Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks

Authors : Muhsin Ramazan İşsever

Pages : 235-246

Doi:10.26650/jos.1709396

View : 57 | Download : 304

Publication Date : 2025-10-22

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article explores the activities of Munshi Mahbub Alam, a prominent intellectual figure of the 19th-century Indian subcontinent, in relation to the Ottoman Sultanate and the Turkish people. Mahbub Alam was not only a journalist and publisher but also an educator, translator, and traveller, making him one of the most versatile intellectuals of his time. Through his Lahorebased newspaper Paisa Akhbar, he conveyed political and social developments within Ottoman lands to Muslims in the subcontinent, thus contributing to the construction of a positive public perception of the Ottomans and the Turkish nation. Within the framework of the Ottoman Caliphate’s central position in the eyes of Indian Muslims, his publishing efforts supported the growth of Pan-Islamist thought and functioned as an intellectual bridge between Turks and Indian Muslims. His journals, educational initiatives offered noteworthy observations on Turkish society. In this work, he dedicated considerable space to Istanbul, providing detailed descriptions of the moral, cultural, and intellectual dimensions of Ottoman society. This article assesses his interest in the Ottomans, his portrayals of the Turks, his contributions to education and publishing, and his broader intellectual legacy. His commitment to the Ottoman Sultanate was not merely an expression of cultural admiration but also a reflection of the aspiration to establish unity within the Islamic world. In this regard, Mahbub Alam acted with Pan-Islamic sentiments and ideals, supporting the Ottomans in its political struggle against Western powers.
Keywords : Munşi Mahbub Alem, Osmanlı Devleti, Türkler, Hint Alt Kıtası, İslam Medeniyeti, Modernleşme, Entelektüel Faaliyetler

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