Zeki Velidi Togan
Encyclopedia
Zeki Velidi Togan (1890–1970 Istanbul
) was a historian, Turkologist
, and leader of the Bashkir revolutionary and liberation movement.
: ) village of Sterlitamak
uyezd
, today Bashkortostan
.
From 1912–1915 Velidi taught in the madrassa (school) in Kazan
(Qasímiä), and from 1915 to 1917 he was a member of bureau, supporting Muslim
deputies at the State Duma
. In 1917 he was elected to Millät Mäclese, and with Şerif Manatov he organized the Bashkir Shura
(Council). The Bashkir Congress at Orenburg
in November–December 1917, of which Velidi was chairman, declared Bashkortostan
's Independence.
In 1918 and 1919 Velidi's Bashkir troops first fought under Ataman Alexander Dutov
, then under Admiral Kolchak
against Bolshevik
forces. After the RSFSR promised autonomy to Bashkirs, Velidi switched allegiance, fighting with the Bolsheviks.
From February 1919 to June 1920, he was chairman of the Bashrevkom (Bashkir Revolutionary Committee). He attended the Congress of the Peoples of the East
held in Baku
in September 1920, where he became involved in drawing up the statutes of ERK
, a Muslim Socialist organisation. However, feeling the Bolsheviks had broken their promises, he became more critical of them when he moved to Central Asia
.
In Turkistan
, Velidi became a leader of the National Liberation Movement, referred to as the anti-Soviet Basmachi Movement by the Russia
ns . From 1920 to 1923 he was chairman of the "National Union of Turkistan". In 1923 Validi emigrated, after discovering original manuscripts of Ahmad ibn Fadlan
in Iran
.
From 1925 Velidi lived in Turkey
, becoming a teacher and professor at Istanbul University
. He gained a doctor of philosophy
in 1935 at the University of Vienna
. Later he was a professor at Bonn University (1935–1937) and Göttingen University (1938–1939). In 1953 he became organizer of the İslam Tetkikleri Enstitüsü (Institute for Islamic Studies) at Istanbul University
. In 1967, he was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester
.
At the same time he contributed to the Encyclopedia of Turkic Peoples. His articles about culture, language and history of Turkic peoples have been translated into many languages.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
) was a historian, Turkologist
Turkology
Turkology is a complex of humanities sciences studying languages, history, literature, folklore, culture, and ethnology of people speaking Turkic languages and Turkic peoples in chronological and comparative context...
, and leader of the Bashkir revolutionary and liberation movement.
Biography
He was born in Koedhoen (BashkirBashkir language
The Bashkir language is a Turkic language, and is the language of the Bashkirs. It is co-official with Russian in the Republic of Bashkortostan.-Speakers:...
: ) village of Sterlitamak
Sterlitamak
Sterlitamak is the second largest city in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia, located on the left bank of the Belaya River , from Ufa. The city's name comes from the Bashkir language and literally means "mouth of the river Sterlya". Population: Sterlitamak was founded in 1766 as a port for the...
uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
, today Bashkortostan
Bashkortostan
The Republic of Bashkortostan , also known as Bashkiria is a federal subject of Russia . It is located between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains. Its capital is the city of Ufa...
.
From 1912–1915 Velidi taught in the madrassa (school) in Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
(Qasímiä), and from 1915 to 1917 he was a member of bureau, supporting Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
deputies at the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
. In 1917 he was elected to Millät Mäclese, and with Şerif Manatov he organized the Bashkir Shura
Shura
Shura is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision....
(Council). The Bashkir Congress at Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
in November–December 1917, of which Velidi was chairman, declared Bashkortostan
Bashkortostan
The Republic of Bashkortostan , also known as Bashkiria is a federal subject of Russia . It is located between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains. Its capital is the city of Ufa...
's Independence.
In 1918 and 1919 Velidi's Bashkir troops first fought under Ataman Alexander Dutov
Alexander Dutov
Alexander Ilyich Dutov , one of the leaders of the Cossack counterrevolution in the Urals, Lieutenant General .Dutov was born in Kazalinsk...
, then under Admiral Kolchak
Aleksandr Kolchak
Aleksandr Vasiliyevich Kolchak was a Russian naval commander, polar explorer and later - Supreme ruler . Supreme ruler of Russia , was recognized in this position by all the heads of the White movement, "De jure" - Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, "De facto" - Entente States...
against Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
forces. After the RSFSR promised autonomy to Bashkirs, Velidi switched allegiance, fighting with the Bolsheviks.
From February 1919 to June 1920, he was chairman of the Bashrevkom (Bashkir Revolutionary Committee). He attended the Congress of the Peoples of the East
Congress of the Peoples of the East
The Congress of the Peoples of the East was held in Baku in September 1920. The congress was first planned by Mirsäyet Soltanğäliev and the National Communists. However Stalin prevented Soltanğäliev from attending the congress, fearing that he would help consolidate his wing of the communist...
held in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
in September 1920, where he became involved in drawing up the statutes of ERK
Erk (Party)
ERK was a Muslim socialist party active in Bashkiria, Bukhara and Turkestan from 1919 to 1926.The party was established when two groups, simultaneously but independently of each other, decided to organize themselves into independent political formations in the Third International...
, a Muslim Socialist organisation. However, feeling the Bolsheviks had broken their promises, he became more critical of them when he moved to Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
.
In Turkistan
Türkistan
*Türkistan is the local name for Turkestan, a region of Central Asia.*Türkistan, Kazakhstan is a historic city and place of pilgrimage in southern Kazakhstan...
, Velidi became a leader of the National Liberation Movement, referred to as the anti-Soviet Basmachi Movement by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
ns . From 1920 to 1923 he was chairman of the "National Union of Turkistan". In 1923 Validi emigrated, after discovering original manuscripts of Ahmad ibn Fadlan
Ahmad ibn Fadlan
Ahmad ibn Fadlān ibn al-Abbās ibn Rāšid ibn Hammād was a 10th century Arab traveler, famous for his account of his travels as a member of an embassy of the Arab Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad to the king of the Volga Bulgars...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
From 1925 Velidi lived in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, becoming a teacher and professor at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
. He gained a doctor of philosophy
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1935 at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
. Later he was a professor at Bonn University (1935–1937) and Göttingen University (1938–1939). In 1953 he became organizer of the İslam Tetkikleri Enstitüsü (Institute for Islamic Studies) at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
. In 1967, he was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
At the same time he contributed to the Encyclopedia of Turkic Peoples. His articles about culture, language and history of Turkic peoples have been translated into many languages.
Further reading
..- Z.V.Togan. MEMOIRES: Struggle for National and Cultural Independence of the Turkistan and other Moslem Eastern Turks
- Copeaux, Etienne (1993), « Le mouvement prométhéen », Cahiers d’études sur la Méditerranée orientale et le monde turco-iranien (CEMOTI), 16: 9-45. http://www.ceri-sciencespo.com/publica/cemoti/textes16/copeaux.pdf
- Zeki Velidi Togan MEMOIRS: National Existence and Cultural Struggles of Turkistan and other Moslem Eastern Turks http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J4B524