On 23 May 2025, the Language Teaching and Research Group in Turkish Linguistics and Didactics, within the Department of Slavic and Balkan Languages, Turkish Language Section, organized a literary meeting with Turkish storyteller, essayist and writer Hüseyin Su, together with Mr. Emir Hukalla, translator of his recently published work.
His real name is İbrahim Çelik, while Hüseyin Su is the pseudonym under which he is known for his literary writings and works. Mr. Hüseyin Su graduated in 1980 from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Language, History and Geography. He initially worked as a teacher in various cities in Türkiye, including Kütahya, Adapazarı and Ankara. In 1998, he joined the Ministry of Culture, where he served as a branch director at the National Library, and from 1998 to 2000 he served as Deputy Director of the Beyazıt State Library of Istanbul.
Over the following years, his stories and studies were published in literary journals such as Edebiyat (1980–1984), Mavera (1984), İlim ve Sanat (1986–1988) and Hece (1997). In addition to his short stories, he has written numerous essays, including Bir Yağmur Türküsü (1999), Öykümüzün Hikâyesi (2000), Teori ve Eleştiri (2004) and Dil ve Düşünce (2004). He retired in 2000 and currently lives and continues his literary activities in Ankara.
Mr. Hüseyin Su was one of the pioneers behind the establishment of the two influential literary journals Hece and Hece Öykü. He has published numerous literary works, many of which have been translated into foreign languages. In 1998, he received the Short Story Literary Award from the Writers’ Union of Türkiye for his story Gülşefdeli Yemeni. His stories Ateş, Giden Gün Ömründendir and Ana Üşümesi have also been translated into Albanian. He has served as an adviser at the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.
Hüseyin Su is known for his stories, which are traditional in terms of narrative approach and subject matter, yet modern in their form and imagination. He has been associated with the literary group known as the “New Traditionalists,” alongside writers such as Rasim Özdenören and Mustafa Kutlu. The common sensibilities associated with this group include traditionalism and the exploration of concepts such as nativism, the irrational, the subconscious, the sixth sense, emotion and intuition.
Following a presentation of his literary work to the students, Mr. Hüseyin Su spoke about Turkish literature and his passion for literary creation, as well as the literary genre he has cultivated throughout his career. He discussed the short story, which he defines as a “response to life, allowing us to rearrange and correct, through writing, situations that we do not like.”
He also reflected on the moment of writing and reading a story, describing it as “a moment when we are closer to ourselves and to other people.”
He spoke about his books, literary inspiration, the craft of short-story writing, the importance of observing everyday life and keeping notes, and the broader process of literary creation. He also emphasized the importance of literature in the formation of the individual, particularly among young people.
The Turkish language lecturers Dr. Alban Foçi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adriatik Derjaj, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xhemile Abdiu and Dr. Urtis Harri took the floor to thank Mr. Hüseyin Su for his presence among the students and lecturers of the Turkish Language Section. Each of them spoke about the literary genre cultivated by Hüseyin Su, his well-known stories, the motifs underlying his literary work and the themes explored in his various stories, as well as his contribution to literary journals and the translation of his works into different languages, including Albanian.
Mr. Emir Hukalla subsequently spoke about the literary works published by Fleta e Prizrenit Publishing House, its publishing activities and its catalogue of publications. He also presented Hüseyin Su’s work İç Kanaması, which he translated from Turkish into Albanian.
The literary meeting continued with questions from students and lecturers addressed to Mr. Hüseyin Su. He responded with great enthusiasm and emotion, noting that an audience of students always reminds him of his own years as a teacher.
At the conclusion of the meeting, writer Hüseyin Su presented each student and lecturer of the Turkish Language Section with a copy of one of his books, personally signed by the author.
