Atul Aneja
In the enclosed greens of a football ground at Istanbul’s Fatih University, a heated contest is underway. Young men from Kyrgyzstan, dressed in red, are feverishly locking horns with a team from Azerbaijan, attired in blue and white clothing.
The atmosphere around the ground is electric — the result of enthusiastic support that both teams get from the ebullient student fraternity in Fatih University, known for its cosmopolitan, international character. The contest ends in a 1-1 draw and both teams with their supporters head for the dining halls for a well-deserved lunch.
Fatih University reflects the silent transformation that Turkey is undergoing. The University is a private enterprise inspired by the
Gulen movement — a vehicle that has softly but powerfully conveyed a contemporary message of inclusive Sufi thinking. Reflecting the ideas of
Fethullah Gulen, the
movement also promotes solid values of business enterprise, modern education as well as non-discrimination and secularism in the political domain. It is also a shining example of the
Gulen Movement’s commitment to spread quality education on a global scale.
Gulen schools now operate in nearly 140 countries. The University is also a manifestation of the rise of the Anatolian Tigers — the pious and enormously successful grassroots businessmen from Anatolia, Turkey’s Asiatic part. The
Gulen schools, as well as a handful of private universities such as Fatih, receive a significant part of their funding from the coffers of the Anatolian Tigers.
Excerpted from the article
Worldspace: Contradictory colours published on
The Hindu, 05 May 2012, Saturday
