|
Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk
founder of the Turkish Republic
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the name of the founder
of the Turkish Republic. Ataturk means "father of the Turks".
Mustafa is his first name and Kemal is the name his teacher
gave to him because he was very good with mathematics and it
means excellence in Turkish.
Ataturk was born in Selanik (today's Greek city
of Tessaloniki) in 1881 and at that time the city was part of
Ottoman Macedonia. Ataturk is a national hero. You can find
his pictures, his speeches, his monuments and busts everywhere
in Turkey. Ataturk was a man with great intelligence and a perfect
commander.
He has worked all his life to transform a ruined
land to a modern republic. He succeeded in such a way that led
other nations from middle east and Africa to take him and his
actions as a model.
He was married but later on he divorced. He had
an adopted daughter.
|
|
Ataturk accomplished many reforms in Turkey. Some of his
most important reforms are:
- Change of alphabet from Arabic to Latin letters
- Foundation of a secular state (meaning religion and state were separated)
- Introduction of a new civil code (which is a copy of the Swiss civil
code)
- Introduction of monogamy
- Introduction of the gregorian calendar (the Arabic calendar was
used before it)
- Women were given the right to elect and be elected even before many
developed countries
- Dress code (Fez is forbidden)
- Sunday was introduced as a holiday day
- Introduction of family surnames (before that persons would have
just a single name)
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk attended a military academy and
a war college. He became a military officer of Ottoman Empire. At the
first World War, he was a bright lieutenant colonel of infantry. One
of his first personal achievements was the victory against British troops
to defend Gallipoli and protecting Istanbul from the British conquest.
With his full strategic and tactical genius, he became a Turkish folk
hero by defeating the British army which included the Anzacs from Australia
and New Zealand. He was raised to the rank of general "Pasha". Ottoman
Empire saw him as a dangerous element because of his potentials. Soon
he would start his revolution campaign.
|
|
He moved to Anatolia and started revolutionary meetings
in several locations, motivating people to defend the country
against French, Italian and Greek armies. At the same time he
started the movement for establishment of democratic institutions.
With very limited resources and at great risks, he change the
land towards a better future. His aim was to transform the ruins
of Ottoman Empire in a new republic. The war of Independence ended
at 1922 with Turkish victory against European armies.
|
Sultanate was abolished, and the Turkish Republic was
established in October 29, 1923. Ataturk was the first president. He
died on November 10, 1938 at Dolmabahce Palace.
Date: July 12th, 2001
Articles
Index
Hope you enjoyed our article!
Thank you for visiting our site !
Please write your suggestion for an article to : istanbul@gmx.co.uk
|
|
