A unique union that lasted 57 years
Shortly after marrying the neighbor’s daughter Mevhibe Hanım (19), whom he was only able to see briefly in the doorway, on April 13, 1916, Colonel İsmet Bey (32) went to the front to fight. Writing frequently to the wife waiting from him in İstanbul, İsmet Bey’s first gift to Mevhibe Hanım was a piano. The love he felt for his wife and for music could easily be read between the affectionate lines he wrote to her from the front:
My dear Mevhibe, God’s special gift to me; Mevhibe my soul. You are sad that the piano lessons teach both European and Turkish music. Just learn whatever you find easiest. Yet, don’t alternate often between the two, so that your lessons are not a waste of time. I think you should work on European music. Still, go on as you will. I hope you can master them all… May God bless us with each other. My soul, my two eyes, I embrace you with the irrepressible passion in my heart and kiss your eyes shining with light. You are the reason for my happiness, my Mevhibe.
İsmet Bey began his letters with, “My two eyes, my soul, I kiss your hands and eyes a thousand times, my darling,” and Mevhibe Hanım replied with “My Dear Pasha.” The dedication of the couple, which spent the early years of their marriage in war, and the romantic lines expressing this love emerged years later through these letters.
The 57 year-long relationship between İsmet and Mevhibe İnönü was always special. Their union was crowned with four children: İzzet, Ömer, Erdal, and Özden. Unfortunately, their firstborn İzzet died before he was two years old.
