Plain Talk

By Mursi Saad El-Din

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We are always fond of putting writers and artists in categories. We straightjacket them, squeeze them into predetermined moulds, then discuss whether they fit them or not. But there are writers and artists who, somehow, evade being treated in this way.

One such a writer is Tareq Heggi, who is, if I may use the expression, "an all rounder". He has just celebrated the publication of his 21st book, Readings in the Egyptian mind. I am not going to write about this book, but about Tareq Heggi as a, well, writer, critic, businessman and reformer. In all that he has written he has had the welfare and the future of Egypt in mind.

Of his 20 books, some in Arabic and others in English, I have chosen a rather small one -- barely 200 pages -- with the title Culture, first and foremost, published by Dar El-Maaref. Culture here is used in its wider sociological sense. And the book is something of a "manifesto" for reform.

The author gives 15 bases for what he calls "better future of Egypt". The first is a belief in democracy and freedom. This is an important cornerstone in any general cultural climate, which will help us move ahead with the times and remain at peace with the new world.

The second basis is the belief in science and modernity. Science and modernisation are the fuel of progress and the improvement of the quality of human life. Embracing this principle means rejecting those who spread atavistic ideas, which place our society at variance with science and modernity. He refuses -- what some writers claim -- to separate the material products of western civilisation (i.e. the products of science and technology) and its cultural side. Rather, he believes, it is the general cultural climate that produced the material products.

Heggi believes, as is evident from the third basis, that an acceptable cultural climate for our age should subsume the belief that thought, creativity and genius have no ethnic or race limitations. They have no nationality since they always rise above individuals and so are in the sky to globality and humanity. This does not, by any means, ignore national cultures; it simply means "unity in diversity". This, in his opinion, refutes the so called cultural invasion. It is only those people and nations who have nothing to offer that will fear such an alleged invasion. Egypt, however, has such deep and robust cultural roots that it can stand up to what comes from outside.

Another important principle, essential for reform, is the belief that "religion is the permanent source of ethics and morals, while the political, economic and social systems are liable to change". In another principle, Heggi expresses his belief in the inevitability of comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Such peace would act as a safeguard against the spread of violence, backwardness and poverty.

An important point stressed by the author is that the existence of an Arab culture that connects all Arabs does not eradicate the separate cultural identity of each Arab country. Consequently we should work for the enrichment of cultural tries without falling prey to the belief that such ties are a basis for the existence of a comprehensive political unity.

Two items I would like to stress here are the reform of education in Egypt and the importance of modern management as a basis for economic advancement. There is a general feeling that our system of education needs to be renovated. The Egyptian press these days is full of articles in this field and the Ministry of Education has initiated steps towards reform. An effective management, claims Heggi, is essential for economic advancement. And he should know. For many years he was the head of a multinational oil company, which, under his guidance, achieved great successes.