Zeki Velidi Togan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zeki Velidi Togan
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| Born | December 10, 1890 |
| Died | July 26, 1970 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Bashkir |
| Citizenship | Russian Empire, USSR, Turkey (later) |
| Occupation | Historian |
Zeki Velidi Togan (Bashkir: Әхмәтзәки Әхмәтшаһ улы Вәлиди, romanized: Äxmätzäki Äxmätşah ulı Wälidi; Russian: Ахмет-Заки Ахметшахович Валидов, Turkish: Ahmet Zeki Velidi Togan, 1890–1970 Istanbul) was an important Bashkir historian and expert on Turkic cultures. He also led a movement for Bashkir freedom.
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Early Life and Education
Zeki Velidi Togan was born on December 10, 1890. His birthplace was the village of Kuzyanovo in what is now Bashkortostan. This area was part of the Russian Empire at the time.
From 1912 to 1915, Velidi taught at a madrassa (a type of school) in Kazan. He was very interested in history and the cultures of Turkic peoples.
Political Involvement
From 1915 to 1917, Velidi worked to support Muslim representatives in the Russian government. In 1917, he was chosen to be part of the Millät Mäclese, a national assembly. He helped create the Bashkir Shura (Council).
At a Bashkir Congress in December 1917, he announced that Bashkortostan would be self-governing. However, Soviet forces arrested him in February 1918. He managed to escape in April 1918. After his escape, he joined groups fighting against the Bolsheviks.
Changing Sides
In 1918 and 1919, Velidi's Bashkir troops first fought alongside Alexander Dutov. Then they joined Admiral Alexander Kolchak against the Bolsheviks.
Later, the Russian government promised Bashkirs more freedom. Because of this promise, Velidi decided to switch sides. He and his troops then fought with the Bolsheviks.
From February 1919 to June 1920, he led the Bashkir Revolutionary Committee. He also attended a big meeting in Baku in September 1920. There, he helped create a Muslim Socialist group called ERK.
However, Velidi felt that the Bolsheviks did not keep their promises. He became more critical of them, especially after moving to Central Asia.
Leading the Basmachi Movement
In a region called Turkistan, Velidi became a leader of the Basmachi Movement. This movement was fighting against Soviet rule. From 1920 to 1923, he was the head of the "National Union of Turkistan."
In 1923, Velidi left the country. This happened after he found old writings by a traveler named Ahmad ibn Fadlan in Iran.
Life as a Historian
From 1925, Velidi lived in Turkey. In 1927, he became a professor of Turkish History at Istanbul University.
He had some ideas that were different from the common views on Turkish history. Because of this, he moved to Vienna. There, he earned his PhD in 1935.
After that, he taught as a professor at Bonn University (1935–1937) and Göttingen University (1938–1939).
Later Years and Recognition
In 1944, there were protests supporting another scholar, Nihal Atsız. Velidi was held for a time with other Pan-Turkists. In 1947, a new trial led to all the people being released.
In 1953, he helped start the Institute for Islamic Studies at Istanbul University. In 1967, the University of Manchester gave him an honorary doctorate.
He also wrote many articles for the Encyclopedia of Turkic Peoples. His writings about the culture, language, and history of Turkic peoples have been translated into many languages.
See also
In Spanish: Zeki Velidi Togan para niños
