Twelve years have passed since the departure of our newspaper’s founder, Enver Ören Ağabey. And our longing for him grows exponentially each year, accumulating like a snowball. On the 12th anniversary of his passing, we remember him with love, longing, and prayers.

Enver Ağabey was a teacher, a biologist, and a researcher. Even after transitioning into journalism, his publishing group maintained a strong focus on scientific encyclopedias and journals. He collaborated with Turkey’s leading scientists, as his foundation was built upon a passion for knowledge. He honored scholars, championed educational publications, and guided future generations with his wisdom.

As the founder of our newspaper, Enver Ören Ağabey wore many hats—soldier, teacher, academic, journalist, and businessman. The common thread in all these roles was his deep-rooted commitment to science. He conducted marine research, represented Turkey at international conferences, provided a platform for university professors, and published scientific journals—an ardent devotee of knowledge.

ENVER AĞABEY TELLS HIS STORY
Enver Ağabey recounted his educational journey and his path to becoming a scholar:

“I attended İstiklal School in Denizli for elementary education. It was a five-room old church building—four rooms turned into classrooms, and one reserved for teachers. Our teacher, Zeki Ülkü, was deeply passionate about his profession. I studied late into the night just to meet his expectations. I had made a desk out of an orange crate. My mother would come and say, ‘Son, it’s late, go to bed.’”

TWO PIECES OF ADVICE FROM HIS FATHER
“My late father gave me two key pieces of advice: ‘Never neglect your prayers and pursue higher education.’ I enrolled in the middle school section of Kuleli Military High School. The teachers were exceptional. Especially our chemistry teacher, Hüseyin Hilmi, was like a father figure—an extraordinary person. He even addressed students with great respect, calling them ‘sir.’ If a student stood up to answer a question, he would never remain seated himself. At night, while everyone slept, I wrapped my coat around my shoulders and kept studying.”

“ISTANBUL IS A LOVE”
Upon completing school, Enver Ağabey did not want to leave Istanbul. His mother sold all her jewelry, including bracelets and earrings, to pay his 2,300 lira bond. He then joined the Et Balık Kurumu and enrolled in Istanbul University Darülfünun Ulum-i Riyaziyye ve Tabiiyye. His intellect, diligence, and quality quickly set him apart. He was appointed as a laboratory supervisor. He fondly recalled, “A place was arranged for me to pray, and I was given a salary of 15 liras.”

MILITARY SERVICE & OCEANOGRAPHY
Graduating from Tuzla Infantry School, he was assigned to the Istanbul Hydrography and Oceanography Department as an Ensign. While working at Et Balık Kurumu, he became an assistant to Curt Kosswig, the founder of Oceanography in Turkey. Kosswig’s office was in Baltalimanı, where he worked alone. Enver Ağabey eagerly learned from him, even cleaning his office and making his coffee to gain his knowledge.

“One snowy day, while we were on the water, he gave me incredible insights into oceanic layers. As he departed, he handed me his card and said, ‘I have never given this to anyone before. This card will open doors for you in any country.’”

JOURNEY TO NAPLES
Enver Ağabey later traveled to Naples for research, working at the Anton Dohrn Zoology Institute. An Italian named Jak Dino frequently hosted him. One day, Jak’s mother asked:

“Jak, what kind of person is Enver? If I had given birth to him, I wouldn’t love him as much. He brings peace and comfort to us.”

While studying in the Naples Gulf, he discovered a new fish species that had not yet been documented. He presented it to Professor Fournestin in Marseille, who later published the findings under her own name. Reflecting on this, Enver Ağabey used to say:

“Jealousy has ten parts—nine of them belong to scientists.”

“I MISUNDERSTOOD TURKS”
One late night at the Naples Institute, Enver Ağabey was working until 3 AM. The director, Peter Dohrn, surprised to see him there, said:

“This is strange. The Turks I know don’t even show up during the day, let alone work late at night. Where did you come from? Drop by my office tomorrow.”

The next day, he visited the director’s office. Dohrn personally brewed him a cup of coffee and said:

“Know that you are appreciated. This is the first time I’ve ever made coffee for someone.”

He even wrote a letter to Turkey’s university, praising Enver Ören and requesting more students like him.

A CONFERENCE & STANDING OVATION
One day, students at his dormitory asked Enver Ağabey to give a lecture on Islam. He began by drawing a circle on the board, writing “Islam” in the center, and two arrows leading to “Faith” and “Good & Bad Deeds.”

“You, like us, believe in God, Heaven, Hell, Angels, Judgment Day, and the prophets. We Muslims are obligated to believe in all prophets from Adam to Moses and Jesus. If you also believed in Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an, we would be one and the same.”

They raised questions about pork and alcohol. He explained:

“These are not matters of faith but practice. Drinking alcohol is a sin, but it doesn’t expel someone from Islam. Our Lord loves to forgive and values repentance more than pride in worship.”

When asked if there was anything unforgivable, he replied:

“God does not interfere in matters of human or animal rights. That is why we fear hurting people, breaking hearts, or speaking ill of others.”

At the end of the lecture, the audience gave a standing ovation.

GUIDANCE COMES FROM GOD
A Dutch student named Henk later visited him and said:

“You’ve turned my world upside down! I was an atheist. I couldn’t understand priests forgiving sins, but you described a sincere repentance, purely between man and God.”

Over time, Henk embraced Islam, declaring:

“From today, I am a Muslim. You can call me Ahmet.”

When Enver Ağabey left Naples, the entire institute came to the port to bid him farewell. The converted Dutch Muslim Ahmet later passed away. Enver Ağabey remarked:

“He left this world pure and clean, insaallah.”

FROM BABIALI TO NEW SYSTEMS
Returning to Istanbul, he found the universities in chaos—political turmoil, boycotts, and unrest. He left academia and founded Hakikat Newspaper, but never abandoned science.

He taught biology for ten years at a private school and launched scientific magazines, producing his own printing machines, ink, and school supplies.

While attending the World Newspaper Owners Conference in Japan, he met the owner of Asahi Shimbun, who introduced him to the subscription model, which Enver Ağabey later implemented in Turkey.

DEDICATION TO SCIENCE & EDUCATION
Although he left teaching, he never stopped educating.

He established colleges to nurture passionate youth.
He founded student dormitories under İhlas Foundation.
He distributed millions of scientific books and encyclopedias for free.
He provided newspaper columns to distinguished academics and writers.
Under Ahmet Mücahid Ören, the institution grew while maintaining its educational mission.

Twelve years have passed… We remember Enver Ağabey with longing and prayers!