08. Who is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk?

The founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President stands as a towering figure of the 20th Century. Among the great leaders of history, few have achieved so much in so short a period, transformed the life of a nation as decisively, and given such profound inspiration to the world at large.

How can a girl not be curious about him? He's referenced everywhere here, the airport and other major facilities are named after him, and his photos hang in nearly every establishment.

Mustafa Kemal - Senior Captain circa 1907.

Plus, check out that cool mustache! He's not what you think of when you think Turkish, right? Exactly. The Turks are like that—much less swarthy than you'd imagine!

There is A LOT to know, so I'll do my best to just whet your appetite with a few facts and a couple of bad memes. For example, he's credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey. And his surname, Atatürk (meaning 'Father of the Turks'), was granted to him exclusively in 1934 by the Turkish Parliament.

Mustafa Kemal emerged as a military hero at the Dardanelles in 1915. He was a soldier first, not a statesman. Nevertheless, he became the charismatic leader of the Turkish national liberation struggle in 1919, and in 1923 he became 1st Leader of the Republican People's Party leading his nation to full independence. He put an end to the antiquated Ottoman dynasty whose era had lasted more than six centuries—and established a new government more truly aligned with his nation's will.

He began developing social reforms very early and kept notes in his personal journal where he wrote about issues like abolishing the veiling of women and the integration of women into the outside world. A clue on how he was planning to tackle the issue was written in his journal in November 1915, years before he came into power: 

    "The social change can come by (1) educating
     capable mothers who are knowledgeable about
     life; (2) giving freedom to women; (3) a man
     can change his morals, thoughts, and feelings
     by leading a common life with a woman; as
     there is an inborn tendency towards the
     attraction of mutual affection."

With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the new government adapted what they observed in Western countries to the needs of the Turkish nation. Atatürk capitalized on his reputation as an efficient military leader and spent 15 years instituting political, economic, and social reforms. He took power back from the sheiks and dervishes and gave the people a democratic, secular government.

    "Religion is a matter of conscience. One is always
     free to act according to the will of one's
     conscience. We (as a nation) are respectful of 

     religion. It is not our intention to curtail
     freedom of worship, but rather to ensure that 

     matters of religion and those of the state do not 

     become intertwined."

His achievements in Turkey are extraordinary. Especially surprising to me for a man in that time and place in history. He's admired as a pioneer of national liberation, and the world considers him a foremost peacemaker who upheld the principles of humanism and the vision of a united humanity. A 1981 White House statement, issued on the occasion of The Atatürk Centennial, paid homage to him as "a great leader in times of war and peace." In 1933 when he said, "I look to the world with an open heart full of pure feelings and friendship," I think he really, really meant it! xx