The Story Of AH Nasution: A Military Figure Who Made Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Inspiration For The Indonesian Independence Movement

JAKARTA - The greatness of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has turned Turkey's face into inspiration throughout the world. Turkey, which was once known as a gloomy country, was later known as a big modern nation. Ataturk later became a symbol of resistance to imperialism and colonialism.

Indonesian independence fighters do not want to be left behind. Many of the national figures made Ataturk an inspiration for the movement. Abdul Haris (AH) Nasution agrees. The Indonesian military figure idolized Ataturk's life. In fact, Ataturk became an inspiration for Indonesia's independence movement.

The Ottoman Empire, or Sultanate of Utsmaniyah, was once known as one of the strongmen in the world. Great power. It is said that the Sultanate of Utsmaniyah is considered unable to be eroded by the times.

Problems arise. Nothing is impossible in the world. The Ottoman Empire began to show signs of defeat when it entered the 1900s. This condition was clearly evident when the Ottoman Empire was in the first world war.

The Ottoman Empire struggled to defeat its opponents. The issue of the caliphate system has been spreading everywhere. The momentum was greeted quickly by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The Turkish military figure who is also a thinker no longer wants to see his nation living miserable under the monarchy.

He witnessed his country untouched by modernity. The Turkish nation has difficulty living. Turkey sees him as a gloomy country. This condition made him move forward. He tries to answer the will of the Turkish people who want economic stability and renewal.

The War of Independence was launched in 1919-1923. Ataturk appeared as a leader. The modern Turkish Republic was born in 1924. Ataturk was asked to be the first Turkish President and abolish the monarchy. His work booms everywhere.

Ataturk immediately reformed from all lines, from culture, politics, to the economy. He also separates religion and politics. In popular language: secularism.

The decision was controversial. However, none doubtful the success of Ataturk in bringing modern and progressive Turkey.

Tatkala Mustafa Kemal leads his country's National Liberation War, 1919-1923, Turkey is a camping country. Millions of people, live in remote areas, believe there is no other world outside their hamlet. Unknown school. Clothing is very modest. Shoes and T-shirts are made by themselves.

Food is almost unchanged. Marriage ceremony is a very big event. Life is very simple, underdeveloped, and papa. Agriculture and industry are inadequate. Understanding West is nothing more than a horizon where the sun sets. Mustafa Kemal has changed the face of the country's gloomyness, and received the nickname Mr. Modern Turkey, written in a Tempo magazine report entitled Turki, Kemalism Senja Hari (1981).

Ataturk is an important figure in the history of the Turkish nation's journey. However, the echo of greatness is not only present throughout Turkey. Ataturk's struggle to build Turkey has inspired many freedom fighters in the world against imperialism and colonialism.

The Turkish and Ataturk revolution was admired by Indonesian national figures. Take the example of AH Nasution. Nasution doesn't just see Ataturk as part of the military. Or with the same background as it seems.

Nasution considers Ataturk to be an important figure who inspires Indonesia's struggle for independence. The admiration for Ataturk's breakthrough and the Turkish revolution while ingraining in his family.

Nasution's father made Ataturk's photo the only most valuable display in the house. He also showed Nasution's admiration for Ataturk when fighting in Indonesian independence.

Ataturk's points of struggle motivated him to move to lift arms to defend the banner of Indonesian independence in the war of independence to the war of revolution from 1945-1949. Ataturk is also often juxtaposed with other fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi.

Let alone that, the military generation after AH Nasution, Prabowo Subianto (later became the 8th President of Indonesia) also expressed the same admiration. Prabowo even admitted to admiration Ataturk right in front of the Recep Tayyip Erdogan regime, which incidentally anti-Ataturk on April 10, 2025.

He is Nasution-- is a devotee Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Kemal Ataturk), a military and political leader, whose photo is the only decoration in Nasution's house. Nasution and other Muslim youths are inspired by the roles of Mustafa Kemal and other Turkish military commanders. However, entering the corps of Hindia beunda or KNIL armed forces officers is only limited to a handful of Indonesians who come from royal and influential families who are sent to the Dutch royal military academy in Breda.

It is impossible for a village boy like Nasution to aspire to such a career. However, Nasution managed to enter. Nasution also noted that his father was amazed at Ataturk not only because he took the west way towards modernization, which included efforts to mitigate Islamic issues, but the Turkish leader's approach to religious and state fragility attracted the attention of the whole world and maybe Nasution heard this. It is interesting that Ataturk's secular approach to Islam is shown by Nasution with service to Pancasila," said Barry Turner in a book entitled A. H. Nasution and Indonesia's Elites (2017).