We are delighted to host the fifth installment of our traditional series 'Conversations on Russian Language and Literature'. In the event titled 'From Past to Present with His Stories and Plays: Anton Chekhov', we had distinguished guests from the theater, publishing industry, and academia. In the first session of the seminar, theater director, writer, and actor Kaan Erkam shared his experience of encountering Chekhov's plays and discussed Chekhov's significance in Turkish and world theater. Following him, actress and director Selena Demirli emphasized the originality of female characters in Chekhov's theatrical works. The final speaker of the first session, Mustafa Küpüşoğlu, the Editor-in-Chief of Alfa Publications, shared insights into the decision-making processes in the publishing industry and the importance of their published Chekhov collection.

In the second session, Dr. Jale Coşkun, Assistant Professor at Istanbul Aydın University, discussed the role of surnames in the emergence of characters in Chekhov's stories. Translator Uğur Büke, who has translated numerous works from Russian literature into Turkish, shared his experiences translating Chekhov's complete works. The final speaker of the seminar, our department chair Dr. Hülya Arslan, approached Chekhov not only as a writer but also delved into his humane aspects. She recounted Chekhov's journey to Sakhalin Island, where he went to learn about the fate and living conditions of prisoners sent to Siberia and Sakhalin Island during the era of Tsarist Russia, many of whom were subsequently untraceable.

We extend our gratitude to all the esteemed speakers who shed light on different and lesser-known aspects of Chekhov, as well as to the attentive students and guests who attended the seminar, asked questions, and participated actively.