Literary giant remembered on his birthday
Remembering Sherko Bekas, a unique voice of Kurdish poetry
SULAYMANIYAH — Thursday marked the 84th birthday of Sherko Bekas, a towering figure in Kurdish poetry and a chronicler of the struggles that defined the late 20th century for the Kurdish people.
Born on May 2, 1940 in Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdistan’s cultural capital, Bekas left an indelible mark with his prolific output of thousands of written pages across more than 40 collections of poetry.
Fellow Kurdish writer Bachtyar Ali perhaps best summed up Bekas’ impact: “Sherko shattered the poetic and aesthetic silence that existed for hundreds of years. Through language and beauty, he achieved what Kurdish politicians failed to accomplish.”
Bekas was widely considered among Kurdish audiences as a national poet, weaving a constant thread of homeland throughout his work. He fiercely defended Kurdistan, yearned for it in exile, and grappled with its complexities. Beyond his national identity, Bekas championed freedom, justice, and women’s rights, as well as commemoration of the Halabja and Anfal tragedies.
In the 1970s, he co-founded the Rwanga Group, instrumental in modernizing Kurdish poetry. Recognition for his work also extended beyond Kurdistan. In 1988, Bekas received the prestigious Swedish Tucholsky Prize, awarded to writers who bravely defend free expression, such as as Salman Rushdie, Bei Dao, Svetlana Alexievich, and Nuruddin Farrah.
He established Sardam Publishing House in 1998, which continues to operate today. In 2009, he completed a monumental collection of his works, totaling 8,000 pages. His final project, “Memories of a Kirkuki Bicycle,” remained unfinished upon his passing.
Bekas famously described cigarettes as a muse, a constant companion during his creative process. Even when battling lung cancer in a Swedish hospital, he defied doctor’s orders to indulge in his vice. This ultimately contributed to his death at the age of 73 on August 4, 2013.
Before his passing, Bekas expressed a wish to be buried in Sulaymaniyah’s Azadi Park, envisioning it as a vibrant gathering place with music and cafes, where people could listend to Kurdish singers Hama Salih Dylan adn Ali Mardan.