Reconstruction of Circassian History through Romantic Nationalism: Yistanbulako (The Road to Istanbul)

Gülnur Demirci

Jump to Content

Chapter 4 Reconstruction of Circassian History through Romantic Nationalism: Yistanbulako (The Road to Istanbul)

In: World of Diasporas: Different Perceptions on the Concept of Diaspora

Author:

Gülnur Demirci

Gülnur Demirci
Search for other papers by Gülnur Demirci in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 34–45

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004388048_005

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

The Circassia-Russo War, which later turned into Circassian exile in 1864, witnessed a most tragic event of world history. Circassian culture has been in decline and gradually lost its influence since the war. Circassians in diaspora, however, blending the inherited antiquity, Christianity, and Islam, have sought to maintain their cultural heritage. Yet, their linguistic existence has increasingly inclined to disappear with educational integration and rising urbanisation. T. Esinc (d.1992) was recorded to be the last person to speak Ubykh, a native Circassian dialect, in Turkey. Having preferred a romantic nationalism, Circassians in Turkey subtly challenged the denomination of migrant by highlighting a coerced separation from homeland. This chapter deals with the Circassian Elegy for the Migrants called ‘Yistanbulako’, in which pain of the post-war migrants/exiles of 1864 is represented. The contemporary Circassian narratees re-cultivate hope and future from the sad stories of their ancestors and build up an imaginary homeland living through literature, songs and dance. Rereading ‘Yistanbulako’, the Circassian diaspora, the post-traumatic Circassian narratees, are increasingly getting involved in the mythos to make up their identity; the contemporary addressee of the elegy can have new insights into the Circassian tragedy. Apart from historical and political controversies, this chapter explores Circassian experience of the exile of a diasporic community, having remained unexpressed, muted and forgotten due to exclusion from historiography. The chapter demonstrates that the elegy does not merely provide memory and myth, but also exposes a discourse of exile subverting the migrant identity.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/edcoll/9789004388048/BP000004.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

World of Diasporas: Different Perceptions on the Concept of Diaspora

Series: At the Interface / Probing the Boundaries, Volume: 117

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004388048

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 26 Nov 2018

Subjects

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	885	174	45
Full Text Views	20	3	2
PDF Views & Downloads	23	7	4

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 4 Reconstruction of Circassian History through Romantic Nationalism: Yistanbulako (The Road to Istanbul)

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

World of Diasporas: Different Perceptions on the Concept of Diaspora

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics