When you are traveling in Turkey you are going to meet the photos of a blond,
handsome, charismatic man in various sizes and exposures at stores, offices, even
at small village coffee houses. He is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern
Turkey. There is no sanction on people to have his photos. Turks hang his photos
on their walls because they wish to do so.
Mustafa Kemal, was born in Salonica in 1881. After graduating the military
school he joined the Ottoman Army in 1905. He has been a military hero at Dardanelle
and Gallipolis war during the World War I and later became the leader of the
Turkish national Independence War.
When the Ottoman Empire was considered to be defeated following the First World
War Anatolia was shared among the occupying powers. That is France – southern
Anatolia, Italy – South Anatolia, Greece –Aegean region and Great Britain –
The Marmara region. The Entente Powers officially occupied Ä°stanbul and disbanded
the Parliament on March 16, 1919 and Mustafa Kemal declared that the sovereignty
and life of the Ottoman Empire, which had lasted for six centuries, was ended.
Then he immediately started to organize national resistance and got in touch
with all the army units and resistance organizations in Anatolia and deciding
to use Anatolia as headquarters he settled down in Ankara.
The Turkish resistance movements were transformed into a complete war of independence
when Mustafa Kemal landed at Samsun on May 19, 1919 and lasted for three years
until, The Great Victory on August 30, 1922.
The Grand National Assembly was inaugurated in Ankara on April 23, 1920. The
Assembly undertook the duties of saving and administrating the country and obtaining
complete independence for the country. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the President.
On July 24, 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty signed by the representatives of the
New Turkish Government on one side and by Britain, France, Italy, Japan. Greece,
Romania and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) on the other.
The treaty recognized the creation of a Turkish State with the same borders
as those of the National Pact of 1920 and guaranteed her complete independence.
Thus, it marked the successful culmination of the National War of Independence.
The Republic was announced on October 29, 1923 and Mustafa Kemal was elected
the first President of the Republic of Turkey.
After the establishment of the Republic sweeping cultural and socio-political
reforms took place. First the Caliphate abolished. Traditional schools closed
and Constitution adopted in 1924 as the replacement of the 1876 constitution
that had continued to serve as the legal framework for the republican government.
Reforms on clothing shows as abolishing of fes (a cherry colored, tasseled
oriental cap) on men and veiling of women by leaving their places to western
clothing. Gregorian calendar was adopted. In 1926 new civil, commercial and
penal laws are adopted from Swiss and Italian Laws respectively. And with these
civil codes women, who had been neglected for centuries, now have the same rights
as man. They could be appointed to official posts, would have the right to vote
(even before Swiss women) to be elected to the Parliament and of course the
monogamy principle. Weekend act, time and calendar system and the change on
weight and measure (kilo and meter) are all among those reforms.
New Turkish alphabet, a modified Latin form, adopted and with this came the
movement to develop the education of the nation. Primary education was declared
compulsory and great importance was given to the education of women. Then the
State declared Secularism in 1928.
The Surname Law was adopted on June 21, 1934 and Mustafa Kemal was given the
surname of Atatürk (Father of the Turks) by the Grand National Assembly. A very
appropriate surname who created the Republic of Turkey from the ashes of the
Ottoman Empire, which lost its power, soil and population after the Balkan War
and World War I.
Everybody in Turkey has the freedom to choose his surname. However the only
exception is Atatürk. The National Assembly legislated in 1934 that the surname
Atatürk only belongs to Mustafa Kemal and it is forbidden to be used by other
parties. Even Atatürk's sister and his adopted children don't have the right
to use this surname.
Atatürk was not only a military genius but also a charismatic leader and a
comprehensive reformer all through his life. It was very important for him to
carry the Republic to the level of modern civilizations and to be an active
member of the culturally developed communities. Mustafa Kemal also initiated
a program for economic development in Turkey, which consisted of agricultural
expansion, industrial and technological advances. He completely reformed the
country during his 15-year presidency, until his death at Dolmabahce Palace
in November 10, 1938. He was temporarily buried in Ethnographic Museum in Ankara.
Then a mausoleum called Anıtkabir was built in Ankara and his body transferred
there on November 10, 1953.
Atatürk was divorced and had no children. However Ms. Afet İnan and Ms. Sabiha
Gökcen who are among the adopted children of Atatürk were a Turkish History
Professor and the first woman combat pilot of Turkey respectively.
His achievements are a heritage to the modern state of Turkey.
