MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRKTHE FOUNDER

andTHE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC

“Father of the Turks”

Gazi University Foundation Private

Primary School

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stands as a towering figure of the 20th century. Among the great leaders of history, few have achieved so much in so short period, transformed the life of a nation as decisively, and given such profound inspiration to the world at large.

EMERGING AS A MILITARY HERO AT THE DARDANELLES IN 1915, HE BECAME THE CHARISMATIC LEADER OF THE TURKISH NATIONAL LIBERATION STRUGGLE IN 1919

He blazed across the

world scene in theearly 1920s as atriumphantcommander who crushed the

invaders of his country.

I actively participated in the national resistance movement as a General

Inspector to oversee the demobilization of remaining Ottoman military units and nationalist organizations. On 19 May 1919,I reached Samsun. My first goal wasthe establishment of an organized national resistance movement against the occupying forces. In June 1919, I and my close friends declared that the independence of the country was in danger.

Following a series of

impressive victories

against all odds, he

led his nation to full

independence.

Atatürk created theRepublic of Turkey

in 1923, establishing a new government truly representative of the nation's will.

It was on April 23rd 1920 during the War of Independence that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new independent secular and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the Allied invasion forces on September 9th 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne

on July 24th 1923, I started the task of establishing the institutions of the new state. In unprecedented moves I dedicated the sovereignty day to the children and entrusted in the hands of the youth the protection of this sovereignty and independence. 

As President for 15 years, until his death in 1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced a broad range of swift and sweeping reforms - in the political, social, legal, economic, and cultural spheres - virtually unparalleled in any other country.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

With abiding faith in thevital importance of

womenin society, I launched many reforms to give Turkish women equal

rightsand opportunities.

"EVERYTHING WE SEE IN THE WORLD IS THE CREATIVE WORK OF WOMEN."

The new Civil Code, adopted in 1926,abolished polygamy and recognized the equal rights of women in divorce, custody, and inheritance. The entire educational system from the grade school to the university became coeducational.

EDUCATIONFrom grade school to

graduate school, I made

education free, secular, and co-

educational.

Primary education was

declared compulsory. The armed

forces implemented an extensive

program of literacy.

"THE GOVERNMENT’S MOST CREATIVE AND SIGNIFICANT DUTY IS EDUCATION."

I heralded "The Army of Enlightenment". With pencil or chalk in hand, I personally instructed children and adults in schoolrooms, parks, and other places. Literacy which had been less than 9 percent in 1923 rose to more than 33 percent by 1938.

MODERNIZATIONI pointed to achieving and even going beyond the level of contemporary civilization as the goal of the Turkish nation. I want to give a summary of my ideas in this respect, as follows :

“We cannot shut our eyes and assume that we live in isolation. We cannot fence off and live without having any contacts with the world. On the contrary, we shall live on the scene of civilization as a progressive and civilized nation. Such life is possible only through, science and technology. We will take the science and technology from any country wherever they may be found, and put them in the heads of all individuals of the nation. There is no condition or reservation concerning the adoption of science and technology”. Such are my

words to point to us the path and the method of modernization.

THE LANGUAGE REVOLUTİONI attached great importance to the Turkish language since language was an instrument of expressing the national culture, and one of the most solid foundations of the national unity. So, it was necessary to make the language

regainits identity, and to free it from the captivity offoreign languages. For this end, I founded theTurkish Linguistic Society and scientific

researches were launched.

PEACE

A military hero who had won victory after

victory against many foreign invaders, I

knew the value of peace and, during the Presidency,

I did my utmost to secure and strengthen it throughout

the world. I stated, immediately after the Turkish War of Independence,

that "peace is the most effective way for nations to attain prosperity and

happiness." Later as I concluded treaties of friendship and created

regional ententes, I affirmed: " Turks are the friends of all civilized

nations." 

“Mankind is a single body and each nation a part of that body. We must never say 'What does it matter to me if some part of the world is ailing?' If there is such an illness, we must concern ourselves with it as though we were having that illness."

“PEACE AT HOME,PEACE IN THE WORLD”

In recognition of Atatürk's untiring efforts to build peace, the League of Nations paid tribute to him at his death in November 1938 as

“a genius international peacemaker".

In 1981, on the occasion of the Centennial of his birth, the United Nations and UNESCO honored the memory of the great Turkish Statesman who abhorred war - 

" Unless the life of the nation faces peril, war is a crime."

I am a patriotic person and I do everything for mycountry. My biggest ideal is to make Turkish people to live in a prosperous ambient. Science and logic are very important for me. I never tell lies and I always search for the truth. I am very patient, well disciplined, logical and determined. I gave importance to education and for this reason I did many revolutions. They consolidated the education process. I am a far-sighted leader

and this helped me during the wars. And I did a lot of

work during my life. I wrote a book called The Speech , a geometry book and some books about recruiting.But the most important of all my works is the Republic Of Turkey.

Emerging nations admire him as a pioneer of national liberation. The world honors his memory as a foremost peacemaker who upheld the principles of humanism and the vision of a united humanity.

Liman Von SANDERS German General“Humanity has lost a personality having a character of a great soldier, genius, and a statesman and historical personality.

WHAT DİD THEY SAY FOR ATATÜRK?

John F.KENNEDY (U.S. President, 10 November 1963)

My sorrow is that, there is no more possibility to fulfil my strong wish about the meeting with this

man.

French PrimeMinister BRIAND“He was not only a great man for

Turkey, but he was also a great leader for the Eastern People.”

Franklin D.ROOSEVELT (U.S. President, 10 November 1963)

He had an embracing - like extraordinary leadership strength. He is vigilant, prompt, and intelligent enough to be attractive.

Professor Herbert MELZIG (Historian)Atatürk was not only the Turkish people's leader, but also he was the leader of all the people who fought for their freedom. Under his directives, you have gained your freedom. We too have followed that route to gain our freedom.

Ataturk died in

1938,

but attained

immortality in

the eyes of his

people.

As a commander he had been

the victor of many battles, as a leader he had influenced the masses, as a statesman he had given the example of a successful administration and as a revolutionary he had striven to alter the social, cultural, economic,political, and legal structure of the society as its roots.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT PERSONALITIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

WE ARE ATATURK’S YOUTH!