By GreaterGo Editor / 2 May 2023
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the great founder of the Republic of Turkey. He was the field marshal in what was then the Ottoman Empire. Seeing the empire declining and being all vulnerable when facing vigorous attacks from the well-equipped European powers in WWI, the field marshal insisted on launching reforms before the empire fell apart. After a provisional government was formed in Ankara, he abolished the Ottoman Sultanate. The independent and autonomous Republic of Turkey, which was smaller in size than the Ottoman Empire, practised secular and westernised policies with Kemal as its president. The resilient Turkey has become a regional power since then. Kemal, the national hero, won the hearts and respect of his people.