Research Article

Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks

Number: 47 October 22, 2025
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Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks

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

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cultural Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 22, 2025

Submission Date

May 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 47

APA
İşsever, M. R. (2025). Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks. Şarkiyat Mecmuası, 47, 235-246. https://doi.org/10.26650/jos.1709396
AMA
1.İşsever MR. Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks. Şarkiyat Mecmuası. 2025;(47):235-246. doi:10.26650/jos.1709396
Chicago
İşsever, Muhsin Ramazan. 2025. “Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks”. Şarkiyat Mecmuası, nos. 47: 235-46. https://doi.org/10.26650/jos.1709396.
EndNote
İşsever MR (October 1, 2025) Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks. Şarkiyat Mecmuası 47 235–246.
IEEE
[1]M. R. İşsever, “Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks”, Şarkiyat Mecmuası, no. 47, pp. 235–246, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.26650/jos.1709396.
ISNAD
İşsever, Muhsin Ramazan. “Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks”. Şarkiyat Mecmuası. 47 (October 1, 2025): 235-246. https://doi.org/10.26650/jos.1709396.
JAMA
1.İşsever MR. Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks. Şarkiyat Mecmuası. 2025;:235–246.
MLA
İşsever, Muhsin Ramazan. “Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks”. Şarkiyat Mecmuası, no. 47, Oct. 2025, pp. 235-46, doi:10.26650/jos.1709396.
Vancouver
1.Muhsin Ramazan İşsever. Munshi Mahbub Alam and His Activities Related to the Turks. Şarkiyat Mecmuası. 2025 Oct. 1;(47):235-46. doi:10.26650/jos.1709396