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Münif Paşa was mastermind of Miniatürk Park
An article by Professor Ali Budak, a journalist and author, in the seventh edition of the İstanbul 1453 Culture and Art Journal, published in March 2010, discusses Turkey’s brief earlier foray into miniature parks. According to Budak’s article, Münif Paşa proposed the establishment of a “Miniature Ottoman Empire Park” to demonstrate the Ottoman Empire’s treasures to everyone, and even gave many details regarding the project to his contemporaries. One could even say that Miniatürk, which has attracted many people from all over Turkey, is the legacy of this unimplemented project of Münif Paşa. Budak opines in his article that Münif Paşa was the mastermind of the concept of Miniatürk, as there was no miniature park at the time anywhere in the world.
Münif Paşa planned everything, from the location to the cost of an Ottoman miniature landmark park. Budak’s article considers various sources and begins by mentioning Münif Paşa’s multi-faceted personality and his extensive knowledge. The article says that Münif Paşa was an impressive politician, democratic journalist and social leader who shaped the era of Sultan Abdülhamit II.
A handwritten document lays out Münif Paşa’s plan for a miniature park. According to the document, the miniature park was to be 3,000 meters wide and rectangular. The area to be portrayed included the empire’s European, Asian and African territories. In addition, a small amount of earth from Turkey’s neighboring countries was to be included in the miniature park so visitors could easily understand Turkey’s borders. The document also outlines how Turkey’s seas, rivers, mountains, forests would be shaped in the proposed Miniature Ottoman Empire Park.
Stating that the Miniature Ottoman Empire Park was an original idea, Münif Paşa also noted in another document that it would increase the reputation of the Ottoman Empire abroad. Münif Paşa’s plans included charging a nominal fee to visitors to cover the general operating expenses of the miniature park.
Münif Paşa’s other ideas:
Münif Paşa suggested lighting the streets at night to increase commercial activities, as merchants would be able to stay open later and customers would continue to frequent shops. This suggestion was not implemented.
Münif Paşa’s second idea regarded improving the roads in major Ottoman cities. As such, pedestrians would be able to walk safely and transportation would be faster. In addition, many villagers who came to cities to work as porters would then return to their villages, relieving the city of its excess population, Münif Paşa hypothesized.
Münif Paşa’s third idea was to name streets and number homes to ease navigation for city dwellers. He wanted to re-pave narrow streets and pathways. In short, Münif Paşa had many suggestions to make İstanbul a more organized urban center.
Who is Münif Paşa?
Münif Paşa was born in 1830 and died in 1910. In addition to being a literary buff, Münif Paşa also served as ambassador to Iran and education minister and authored several books including “Muhaveratı Hikemiyye” (a translation of philosophical dialogues by 18th-century French writers) and “Telhisi Hikmeti Hukuk,” a summary of the wisdom of law.
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