A significant moment in the annals of Badirkhan Academy...
The Prides of Badirkhan Academy are numerous, and the story revolves around the historical journey to obtain an Ottoman map...
Hamid Badirkhan, in a monumental act, preserved this great historical pride by recording the attainment of the Ottoman historical map. The culmination of this historical treasure was the presentation of the map to President Mam Jalal. On that momentous day, Mam Jalal astounded the Iraqi people by revealing the comprehensive map of Kurdistan from the Ottoman era, meticulously delineating the borders of all Kurdistan, including Kirkuk. This invaluable map, dating back to the era of Abdul Hamid II, holds the historical legacy of the region.
On February 9, 2004, in that Governing Council meeting, President Talabani delivered a significant historical address, consistently advocating for the rights of the Kurdish people. He also declared that the Governing Council should acknowledge Kurdistan Federalism and actively pursue the normalization of the Kirkuk situation, aiming for its restoration to its former status.
Two individuals involved in delivering the map to Mam Jalal have passed away, while one remains alive. The saga of preserving and concealing the map spans over a century in Mosul, carried out by an Arab. Eventually, it was handed over to Mam Jalal.
Hamid Badirkhan, a Kurdish figure, played a pivotal role in introducing both the map and its owner to Mam Jalal. The owner subsequently presented the map as a gift to Mam Jalal.
Hamid Badirkhan , the president of Badirkhan who now lives in Germany, delivered the map to Mam Jalal. He said to Dwarozh website, “in 2003 and following the fall of the Baath regime I visited Mosul city for the first time to meet my older brother Faris Abu Bakir who was residing there since 1967. We were sitting in his home during the Eid al-Fitr when an Arab came for Eid blessing named Abu emad. He said he was keeping a map of the Ottoman era dating back to one century ago. It was being kept by their Memary family in Mosul.
Hamid Badirkhan recalled, "His words captured my attention, and I pondered on the significance of the map. I inquired further, and he shared that the map belonged to the Ottomans, holding potential importance for the Kurds as it intricately outlined Kurdistan and its borders. Moreover, he expressed willingness to present it to us if we were involved in journalism and printing."
Badirkhan further explained, "We inquired about viewing the map, and he promptly brought it at 2:00 on the same day. The map was carefully wrapped in an old bag from the Ottoman era."
Badirkhan mentioned that when Abu Imad presented the map, we eagerly unfolded it. The map was crafted from animal skin, comprised of sixteen distinct pieces, each measuring one meter in length and 70 centimeters in height. It bore the imprint of American printing in Lebanon, with a publication date indicated as 1897. Notably, the historical document caught my attention as it accurately outlined the borders of Southern Kurdistan.
Badirkhan expressed his surprise, but he didn't want to imply that the map held significant importance for the Kurds, possibly fearing he might regret sharing it. I reassured him, saying, "This is excellent. We have many similar ones, but this particular map is vibrant, and the colors are bold." In response, he stated, "I am presenting this to you." The next day, I carried it with me to Erbil, then to Sulaimaniyah, where I showed it to both Farid Asasard and Jamal Abdul.
What mattered most to Hamid Badirkhan was the opportunity to meet Mam Jalal and share the map with him. Consequently, Hamid Badirkhan visited Mam Jalal's office. He recalls, "At that time, Aras Sheikh Jangi served as the secretary to President Mam Jalal. When I showed him the map, he recognized its significance and urged me to bring the man responsible for it to engage in a conversation. I took a taxi back to Abu Imad and conveyed the gratitude from Mam Jalal's office, informing him that they wanted to meet him. Given the precarious situation in Iraq at that time, Abu Imad was initially hesitant. Nonetheless, he was pleased and eventually agreed to come to Sulaimaniyah. Together, we returned to Sulaimaniyah and visited Mam Jalal's office. Apart from the warm welcome and expressions of gratitude, they awarded him a prize of ten thousand dollars for the map, and as a token of appreciation, we presented him with a pair of Kurdish shoes."
The map reached Mam Jalal, and he expressed his surprise, recognizing its significance. Hamid Badirkhan recalls, "At that time, Mam Jalal generously presented us with a computer, a printer, a flash memory, and additional equipment for our Badirkhan Printing Institute. Despite his generosity, we were hesitant to accept material assistance in return for our efforts."
Mam Jalal, upon receiving the map, emphasized its importance as a compelling piece of evidence showcasing the Kurdish territories, asserting that it deserved global attention. Consequently, on February 9, 2003, during a Governing Council meeting, he showcased the map, shedding light on the Kurdistani identity and the status of regions like Kirkuk, Sinjar, and Khanaqin. Furthermore, he outlined the borders of the remaining three parts of Kurdistan based on the map.