Tahsin Uzer's Unrealized Project on Developing Eastern Provinces: East Provincial Travel of University Students and Professionals

Abstract

Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian provinces were the most undeveloped provinces of the country in the early years of the Republic. There were many factors on this situation. The destruction caused by the wars lasting for many years on the region and the people of the region, the climate and geography conditions are not suitable for development and the region's being far from important centers were the main reasons for this underdevelopment. These reasons and socio-economic conditions caused by these reasons made people, working in various professions such as teachers, doctors, engineers, abstainer about going to the Eastern provinces and serving them. In this study, based on archival documents and other sources, the Third General Inspector Tahsin Uzer, who previously served as the governer of Van and Erzurum and deputy of Erzurum was mentioned. He started to work as a General Inspector in 1935. To destroy the negative perception of the West in order to inform and encourage the intellectuals, hundreds of young people from university students and various professional groups have prepared a project for Eastern provinces. Thanks to this trip, the development of both the Eastern provinces and the country would be presented as important. However, the project, which Tahsin Uzer pursued for nearly two years with good faith and sincerity, could not be realized because of the bureaucracy and budget barrier and it took its place in history.