Dec 25 2008
All about Ataturk
We have looked at the Ottoman Sultans and Valide Sultans ruling the Ottoman Empire which came to an end in WWI when the allies defeated the Turkish troops, proceeded to occupy Turkey and developed plans to partition the vast country. Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, prevented that from happening.
He was born Mustafa Kemal in Salonika, which is today the Greek town of Thessaloniki. Although his father wanted him to persue a career in trade, Mustafa’s incliniations were towards politics and the military and he enrolled in the appropriate Academy. He advanced quickly and distinguished himself as a leader during the various battles fought by the Empire to defend Turkey against the allies.
He was dubbed Ataturk, “Father of the Turks” much later. When Turkey was defeated and occupied by the Entente Powers, Ataturk joined and lead the Turkish National Movement. The Turkish War of Independence began until the Entente Powers were defeated and the Republic of Turkey was declared in 1923 with Mustafa Kemal as its first president.
Apart from his prowess as a military leader, Ataturk’s goal was to transform Turkey into a democratic, secular, nation state. A parliament and government was established in Ankara, which became the new capital of Turkey. Education was all important to Ataturk as was the integration of women in public life. He encouraged his countrymen to wear modern European style clothes and set an example himself with his famous Panama hat. He adopted 7 daughters and 1 son and his daughters played a big role in the integration and modernisation of Turkish women.
His daugher Sabiha Gukcen for example was the world’s first female combat pilot. Ataturk etsablished a new secular criminal code which was modelled on Italian law and a civil code which followed the Swiss example.
Along with his education reforms, he promoted the new Turkish alphabet which replaced the Arabic script of the Ottoman Empire. It is a variation of the Latin alphabet.
In 1934, women were granted full political rights and in 1935, 34 female MPs joined parlament in Ankara. Needless to say, that his drastic reforms, always guided by the motto: ‘Peace in Turkey, peace with the world’ met with resistence but Ataturk and his far reaching reforms prevailed.
On a personal note: he was a keen sportsman and avid dancer who liked to walz as well as participate in traditional dances. He died, only age 57, of a serious illness of the liver. It’s truly amazing how much this outstanding statesman was able to achieve in his relatively short life time.
