Moustafa Kamel, symbol of national movement
Egypt, Culture, 2/10/2000

Born on August 14, 1874, Moustafa Kamel - one of the great Egyptian leaders who carried torch of national movement at the very outset of the 20th century was dating fate to hoist the banner of national movement following the Urabi 1882 Revolution till Sa'd Zaghlul continued the march, leading to the 1919 Revolution.

In 1880 he joined the elementary school, hence he was a studious mind in history realm. Afterwards, he joined the secondary school which harbored national and literary associations. He went further to write in some newspapers, and he used to give lectures each Friday, improvising in such wonderful way that highlighted his talent in oratory and ability to capture his audience's attention through inciting national feelings, raising the motto "Hope is the guide to life and the pilot of freedom".

Moustafa Kamel, in fact, managed to realize his first hope, as he joined school of law in Cairo in 1891 and its opposite number in France in 1893 at the same time. He graduated in 1894, the matter which was deemed to be great and unique accomplishment, urging "Gazette De Toulose" newspaper to hail this student who is considered an ideal for his counterparts, as he struck vivid example of determination and insistence.

In 1891 Moustafa Kamel launched his political, national work, as he wrote - when he was student - in "Al Moua'ed" newspaper, then "Al Ahram". So, press to Moustafa Kamel, became a vast field for practicing national action, beside the oratory he mastered.

In 1900 he established "Al-Lewa'a" newspaper, which became the mouthpiece of the national party which he founded under the motto "full evacuation". In 1907 he established two newspapers one in French language "L'Etandard Egyptien", and the other in English language, "The Egyptian Standard", with a view to spreading national movement to reach foreign communities. He, also, founded the weekly Islamic World magazine. He embarked on his struggle by protesting against the occupation and the British higher commissioner lord Crumar.

In 1895 Moustafa Kamel went to France to plead the Egyptian case of independence, as he wrote in its newspapers, delivering speeches before public gatherings and then paid a tour in European states, expounding Egypt's stand vis-a-vis the British occupation. In the same year, 1895, he met Madame Juliette Adam who believed in the justice of the Egyptian cause. She backed him up and provided Moustafa Kamel with great assistance, furthering him to pursue the march of struggle.

In 1896 he extended an invitation to UK itself and established a dialogue with parties' leaders, paying a tour to Germany, Austria and Turkey.

Dineshwai incident, which took place on June 13, 1906, was a limestone in the history of Moustafa Kamel revolutionary struggle, as he went to Europe following the occupation forces' perpetration of collective punishment against Egyptian farmers, to disapprove these arbitrary measures.

Moustafa Kamel published his famous article in French newspaper 'Le Figaro" under the title "British nation and the civilized world". Such article was rapidly circulated by British newspapers and European gatherings which condemned in just practices perpetrated by the British occupation.

His article along with hot speeches he used to deliver had stirred European public opinion which sympathizes to a great extent with Egypt's cause, as lord Crumar was dismissed on April 11, 1907 and detainees were released on January 7, 1908. Moustafa Kamel, in fact, was representing new approach of Egyptian national struggle, as he left no stone unturned while defending Egypt's freedom, hence he believed in the possibility of realizing liberation through popular pressure on the part of Egyptian masses on one hand, and the international pressure on the part of civilized European peoples on the other hand.

Oratory, however, was an effective weapon on his hand, from which many principles and several ideas were inspired such as "No desperation with life, no life with desperation", the saying which has been derived from his keynote speech delivered on December 23, 1898.

Egyptian national anthem, also, was quoted through one of his speech, when he said "O' my country, my love and my heart are for you". Moustafa Kamel had played great role in calling for the development of Egyptian community through spreading education everywhere.

Adhering to unshakable principles and ideas, Moustafa Kamel established in 1899 preparatory school after his name. Due to the strenuous efforts he exerted in dodging in and out different nations with the aim of defending Egypt's national movement, disease hit him, as he breathed his last on February 10,1908 while in the prime of his youth, 34.

Among his works are :

1- Egyptian-French Message.

2- The Shining Sun.

3- Oriental Question.

4- Egypt and the British Occupation.

5- Japan's Struggle against Russia.

Moustafa Kamel also wrote only one novel which is "The Conquest of Andalusia"

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