THE FOUNDER
and
THE 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.
He blazed across the
world scene in the
early 1920s as a
triumphant
commander 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 was
the 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 the
Republic 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.
With abiding faith in the
vital importance of women
in society, I launched
many reforms to give
Turkish women equal rights
and opportunities.
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.
From grade school to
graduate school, I made
education free, secular, and coeducational.
Primary education was
declared compulsory. The armed
forces implemented an extensive
program of literacy.
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.
I 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.
I 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 regain
its identity, and to free it from the captivity of
foreign languages. For this end, I founded the
Turkish Linguistic Society and scientific researches
were launched.
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."

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 my
country. 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.
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 Prime
Minister 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.
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.
