On October 29th 1923, before you were born: Mr.Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became President of the new Republic of Turkey. Prior to that it was all Ottoman with its empire. Of course, Ataturk is revered in Turkey for his many changes, including ‘secularism’, which although predominantly a Muslim country Turkey professes to be within its constitution. To this day and probably for a good while to come, the name ‘Ataturk’ and the man himself is held in extremely high esteem.
This is a very big day for the Turks, especially politically and Ambassador to Bahrain Hatun Demirer wouldn’t be a happy teddy if she did not organize a big bash for the fraternity to mark this special day – and what a lovely women she is. Indeed all over Turkey the celebrations ring out as they do in diplomatic circles around the world. Bahrain being no different! It was a good celebration too – held at the Diplomat Radisson Blue hotel. The excellent Police Band played and Ambassadors to we plebs in the media were happily welcomed with open arms.
History in a flash! So what about the name Turkey? (Turkish television is good). It is not rocket science to realize that it stems from the man himself. Born in 1881 in what is now part of Greece, he died on November 10, 1938, from cirrhosis of the liver, but did a LOT in between. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the perfect one and ‘Father of the Turks’) joined the Military Academy at the very young age of 12. As a Young Turk during the Revolution of July 1908, Sultan Abdülhamid II was deposed. World War I was responsible for the split up of the Empire with losses to the Allies. The land was eventually given independence and the Republic was born a few years after in 1923. The veil was banned, women had ‘equal rights’ and the vote, plus the language script was changed to Latin. A little later, he made sure everyone had a ‘last name’. (Who knew they didn’t have one before that?). According to Ataturk’s philosophy, it was the only way to modernize.
If you listen to Hatun Demirer’s speech within the video, it should give an insight into the fundamentals of Turkish thinking, although politically nowadays, observers question some of the maneuvering that has taken place within the last few years and that includes the re-introduction of the veil none of which we saw at this fine gathering.
