Episode (3)
In this episode, Uncle Mohammed Saeed Al-Desouqi joins us through a direct account from the artist Mohammed Wardi.
During a conversation between Professor Mohammed Wardi and me, Wardi asked about Professor Faqir Sir Al-Khatim Mohammed Saleh—Faqir Siri, a man of true genius—and about Professor Mahmoud Awad Al-Karim, who taught at Dalqo School in the 1960s. Mohammed Wardi then described in detail the period when he taught in the Mahas area of Saadnafti. Wardi said he was a member of the admissions committee for new students, while the parents’ council was chaired by Uncle Mohammed Saeed Al-Desouqi, who held a firm grasp on every thread of local social, commercial, and political life. Wardi retained great respect and appreciation for Mohammed Saeed Al-Desouqi, but that did not stop him from challenging him whenever he believed it was right—especially since Saeed approved the accepted students together with the inspector. Once we rebelled against him, invited the inspector, held a large celebration for him, and explained the situation in the parents’ council. That same evening I suggested that ten new pupils be accepted, and the inspector approved. The following morning, at the council meeting, Uncle Mohammed Saeed was surprised that the inspector had not approved all his requests. He looked at me immediately and said, ‘So we should leave this village to Mohammed Wardi and find another one.’ A man from Artemari then erupted in the meeting, holding his son’s head after learning that the boy had not been accepted. He asked, ‘In your conscience, you people sitting here, does this boy not deserve it?’ When everyone fell silent, I said, ‘By God, he deserves it.’ The angry man replied, ‘There is no one here with a conscience except Mohammed Wardi.’
That was how the debates between me and Uncle Mohammed Saeed Al-Desouqi took place, while I kept all my respect and appreciation for him.
Mohammed Wardi added that when he and Hassan Abdel-Majid came to the homeland for the Constituent Assembly election in 1968, they rested for two days in Suwarदा after the tiring journey. He then went to Hassan and said, ‘Come, let us go and campaign in Dalqo Al-Mahas.’ Hassan replied, ‘No, we are not going to Dalqo Al-Mahas.’ When Wardi asked why, Hassan said that Mohammed Saeed Al-Desouqi had sent him a letter and people carrying a warning in Nubian: ‘If either of you sets foot in Dalqo, we will break his leg.’
Wardi left Hassan, quickly brought the car around, stopped it in front of him, and said, ‘Get in. We came from Khartoum to contest an election and you are telling me about Mohammed Saeed?’ They drove to Dalqo and stopped in front of Uncle Mohammed Saeed’s shop. Wardi got out and found him writing papers. He greeted him, ‘Uncle Mohammed Saeed, how are you?’ The man looked hard at him and said in Nubian, ‘Wardi, you have come to this village again?’ Wardi replied, ‘Uncle Mohammed Saeed, Mahas is my homeland—where else would I go? Or did you also believe the newspapers that Mohammed Wardi had emigrated? I will not emigrate; I will remain attached to and love my homeland.’ Mohammed Saeed answered, ‘Look, no one in this village will give you a vote. Take Ibn Majid with you and put your trust in God.’ Wardi replied, ‘I know you gathered the people and had them take the oath, and now the people who took the oath will give you their vote, while those who did not take it will give us theirs.’
To be continued >>>>>>.