Haşim İşcan and reconstruction activities during the Governorate of Antalya (1940-1945)

Haşim İşcan (Bey) was born in Edirne in 1898. After completing his primary and secondary education there, he started studying at the Mülkiye (School of Political Science) when the National Movement started in Anatolia. Like every young man who loved his country, he actively supported this movement by joining the Trakya-Paşaeli Müdafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti (Society for the Defense of Rights) established in Thrace. During his activities here, he was captured by the Greeks and exiled to Crete. He was released after the Battle of Sakarya. Upon his return, he completed his studies at the Mülkiye and then entered the Istanbul Faculty of Law, graduating successfully. He started his professional career in 1925 as a history and geography teacher at Edirne Darü'l-Mu'allimat (Teacher's Training School for Girls). After about two years, he left teaching and started working in the bureaucracy as the Private Secretary of Dr. İbrahim Tali Bey. His success in this first position in the bureaucracy ensured his rapid rise. In 1931, he was appointed as the District Governor of Siverek. After serving as director and inspector in various units, he started his career as a governor in 1935 in Tekirdag, which would occupy a large part of his professional life. He became the Governor of Erzurum a year later. He served as the Governor of Antalya between 1940-1945, Bursa between 1945-1950, and Samsun between 1950-1951. During his tenure as the Governor of Balıkesir, which he was appointed to in 1951, he was appointed to the central governorship in the same year. He retired on August 17, 1953. Despite his retirement, İşcan did not end his working life and held managerial positions in various private organizations. He won the Istanbul Mayoralty election in 1963 and served in various positions until his death in 1968. The appointment of Haşim İşcan, who had carried out important urban planning activities in every position he was appointed to, as the Governor of Antalya on March 4, 1940 marked the beginning of a new era for Antalya. Because, as soon as he started his job, he saw how short of income the municipality was. Therefore, on August 14, 1940, he encouraged the wealthy citizens who loved their city and founded an association called "Antalya Beautification, Development and Promotion Association". The aim of the association was to provide private sector support for urban planning activities in Antalya and to increase the donations made to the municipality. For this reason, the association encouraged the people of Antalya to spend labor and money for their homeland. It also set an example for other provinces. With the money obtained from donations, various income-generating activities such as wrestler wrestling, camel wrestling, musicals, lottery draws, and central government grants, various urban planning activities such as İnönü (Karaalioğlu) Park, İsmet İnönü Institute for Girls, Bahçelievler Housing Cooperative, library, Maternity and Child Care Center, schools, roads, bridges, water channels and settlements were realized in Antalya. İşcan's work in Antalya would continue, but he was transferred from the Governorship of Antalya to the Governorship of Bursa due to the complaints of the city's notables whose interests were harmed. Keywords: Haşim İşcan, Antalya, Association of Public Works, Publicity and Embellishment of Antalya, public works, transportation, education.