On the first day of 2017, I do beseech God to bless Egypt and her people, protect them from evil, and fill her with peace and prosperity.
In the previous article, we tackled some of Dr. Yehya al-Gamal’s personality traits. Today, we shall resume tackling his life which was full of perseverance. This made him obtain his M.A. and Ph.D., thus realizing his dream of becoming a staff member at Law School, Cairo University, where he loved to be with his students and teach them law in a profoundly humane manner. He writes, “Goals cannot be achieved that easily. You need to have the will, effort, and perseverance that you might attain your great expectations.”
The Journey of Politics
Though he was still a high-school student, he started to show an interest in politics which lasted throughout his life. In Cairo, his lifestyle changed: for he was close to several incidents. He writes, “He started approaching the political realm, and it started approaching him, which reshaped his life. This was catalyzed by his maturity, enrolment in high school, as well as moving to the crowded, yet charming, Cairo.”
In fact, his high school was famous for the endorsement of culture, literature, and political feud: for from thence students protested against the Balfour Declaration, along with students from other schools. At that time, Yehya got acquainted with an Ahmed Mujahid who gave a speech against the Declaration. Yehya admired him very much: for he reminded him of Mustafa Kamel. In fact, Mujahid was a member of the National Party which Kamel had established. He took Yehya to the party club to be one of its youth. Despite his interest in politics, Yehya was overwhelmed by literature. “Though the young man became involved in political life, his literary disposition and desire to polish himself were top priorities. He was known for his love for literature more than politics.”
However, as he presided the school’s literary committee, politics used to pop up before him whereby, “The literary committee was the place where the political leaders of students assembled. They used to lead protests. Not only did he participate in most protests, he also led most of them. Yet, he refrained from all sorts of sabotage which youth would perpetrate…”
During Ismail Sedky’s cabinet term, he was arrested along with other students, being charged of participating in demonstrations. Likewise, he was charged of trying to burn the school. Yet, he was acquitted after a few days. This troubled his parents. However, the problem was solved and forgotten. Yet, its memory used to inspire feelings of pride within the family owing to the ousting of Sedky’s cabinet. Having accomplished his secondary education, Yehya enrolled in Law School which was blazing with political concern. At the beginning of the 1950s, life in Egypt showed that the west wind was at hand: for the king’s corruption was exposed. University students protested, demanding his dethronement, “Inside the University, students protested, demanding the dethronement of the king. Even more, some of them entered the president’s room, removed the king’s photo and trod it with their feet, demanding his dethronement.”
On the third year of university, Yehya won the Students Union elections, which had a great political significance at that time. In fact, that time was full of political incidents, such as the Wafd cabinet negotiations with the British for independence, the modification of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, demanding the evacuation of the British troops which was followed by al-Nahhas Pasha’s declaration that Egypt had abrogated the treaty. Then, squads of commandoes were formed and the national movement burgeoned. Within this framework, the Mohamed Farid Squad was established by the National Party youth who were trained by Brigadier General Rashad Mehanny who became prince regent to Ahmed Fouad II. At that time, Yehya al-Gamal had become a licentiate.
Egypt’s cause was everybody’s concern. Law School was the most affected body. In fact, the government suspended schoolwork in universities and some schools. Yehya was in the middle of the turmoil. He was pretty concerned with his country’s affairs. The British-Egyptian relations were tumultuous. Bloody incidents followed one another. The British troops seized the Port Said Customs, demolished all the houses at Kafr Abdu (a village near Suez), placed Suez Canal region in their incarceration, and returned the Egyptian Ambassador from London.
In effect, rebellions overwhelmed Egypt. Battles, such as al-Tal al-Kabir, broke out between the colonizers and the popular resistance. Also, the bloody incidents of Ismailia and the Cairo Fire broke out. These were followed by effecting Military Law. Schoolwork continued until the west wind blew on July 23, 1952. Yehya writes, “The results were declared on July, 23. The dean of the School died on the selfsame day. Also, the Army changed the life of Egypt on July, 23. Egypt started a new, significant epoch.”
Such times made Dr. Yehya al-Gamal deeply sympathize with the Egyptian people. Likewise, they drew his political portrait which was to last throughout his lifetime, whereby he played a significant role in the history of Egypt and the Arab countries, taking part in establishing the constitutions of many of them.
Dr. Yehya al-Gamal’s is an unending story. The depth and simplicity of his lifestyle influenced whoever dealt with him. He was one of the members of the Egyptian Family House board of trustees and the law committee secretary. He was quite humble, and encouraged everybody.
I remember that he used to read and learn from the “Beautiful Egypt” series. He asked to write an introduction for it prior publication. Also, among his unknown deeds is defending hegumen Dr. Makary Abdullah who was suspended from teaching at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University, due to taking holy orders. This took place after the 1981 incidents. Dr. al-Gamal defended his cause until he was restored to his post.
It gives me pleasure to end my article with Dr. Jabir Nassar’s words (president of Cairo University and Dr. al-Gamal’s student) which give a glimpse about the human aspect of such a great man, “He was a kind, simple, and generous person. He was also a multi-talented and knowledgeable sage. He was a great professor and renowned writer whose works were easily understood by the readership. He was a thinker with a national and patriotic vision; he never forsook his principles. As a lawyer, he defended causes adeptly. As a human being, there is a lot to be said about him. He always had a smile on his face. His manners were lofty. He was kind and merciful. As a student of his, I did my Ph.D. under his supervision. Whenever I went to him to seek his advice, he would receive me with a smile, call me, and introduce me to everyone as a colleague of his, not a student! He also used to receive me at his place welcomingly. I was close to him… He was pleased with me, and used to encourage me, saying that he was glad to have brought up and educated a student who became a president of Cairo University. Yeyha al-Gamal was a role model and a human being.”
May Egypt’s good child rest in peace! Such stories will never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
