From Concept to Novel: Tâhirülmevlevî’s (1877-1951) Sufi Engagement and Critique of Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (Individual Initiative) in the Late Ottoman Era

Abstract

During the late Ottoman era, particularly the Hamidian period (1876-1909), a culture of diligent labor and industriousness emerged, emphasizing economic progress. State-led initiatives triggered substantial socio-economic shifts, alongside increased regulations to integrate Sufi networks into state apparatus to reduce their economic burden due to constant benefit from the endowment funds. At this juncture, Tâhirülmevlevî (Mehmet Tâhir Olgun) (d. 1951) departed from the Yenikapı Mevlevîhâne and firmly rejected benefiting from endowment funds. Instead, he turned to press and publishing activities that he believed would sustain both his livelihood and spiritual service. His narrative, especially encapsulated in his autobiographical novel Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (1912), offers a critique of the administrative reforms of the era, articulating a perspective that the lack of ethical integrity and judicial fairness severely impeded the successful adoption of teşebbüs-i şahsî (individual initiative) frameworks. His reflections extend to critique societal perceptions of Sufis as economic dependents, delving into why substantial reforms failed to gain traction within the Turkish-Muslim community. Through his literary and journalistic endeavors, Olgun not only personifies the concept of individual initiative but also critically examines its execution and impact within the complex socio-political landscape of late Ottoman society, underscoring the complex interplay between individual aspirations and collective societal transformations.