Ummah Wahida 1911 on

[Guinness]

Late 1920

Houshmand stood up on the back of a wagon and looked out over the crowd assembled before him. All men, almost all of them were younger than 30, and almost all of them were somehow armed, one way or another. Looking at them, he realized the last time he'd seen such a collection of young men like this was during the war with the European infidels years earlier. Those men had been a long way from Baghdad, and many of them were dead. He shuttered almost imperceptibly at the memory of those who had fallen.

He held his hand up, and the burbling crowd became silent. He took a deep breath and prepared to speak from his diaphragm, the better to be heard by as many of his audience as possible. Speaking in his heavily Afghan accented Arabic, he spoke:

"Men God has truly demonstrated his great power and wisdom by gathering all of you here today, in this place. He is great!"

A great roar erupted as the crowd spoke the takbir in unison.

"Now, as we have carried out His will here, in Baghdad, and rid this city of godlessness and corruption, we should now embark on our duty to cleanse the whole of the Empire and restore the rule of His true law to all the world's believers."

Lead by the small number of well armed men wearing identical armbands around the periphery of the croud, in unison, the ten-thousand gathered chanted "Allahu ackbar!" again.

"Then God be with us! We march now toward His destiny for us!" With that, Houshmand climbed down from the wagon, turned, and began the long walk toward Istanbul."

Much more, including several years of backstory to come.

EDIT: Move the date on this post back a bit.
EDIT: I moved the date back again a bit. I don't want to be holding the sim up with this.

[Guinness]

Early 1911

Delhi

Houshmand stood at attention before his commanding officer. "Reporting as ordered sir."

The elderly Colonel motioned toward the cushions on the floor. "Be at ease Lieutenant. Make yourself comfortable."

Both sat crosslegged on the cushions on the floor and the Colonel's assistant, a Corporal, brought both some tea.

"Houshmand," The old Colonel smiled toward his protegé. "I must tell you, I'm pleased with your progress. Ever since he saw you in that horse race so many years ago, and told me you should become a member of his household cavalry." He motioned at the portrait of Emperor Akbar Shah III.

Houshmand looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Your studies have been exemplary. Your progress as on officer is more than on track. I'm proud of you. You are one of the greatest horsemen in the Empire. You have certainly made the most of your opportunities."

"God has granted me many blessings. His will is certainly mysterious. Had my father not died before I was born. Had my mother not died giving birth to me. Had my uncle not sold me to that horse trader..." Houshmand waved his hand. "I am in debt to you and His Majesty for so much."

The Colonel took a long sip of his tea. "You know that you are more than one of my best young officers. You are like a son to me. So it is with both the pride of a father, and with a father's hesitation that I bring you this news. God has seen fit to bless you again." He pulled an envelope from his pocket and passed it to Houshmand.

Houshmand opened it, looked at it, then looked up at the Colonel quizzically.

"Oh, it's in Turkish, so you can't read it. Neither can I, but I can tell you what it says. A few months ago, we decided to apply to the Mühendishane-i Bahr-i Hümayun* in Istanbul on your behalf. They have a program there where they train the Ottoman's engineering officers. That letter is official notification that you've been accepted. You'll leave next week. While you are there, you'll have a temporary commission in the Ottoman Army."

Houshmand just stared at the Colonel blankly.

"Your progress in the mathematical arts has been quite good. His Majesty and I had already been on the lookout for candidates to send abroad to study, to bring back the knowledge necessary to improve our armed forces. We could have sent an already trained engineer, but His Highness was adamant about sending a younger man who might not yet be set in his ways. When I proposed we send you, he was quite enthusiastic."

"What if I do not want to become an engineer?" Houshmand asked.

"Oh, I think you are quite well suited to such a career. Your mind is much too sharp to be wasted leading cavalry charges for the rest of your life. I know that, just as you have recognized the other opportunities God has put before you, you will make the most of this one."

The Colonel sat back. "Perk up Houshmand! This is good news! Worry not, we'll all still be here when you get back."

*Modern day Istanbul Technical University

[Borys]

OOC
I will comment on the "in Turkish" bit. In OTL the correct term would be "in Osmanli". That is Turkish with lots of Arabic and Persian loanwords and phrases. "Turkish" was the language used by country bumpkins in Anatolia - educated people spoke Osmanli.
The pre 1920 written language is incomprehensible to contemporary Turks. One, it was written in the Arabic script, not the Latin script used nowadays. Two, the language was purged of the Arabic loanwords. The effect is simlar to English being deprived of all Greek or Latin loanwards.

