After declaring the republic, the government faced a tough situation. Actually, all of the problems they faced were very difficult. New Turkish state fought with seven countries for the freedom. That’s why the foreign affairs had changed. The world recognized the new Turkish State by signing Lausanne Treaty.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was very careful in that level. He had never gone abroad because of security and recognition of new Turkish State. He aimed the peaceful world, and he planned to make pacts to protect the peace. All of the Westen leaders visited Istanbul and Ankara. Mostly those visits were peaceful. Foreign affairs were based on peace and recognition of Turkish Republic.
Thanks to Ataturk’s wise moves, Turkish Republic is still being respected in the world.
Imagine a leader who believes in youth and next generations very much. He left his legacy, Turkish Republic, to the youth and next generations. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk gifted 19th of May, the arrival day to Samsun, to the youth. Also, it is the only day for youth in the world.
When a youth or a generation is shaped very well, the future will be bright for the state. That’s why education is the most important area of the state. Public is the total of many people living in the country. Ataturk was aware of this fact. That’s why, he made plans up to this principle.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a leader who was interested in education the most. He was so wise that he knew that the education starts with caring the children. He has adopted children, and he made them raised as soldier and professors. Sabiha Gökçen was one of his adopted children, she became first female war pilot of Turkish Republic. Mustafa raised up as a successful soldier. We can list those children more.
He was caring the children of Turkish Republic so much that he gifted 23rd of April (the grand opening of Turkish Assembly) to the world children. This childrens’ day is celebrated in international level in Ankara. This is the only day that gifted to children in the world.
He knew that every child would become the public of Turkish Republic so they should be cared very well.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was far-sightedness leader and stateman. He always tried to make the best prediction for the future. As we all know that there used to be the danger of world war in that era. After the 30’s, Germany became the dangerous state as Hitler was on force. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had a deep prediction power on policy and war art certainly.
The foreigner stateman and senior officers were visiting Turkish Republic in 30’s in order to negotiate about the world war suspect and results. They were getting opinions from Ataturk. Once he answered the question; If a world war had occurred, the only winner would have been Russia. Also, he predicted that Germany couldn’t be able to win the war. Although he didn’t see the WWII, he predicted the results thanks to his far-sightedness.
Also, you can see his far-sightedness in his speech to Turkish youth. He explained everything that will become true in future to the youth.
A wise stateman should be far-sightedness like Ataturk…
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stated that villagers were the master of society. Because Turkish Republic had the agricultural economy because most of the population were settling on the rural area (around %90). That’s why, their education and welfare were the most important title in the economy. They were dealing with soil, and they had a big share in the society.
Village Institutes were the basic education unites for the villages. Firstly, they had a task to make the villagers literate. They had to know how to write and read. Then the agricultural applications were taught. So, they could be able get their economic independency. When they were functional, they had a great benefit for the village public.
After the years, village institutes were terminated with a political decision (after Ataturk’s death). So, the development of villages was interrupted.
After the military triumph, Mustafa Kemal took the economy in the account for the development. He always stated that military triumphs can’t be lasted long if they weren’t supported with economic triumphs. That’s why he planned to make radical moves in economy. Briefly, he aimed the economic independency.
His first economic move was to develop railways because of the reasonable cost. Then the national economic managements were established such as Sümerbank (the textile management) and Etibank (the mining management). He had the first national bank (Work Bank of Turkiye) in order to finance the economic sectors.
The agriculture was being shaped due to get income for the new Turkish state. The factories that were based on agriculture were built and this move brought big income for Turkish Republic. The target was to become Turkish Republic to a self-sufficient country. He had 5 year- development plans made by the economists. Turkish Republic was designed to be self-sufficient economically.
A wise leader is the one who can think everything in various angles. Ataturk was a sort of a leader who knew the value of nature and natural sources for the development. Nature is the basic of the life on earth. Nature always shapes our lifestyles and habits. That’s why protection of nature has a very important role to develop a country. Giving harm to nature means to destroy the conditions for the development. Ataturk had some samples to show this habit:
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had a big ranch built in the middle of Ankara. His aim was to apply some new methods on agriculture so it would be possible to be successful to get a high crop. He stated that his goal was to settle at a small farm after his works. But he couldn’t be able to do it.
He always wanted to live with green environment. That’s why he ordered to have the forests expanded. He also had great gardens wherever he went. He was careful about garden design, and he knew the key points of gardening. He gave value to his gardeners, and he aimed to educate the agriculture engineers in the best way. Modern agriculture was his target.
There is a mansion in Yalova (nearby Istanbul). It is named as ” Walking Mansion”. There is a mansion that he had a rest in Yalova. A gardener complaint about a tree that had big branches. It was damaging the mansion. They advised Ataturk to cut off the tree. But he rejected this advice because the tree was very old. Mustafa Kemal thought to move the mansion for a couple of meters. Then the project was made, and the mansion was moved. Finally, the tree survived, and the mansion was transported. It was the miracle of that era (1930). Briefly, a tree is more valuable than everything.
This is the relationship of nature and development……
Mustafa Kemal was born and grew up in Thessaloniki (Today’s Greek city). He experienced the nationalism in Europe. Nationalism was very powerful in Balkans after 19th century. That’s why Ottoman Empire lost the Balkan region.
On the other hand, Ottoman Empire was losing power and domination in that period. It means that Ottoman Empire couldn’t manage to survive for a long time. The only way was to establish a new Turkish state based on nationalism. One-man or a family ruling system wasn’t valid for a modern world. The empires were collapsed in the world including Russian Empire. The age of empires had already been finished in that era. It was very easy to soften the regime and to impose on the nations, and it wasn’t suitable for the benefits of the public. This principle is also valid for today’s world. Democracy and public domination are the best way to develop a country.
He also believed in reforming the state. That’s why he planned social, economic and cultural reforms to develop Turkish nation. Firstly, education is the basic area to be developed. Then factories are very essential for economic development. Having a good position in the world depends on cultural and economic development. That’s why he planned to establish a new Turkish state based on nationalism.
Some people maybe will see this picture first time. This is the photo that was taken when Turkish Public Parliament in Ankara on 23rd April 1920. He isn’t alone, the deputies and colleagues are behind him. None of them seem nervous, they are on the same line with him. They did respect and trust him even though they didn’t have the same vision with him.
Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk after 1934) always relied on the power of the public. He had never moved alone, he was always with his colleagues and his nation. He knows that a dictator can be powerful, but he can’t be respected by the nation. His nation is always more important than everything for him. He never made decisions without consulting parliament and his colleagues.
He is the man of the nation. He is the man of the freedom. He is the guide of the free and peaceful world.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk planned to develop modern Turkish Republic in his every sector. Agriculture was the major sector in those years. On the other hand, the methods were old- fashioned that’s why it should have been modernized. Within this goal, he ordered to have a farm established. A farm was established in the middle of Ankara (the capital of TR). His goals were to make applications and to develop agricultural production. He also stated that his plan was to spend time in a farm after his retirement. But he couldn’t achieve his goal. He couldn’t see this farm as he passed away in 1938. It is known as Ataturk Forest Ranch today.
Nowadays Ataturk Forest Ranch is in agenda because of different reasons. It was a huge area, and it was capable of producing everything that Turkish Republic needed. A presidential palace and an embassy were built on it. This area has been used out of its main function for years. It was Ataturk’s legacy and he left it to Turkish public as a facility for agriculture.
