WRITINGS AND THOUGHT OF MOHAMMAD SADIQ A REVIEW-ANALYSIS OF HIS WORK ON TURKEY

Abstract

This paper tries to understand the contribution of Mohammad Sadiq to Turkish thought as it developed in twentieth century. In the Indian historical pantheon, Mohammad Sadiq remained a lone Turcologist for almost half a century. Two of his important books on Turkey are ‘The Turkish Revolution and the Indian Freedom Movement’ and ‘The Turkish Revolution: A Perspective on Ideological Change in Turkey’. Regarding Turkish history, the main focus of Mohammad Sadiq’s work has remained the Young Turk period starting with the second constitutional reforms of 1908. He has tried to show the importance of the Young Turks working towards a new Turkey even though the idea of change had begun much earlier. Apart from the Young Turk period, Mohammad Sadiq has also written on the nationalist period, especially analysing the role of Mustafa Kemal in the national struggle. The only two personalities that Sadiq gives enough space in his writings are Mustafa Kemal and ZiyaGökalp, the latter an important intellectual figure in the Young Turk period. Mohammad Sadiq’s thought about Turkish Revolution basically revolves around his fascination about this unique revolution in the annals of history –which valued the role of tradition and yet came to symbolise change. Sadiq does not see the change happening out of some blind aping of the West, but looks at it as being inherent to the Turkish society. Along with Bernard Lewis, Feroz Ahmad and NiyaziBerkes, Sadiq finds a prominent place among well-known Turcologists of twentieth century.