So sayeth a Turk on another board ...
BTW - I believe that contemporary Germans have problems with reading older material as well, especially handwritten.
Borys

[Tanthalas]

OOC
I will comment on the "in Turkish" bit. In OTL the correct term would be "in Osmanli". That is Turkish with lots of Arabic and Persian loanwords and phrases. "Turkish" was the language used by country bumpkins in Anatolia - educated people spoke Osmanli.
The pre 1920 written language is incomprehensible to contemporary Turks. One, it was written in the Arabic script, not the Latin script used nowadays. Two, the language was purged of the Arabic loanwords. The effect is simlar to English being deprived of all Greek or Latin loanwards.

So sayeth a Turk on another board ...
BTW - I believe that contemporary Germans have problems with reading older material as well, especially handwritten.
Borys

Gah I have enough trouble with old german... its because as I understand it (taking my dads word on it here) But aparently in the 16 and 1700s there were no word useage and puncuation rules for German.  (he is our Family Geniologist so I have to take him at his word)

[Guinness]

These two, who are speaking Urdu here I expect, say "Turkish" when they mean "the language the Turks write and speak". It's likely they don't understand the particulars of who speaks what in the Ottoman Empire.

Now in coming chapters of this story, language is going to become much more important. Luckily for Houshmand, he already speaks and writes at least passably in three languages: Pashto (his native language), Urdu (the language of the Mughals), and Arabic (the language of the Koran).

[Guinness]

1911 Continued

The journey from Delhi to Istanbul was long, but not particularly arduous. At least once the harrowing journey on the brand new railway from Delhi to Karachi was complete. The rest of the trip had been by steamer. Houshmand had a private reserved cabin. "Quite luxurious" had been the comment he'd made to the porter.

Along the way the steamer stopped in Jeddah, the gateway to the Holy Cities, and there boarded a Mullah. Houshmand took notice of this tall bearded man with bright eyes and flowing white robes. Soon after evening prayers, he introduced himself to this man, who was named Safwan ibn Nidh'aal ibn Abdulaziz al Medina.

"But you can call me Safwan." The Mullah said with a wide smile.

"And you can call me Houshmand. Are you going to Istanbul?"

"Indeed! God has called me to minister to the needs of his people in the service of the Ottoman Army." Safwan answered.

"Ah, so you are to be a chaplain?" Houshmand asked. "Have you studied long for this?"

"Only my entire life!" Safwan smiled broadly again. "I have been studying the Koran for quite some time. I could have found a place in the great Mosque in Jeddah, or in the Holy Cities, but I feel the need to see and do more. So I volunteered."

Houshmand nodded in understanding, then told his story of what brought him to be on this journey. The two found they got along quite well.

Over the next few days, as the ship passed through the Suez canal and made stops along the Levant, Houshmand and Safwan discussed the nature of life, the Koran, and Safwan's ideas about believers and non-believers. Houshmand was intoxicated by the depth of Safwan's ideas.

Safwan quoted from memory:

Hadhrat Huzaifa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: Prophethood will remain among you as long as Allah wills. Then Caliphate on the lines of Prophethood shall commence, and remain as long as Allah wills. Then corrupt/erosive monarchy would take place, and it will remain as long as Allah wills. After that, despotic kingship would emerge, and it will remain as long as Allah wills. Then, the Caliphate shall come once again based on the precept of Prophethood.

"Quite obviously we live today in the time of the corrupt and erosive monarchies. Some also believe that the Sultanate in Istanbul is despotic." Safwan said matter-of-factly.

"So then, do you think the Caliphate will come again soon?" Houshmand asked.

"I do. I can not presume to know God's will, but I believe it is our duty to sweep tyranny and despotism from the world so that God's peoples can live as he intends, in accordance with His laws."

By the time the ship arrived in the Bosporus, Houshmand and Safwan had resolved to write one another. For Houshmand though, things had already changed. For the first time, it occurred to him that there could be, no should be, one nation and one leader for all Muslims.

[Guinness]

Continued

Istanbul was not comfortable for Houshmand. He had only the most tenuous grasp on the language, and found the culture, with so many western influences, more than a little unattractive.

On arrival at the appointed address near the Taskisla campus of the Mühendishane-i Bahr-i Hümayun. He was greeted there by a young Ottoman Army officer in Arabic.

"Welcome, come in. You must be Housmand of the Mughals. I'm Captain Yilmaz. I'll be both your commanding officer and your faculty adviser during your stay here. Have a seat." Yilmaz motioned toward a chair before a western style desk in his small office.

