Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey and served as its first president from 1923 until his death in 1938. He is celebrated for his significant reforms that transformed Turkey from a former Ottoman Empire into a secular, democratic nation. Atatürk emphasized education, women's rights, and the adoption of a new alphabet, which helped modernize the country. Atatürk's vision was to create a nation that embraced science and rational thought. His policies aimed to reduce the influence of religion in government and promote a sense of national identity. Today, he is remembered as a national hero and a symbol of progress in Turkey.