Photographer's Sorrow and Atatürk's Tolerance

The Great Leader Atatürk will leave the Turkish Grand National Assembly after the Republic Day celebration ceremony. Photographers took their places right in front of the Parliament gate (in front of Ankara Palas) in order to view this important moment and make it historical. About seven or eight photographers are working to place the tripods of their cameras in the most suitable place in order to take a beautiful photo in the conditions of that day. These are the photographers who follow Atatürk constantly and compete with each other. One of these photographers is Ali Rıza Tuncay, one of Atatürk's private photographers.

Ali Rıza Tuncay is a thin, slender, gentleman. She is also trying to get a nice place for herself. For some reason, other photographers accidentally (perhaps accidentally) pushed him between them and knocked him down. Great setback, Kazım Özalp and other state dignitaries came out of the gate of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and photographs were taken. Ali Rıza Tuncay, who could not take a photograph of this important historical moment, stepped aside from his sadness and anger and started to cry.

After Atatürk took a few steps, he saw Ali Rıza Tuncay crying on the sidelines. He called him and asked what was going on.

Ali Rıza Tuncay sadly told the incident. Atatürk once again showed his greatness and with his tolerant and lovely manner, he said to those around him:

He said , "Guys, we'll go back in and go out the same way  .

That's how it's been done. Photographer Ali Rıza Tuncay also had the chance to take the picture.

Ali Riza Tuncay 

Born in Skopje, Ali Rıza Tuncay met Atatürk during the wedding of Fevzi Çakmak's daughter while he was working as a journalist in Ankara. Tuncay, whom Atatürk addressed as "Yellow", made Atatürk's special photography between the years 1922-1938. She signed a circuit by pressing the shutter button hundreds of times in those years. After Atatürk's death, she continued her work with İsmet İnönü, Celal Bayar, Cemal Gürsel, Cevdet Sunay, Fahri Korutürk and Kenan Evren. She prepared a special "Atatürk Album" for the Ministry of Culture in 1991. She settled in Izmir in 1994. She died in 2001 at the age of 98.

Source: Esprileri İle İçimizden Biri Atatürk, İlknur Güntürkün Kalıpçı, Epsilon Yayıncılık, 1. Baskı, Kasım 2007. ISBN: 978994482-035-6. Sayfa:143