The Greatest Light

When I was still a high school student, and Küçükbakkalköy was a neighborhood of Kadıköy, I became the district winner with my essay titled "Atatürk: The Greatest Light" in a competition organized by the Kadıköy Lions Club. The then Lions Director, the late Rafet Erçil, presented me with my award (a book from the World Classics and a wristwatch:)).

A few years later, the researcher and writer Cemal Şener (may he rest in peace) wanted to publish my essay. I lost the copy of the magazine (due to marriage, moving, etc.) that I had, but today I reached it again…

I extend my endless thanks to Muharrem Ercan Dede and my brother Ali for making this possible.

In 28 years, many things have changed in the world and of course in my life. The only thing that has not changed "and will never change" is my love for Atatürk, my belief in Atatürk, and my devotion to Atatürk...

With endless gratitude ♾

Atatürk!...

An intelligent, hardworking, nation-loving, enlightened, strong, and realistic thinker; a great revolutionary Turkish leader who turns sorrow into joy, night into day, and the bad into good. It is impossible to find any new ideas, studies, true stories, or historical events about him that have not been written to date. Especially, it is never possible to describe him in a few sentences or fit him into a few lines. To better understand him, we must first get to know him and adopt his ideas; we must learn exactly what he wanted to convey to us. This is where understanding Atatürkism begins.

To some, Atatürkism is idol worship, to others, it is believing in a lie, and to some, it is an endless Great Light... But!... Do we really know what true Atatürkism is? Have we ever asked ourselves, what is Atatürkism? Can one become an Atatürkist just by saying they are? Let’s first answer these questions so we can realize whether we are truly Atatürkists.

What is Atatürkism?

In my opinion, Atatürkism is the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. It is a universal movement guided by the thoughts of a realistic leader and a revolutionary action figure.

There were no weapons… he found and united them; there was no ammunition… he made and arranged it; in four years, he devastated the dreams of internal and external enemies. He lived an unparalleled adventure in the world as an honorable and equal member of contemporary civilization. This extraordinary success is referred to as the KEMALIST REVOLUTION in all languages of the world. This is the essence of Atatürkism. Alongside the Turkish nation, Atatürkism leads the resources for independence and development of all oppressed nations, merging with Turkish revolutions. The libertarian thought that separates religion and state "Laicism"; "Republicanism," which allows the public to participate in state life; "Nationalism," which opposes discrimination and racism; "Populism," which says that the source of sovereignty is the nation; "Statism," which states that priority should be given to state activity to embrace all its people; and "Reformism," which symbolizes our nation’s desire to rise, are the principles that form the foundation of Atatürkism. The main aim of his reforms is to elevate our people to the level of a contemporary and civilized society. If, as said, Atatürkism is idol worship, then millions of people worship idols; if it is believing in a lie, the world cried a lie when he died; but if he is a great light, let’s not forget that the greatest light on earth is Atatürk and Atatürkism.

What about the Republic!

The authority of the caliphate is based on the sovereignty of God. A person must be the servant of God with their soul and the Sultan with their body. However, the Republic is the governance of humans by humans, for humans. It is the great power in which the sovereignty of the nation is in its own hands, and the only source of power is society. This is also his creation.

He was a doctor who healed a dying homeland; he was a teacher who empowered ignorant minds; he was a sage who foresaw the future; he was an architect who redrew a country; above all, he was a human who is still followed after decades.

I believe no further words are necessary. His principles and words have irrevocably enveloped our identity, and it is impossible to cast them away. If we are here today, if we have equal rights with everyone, we owe it to him, and we must recognize this value. How fortunate is the one who says, "I live in the light of Atatürk’s principles!"

Sevim DALGIÇ GÜL / November 1996