Özden Toker

Özden Toker
Özden Toker as a child in the 1940s
Born
Özden İnönü

(1930-02-07) February 7, 1930
SpouseMetin Toker (1955–2002)
ChildrenAyşe Gülsün Bilgehan
Parent(s)İsmet İnönü, Mevhibe İnönü
AwardsMudanya Peace Road Award

Özden Toker (born February 7, 1930)[1][2] is a Turkish patron of the arts and the daughter of Turkey's second president, İsmet İnönü.

Early life

Toker was born Özden İnönü on February 7, 1930, in Ankara, Turkey's capital.[1][3] According to Toker, Atatürk is the one who came up with her given name, Özden.[4]

As a child, she was friends with Atatürk's adopted daughter, Ülkü Adatepe.[5] She grew up with Atatürk frequently visiting Pembe Köşk, the İnönü household, in order to discuss politics with her father and their friends.[6]

Toker was educated at Çankaya Primary School and Ankara Girls' High School.[3] She later graduated from Ankara University, studying in the department of English language and literature. She also studied at University of Edinburgh.[7]

Career

Toker was one of the founding members of the İnönü Foundation and became its president in 1992 after the death of her mother, Mevhibe İnönü.[8][7]

She has published two memoirs.[6]

In 2022, Toker received the first Mudanya Peace Road Award awarded by Mudanya district in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the Armistice of Mudanya.[9]

Personal life

Toker (née İnönü) married journalist Metin Toker on February 9, 1955. When her husband was in prison, she supported his newspaper Akis.[7] The couple had two daughters and a son: Nurperi, Ayşe Gülsün and Güçlü Toker. She has seven grandchildren.[3]

Until 2019, Toker lived on the upper floors of Pembe Köşk. She had lived in this house for 89 years. Her decision to move out was primarily in order to allow the entire house to be open to tourists.[5]

Bibliography

  • Cumhuriyet’le Özdeş Bir Yaşam: Özden Toker
  • İsmet İnönü’nün Kızı Anlatıyor[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Özden Toker kimdir?". www.biyografiler.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  2. ↑ TOPRAK, Veli (2026-02-09). "İnönü'nün kızı Özden Toker'in 7 Şubat sırrı - Sözcü Gazetesi". www.sozcu.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  3. 1 2 3 "Özden Toker - YKY - Yapı Kredi Yayınları". YKY - Yapı Kredi Yayınları (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  4. ↑ "CUMHURİYET KIZI ÖZDEN TOKER BABASI İSMET İNÖNÜ'YÜ ANLATTI". www.dildernegi.org.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  5. 1 2 "Upper floor of 'Pembe Köşk' to open to visit - Türkiye News". Hürriyet Daily News. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  6. 1 2 "İsmet İnönü'nün kızı Özden Toker, Atatürk'ü ve babasını anlattı". Antalya Haber - Kanal V (in Turkish). 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  7. 1 2 3 "Özden Toker Kimdir, Kaç Yaşında?". Isparta Haber, Isparta Son Dakika Haberleri | Haber32 (in Turkish). 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  8. ↑ "Özden Toker – İnönü Vakfı, İsmet İnönü, İsmet İnönü Kimdir, İsmet İnönü Hayatı, İsmet İnönü Resimleri". Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  9. ↑ "Özden İnönü Toker'e, 'Mudanya Mütarekesi Barış Yolu' ödülü". T24 (in Turkish). 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  10. ↑ ÖZGÜN, HÜSEYİN (2023-08-19). "İsmet İnönü'nün Kızı, 1947 Gümüşhane'sini Anlattı". Gümüşhane Haber , Son dakika Gümüşhane haberleri, Gümüşkoza Gazetesi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-08-10.