"How's your Osmanli?" Yilmaz asked. Houshmand responded with a quizzical look which Yilmaz took as his answer. "Osmanli is the form of the Turkish language spoken in Istanbul and most prevalent in the Army. There are other forms and dialects, but when people refer to 'Turkish' that's usually what they are talking about."

"In that case, I'll admit to knowing very little." Houshmand confessed.

Yilmaz looked at a file on his desk. "It says here that you do speak at least three languages. Is Pashto or Urdu your native tongue?"

"Pashto originally, though I've also been speaking Urdu as long as I can remember. In my country speakers of one or the other can generally make their meaning understood in any case. Arabic, of course, I learned from studying the Koran."

"Of course. I must say that to my ears your Arabic is quite good, though your accent is... different." Yilmaz pointed over his shoulder toward the door. "You'll be bunking with three other officers. I've chosen them because you all have diverse language and cultural background. I think you'll be able to team up to catch up. Unfortunately instruction here is in Osmanli, so you'll have some difficulty. So stick close to Lieutenant Demir in particular."

Yilmaz lead Houshmand to his quarters, which were dominated by a pair of tall bunkbeds and four desks. "Ah good, you're all here." he said as they entered the room.

In the room Houshmand found three young men, all at least a few years younger than he was. They were in various states of partial dress, and appeared to have been engaged in a lively conversation.

In Arabic, Yilmaz announced: "Gentlemen, this is Houshmand, here from Delhi. I've assigned him to be the fourth in your group."

Greetings were exchanged, first with Demir, who was clearly the leader. "Lieutenant Demir, I'm from Istanbul." Next up was a shorter, stockier man who was wearing a cross around his neck, who introduced himself as "Mika'il Shikani, originally from Beirut."

Houshmand pointed at the cross and asked in Arabic "are you a follower of Jesus then?"

Shikani looked down, then smiled wrily.

Houshmand apologized. "I'm sorry, it's just that where I come from, we don't meet many Christians."

Shikani laughed. "Oh it's alright my friends. I am a Christian, yes. I'm not the only one in the program either. You'll meet several. The Ottoman Empire is a diverse place you know!"

This comment resulted in snickers from the other students. Houshmand realized there was an inside joke there somewhere, but didn't take the humor to be at his expense.

The last student, a tall man introduced himself. "Shital al Tikrit al Asaad. From Baghdad." Then he tried a traditional greeting in Pashto. "May God cast his blessings on you and all who come after you."

Houshmand nodded and replied in kind: "And you my friend. You speak Pashto?"

Shital replied in Arabic "A little. It's an interesting language. I should like to see your country one day."

"Perhaps you will, God willing." Houshmand replied in Pashto.

Yilmaz fidgeted slightly and pointed at Houshmand's battered satchel: "Will the rest of your baggage be arriving later?" Houshmand looked Yilmaz straight in the eye before replying. "I have brought all I need for the journey." He held the bag up.

"Well, we'll need to get you a proper uniform. Come with me, we'll go see the tailor. For your time here, you're in the Ottoman Army now!"

EDIT: Changed a name at Borys's suggestion.

[Guinness]

The tailor's shop was a bewildering twenty minute walk into the Yenisehir neighborhood. Houshmand didn't think he would have been able to find his way back without help. When they arrived at the shop, it wasn't much more than a hole in the wall midway down a narrow block.

Yilmaz engaged in a short negotiation with the tailor, which resulted in Houshmand being waved up onto a small raised platform so the tailor could take measurements.

As he worked, Yilmaz said: "I hope you know that Shikani was having a little fun at your expense with that Christian business."

Houshmand's eyes darted to Yilmaz and he clenched his jaw.

"Please take no offense." Yilmaz continued.  "It's just a little hazing. See if the new guy has a sense of humor, that sort of thing. The truth is he's a good student and I think a good man. He is a younger son from a prominent family in Beirut, and I think he, well, feels like he has to tell jokes to fit in."

"Where I come from," Houshmand said, almost growling, "a man would be executed for making such jokes."

Yilmaz waved a hand in the air. "Here a generation ago, he probably would have been too. Times change I suppose. Just promise me you don't take care of that discipline yourself!"

Houshmand didn't respond to Yilmaz's note of humor.

The tailor tersely noted something to Yilmaz. Houshmand looked at him inquisitvely.

"He asked if you need shoes too. We could get them from him, but I know a cobbler nearby who's work I like." Yilmaz declined politely in Osmanli.

[Guinness]

Houshmand settled into a some times tedious routine of classes, meals, prayers and off hours studying over the first couple of months in Istanbul. At first he found the engineering challenging primarily because of the language barrier. Slowly he caught on to Osmanli and the classwork got easier. The math was never a serious problem.

