KOYI, HAJI QADIR

(1817-1897)

The poet Haji Qadir Koyi was an early advocate of modern Kurdishnationalism. Reacting against the traditional Kurdishtribaland religious leaders—although he himself was amulla—Koyi argued that the Kurds could achieve a state only if they used the pen and the sword, that is, gained both a written language and state power. Accordingly, he called for Kurds to write down their great oral ballads and launch newspapers and magazines. His patriotic poems still arouse enthusiasm in many young people.

See alsoLiterature.