16.03.2026 09:01
The last wish of the late esteemed historian Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı before his surgery has emerged. It has been revealed that Ortaylı called journalist Fatih Altaylı and requested to film a "farewell program" together with Celal Şengör. Altaylı announced that the program has been filmed, but this special recording has not yet been published.
Journalist Fatih Altaylı shared the background of the last program he conducted with Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, one of the important figures in Turkish historiography who passed away recently, in his column. Altaylı stated that Ortaylı called him before the surgery and expressed his desire to shoot a program together with his close friend Celal Şengör.
LIKE A FAREWELL
Altaylı noted that this request from Ortaylı actually carried a farewell nature, revealing that the recording made before the surgery had not yet been published.
INSISTED ON THE PROGRAM
According to Altaylı, Ortaylı invited him and Celal Şengör to dinner at a local restaurant in Kasımpaşa before the surgery. The trio chatted for a long time and spent time together there. After the meal, Altaylı stated that Ortaylı called him and said he wanted to shoot a program before the surgery. Altaylı expressed that he initially wanted to postpone the program until after the surgery, but Ortaylı insisted. Altaylı mentioned that upon Ortaylı's request, he called Celal Şengör, who accepted to join the program by saying, "Ilber's command is above all." Altaylı described the recorded program as "Actually, it was a farewell program. We shot it, but we haven't published it yet."
ALSO SHARED HIS LAST VISIT
In his article, Altaylı also recounted the day they visited Ortaylı for the last time in the hospital. He stated that they visited Ortaylı together with Celal Şengör and relatives, mentioning that the famous historian looked good that day. Altaylı reported that he and Murat Bardakçı went to the hospital again the next day, where they chatted for about an hour.
Altaylı expressed that Ortaylı and Murat Bardakçı had long conversations as usual and that he recorded some of those moments on video for the first time. After the conversation, Altaylı noted that they wanted to leave to avoid tiring Ortaylı, but Ortaylı said, "Don't go."
Altaylı wrote that Ortaylı wanted him to come again the next day, but he mentioned that he would also have surgery that same day. Altaylı concluded his article with the statement, "When I left the hospital, he had been taken to intensive care."
WILL BE BURIED TODAY
Historian, academic, and writer Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, who passed away on March 13, will be sent off on his last journey from Istanbul. A memorial ceremony will be held for the master historian on March 16 at 11:00 at Galatasaray University. Following that, the funeral prayer for the master historian will be performed after the afternoon prayer, and he will be buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.