On His Anniversary… Al-Tayyib Haj Attia

As I see

By Adil El-Baz

He vanished after rising… and hid after shining.

(1)
When we first opened our eyes to life, roaming the fields of childhood in District Eight of Al-Duwaim, Al-Tayyib Haj was already a star in the sky of the city. His arrival in Al-Duwaim was news worthy of celebration, and the courtyards of Haj Attia’s house often overflowed with guests, filling the city’s nights with warmth and joy.
We would sit with him, captivated by his endless stories of life abroad. My friend Kamal Ali and I visited him often, driven by our passion for media and journalism. We learned from him in the earliest days of our lives.

(2)
When I entered university, there was no Faculty of Media, so I joined the Faculty of Economics. But the place where I truly studied was “Nashat Café,” where we published our weekly student newspapers, and soon I joined the Journalism Society, which was supervised by Al-Tayyib Haj Attia.
The society sent dozens of trainees every year to Cairo’s newspapers for training courses, and I was fortunate to receive free annual training throughout my university years.
After graduation, when I stepped into the world of business, my relationship with him never ceased. He would always tell me: “You are a journalist, and you will return to it.”
And indeed, I did return—without regret.

(3)
When I considered founding Al-Ahdath newspaper, he was the first person I went to for advice. His wisdom guided me, and he honored me by accepting to serve as Chairman of the Board—even though he had turned down many offers from both government and the private sector to be linked to any newspaper.

(4)
Those who knew Al-Tayyib from afar were captivated by his vast knowledge and refined character. Those who came closer discovered a wonderful human being—pleasant, generous-spirited, sharp-witted, with a joyful, humorous soul.
But those blessed enough to have lived beside him, learned at his hands, worked with him, traveled with him, and shared endless nights of companionship—these people reaped a joy that others can only envy. The writer of this article is one of them, by good fortune.

What delighted me most is that my teacher Al-Tayyib remained standing, holding onto his pen and his chalk—never knowing anything else in life. Despite illness and hardship, he never let either of them fall from his hands. He continued giving to his homeland until his last day, when he, with others, presented the National Initiative for Peace and Reform.
And I have never known a man loved by Sudanese from all walks of life like Al-Tayyib Haj Attia—except perhaps Al-Tayyib Salih, may God have mercy on them both.

(5)
His students will never tire of remembering his virtues. His friends will never forget the days they spent with him. And Al-Duwaim will remember him with every good thing—as a son of its sons, and one of its great symbols.
As for me, I shall weep for him as long as I live…
My only fear is that Sudanese might forget the tremendous efforts he devoted to peace and reform—efforts to which he dedicated a life overflowing with generosity.
May God have mercy on our teacher, and place him among the highest ranks.
O Lord… have mercy on him.