RUKİYE ERKİN

Atatürk had met Rukiye on a trip to Konya. At that time, Rukiye was going through the most difficult years of her life. He was homeless. Atatürk brought Rukiye to Ankara, ensured that he was cared for and educated, and married a Gendarmerie Captain. The Ministers of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs of the time, whose weddings were held in Ankara Municipality, were also witnessed. At the wedding, which was held at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Atatürk performed his first dance with Rukiye.

Historian Ercan Arslan stated that he reached very important information and documents by meeting with Ayşe Acer Hanım (born 1962 in Seydişehir Kızılcalar Village), who stayed with Rukiye Erkin Hanım for 15 years. Ayşe Hanım stayed with Rukiye Hanım since she was 8 years old (between 1970 -1985) and served. In the following years, their contact continued. From Rukiye Erkin Hanım, she got a lot of information about her family, Atatürk and Seydişehir. Rukiye Hanım was born in 1911 in Seydişehir. His father's name is Riza. Her mother's name is Mrs. During his military service during the First World War, Rıza Bey was the writer and postman of Mustafa Kemal. She died while she was busy with copper work after returning from the military. Rukiye Hanım's older sisters, who lost her mother at a young age, were Ayşe (she got married and took the surname Güneş. He died during the pilgrimage mission) Makbule (Engaged), Hatice (died as a teacher). During one of his visits to Konya, Mustafa Kemal got to Rukiye Hanım by getting a research done. Since the first three of these orphaned and orphaned girls were somehow clinging to life, the youngest adopted Rukiye and took him to Ankara. Rukiye Hanım completed her primary education at Çankaya Primary School and her secondary education at Istanbul Notre Dame de Sion French High School. She married Gendarmerie 1. Mülazım Hüsnü Bey (Erkin) in 1930. Their wedding ceremony was held in Ankara, in the presence of Mustafa Kemal, by the Mayor Nevzat Bey, with the testimony of the Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs deputies. The wedding ceremonies took place in Dolmabahçe Palace on May 22, 1930. They had a son named Tekin from these marriages.

In her statements, Ms. Ayşe said, “Regarding Atatürk, Rukiye Hanım said that she had warned her that fasting would be beneficial because she had a weak body, and that she also gave a small Qur'an as a gift. He stated that during his work in the Çankaya Mansion, his majesty, Gazi, together with the other girls, made a fuss from time to time, but Atatürk was not bothered by this at all”. She used to state that Atatürk met all her wedding needs, and that while she was working in Dolmabahçe in Istanbul, she asked “why don't you come more often, kid?” on one of her visits, and Rukiye Hanım said, "Sir, when I have money, I come immediately." Regarding Seydişehir, we used to visit Seydişehir almost every summer in the summer months. He spoke fondly of this place. I remember him pointing to an old two-storey house across from the old courthouse and saying this was our home. He used to send the newspapers of the period to his relatives in Seydişehir. He used to text with them from time to time. He was a very kind, helpful and naive person. He used to send books to students in the East. Rukiye Hanım passed away in 1995 in Istanbul. His grave is in the Feriköy cemetery.”

At Rukiye's wedding ceremony at Dolmabahçe Palace. (May 22, 1930)

At Rukiye's wedding ceremony at Dolmabahçe Palace. (May 22, 1930)

Source : seysehirpostasi