He was getting along alright with his classmates, and Yilmaz noted in his file that he seemed to have adapted well. He'd developed a taste for Lebanese food courtesy of Shikani's frequent insistence on dinners at his favorite neighborhood restaurant. Houshmand was getting bored.

Then he discovered the library.

For months Houshmand could hardly be seen during daytime hours except at prayers and class. Having found the library, he spent most of his waking hours there, studying engineering until that was done, then branching out.

He started first with the philosophers of Caliph al-Ma'mun and the later Abbasid Caliphates. Not finding what he was looking for there, he went on to devour a treatise on Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi and Illuminationist philosophy. Still dissatisfied, he detoured briefly into logic before becoming obsessed with Ibn Khaldun and his work in theology, economics, history, philosophy, and even astronomy. He bought a thick notebook and filled it with notes and thoughts, then had to buy another. His roommates came to calling him "Bookworm".

But it was the writings of a countryman of his which left the most indelible mark. Houshmand had been familiar with the Maktubat of Ahmad Sirhindi, but rediscovered this work in Istanbul. This lead to Shah Waliullah and then another from his part of the world, Syed Ahmad Shaheed, and their ideas of Jihad. He started a third notebook.

It was in these ideas, and the many more he exposed himself to that he found the kernel of his own new theologic and political philosophy. He tried to engage his classmates from time to time in conversation on it, but they were too immersed, too grounded in more pressing matters. This frustrated Houshmand, but as was his nature, he gave little outward signal of his unhappiness with them. He resigned himself to learn to be the best military engineer possible, while indulging his new hobby at every opportunity. He imagined there could be worse situations in life.

Houshmand had done his best to blithely ignore the news of the day, including the goings on in Greece.

Then in soon after the term ended, in June 1912 the Sultan declared war....

[Guinness]

All of the Ottoman Army engineering students were ordered to line up by class year in the courtyard at the center of the University building. An aged Major none of the students recognized stood before them.

"Men. As you should know by now the Sultan has declared war on the Austrians and Iberians. The Army will need all it's men, but particularly those with training such as what you have been receiving."

Houshmand looked around quickly. He realized that he was likely the only one of the students with any combat experience. He imagined that this war with the Austrians would be a bit different than swapping border raids with the Hindus on the Punjab frontier though.

The Major nodded, and the advisers begin handing out envelopes. "Each of you will receive new orders. You should be prepared to depart by sunset tonight. Most of you will be headed west."

Houshmand received his envelope. The thought hadn't even occurred to him that this might not be his war. When each man had an envelope, they were ordered to open them. Houshmand's read: "Report to commanding officer, 14th Engineering Battalion, 3 Janissary Corps, Belgrade." Included in the envelope was an Ottoman Army rail pass, entitling Houshmand to a seat on the next train.

The formation was dismissed and the men all retreated to their lodging to pack. Houshmand's roomates were very quiet. He broke the silence by asking "so where is everyone going?"

Michael Shikani answered first. "I'm off to the engineering battalion of 1st Janissary. I guess I should bring a shovel!" He smiled.

Houshmand: "And you Shital?"

"I'm not going far." He replied. "I've been ordered to report to the Istanbul Defensive District."

This was a surprise to no one in the room. Shital was by far the best student of the four, so it figured that he'd be held back from the front and put to work bolstering the capital's defenses.

"Demir?"

"Greece." He looked disappointed. "I think I'd rather be going with you to Belgrade, Houshmand."

Houshmand gathered his things in his Ottoman issued satchel, and carried it to the front of the house before dropping it by the front door. He leaned his head into Yilmaz's office, where the Captain was packing as well. "Where are they sending you Captain?"

"There's a line in the Sava Valley. I'm to head straight there to consult with the local engineers on reinforcing it."

"Have you seen battle before?" Houshmand asked.

"No, this seems to be my first opportunity. You have though?"

"Yes, back home, all of the Emperor's cavalry took turns patrolling the frontier. I've killed a few Hindus." Houshmand looked off into nothing for a moment.

"Where are you going Houshmand?" Yilmaz asked.

"Belgrade to start."

"Well, good. We can try to catch the same train. I'll be ready to go in twenty minutes or so."

[Guinness]

"Captain Yilmaz, do you think it is God's will that we beat back the Austrian invaders?" Houshmand's question took the form of a statement.

Yilmaz shrugged and looked out the window of the train. "I suppose such a question is more important to you than to me. All I know is that my country is being invaded. The larger theological implications seem unimportant."

Houshmand took out one of his notbooks and turned to a fresh page before scribbling down some notes. Yilmaz took interest. "What have you been writing in those notebooks?"

