The time when Erdogan used to sell 'naan' and lemonade on the streets of Turkey

ISTANBUL (Web Desk) - Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who served as Mayor of Istanbul and Prime Minister of Turkey and now holds the office of President, started his journey as a humble struggler braving the grim challenges of life.

Mr. Erdoğan was born on February 26, 1954 in Kasımpaşa, but spent part of his childhood in Rize, a city on Turkey's Black Sea coast in the north-east.

To make some extra pocket money, the star politician once used to sell  lemonade and "Naan". To equip his five children with improved lifestyle, Erdogan's father migrated to Istanbul when he was 13.

Related: The thing that Erdogan hated saved him last night

The core reason behind Erdogan's successful political stint was the economic stability of the state. A growth rate of four percent was recorded under his leadership.

Moreover, he had been a professional soccer player before playing an active role in politics. He was made Prime Minister of Turkey after Justice and Ruling party won elections.

Besides his ardent supporters, Erdogan's critics also admitted that he revamped Istanbul during his era as a Mayor. The roller coaster ride of his political journey landed him in jail when during a speech, Erdogan read a poem by nationalist ideologist Ziya Gokalp, which said:

"Our minarets are our bayonets, Our domes are our helmets, Our mosques are our barracks".

Erdogan led Turkey as a Prime Minister for 11 years from 2003 to 2014 before being elected as a President in November 2014. During his era, multiple anti-military actions were executed.