The activities of Konya folkhouse in modernization of the Turk(1932 - 1951)

Turkish Republic has taken important steps on the way of modernization which aims changing of the life style of Turkish society, from the date 1923, it appeared in history scene as a nation state Certainly, one of the most important revolutions among these was the folkhouses that were established by Atatürk. First opened in 14 provinces on the date of 19th of February 1932, folkhouses fulfilled an exceptionally important function in getting trough the valves of republic to the vast folk mass and in development of the country during 19 years. Contemporary science light could be able to spread to the farthest corner of Anatolia thanks to these houses and folkrooms that were set up later. One of these houses that running by being organized with nine different sections (language ? Literature and history ? Arts ? Performance, Sport, Social Help, folk classes and courses, Library and broadcast, museum and display, rural development) in the region they were present, was Konya folkhouse. Konya folkhouse which engaged in several activities especially education, had leaded countless innovation. Like other folkhouses, Konya folkhouse had also helped the physical, spiritual and mental education and training of the folk during 19 years. Konya folkhouse which had reached a considerate number of the folk had take important function in the role of Turkish citizen in modern life, besides bringing up a lot of worthy personalities, with the courses it opened and the lectures it gave. Konya folkhouse which ensured the forming of national conscious by gathering the folk together with the activities it performed, had made important efforts in getting the folk to appropriate the thought of being a national state. Folkhouses were closed on the date 8th August 1951 as a result of political reasons after the democrat party had come into power. When they were closed, there viii were 478 folkhouses one in abroad and 4322 folkrooms. The need that was felt to the missions they hold dating from the day they were established, is still seen as a truth that cannot be considered unimportant today.