Today in History – 20 July

İnönü at Hasanoğlan Village Institute

Serving as president after Atatürk’s passing, İsmet İnönü always said that the Village Institutes were the “dearest and most precious one in all of the Republic’s undertakings.”

Indeed having educated many intellectuals in its limited life span, The Village Institutes were brought to light with the support and assurance of İnönü. Spred rapidly in the 1940s, the institutes had a preparatory period sustained by İnönü.

As one of the most brilliant examples of Village Institutes, the Hasanoğlan Village Institute was founded in 1941, 35 kilometers from Ankara, on the Ankara-Kayseri railway. The distinction of this institute was that it was established as an institution of higher learning to train faculty members or inspectors for other institutes. Built entirely by students, the number of school buildings had reached 43. Among these was a movie theater, a music hall, and an amphitheater.

The Institute admitted its first students in early 1942. Until 1944, it graduated 678 teachers, 774 health officials, 213 students of higher learning, and 102 short-term course participants. Instructors such as Enver Ziya Karal (history), Ruhi Su and Aşık Veysel (music), Sabahattin Eyüboğlu (language-literature), İbrahim Yasa (sociology) and Mualla Eyüboğlu (architect, construction manager) taught at the institute.

İsmet İnönü visited Hasanoülan Village Institute on July 20, 1942. His impressions were conveyed in a speech he delivered shortly thereafter:

A constructive, resourceful, and industrious spirit dominates life at these institutions. I am thrilled to see that and feel full of hope.