The book introduction and panel discussion of The Hejaz Travelogue of Vak‘anüvis Ahmed Lütfi Efendi (Vak’anüvis Ahmed Lütfi Efendi’nin Hicaz Seyahatnâmesi), authored by Mümin Yıldıztaş and M. Berke Merter, was held on 24 December at Marmara University’s Sultanahmet Campus. The event was attended by Marmara University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kabataş, Rector of the National Defense University Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu, Rector of the Turkish-German University Prof. Dr. Cemal Yıldız, and Istanbul Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Hüseyin Keskin. The program commenced with the opening speech by Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı.
Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı: “Hejaz travelogues are texts that must be read with great care”
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı stated that Hejaz travelogues are invaluable texts for Ottoman historiography and noted that this specific Hicaz Seyahatnâmesi offers significant and intriguing information. Emphasizing that memoirs and historical texts written since the time of Gelibolulu Mustafa are well worth reading, Ortaylı remarked that societies and families endure through historical consciousness. He pointed out that for a long time in Turkey, family history and personal memoirs were not sufficiently preserved, but added that this situation has begun to change in recent years due to a rising sense of loyalty and historical awareness. Ortaylı expressed that societies unable to find meaning in their history and the era they live in cannot build a healthy future, reminding the audience that this theme is also addressed as "decline" in Western literature.
Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı stated that Ahmed Lütfi Efendi rose to the rank of Kazasker (Chief Justice) within the Ottoman scholarly hierarchy (Ilmiye), noting that the office of Kazasker was one of the highest positions in the hierarachy. Identifying Ahmed Lütfi Efendi and Ahmet Cevdet Pasha as the two most important historians of the 19th century, Ortaylı mentioned that while Cevdet Pasha stood out directly with his identity as a historian, Lütfi Efendi gained prominence through his role as the official chronicler (Vak’anüvis) alongside his duties as Kazasker. Ortaylı added that he had recently had the opportunity to examine the Hejaz Travelogue, and emphasized that the work is particularly valuable in that Ahmed Lütfi Efendi wrote about a geography he personally knew and experienced. He concluded by wishing the work success and congratulating those who contributed to it.
The program continued with a panel discussion following the opening address. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuğba Eray Biber, the session was attended by the authors of the book, Mümin Yıldıztaş and M. Berke Merter, as well as the Rector of the National Defense University, Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu, and Marmara University faculty member Prof. Dr. Uğur Demir. The event concluded with a group photograph taken after the discussion session.
