Nilüfer Sultan Cem (59), who lives in Geneva, was in Istanbul final week each for the non-public invitation of her buddy, designer Atıl Kutoğlu, and for an Ottoman marriage ceremony.
Nilufer Sultan, From Hürriyet newspaper to Zeynep Bilgehan, He made attention-grabbing explanations from the proclamation of the Republic to the dying of Neslişah Sultan, why he didn’t converse Turkish, and his view of the Palestine-Israel concern.
‘I AM THE ONLY OTTOMAN PRINCESS BORN IN THE USA’
Your father, Burhaneddin Cem, is the final Ottoman prince born in a palace in Istanbul. What did they do after the proclamation of the Republic?
They went to Paris. Once they left Istanbul, they thought that they might return in 15 days, in order that they took mattresses with them simply to be snug at their vacation spot. They needed to journey with the Orient Specific… Fortuitously, that they had some cash with them, however they had been shocked to be taught that they might not return… My father met my Georgian princess mom in Paris. They obtained married and moved to the USA. I’m the one Ottoman princess born within the USA.
Ottoman members largely went to both Europe or the Center East. Why did your loved ones select the USA?
My paternal grandmother remarried to an American after my grandfather handed away. That is why I spent my youth staggering between Paris and New York.
What sort of household did you develop up in?
Figuring out who I’m… Everybody used to name me “Sultan”. I used to be introduced up in a really American means; my favourite factor was peanut butter! Then I went to a boarding college in Montreux, Switzerland. Then I studied psychology in Geneva. We had been on the similar college as Princess Caroline of Monaco.
Did not you might have a troublesome childhood then?
No, fortunately we did not undergo financially like different members of the dynasty as a result of my mom’s uncle was a banker in London and was good sufficient to switch all his cash to London when the Russian Tsar was killed by the Bolsheviks in 1917. Because of my maternal aspect, my mother and father led an upper-class life. I had a contented childhood.
‘I CAME TO TURKEY AS A TOURIST’
When did you first come to Turkey?
On the age of 18, I used to be in a position to come as a vacationer with my buddies from boarding college and with my American passport. I appreciated it very a lot, as quickly as I returned, I stated to my father, “We should go to Turkey”, however we had been solely in a position to are available 1978 after the legislation permitting the princes to come back too… We went to Izmir, I met my daughter’s father there. We obtained married, my daughter Tatiana was born. We divorced two and a half years later. I returned to Geneva and obtained a job as a translator at UNICEF. I converse English, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian and somewhat Turkish.
Why do you converse little Turkish?
I didn’t have time to be taught… My father didn’t train me Turkish as a result of he was offended by his hometown. I began studying Turkish myself after I was 28 years outdated.
Is not it somewhat unusual to be known as ‘Ottoman princess’ and ‘Sultan’ and never converse Turkish?
You do not have to talk the language to be a Sultan. I’m extra Ottoman than the Ottomans dwelling in Turkey; I do a whole lot of charity work. I’m representing Turkey as an envoy overseas. As well as, you can not perceive the Ottoman Turkish of the members of the dynasty, as a result of it’s a combination of Arabic, Persian and Turkish. Perhaps that is why I could not be taught Turkish; My ear is completely different. Perhaps I am going to speak extra if I get my grandfather’s property again and transfer to Istanbul once more.
What are you busy with now?
I’ve a basis known as the Princess Tatiana Basis. We constructed it in reminiscence of my useless daughter. We assist Turkish, Jordanian and Tbilisi youngsters. I obtained the Worldwide Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. I’m additionally inquisitive about Israeli-Palestinian points. Sadly, we couldn’t resolve the problem between the Jews and the Palestinians. I am engaged on this as a result of within the Ottoman interval, Palestine belonged to Turkey; Because the Ottoman Princess, it’s my responsibility to deal with it. I’m just like the Princess Diana of Turkey. I am not simply strolling in mines…
How lengthy have you ever been a Turkish citizen?
After receiving the achievement award, the Turkish Consulate Basic in Geneva supplied me a Turkish passport. President Gul got here to New York and personally gave my father his passport.
How do you’re feeling concerning the founders of the Republic; Ataturk, Inonu?
I’ve no points with them. If it was, I might not come to Turkey once more.
What would the scenario have been like if the empire had continued?
Proper now, I could not speak to you this fashion right here, and also you could not see me that means… The liberties given to girls are great. However let me let you know that my grandmother used to experience right here with out a veil. In different phrases, some issues began to vary within the Ottoman interval.
‘NESLİŞAH SULTAN’S DEATH WAS TALKED BUT..’
After the dying of the final member, Neslişah Sultan, who was born throughout the Ottoman reign, Murat Bardakçı says that the Ottoman Empire ought to now not be known as a dynasty, however as a household…
I do know the historian Murat Bardakçı, however what he stated is flawed. The dying of Neslişah Sultan doesn’t imply the top of the dynasty. Some thought that after Bardakçı’s assertion, there was nobody left from the Ottoman household. The reign ended 100 years in the past, however the dynasty continues.
Why is it so necessary whether or not it’s a dynasty or a household?
There is no such thing as a want for such a distinction. I used to be very shocked to listen to the arguments. When Neslişah Sultan handed away, there was a whole lot of speak, however when my father handed away final yr, nobody cared. I’m disturbed by this example.
#Cem #Sultans #heir #denied #Bardakçı
