Atatürk
It won't take you long to discover the
national hero, Kemel Atatürk. Though he died on 10 November 1938, his picture is
everywhere in Turkey - a bust or statue (preferaby equestrian ) is in every park,
quotations from his speeches and writings are on every public building. He is almost
synonymous with the Turkish Repubic. The best popular account of his life and times is
Lord Kinross's Atatürk: The Rebirth of a Nation.
Kingross portrayed Atatürk as a man of great
intelligence and even greater energy and daring, possessed by the idea of giving his
fellow Turks a new lease of life. In contrast to many leaders, he had the capability of
realising his obsession almost single- handedly. His achievement in turning a backward
empire into a forwardloking nation- state was taken as a model by former Egyptian
president Nasser, the shahs of Iran and other Islamic leaders.
Early Years
In 1881, a boy named Mustafa was born into the
family of a minor Turkish bureacrat living in Salonika -now the Greek city of
Thessaloniki, but at that time a city in Ottoman Macedonia. Mustafa was smart and a hard
worker at school. His mathematics teacher was so impressed that he gave him the nickname
Kemal (excellence). The name Mustafa Kemal stuck with him as he went though a military
academy and the war college, and even as he pursued his duties as an officer.
Military Career
He served with distinction and acquired a
reputation as something of a hothead, perhaps because his commanders were not as bold as
he was. By the time of the battle at Gallipoli in WWI, he was a promising lieutenant
colonel of infantry.
The defence of Gallipoli, which saved
Constantionople from British conquest (until the end of the war, at least), was a personel
triumple for Mustafa Kemal. His strategic and tactical genius came into full play. His
commanders had little to do but approve his suggestions; he led with utter disregard for
his own safety. Avastly superior British force (including Anzacs from Australia and New
Zealand) was driven away, and Mustafa Kemal because an Ottoman folk hero.
Though he was promoted to the rank of pa?a
('pasha' ,general ), the powers-that be wanted to keep him under control. They saw him as
a 'dangerous element', and they were right.When the war was lost and the empire was on the
verge of being disarmed and dismembered Mustafa Kemal Pasha began his revolution.
The Revolution
He held meetings and congresses to rally the
people, began to establish democratic institutions and held off several invading armies
(French, Italian and Greek). He did all of this at the same time with severely limited
resources. Several times the whole effort almost collapsed, and many of his friends and
advisors were ready to ride for their lives out of Ankara. But Kemal never filinched and
was always ready to dare the worst.
He was skilful and fortunate enough to carry
it though. Many great revolutionary leaders falter or fade when the revolution is won.
Atatürk lived 15 years into the republican era, and he had no doubts about what the new
country's course should be. He introduced reforms and directed the country's progress with
surprising foresight
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