--- title: Kemalettin Kamu slug: kemalettin-kamu-3 url: /detay/kemalettin-kamu-3 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Kemalettin Kamu type: biography disambiguation: Kemalettin Kamu: Poet of Exile. Nationalist & lyrical poetry, MP, journalist. Discover his life & works. categories: - name: Literature slug: edebiyat url: /kategori/edebiyat tags: - Exile - Kemalettin Kamu - poetry - literature author: Meryem Şentürk Çoban created_at: 2025-03-06T11:19:22.633440+03:00 updated_at: 2025-04-17T11:26:38.134654+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/03/06/0nmufSH0c2rfoNYVoGo7SdF0KjxEQyqZ.png --- # Kemalettin Kamu > Kemalettin Kamu (1901-1948) is recognized as one of the prominent figures of Turkish literature during the Republican era, known by the title "The Poet of Exile." In his poetry, he explored themes such as homeland, longing, loneliness, and exile, conveying national sentiments with intense lyricism. ## KURE Information Cards ### KURE Information Card: Kemalettin Kamu ![Ekran görüntüsü 2025-03-05 190208.png](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/03/06/4uPksppMXoUYOseQHEcQuxZfDk0PIL4W.png) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Father(s) | Osman Nuri Efendi | | Place of Death(Text) | Ankara | | Place of Birth(Text) | Erzurum | | Date of Death(Text) | 6 March 1948 | | Date of Birth(Text) | 14 September 1901 | | Burial Place | Cebeci Asri Cemetery | | Profession(s) | Member of Parliament,Poet | ## Article Content ### **Youth and Education** Kemalettin Kamu was born on [September](/en/detay/september-748435/llms.txt) 14, 1901, in [Erzurum](/en/detay/erzurum-2/llms.txt). His father, [Osman](/en/detay/osman-2/llms.txt) Nuri Efendi, was a government official from the Kılcızâdeler family of Erzurum. Due to his father’s profession, Kamu spent his early years in various cities and received his initial education through private lessons. He learned Arabic and Persian [at](/en/detay/at-3/llms.txt) a young age and developed [an](/en/detay/an-2/llms.txt) early interest in literature. In 1910, he enrolled at Erzurum İdadisi, but his education was disrupted following his father’s death during World War I. He later continued his studies in cities such as Sivas, Kayseri, and [Bursa](/en/detay/bursa-2/llms.txt). After completing high school in Istanbul, he went to [Paris](/en/detay/paris-4/llms.txt) to study Ulûm-u Siyasiye (Political Science). Although Kamu spent five years in Paris and learned French, he was not particularly productive in literary terms and returned with only a few poems. Upon returning to Istanbul, he resumed his studies in political science but focused more on literature and journalism. ### **Career and Achievements** Kemalettin Kamu began his literary career by writing poems in **aruz** (prosodic) meter but later transitioned to [hece](/en/detay/hece-749569/llms.txt) (syllabic) meter. During the Turkish War of Independence, he gained prominence for his patriotic poetry. Before the "İstiklâl Marşı" (Turkish National Anthem) was written, his poems reflected the spirit of the struggle and were popularly recited like a national hymn. His works were published in notable literary magazines such as *Varlık, Türk Yurdu, Ülkü, Dergâh,* and *Yedigün*. Kamu became widely known for his poem *"Gurbet"* and was thereafter referred to as the Poet of Exile (*Gurbet Şairi*) in Turkish literature. In addition to his literary career, he entered politics in 1939 and was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rize. During his tenure, he served as a spokesperson for the Finance Commission. He was re-elected in the 1943 and 1946 elections and held various governmental positions. Alongside his political career, he worked for [Anadolu Ajansı](/en/detay/anadolu-ajansi-b4150/llms.txt) (Anatolian News Agency) and contributed to [Türk](/en/detay/turk/llms.txt) Dil Kurumu (Turkish Language Association), supporting efforts to simplify the Turkish language. ### **Literary Style and Works** Kemalettin Kamu’s poetry is characterized by both nationalistic and lyrical themes. His works [can](/en/detay/can-3/llms.txt) be categorized into three main thematic groups: 1. Poems of exile, migration, and longing 2. Poems on love and nature 3. Poems on victory and homeland While his early poems were written in the aruz meter, he later adopted the hece meter. His poetry often depicts the geographical beauty of Anatolia, the struggles of its people, and social issues. He employed a simple and clear language, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience while expressing the sentiments of the common people. After his death, his poems were compiled and published under the title *Kemalettin Kamu – Hayatı, Şahsiyeti ve Şiirleri* (1949). In 1986, Gültekin Samanoğlu revisited his works and published a revised collection titled *Kemalettin Kâmi Kamu*. Some of his most well-known poems include: - Gurbet - Hicret - Bingöl Çobanları - İstiklâl Yolu - Atama Ağıt - Kimsesizlik ### **Personal Life** Kemalettin Kamu lived a solitary life. He never married and, after the death of his mother, he formed a deep bond with his brother’s children. The themes of loneliness and isolation frequently appeared in his poetry, reflecting his own experiences. He [had](/en/detay/had/llms.txt) planned to publish a poetry collection titled *Mehmetçik*, but he passed away before completing the project. ### **Final Years and Death** On [March](/en/detay/march/llms.txt) 6, 1948, Kemalettin Kamu passed away due to heart failure in his hotel room in [Ankara](/en/detay/ankara-2/llms.txt). His funeral was attended by a large crowd, and he was laid to rest at Cebeci Asri Cemetery. ### **Legacy and Influence** Kemalettin Kamu is particularly remembered as the “Poet of Exile”, and his poetry [has](/en/detay/has-3/llms.txt) remained influential over the years. His ability to merge elements of Turkish folk poetry with [modern](/en/detay/modern-2/llms.txt) verse, his simple yet heartfelt language, and his emotional depth have made him one of the most significant literary figures of the Republican era. Many of his poems were set to music and became widely popular during his lifetime. Kamu’s influence extended to later generations of poets, including Gültekin Sâmanoğlu, who adopted similar themes of exile and longing in their works. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Adıgüzel, Ahmet. “Kemalettin Kamu’nun Hayatı, Sanatı, Şahsiyeti ve Hicret Şiirinin Tahlili.” Turkish Studies - International Periodical for the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic 8, no. 7 (Summer 2013): 1-17.Apaydın, Özden. “Kemalettin Kamu’nun Şiirlerinde Poetik Yapı: İmaj, Dil ve Üslup.” Turkish Studies - International Periodical for the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic 7, no. 1 (Winter 2012): 215-232.Atik, Özden. Kemalettin Kâmi Kamu’nun Hayatı ve Eserleri Üzerine Bir İnceleme. Yüksek lisans tezi, Kırıkkale Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Yeni Türk Edebiyatı Ana Bilim Dalı, 2008.Karatekin, Ziya. Kemalettin Kamu’nun Şiirleri: Derleme ve İnceleme. Yüksek lisans tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Bölümü, Yeni Türk Edebiyatı Anabilim Dalı, 1992.Şimşek, Yaşar. “Kemalettin Kamu ve Gültekin Sâmanoğlu Şiirlerine ‘Gurbet Teması’ Bağlamında Karşılaştırmalı Bir Bakış.” Pamukkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, no. 34 (2019): 325-341.