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Like many founding fathers, Rida Saïd (1876-1946) lived a cosmopolitan life before taking on his monumental contribution to building the modern nation of Syria. Born in Damascus in 1876, Said trained as a medical doctor in Istanbul and Paris. As a young man, he served as a field doctor with the Ottoman Empire's army in the Balkan Wars, but he soon became disillusioned about his homeland's foreign rulers. Like other Syrians, he was opposed to the aggressive Turkish nationalism that alienated Arabs and dreamed of a more inclusive system for his people. After his medical work in Damascus during World War I, and following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Said took on a critical role in establishing an independent Syria: he became a pioneering educator, advocating for the importance of providing institutions to educate the Arab people. He went on to become the first head of Damascus University, and then Minister of Education. He died in 1945, a few months before Syria finally achieved independence in 1946. Now available for the first time in English, Rida Saïd: A Man for All Seasons tells the story of this remarkable life at the heart of a nation in deep conflict. Indeed, Saïd's story resonates profoundly today as the Syrian people struggle for a future of opportunity and respect.
Info autore
Sabah Kabbani (1928-2015) was born in Damascus and educated in Syria and France. He had a career in public service as director of Syrian Television and as a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Peter Clark is a writer, translator, and consultant who was director of the British Council in Syria from 1992 to 1997.
Riassunto
Rida Said: A Man of Many Talents tells the story of this remarkable man who helped to shape many aspects of modern Syria and lived through the Ottoman and French occupations, staying true to his commitment to the education of Arab people.
