Turkey India relations in the Republic period (1923-1980)

The proximity of Central Asia, which is considered to be the homeland of the Turks, to the Indian Peninsula allows the relations between the two nations to go back to ancient times. In the beginning, as a result of the Turks' incursions into India, the Indian people described the Turks as a savage and barbaric tribe. With the Turks accepting India as their homeland and establishing states there, it changed the Turkish perception of the Indians. Another dimension of the relations was the communication of the states established in India with the Ottoman Empire. Relations with the Ottoman Empire did not develop much until the collapse of the Mughal Empire, India's last great Muslim state. However, when the British seized power in India, especially Indian Muslims established a spiritual bond with the Ottoman caliph. They provided material and moral assistance during the difficult times of the Ottoman Empire. Good relations between the two peoples continued during the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. With the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, a new page was opened in relations. While Mustafa Kemal became a hero in the eyes of the Indian people with his struggle against the imperial powers, the abolition of the caliphate led to the reaction of the Indian Muslims. With the independence of India in 1947, relations have evolved into a different dimension. Turkey's pro-Pakistan stance in foreign policy and its close stance to the western bloc have revealed a diametrically opposite situation with India. In the study, the development of Turkish-Indian relations between 1923-1980 was examined by using archival sources, newspapers, parliamentary minutes in Turkey and India. KEY WORDS: Republic of Turkey, India, Pakistan, Indian Subcontinent, International Relations.