Not a eulogy for Khaled Khalifa

2023-10-07 00:19:23

It was noteworthy that the sudden and shocking passing of the Syrian novelist and screenwriter Khaled Khalifa, a few days ago, brought together those who differed in political positions around him, as words of lamentation and sadness for him flooded on social media pages, and from all those who knew Khaled, from Syrians, Arabs, and the world. Even major newspapers in the world mourned him on their front pages (only the official Syrian media completely ignored the news, fortunately for the deceased). This remarkable consensus on his obituary, at least the Syrian consensus, was not only because he is one of the most important Syrian novelists and writers today, but because he had a unique, attractive personality, with the energy to live, life, and joy, which made the idea of ​​his death completely abolished, because how might all this busy life be? And the ability to finish it in one second is much smaller than the size of a tiny mosquito? Thus, suddenly we all found ourselves – Khaled’s friends, acquaintances, and lovers – facing the reality of his sudden death. How can we believe this death, and how can we not write to Khaled regarding our love for him and our shock at what he did to us?

Khaled Khalifa’s presence in the Syrian cultural scene was not ordinary. Since his first novel, “The Notebooks of the Qarbat” (1993), he registered a firm presence in Syrian culture, which was strengthened when he entered the world of scripts, when Syrian dramatic production was at the peak of its rise, as the series “Biography “Al Jalali” (directed by Haitham Haqqi in 2000), was a huge success when it was shown. Khalifa’s feet were firmly established in the world of dramatic writing, as he then continued writing for drama in conjunction with his novel production, which crystallized completely with his novel “Praise of Hatred” in 2006, following which he became one of the most important young Syrian novelists, and his career began in fame, spread, awards, and translation into many languages.

His writing of drama and novels together made him strongly present in the Syrian artistic and cultural scenes (the artistic and cultural milieu cannot be separated in Syria, as the so-called intellectual segment included those working in all types of arts and writing), and made him a friend of most Syrian drama makers and the majority of Syrian writers, journalists, and intellectuals. In 2011, when the Syrian revolution began, Khaled Khalifa was one of its first supporters, and he opened his home to receive young people fleeing security prosecutions following their participation in the demonstrations. He participated in all civil protests. When we all left Syria, for one reason or another, he refused to leave, but he maintained his ability to move inside and outside Syria, relying on his fame as a writer who had become known in almost the entire world. His stay in Syria did not make him back down from speaking the truth, but rather he remained brave and bold in his conversations related to the Syrian revolution and the regime. He maintained great affection for all his friends who left Syria. He did not insult them as many others did who did not leave, nor did he trade his remaining there, nor did he hold those who left responsible for what happened. Khaled maintained his love for all those who left (most of them his friends), giving them excuses and justifications. He maintained contact with them everywhere in the world; At the same time. His stay in Syria forced him to maintain friendships even with those who differed from him politically, and this is a tax that must be paid in difficult choices, and it must be self-evident for those who have an objective mind in seeing what is happening in Syria.

These circumstances that surrounded Khaled Khalifa, in addition to the nature of his tolerance, his spaciousness, and his loving heart open to all, a Syrian affiliation that sees in everyone the sons of one homeland, a rare courage to speak the truth while in the midst of danger, and a long history of human relations with most of the politically dissimilar at home and abroad, in addition to To his gentle, friendly personality, passionate regarding life and insatiable for joy, despite all the tragedies and disasters, his free spirit that was never touched by grudges, and his extreme humility and simplicity in dealing with everyone, despite his fame and culture, which was never a reason for pessimism and show off; All of these circumstances brought together all those who disagreed politically regarding his departure, an unprecedented consensus in the Syrian case, because none of those who preceded him in his departure possessed these exceptional qualities: courage, love, fame, humility, and tolerance. These are purely special qualities that only a rare personality possesses, certainly neither angelic nor legendary, but the source of her entire behavior is love alone.

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#eulogy #Khaled #Khalifa