Abdur Rehman Peshawri
Encyclopedia
Abdur Rehman Peshawari was a diplomat who served as Turkey's
ambassador
to Afghanistan
during Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
's reign.
, India (modern day Pakistan
) in the 1880/90’s. He belonged to a prominent family from Peshawar and was the son of Haji Ghulam Samdani
.
. As military support of the Caliphate was not allowed by the British government, a medical team comprising 24 doctors
and male nurses was assembled. Abdur Rehman left his studies and volunteered for this mission as a stretcher
bearer / Nurse.
As he was uncertain of his father’s approval; to generate funds for his journey he sold all his belongings.
He decided to enlist in the Army and began his training in Istanbul. Later he was sent to Beirut
, until the First World War started. He began his active service as a Lieutenant in the regular army and he saw his first action in the Dardanelles
. He served with honor in a number of campaigns throughout the war.
After the defeat of Germany
and Turkey at the end of WWI, the Allied Powers
occupied Istanbul
. Mustafa Kamal Pasha established a provisional government in Angora [Ankara] to oppose the Allies and the Caliphate. Abdur Rehman joined these forces in their struggle for the restoration of Turkish sovereignty.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
during Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
's reign.
Early life
Abdur Rehman was born in PeshawarPeshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, India (modern day Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
) in the 1880/90’s. He belonged to a prominent family from Peshawar and was the son of Haji Ghulam Samdani
Haji Ghulam Samdani
- Early life :H.G.Samdani was born in Baramulla Kashmir in the middle of the 19th century. It was around the 16th century that his forefathers migrated to Kashmir from Turbat-e-Jam in Iran. They were holy men, who came to the sub-continent to spread Islam through preaching...
.
Dr. Ansari's Mission
While he was studying at Aligarh University, a mission was put together by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari to go to Turkey in support of the ailing Ottoman CaliphateOttoman Caliphate
The Ottoman Caliphate, under the Ottoman Dynasty of the Ottoman Empire inherited the responsibility of the Caliphate from the Mamluks of Egypt....
. As military support of the Caliphate was not allowed by the British government, a medical team comprising 24 doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and male nurses was assembled. Abdur Rehman left his studies and volunteered for this mission as a stretcher
Stretcher
A stretcher is a medical device used to carry casualties or an incapacitated person from one place to another. It is a simple type of litter, and still called by that name in some cases....
bearer / Nurse.
As he was uncertain of his father’s approval; to generate funds for his journey he sold all his belongings.
Stay in Turkey
After the end of the war, Rehman was the only team member to stay on in Turkey where he played an active role in the upcoming events.He decided to enlist in the Army and began his training in Istanbul. Later he was sent to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, until the First World War started. He began his active service as a Lieutenant in the regular army and he saw his first action in the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
. He served with honor in a number of campaigns throughout the war.
After the defeat of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Turkey at the end of WWI, the Allied Powers
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
occupied Istanbul
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...
. Mustafa Kamal Pasha established a provisional government in Angora [Ankara] to oppose the Allies and the Caliphate. Abdur Rehman joined these forces in their struggle for the restoration of Turkish sovereignty.