Said Mahmoud Takieddine (Arabic: سعيد محمود تقي الدين; 15 May 1904–10 February 1960) was a Lebanese playwright, author, journalist, activist, and businessman. His plays were known to portray various political, social, and philosophical themes.[1] He was the President of the Alumni Association at the American University of Beirut (AUB).[2] He was also the Dean of Information and Foreign Affairs in the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) for a short period of time.
Said Takieddine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | سعيد تقي الدين |
| Born | 15 May 1904 Baakleen, Lebanon |
| Died | 10 February 1960 (aged 56) San Andrés, Colombia |
| Occupation | Playwright, writer, journalist, activist, businessman |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Alma mater | American University of Beirut |
| Spouse | Beatrice Josephine |
| Children | Diana Takieddine |
Early Life
editSaid Takieddine was born in the Lebanese village of Baakleen in the Chouf District to a Druze family of Arabic descent.[1] He was the son of Mahmoud Takieddine, the Mayor of Chouf[2], and Zahiya Amin Abdelmalak, and had five siblings. Takieddine attended school in the Mar Antonios Monastery in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and then moved to another school in Hadath, Lebanon when his father was assigned another job there. He felt estranged as he was the only Druze in a school full of Christians.[3] At the age of 16, Said's love for literature and writing was revealed when he published an article named "رياضاتنا ورياضاتهم" ("Our Sports and theirs") to the front page of جريدة البرق (Al-Barq Newspaper).[3] In the fall of 1917, Said enrolled in a high school program founded by the American University of Beirut (AUB), as all schools in Lebanon and Syria were closed due to the events of World War I and his father was exiled. He then attended Freshman year in the fall of 1920 at the American university of Beirut (AUB), and later acquired a Bachelor's Degree in 1925.[1]
Personal Life
editSaid Takieddine was the son of Mahmoud Takieddine, the Mayor of Chouf, and Zahiya Amin Abdelmalak. He had five brothers: Khalil, Mounir, Baheej, Badʿī, and Nadeem Takieddine, and a sister, Adele Takieddine.[3]
In April 1916, his father was arrested when his uncles, Dr. Rachid and Amin Takieddine, evaded execution, and was later exiled to Anatolia. His father was then pardoned on 21 July 1918, and returned to Lebanon to become Mayor of many other Lebanese cities over the years.[1]
In 1931, during Said's first immigration to the Philippines, he married Beatrice Josephine, a Christian Filipino woman of Arabic descent whom he met in Mindanao, Philippines.[1] She was known to be a beautiful and cultured woman who had a passion for opera.[2] She gave birth in 1933 to a girl they named Diana.[1]
Immigration
editFirst Immigration (9 September 1925–3 February 1948)
editAfter graduating from university, Takieddine left Lebanon in the September of 1925 to start a business in Cebu, Philippines, where his uncle, Dr. Najib Takieddine, owned a house. A few weeks later, Said, along with his uncles Fouad and Dr. Najib, started a business that used small boats to ship goods and display them throughout Philippines' islands.[1]
Said then moved to Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines, where he and his friend, Boutros Awwad, started a few small businesses, which included a gas station, and successfully paid back all his debts.[1]
In 1936, he moved to Manila, Philippines and opened a store, but unfortunately lost all his money in the stock market and declared his bankruptcy, which bred him suicidal thoughts. However, he then met Kamel Hamadeh, a Lebanese merchant from Baakleen, who helped Said with his trading expertise and proficiency in English. Takieddine then started importing products from the United States, which helped him recover.[1]
In 1942, the United States Armed Forces entered Manila causing economic and political chaos. As a result, the Philippines government arrested hundreds of Filipino citizens that had relations with the United States, Said and Kamel Hamadeh being two of them, and incarcerated them in 21 December 1942. During his incarceration, his father had passed away in Lebanon. Upon the conquest of Manila by the United States in February 1945, Said was released after being distanced from his family, and sold his house to start an independent business.[1]
Said departed from the Philippines in February 1948 and spent about a month in Cairo, Egypt, with an estimated net worth of $300,000, and then came back to Lebanon.[1]
Second Immigration (9 September 1958–10 February 1960)
editSaid had a dispute with the leaders of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party after being a member for four years, and as a result stripped himself of all responsibilities relating to the party.[1] He then traveled to Rome, Italy and then to Mexico, where one of his legs became paralyzed. He finally moved to San Andrés, Colombia and, in extreme need for money after the Camille Chamoun Revolt in 1958, sold all his belongings. In his last days, he had thoughts about going back to Lebanon.[3]
Political Activity
editTakieddine was able to achieve financial stability between 1945 and 1948 and consequently furthered his relations with people in power. He was appointed as the Honorary Consul to the Philippines by the Lebanese Government from 6 August 1946 to 1949.[1]
Membership in the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) (1951–1958)
editSaid joined the Syrian Social Nationalist Party in 1951, and, over the years, became the Dean of Information and Foreign Affairs in the party. In 1953, a series of military coups took place in Syria under the leadership of Adib Al-Shishikli and the SSNP felt its power growing. Al-Shishikli then created a new party in Syria which the SSNP failed to be part of, thus diminishing its member base. Then, in 1958, the SSNP pledged allegiance to Camille Chamoun during his revolt, and so Said halted all his activities in the party and became a non-active member.[1]
Support to the Palestinian Cause
editDue to his close relation to the President of the Philippines, he was able to convince him to change his country's stance in the United Nations concerning the Palestinian–Israeli conflict. Accordingly, he collected sizable donations to support the Palestinian cause and sent them to private organizations in Lebanon.[1]
He also founded the "Kol Mowaten Khafeer" committee ("لجنة كل مواطن خفير") in 1954 to fight Zionism in Arab countries through the help of authority figures. However, lack of Beirut citizens' participation and support to the committee led to its disbandment in 1955.[1]
Bibliography
edit
Plays
edit- If Not for the Lawyer (1923) لولا المحامي
- It is Done (1924) قضي الأمر
- A Toast to the Enemy (1936) نخب العدو
- A Handful of Wind (1939) حفنة الريح
- The Castaway (19??) المنبوذ
Short Stories
edit- Fall's Spring (1954) ربيع الخريف
Quote Books
edit- Flap of a Wing (1954) رفة جناح
Speeches
edit- Ladies and Gentlemen (1955) سيدتي وسادتي
Articles
edit- Informed (1955) تبلغوا وبلغوا
- The Lake's Dust (1956) غبار البحيرة
- Winds in my Sail (1960) رياح في شرعي
- The Middle East (1960) الشرق الأوسط
- Frown of the Gods (2003) عبوس الألهة
Journals
edit- The Dragon and I (1961) أنا والتنين
Presidency of the Alumni Association at AUB
editSaid became President the Alumni Association at the American University of Beirut in 1948 after its lack of activity in the preceding years. He also founded a building for the Alumni Association at AUB[2] using LBP50,000 of his personal money.[1]
Death
editOn 5 February 1960, Said mentioned in his final letter to a friend that he recently suffered a heart attack. On 10 February 1960, Said Takieddine died of a heart attack while swimming in San Andrés, Colombia. He had contracted Hypertension disease in 1955 due to the stress he underwent in the "Kol Mowaten Khafeer" committee.[3]