Eastern University

During Atatürk’s era, the idea of establishing a university in Eastern Anatolia was shaped not only as an educational initiative but also as a strategic effort aimed at regional development, cultural expansion, and social transformation. Between 1936 and 1938, this idea was reflected in official state documents and political discourse, with various bureaucratic and administrative preparations initiated specifically for the construction of a higher education institution around Lake Van. During this process, plans developed under Atatürk’s direct guidance aimed to establish a modern center of culture and education in Eastern Anatolia.

The Emergence of the Idea to Establish Eastern University

After the proclamation of the Republic, Turkey undertook profound reforms in education, initiating modernization efforts across all levels from primary to higher education. The Darülfünun, inherited from the Ottoman era, was closed in 1933 and replaced by Istanbul University. This development marked a turning point in the restructuring of higher education.

The Republican elite did not wish to confine the country’s development and modernization solely to the western regions; they also aimed to establish cultural centers in Central and Eastern Anatolia. Within this framework, it was planned to establish Istanbul University in the west, Ankara University in the center, and Eastern University in the east. However, the idea of establishing a university in the east could not be implemented due to various reasons, primarily the Second World War.

The historical background of the Eastern University idea extends beyond Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s 1937 speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly; it reaches back to earlier newspaper reports. In 1935 and 1936, several newspapers published articles proposing the establishment of a university in Van; these reports gradually contributed to the formation of public opinion. Atatürk’s 1937 parliamentary address became a turning point that officially legitimized the idea, emphasizing the necessity of building a modern university and cultural city along the shores of Lake Van.

This idea was fueled not only by educational needs but also by the goal of accelerating the social, cultural, and economic development of the eastern provinces. The concept of a university was viewed as a tool to address Eastern Anatolia’s backwardness, aiming to create a center that would contribute to resolving regional issues in infrastructure, health, transportation, and security.

The Role of the Press in the Eastern University Process

The press played a significant role in the emergence and development of the Eastern University idea. During the 1930s, Eastern Anatolia’s underdevelopment was frequently raised in public discourse, and it was argued that higher education institutions must be established in the region to address this condition. Particularly between 1935 and 1936, newspapers published numerous articles and reports advocating the establishment of a university in Van, helping to popularize and stimulate public discussion of the idea.

The press’s function during this period was not limited to reporting news; it also served to shape public opinion and guide state policy. Articles in the press arguing for the necessity of locating the university in Van attracted Atatürk’s attention, leading him to publicly articulate in his 1937 speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly the vision of building a modern university and cultural city along the shores of Lake Van.

In subsequent years, particularly during the Democrat Party period, the press continued to keep the Eastern University issue on the agenda. Statements by President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes on the subject were widely reported; public expectations in the region, findings by academic commissions, and political developments were closely followed in the media. These reports fostered a sense of anticipation and belonging among the local population regarding the university.

Thus, the press functioned both as a platform reflecting public demands in the process of determining the university’s location and as an effective instrument in institutionalizing the idea of establishing a university in Eastern Anatolia.

Tahsin Uzer’s Statements and General Inspectorate Reports

In shaping the idea of Eastern University, not only politicians and scholars but also the General Inspectorate system, responsible for state oversight in the provinces, played an active role. Within this context, General Inspectorate reports, which provided important observations on the general conditions of Eastern provinces, revealed the region’s socioeconomic backwardness, educational deficiencies, and the population’s difficulties in accessing state services.

In this regard, Tahsin Uzer, who served as the First General Inspector, made notable assessments directly related to the Eastern University idea. Uzer’s reports and statements underscored not merely a regional development issue but also a national educational challenge.

Uzer stated that Eastern Anatolia had been neglected for centuries and that this neglect directly affected educational standards, the population’s level of advancement, and their loyalty to the state. According to him, the most effective means of overcoming these problems was the establishment of higher education institutions in the region. The university would not only meet educational needs but also accelerate the region’s economic, social, and cultural transformation.

Tahsin Uzer’s views were frequently cited in documents justifying the government’s decision to establish a university in the east; in this way, they became one of the foundational pillars supporting the Eastern University initiative, both ideologically and administratively.

Efforts to Establish a University Around Lake Van

The shores of Lake Van were identified by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as the first concrete site for realizing the idea of establishing Eastern University. In his opening speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 1 November 1937, Atatürk emphasized the need to build a modern cultural city in the eastern region and clearly stated that it should be constructed on the most beautiful shores of Lake Van. This view was grounded in the region’s geographical and strategic characteristics.

According to Atatürk, the Lake Van region offered favorable conditions for establishing a higher education institution: a suitable climate, fertile soil, and a lake serving as a natural harbor. Additionally, plans were made to develop an educational network linked to the university by opening primary and secondary schools alongside teacher training, agriculture, and arts schools. These institutions would serve both as practical training grounds and as laboratories providing students and academic content to the university.

The university envisioned for Van was not conceived merely as a collection of faculties; rather, it was imagined as a modern city model integrating academic residences, cultural and recreational facilities (cinemas, theaters, nightclubs, People’s Houses, sports clubs, etc.) into a unified whole. The majority of the academic staff were to be selected from individuals educated in Istanbul or abroad, and students would be sent to Europe and America to be trained and later recruited as scholars for the university.

Although this comprehensive project could not be implemented during Atatürk’s lifetime, the idea of establishing a university around Lake Van resurfaced in subsequent years, particularly during the Democrat Party period when academic commissions revisited Van for evaluation. Nevertheless, due to various technical and administrative reasons, it was later decided to locate the university in Erzurum, though this plan too was never completed.