Sezai Karakoç

Born in 1933 in the Ergani district of Diyarbakır, Sezai Karakoç was one of the most important poets and intellectuals in Turkish literature. A graduate of Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Sciences, Karakoç explored love, loneliness, faith, the inner world of the individual and the search for civilisation in his poetry, using a distinctive literary voice.

Widely recognised for his poem Mona Roza, Karakoç also left a lasting mark through his idea of Diriliş (Revival), which extended beyond literature. For him, revival meant the restoration of society through its own cultural and spiritual values. He shared these ideas with readers through the journal Diriliş and wrote works including Hızırla Kırk Saat, Körfez and Diriliş Neslinin Amentüsü.

Sezai Karakoç passed away in İstanbul on 16 November 2021, leaving behind a powerful literary legacy through his poetry and ideas. He continues to be remembered in Turkish poetry for his distinctive voice and his vision of civilisation.