Bedrettin Dalan
Encyclopedia
Bedrettin Dalan is a Turkish
engineer, former politician and the first mayor of Greater Istanbul
. He is the founder of İSTEK Vakfı, a foundation for education and culture, and Yeditepe University
in Istanbul.
, Turkey
to a family which came from a village of Bayburt Province
in eastern Anatolia
to work for the Turkish State Railways
. After finishing high school in Germencik
, Aydin
, where he lived with his parents and seven siblings, Dalan attended the Faculty of Maçka at the Istanbul Technical University
, and graduated in 1963 with a degree in electrical engineering
.
In 1983, he joined Turgut Özal
to found a center-right party, the Motherland Party
(Anavatan Partisi, ANAP). Dalan was elected mayor of Greater İstanbul
that was established as a metropolitan municipality
on March 23, 1984. He served in this position from March 26, 1984 until March 28, 1989. During this time, he set up the principals of the metropolitan municipality system in Turkey, and invested in the infrastructure
of the ever-expanding city of İstanbul
such as the sewer system, transportation and recreation areas. The blue-eyed politician is best remembered for his promise "the waters of the Golden Horn
will be the same color as my eyes". He served as deputy chairman of the World Local Governments Union and as president of the Organization of the Capitals and Cities of Islamic Countries and also of the World Metropolitans Union.
After losing his post to the candidate of the left-wing party in the regional elections of 1989, he founded his own party, the Democratic Center Party
(Demokrat Merkez Partisi, DMP) on May 17, 1990, and became its leader. The DMP merged on September 14, 1991 with the right-wing, conservative
party of Süleyman Demirel
, the True Path Party
(Doğru Yol Partisi, DYP). In the general elections held that year, he ran for membership of the parliament, and was elected deputy of İstanbul Province. After serving one term in parliament, he finally quit politics.
Bedrettin Dalan worked as a top executive in business, and lectured at Marmara University
and Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. Dedicating himself to education, he founded İstanbul Eğitim ve Kültür Vakfı (İSTEK Vakfı), a foundation, which opened a number of prestigious private educational institutions in İstanbul such as primary and secondary schools, middle and high schools. In 1996, the foundation established a university in İstanbul, the Yeditepe University. Bedrettin Dalan acts as the president of the board of trustees of the foundation.
He is married to Ayseli Dalan and they have two sons, Barış and Altay Burak.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
engineer, former politician and the first mayor of Greater Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. He is the founder of İSTEK Vakfı, a foundation for education and culture, and Yeditepe University
Yeditepe University
Yeditepe University is a foundation university situated in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded in 1996, Yeditepe University now claims to be the largest of the 27 foundation universities in Turkey....
in Istanbul.
Biography
Bedrettin Dalan was born in 1941 in EskişehirEskisehir
Eskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to a family which came from a village of Bayburt Province
Bayburt Province
Bayburt Province is a province in the north-east of Turkey. Population of the province is 74,412 and total area is 3,652 km². The capital city is Bayburt.- Districts :Bayburt province is divided into 3 districts :* Aydıntepe...
in eastern Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
to work for the Turkish State Railways
Turkish State Railways
The State Railways of the Turkish Republic or TCDD is the government owned, national railway carrier in the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara...
. After finishing high school in Germencik
Germencik
Germencik is a town and a district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey.- Geography :Germencik is located in the middle of the fertile Büyük Menderes plain, inland from the Aegean coastal town of Kuşadası, on the Aydın-İzmir highway from the city of Aydın...
, Aydin
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
, where he lived with his parents and seven siblings, Dalan attended the Faculty of Maçka at the Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey...
, and graduated in 1963 with a degree in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
.
In 1983, he joined Turgut Özal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
to found a center-right party, the Motherland Party
Motherland Party (Turkey)
The Motherland Party, was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009...
(Anavatan Partisi, ANAP). Dalan was elected mayor of Greater İstanbul
Istanbul Province
Istanbul Province is a province located in north-west Turkey. It has an area of 5,196 km² and a population of 13,255,685. The population was 10,018,735 in 2000. It is surrounded by the provinces of Tekirdağ to the west, Kocaeli to the east, the Black Sea to the northern part and the Sea of...
that was established as a metropolitan municipality
Metropolitan municipality
A metropolitan municipality is a type of municipality established in some countries to serve a metropolitan area.-Canada:In generic terms, and in practical application within Canada, a metropolitan municipality is an urban local government; or at least a suburban government flanked by urban and/or...
on March 23, 1984. He served in this position from March 26, 1984 until March 28, 1989. During this time, he set up the principals of the metropolitan municipality system in Turkey, and invested in the infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
of the ever-expanding city of İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
such as the sewer system, transportation and recreation areas. The blue-eyed politician is best remembered for his promise "the waters of the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
will be the same color as my eyes". He served as deputy chairman of the World Local Governments Union and as president of the Organization of the Capitals and Cities of Islamic Countries and also of the World Metropolitans Union.
After losing his post to the candidate of the left-wing party in the regional elections of 1989, he founded his own party, the Democratic Center Party
Democratic Center Party (Turkey)
Democratic Center Party was a conservative political party in Turkey.It was established by the former mayor of İstanbul Bedrettin Dalan on May 17, 1990, who left the center-right Motherland Party ANAP, he was one of the founders in 1983....
(Demokrat Merkez Partisi, DMP) on May 17, 1990, and became its leader. The DMP merged on September 14, 1991 with the right-wing, conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
party of Süleyman Demirel
Süleyman Demirel
Sami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
, the True Path Party
True Path Party
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
(Doğru Yol Partisi, DYP). In the general elections held that year, he ran for membership of the parliament, and was elected deputy of İstanbul Province. After serving one term in parliament, he finally quit politics.
Bedrettin Dalan worked as a top executive in business, and lectured at Marmara University
Marmara University
Marmara University is a public university in Turkey. Situated in Istanbul, Marmara University has succeeded in becoming the second largest university in the whole country...
and Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. Dedicating himself to education, he founded İstanbul Eğitim ve Kültür Vakfı (İSTEK Vakfı), a foundation, which opened a number of prestigious private educational institutions in İstanbul such as primary and secondary schools, middle and high schools. In 1996, the foundation established a university in İstanbul, the Yeditepe University. Bedrettin Dalan acts as the president of the board of trustees of the foundation.
He is married to Ayseli Dalan and they have two sons, Barış and Altay Burak.