Ataturk - Father Of A Nation

It will not take you long to notice statues, busts, pictures, monuments or portraits of a certain gentleman once in Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is held at the highest esteem by all Turks, and is solely responsible for the modernization of this nation. Sunday Patola discovered a little more about the ’ Father of the Turks ’ than the average tourist.

It is hard to believe that one man could achieve the feats Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) did! Not only did he secure Turkey as a separate country by ridding the land of all invaders, including the Allies, but he totally substituted old Ottoman systems with more modern and western ones’ which resulted in what you and I see today. To follow are some of the major achievements he created from nothing:

Everyday in Turkey you are reminded of one of histories greatest military and political leaders – Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. His picture is on all Turkish currency. Homes, hotels and restaurants proudly display his portrait. Every city and village pays tribute with statues and monuments. You will find libraries, airports and streets named in honour of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

His Begining
In the now Greek port town of Salonika, Mustafa was born in 1881. His father died when Mustafa was a boy. His mother sent him to military school where he excelled, earning the nickname KEMAL (the perfect one).

Military Genius
During is early military years, Mustafa Kemal associated with the Young Turk revolutionaries who were outspoken against the Sultanate of the suffering Ottoman Empire His superiors banished him to Aemascuc, but shortly afterwards he volunteered to serve in Libya during the war with Italy (1911). Prior to the First World War, Mustafa Kemal served as a successful commander in the unsuccessful Balkan War (1912 – 1914). He was in Sophia as military attaché when WWI broke out. By this time he had earned a reputation as a skilled military leader.

The only successful Ottoman military action of WWI was the defence of the Dardenelles at Gallipoli in 1915. This was due to the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. Here he led a brutal but brilliant defence that earned him a reputation for heroism. He said to his troops, “ I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die”, and most of them did before reinforcements arrived. Mustafa Kemal was hit near the heart by shrapnel. His life was saved by a pocket watch further enhancing his reputation as an invincible leader.

The Revolutionary
At the end of WWI the allies were in the process of dividing up the defeated Ottoman Empire. British, French, Italian and Greek troops occupied areas of the former Empire pursuant to deals made amongst the Entente powers and the last Sultan. Greek armies arrived to take Simyrna (now Izmir) on 15 May 1919. Mustafa Kemal arrived at Samsun on the Black Sea coast four days later on 19 May 1919. This date marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence and is the date Mustafa Kemal chose as his birthday (now celebrated as Youth Day). Once away from Istanbul, Mustafa Kemal renounced his rank and titles and focused on building a nationalist army. He inspired the masses to fight for their freedom. On 23 April 1920, (now Children’s Day) the first hand National assembly was convened in Ankara, with Mustafa Kemal as its President. The government in Istanbul issued a warrant for his arrest as a result.

Mustafa Kemal’s troops pushed the Armenians and Georgians back. French and Italian armies left without battle. The Greeks were a more formidable foe, but were eventually defeated. The Battle of Sakarya, fought almost at the gates of Ankara, led to the Greek army withdrawing and digging in. One year later, led by Mustafa Kemal, the Battle of Dumlupinar saw the Greek army almost annihilated and their commander taken prisoner on 30 August 1922 (Liberation Day). On 9 September 1922 the fleeing Greek army was driven into the sea and Izmir was in Turkish hands, An armistice with the Allies was signed shortly afterwards.

The Charismatic Statement
Rebirth of a Nation. The victorious Nationalists under Mustafa Kemal began the difficult tasks of rebuilding a nation savaged and impoverished by war. On 1 November 1922, eight months later the treaty of Lusanne secured Turkish territory, sovereignty and independence. Mustafa Kemal became the first President of the new Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923 (Republic Day).

Reforms
With the formalities of establishing a nation completed, Mustafa Kemal looked to the west as a model for modernising his new Republic – TURKIYE – “Land of the Turks”. Mustafa Kemal’s reforms dramatically altered every aspect of Turkish life.

Some of his most important changes were:
1924 – 1934
• The separation of religion and state
• Banning of religious schools and modernising education. Primary education became compulsory
• Secularisation of the legal system by adopting a Swiss Civil Code and Italian criminal law.
• The Ottoman Fez hat was banned, being associated with outdated conservative Islamic ways
• The Latin alphabet replaced Arabic script. The modern Turkish language was developed in five months. Every citizen had to learn to read and write their new Turkish. Ataturk taught many teachers and students the new language himself.
• The Islamic calendar was replaced by the Western Calendar
• Sunday replaced Friday as the official holiday of the week
• All citizens had to adopt a surname Mustafa Kemal’s surname - Ataturk (“Father of the Turks”) was awarded to him by the National Assembly. No one else is permitted that surname.

• Women were given the right to vote, to be appointed public office and to be elected to government.
• Polygamy was abolished. Women were given equal rights to divorce, custody and inheritance.
• University reform included a ban on women wearing a veil at university. Women have been free to choose to veil on or not since Ataturk’s reforms.
• Ataturk saw to the building of 52 dams to bring water, electricity and technology to the people.

“Ne mutlu Turkum diyene!” (“Happy is he who calls himself a Turk!”) Ataturk said this during a speech in 1927 about the value of an independent Republic. It is seen on many monuments throughout Turkey and holds true due to Ataturk’s legacy.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk dies at Dolmapache Palace in Istanbul at 9:05am on 10 November 1938 at the age of 57. Once minute of silence is observed each year to commemorate his death. Even cars in Istanbul and ferries on the Bospherus stop. Each new Turkish government who, upon taking office, visit Ataturk’s mausoleum in Ankara and write a message in the album to officially remember him.

Each year when Ataturk’s cadet number: 1238, is called during roll call of the graduating class of new cadets the response is:
“He is among us”.

 

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