asked us why we had come.

"The second thing that caught our attention and astonished us was the hoca's manner and dress, because we did not see the customary hoca's dress which we knew and had expected. With a conical hat on his head, boots on his feet, dagger at his waist, and firm step, he reminded us of a soldier or high-ranking officer rather than a hoca. In fact, because of his youth, we thought to ourselves: `I wonder if he is learned.' But then Molla Habib, the most advanced student, was studying books like Molla Cami. He was like the students' sergeant.

"We said we had come to study under him. So he told us: `Fine, but I have conditions. You can on condition you comply with them.' Then he added: `There is no possibility of going back for someone who starts with me. He remains with me to the end of his life.' And he then said: `And do not think you can accept and give your word today, then leave later if you get fed up or for any other reason, because the Governor of Van is my close friend. I could have you brought back here through him. Tonight you are my guests. Stay here and think it over, then make your decision in the morning.'

"We were bewildered and did not know what to say to the proposal. We consulted with Molla Habib. We asked him: `Do you stay with the hoca under those conditions?' `Yes,' he replied. `We gave our words once and undertook the matter. It is true it is not all that easy, but his learning is truly extraordinary. But you know best, do whatever seems right for you.' We bowed our heads in shame, and saying we could not accept, left."

And finally, the owner of the newspaper Hur Adam , Sinan Omur, had these memories of Bediuzzaman and the militia, which he related to Necmettin Sahiner in interview.

"I was a student in the teachers' training college in Istanbul when the First World War broke out. I was eighteen years old at the time, so they took me into the Army. I first saw Bediuzzaman in August 1331 (1915) on Mount Subhan. He was on a white horse. Galloping up and down, he was raising the soldiers' morale. He was commander of the militia forces at that time. He had a turban on his