram family line.
Hüseyin was born into a family of a long line of Muslim theologians. He had a fierce positivist intellect and with an ear for music. He was also an accomplished athlete, a sprinter.
Hüseyin Sayram was born around 1905 in
Kayseri
Kayseri () is a large List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. Historically known as Caesarea (Mazaca), Caesarea, it has been the historical capital of Cappadocia since anc ...
, Turkey. A market city of merchants.
He embraced the modernization efforts introduced by
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( 1881 – 10 November 1938) was a Turkish field marshal and revolutionary statesman who was the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President of Turkey, president from 1923 until Death an ...
with enthusiasm and joined the CHP. This led to a schism between him and the traditional ways of his family.
Hüseyin Sayram completed
(Sivas Teacher's College). He later obtained a musicology degree. He played various musical instruments including violin,
kanun and oud. He had a baritone voice. He was appointed as a music teacher at the College for Imams and Preachers. Here, his introduction of violin caused a stir.
When the surname legislation was introduced, making it mandatory for every Turkish citizen to have a family name, Hüseyin chose the surname
Sayram from
Kutadgu Bilig
The ''Kutadgu Bilig'' or ''Qutadğu Bilig'' (; Khaqani Turkic: ) is an 11th-century work written by Yūsuf Balasaguni for the prince of Kashgar. The text reflects the author's and his society's beliefs, feelings and practices with regard to qu ...
(The Holy Knowledge) an 11th Century Turkish Encyclopedia by
Yusuf Has Hajib, meaning a "musicologist". Sayram also means "blessing" and it is the birthplace of Hoca
Ahmed Yesevi in Turkestan.
He performed daily music programs from the PA facility of the local "People's House" (
Halkevi
Halkevleri (Turkish: ''Halkevi'' literally meaning "people's houses", also translatable as "community centres") is a Turkish community enlightenment project. They were founded in 1932 and entirely abolished in 1951.
Background
The Turkish Repub ...
). His activities in raising the local culture, arts and music, also his personality gained him considerable respect from the local community.
Hüseyin Sayram was repeatedly elected as the provincial chief of the Republican People's Party (
Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi
The Republican People's Party (RPP; , CHP ) is a Kemalist and social democratic political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party in Turkey, founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president and founder of the modern Republ ...
-CHP). He was influential in getting elected three of the 8 MP's allocated to the Kayseri province repeatedly. In 1965
Turhan Feyzioğlu
Turhan Feyzioğlu (1922 – 24 March 1988) was a Turkish academic and a politician.
Early life
He was born in Kayseri. After finishing the primary school in Kayseri, he attended Galatasaray High School and later studied at Istanbul University ...
, one of his protégés left CHP and formed his own party The Trust Party (
Güven Partisi).
After the military coup of 1980, the CHP was abolished by the military junta and Hüseyon Sayram was forced to retire from political life. When the bans on political parties were eased, he became the provincial head of the newly formed Populist Party (
Halkçı Parti). He remained politically active until the age of 83. He was the oldest provincial party leader when he retired.
Hüseyin Sayram died on 23 December 1988.
[Kayseri Anadolu Haber Newspaper 24/12/1988]
Hüseyin Sayram's grandchild is Berlin based German TV correspondent Dr.
Iris Sayram.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayram, Huseyin
1905 births
1988 deaths
Republican People's Party (Turkey) politicians
Populist Party (Turkey) politicians