"Ideas, thoughts. Whatever is interesting. Some things with theological implications, I guess. This time it's a question." He held the notbook up so Yilmaz could see it. Written in Arabic:

Is defense of Muslim lands Jihad?

"An interesting question." Yilmaz scratched his chin. "Of course, the Austrians would probably argue that the land around Belgrade is just as Christian as it is Muslim."

"Yes, but a true follower of the Prophet would know that it matters not. Ours is the true religion. We must grant Christians forbearance, as they are also people of the book, but that certainly doesn't mean we are not obligated to defend ourselves and our brothers if they declare war on us, no? And to the Austrians, this is a holy war." Houshmand closed his notebook.

Yilmaz tilted his head back to rest on the the seat for a moment. "I wonder if there isn't a more evil power behind this business."

[Guinness]

Yilmaz and Houshmand reached Belgrade late in the evening. Several minutes of standing around ensued for Houshmand and Yilmaz went off looking for information on where to go next. When he returned:

"There's transport for us. 3rd Janissary has been ordered to the Koceljevo-Provo line. You can ride with me out there."

The transport turned out to be a horse drawn cart, loaded with letters and dispatches, and driven by an aged Serb. Yilmaz and Houshmand did there best to make themselves comfortable, sitting on the bundles of mail. It was well after midnight when they reached 3rd Janissary's advanced marshaling area.

Yilmaz bid Houshmand farewell: "God be with you, my friend. I hope to see you again in Istanbul." Houshmand responded with the traditional takbir and a wave. He then strode to the nearest lantern lit tent and presented his orders to the officer on duty.

The officer, a Major, opened the folded sheet and read it. "Well, the 14th engineers are still back toward Kolubara. But we can put you to work here. Corporal, could you show the Lieutenant to Captain Ganem please."

Houshmand followed the Corporal and they walked for what seemed like hours to him, but in reality was probably not more than a mile or so. There they came upon a stretch of the Koceljevo-Provo line. The Corporal asked around "We're looking for Captain Ganem." After more than a bit of fumbling in the dark, they found the captain, standing waist deep in a collapsed section of trench. The Corporal delivered his charge, and left, lest someone hand him a shovel and order him to dig.

Ganem climbed out of the mess and took Houshmand's orders. "14th Engineers. Well they're no where near here."

Houshmand replied "Yes, the Major I spoke ordered me to report to you, said I could be of use here."

"That's true. We can use all the men we can get our hand on. So you are out from the University? What year?"

"Completed my first. But I have some experience with field fortifications back home too." Houshmand replied.

"I was going to ask that next. Where is home?" Ganem asked.

"Delhi, in the Mughal Empire was my last posting before coming to Istanbul." Houshmand replied.

"A Mughal heh? Well, you speak Osmanli well for being a foreigner. Let me give you the quick tour."

Ganem spent ten minutes pointing at vague shapes in the dark, but Houshmand followed him. A trenchline was a trenchline to a certain extent. At one point they stopped at another partially collapsed trench section. "Frankly, the whole line has not been adequately maintained, but especially this second line. So mostly what we're doing is cleaning that up as much as we can so our comrades in the 7th Infantry Division can fight from here. We're expecting them any time, so we're having to work through the night. We're also expecting them sometime soon too." Ganem motioned out into the darkness, toward the Habsburger axis of advance.

"Sergeant Kocak!" Ganem called out and received a grunt in response. "You'll have an officer for your platoon again. This is Lieutenant Houshmand." The Sergeant gave a curt nod, then turned back to what he'd been doing, which was mostly exhorting the men to get digging. Houshmand climbed down into the trench with him, took his uniform coat off and asked: "Sergeant, do you have another shovel?"

[Borys]

"Yes, but a true follower of the Profit would know that it matters not. Ours is the true religion.

Hear! Hear!
Although usually it's the Jews who are suspected of following such a creed :)

Ganem motioned out into the darkness, toward the Habsberger axis of advance.

I feel guity of harrassement  :o.. this time it IS " burger" ...

It is nice to read about the Balkan War from the perspective of the other side.

Borys

[Guinness]

 :P

I shouldn't have fired my proofreader. I've fixed both.

[Kaiser Kirk]

they found the captain, standing waste deep in a collapsed section of trench

um, ewww,
What, Turks don't believe in latrine duty?

Overall an interesting story arc, and impressive the depth you're going into.

I feel guity of harrassement  Shocked.. this time it IS " burger" ...

Hmm a burger is something I eat, preferably with bacon and cheese on it:)
Of course there is the Bavarian burg of Berg.