August 30 has a special significance in modern history. Exactly 102 years ago, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, managed to achieve a decisive victory against the Western colonial forces in the Battle of Dumlupinar on August 30, 1922. The day is also known as Turkish Armed Forces Day.
In the last century, at the time of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire, with its capital at modern-day Turkish city of Istanbul, was ruling over three continents of the world from the last six centuries, and most of the Muslim countries of the present world were under the control of the Turks. Historically, India has never been under the control of the Caliphate. Interestingly, while fighting the war of independence, the Turks received sincere support and practical help from the people of only one region in the world and that country was India under British rule.
Indians not only had a special relationship of eternal devotion with the Turkish nation, but they also considered the protection of the Caliphate as their religious duty. The name of our national language ‘Urdu’ itself is a word of Turkish language. Many Turkish origin cuisines and garments are now an important part of our culture.
Under the leadership of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, the Muslims of the Subcontinent started the Khilafat Movement in support of the Turks, and people belonging to every school of thought came out on the streets to join the ambitious movement. Several Hindu leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai and Swami Shraddhanand, actively participated in the movement to show solidarity with Muslims. That era is also known for Hindu-Muslim unity in Indian history. When the fundraising campaign for the financial support of the Turks was started, the women of India donated their precious jewelry.
Under the leadership of Kemal Ataturk, British imperialism and other Western colonial powers were finally defeated on August 30, 1922, and the geopolitical situation ultimately led towards emerging a modern republic for Turkish people on the world map with the bright traditions of the past and hopes for a bright future. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also a great admirer of Ataturk and on many occasions, he praised the passionate struggle of Turkish people during the war of independence.
The Republic of Turkiye is one of the first countries that recognized Pakistan immediately after independence in 1947. Turkiye is the only country that was with Pakistan even before independence. Still the bilateral friendship is permanent, as the top leadership of both the countries have a similar position on various global issues at the diplomatic level. In the past such news reports also emerged that a proposal of issuing dual passports and joint citizenship to the people of the two countries is being considered.
During my various visits to Turkiye, I personally observed that as soon as Pakistan is mentioned, the Turkish people of the older generation get lost in the pleasant memories of the past, but today’s young generation also looks a little bit confused about us. I wrote about Pakistan-Turkiye relations four years ago in February 2020 published in The News entitled ‘One nation’, and highlighted an incident attributed to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
During the visit to Ankara in July 1993, late Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel, acknowledged the historical bilateral ties between both countries. However, he emphasized that there should be a focus on boosting economic cooperation. It was the era of the nineties when poverty, economic depression, inflation and unemployment were on the rise in Turkiye, but the Turkish leadership was determined to combat all challenges and transform their country into a peaceful, developed and economic power.
Today, the Turkish Victory Day delivers a clear message that in today’s world only the country with sufficient capital, advanced technology, skilled manpower and most importantly, a strong military has the ability to assert its stance. All those countries who have nothing to contribute positively for mankind ultimately become worthless in the eyes of the international community.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
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