One morning, I woke up to find myself in the late 1920s, during the early years of the Turkish Republic. Looking out the window, I saw streets decorated with flags and heard the joyful voices of children. The door opened, and a clever-looking boy, around 10 or 11 years old, stepped in. He smiled and said, “Come on, Atatürk is waiting for us.”
I asked in surprise, “Atatürk?”
He replied confidently, “My name is Mustafa, but one day, everyone will call me Atatürk.”
That day, I walked through the streets of Ankara with Mustafa. All the neighborhood children knew and respected him. We went to a newly opened millet mektebi—a public school established during the alphabet reform. The classroom had a blackboard, wooden desks, and Atatürk’s quote written above: “Science is the truest guide in life.” Mustafa was a brilliant student. He was so excited about the new alphabet that he taught his friends how to write using the new Latin letters.
During the lunch break, we played outside and then visited the local Halkevi (People’s House). Women were attending literacy classes, and young people were rehearsing a theater play. Mustafa and I even joined a short play on stage. On one of the walls was a portrait of Atatürk, next to his famous quote: “Little ladies, little gentlemen… We established the Republic; you are the ones who will keep it alive.”
Toward evening, we climbed Ankara Castle. As the sun set, Mustafa turned to me and said, “This country now belongs to the people. Everyone is equal. Everyone is free.” In that moment, I saw the belief and determination in his eyes. He was just a child, but he understood the meaning of the Republic better than anyone.
That day was when I truly felt the light of the Republic in my heart. And now, every April 23rd, I remember that day and look to the future with hope.