Türkiye Commemorates Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on November 10

Every year on November 10, Türkiye honors the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Türkiye, on the anniversary of his passing in 1938, TuraNews.kz reports.

On November 10, all traffic and pedestrians across Türkiye pause simultaneously to pay respect to the country’s first President, historic reformer, military commander, and world-renowned figure. Born in 1881, Atatürk passed away on November 10, 1938, prompting annual nationwide commemoration ceremonies.

The key reforms implemented under Atatürk’s leadership include:

• Declaration of the Republic: Proclaimed the founding of the Republic of Türkiye on October 29, 1923.

• Civil Code and Women’s Rights: Adopted the Civil Code on February 17, 1926, and later granted women full voting and election rights between 1930 and 1934.

• Secularism: Solidified state secularism within the Constitution between 1928 and 1937.

• Closure of Dervish Lodges: Enacted legislation on November 30, 1925, banning religious orders and closing dervish lodges and sanctuaries.

• Hat and Dress Reform: Passed the Hat and Dress Law on November 25, 1925, aligning menswear with modern Western standards.

• Standardization of Time, Calendar, and Metrics: Transitioned to the Gregorian calendar and modern international units (meter, kilometer, gram, kilogram, ton) on March 23, 1931, replacing traditional measurements like dirham and arshin to align Turkish society with global standards.

• Surname Law and Titles: Introduced the Surname Law on June 21, 1934, requiring all citizens to adopt a surname. Five months later, the Turkish Parliament bestowed the surname “Atatürk” upon Mustafa Kemal, making its use by any other person illegal by law on December 17, 1934. Old titles and honorifics (such as aga, pasha, molla, hafiz, hanim) were abolished to enforce legal equality among citizens.

• Educational Reform: Replaced traditional madrasas with modern vocational schools, technical institutes, teacher training colleges, and lyceums across Anatolia.

• Latin Alphabet Adoption: Transitioned to the Latin-based Turkish alphabet to facilitate public education and foster integration with Western civilization.

• Language Reform: Founded the Turkish Language Research Society on July 12, 1932 (later renamed the Turkish Language Association), aiming to develop Turkish into a rich language for science and education.