Ataturk: Part 1

Mustafa is born in Thessaloniki at the end of the 19thcentury. He is badlyaffected by the attacks suffered by his father at the hands of the mob. Hisfather, Ali Rıza Bey’s business and health take a turn for the worse. A whilelater, he passes.For Zübeyde Hanım, her son is the center of the world and nothing musthappen to him.The future she envisions for her son is for him to go to the localschool and become an imam as per tradition.This grandeur futureZübeyde Hanımwants for her little son Mustafa,compared to the huge fire in him, is like a small hay.Mustafa Kemal graduates from the academy in1905as a Staff Captain.From1905to 1919 he serves in various places on Ottoman lands including Syria,Tripoli, Thessaloniki and Kars.He realizes that the authority in his country isalready in jeopardy and that merit and patriotism no longer exist.Mustafa Kemalfeels he has run out of options.In his own words ‘the country isin flames just like his father’s logs burnt by the mob. He must do something tosave it.As Namık Kemal said; The enemy had struck its blade into the heart of thenation. But surely, someone will come forth and save its bleak destiny.