Tarzan of Manisa

Ahmet Bedevi also known as Tarzan of Manisa was born in 1900 in Baghdad to become a soldier fighting in the War of Independence and honored with a medal He returned to a ruined and destroyed Manisa in 1923 Bedevi started working at the Municipality as a fireman and a gardener He became the pioneer and symbol of planting activities Because of the soft climate of the area he first wore a vest and trousers and then he started wandering about in the town in his shorts The people of Manisa saw his resemblance to Tarzan because of his clothes and always cherished him with love Tarzan of Manisa lived in the mount Spilylus ignoring all his individual needs but working for a greener environment He died on 31st May 1963 However he has never been forgotten by the locals on the contrary he was immortalized for the things he did for Manisa and people followed his example