Nâzım Hikmet was born on January 15, 1902, in Thessaloniki, as the son of Hikmet Bey and Celile Hanım. His father, Hikmet Bey, was the son of Nâzım Pasha and held various governorship positions. His mother, Celile Hanım, was the daughter of linguist Enver Pasha and Leylâ Hanım, and she was also recognized as a painter.
Nâzım Hikmet became interested in poetry from a young age, receiving his initial education from his grandfather, Nâzım Pasha, and wrote his first poem at the age of 11. After completing his secondary education at Galatasaray and Imperial School of Nişantaşı, he then enrolled in the Naval Academy. Following his early love poems, he shifted towards patriotic themes with the occupation of Istanbul. He left the Naval Academy due to illness before completing his education and moved to Anatolia with his friends. Assigned by the Ankara Government, he taught in Bolu. He later traveled to Moscow twice, staying for two years on his first visit. In Russia, he witnessed the revolution and studied political economy. He returned to Moscow again due to forced migration and worked as a translator and assistant at the university.
Upon returning to Turkey, he published various articles and poems. He became an active political and intellectual figure. He spent many years in prison and faced various lawsuits. He was released in 1950 under the General Amnesty Law but went abroad due to threats to his life.
While abroad, he played an active role in the peace movement and received the International Peace Prize. He chaired the jury that awarded the peace prize to various famous individuals. He experienced health problems due to illnesses and passed away on June 3, 1963, at his home in Moscow. After his death, his poems were published in Turkey, and his influence continued for a long time.
