Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, born in 1881 and died in 1938, was the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first President. He implemented extensive reforms in politics, economics, and culture, modernized the Turkish education system, promoted secularism and women's rights, and mandated the use of the Latin alphabet. A distinguished military officer in the Ottoman Army, he played a major role in the Turkish War of Independence. His visionary, determined, charismatic, outspoken, open-minded, and suave personality is remembered through memorials such as Anıtkabir (Mausoleum in Ankara), numerous statues and portraits across Turkey, and the national holiday Atatürk Memorial Day. As an avid reader, he emphasized the importance of education and literature; he had a fondness for fine arts and architecture, reflected in his encouragement of modernist buildings during his presidency; he strongly believed in the values of Laicism and actively promoted it throughout his life; and he held a deep respect for history, often visiting historical sites and promoting archaeological excavations.