June 15, 2009

bethlehem university celebrates the work of mahmoud darwish

When Mahmoud Darwish died in August 2008, he left a lingering void. The premier Palestinian poet, Darwish portrayed the intricacies of Palestinian society with a unique authenticity.  

Indeed, his literary journey was inextricably linked to the collective Palestinian spirit, to the entire Palestinian story.

Exploring Darwish’s impact on that story, the Bethlehem University Department of Social Sciences launched its third scientific conference on Tuesday, 19 May.  Titled “The Palestinian Social and Human Dimensions in the Creative Works of Mahmoud Darwish”, the conference addressed the “human and social dimensions of Darwish’s work”, said Dr. Norma Masriyyeh Hazboun, Chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences and head of the conference organizing committee. Dr. Mohammad Farahat, Dr. Iyad Amawi, Miss Nabila Daqqaq and Mr. Mohammad Lafi were also members of the organizing committee.

“We gather today not to lament Darwish,”, she noted in her opening address, “as much as to communicate with his legacy.” A legacy, she explained, in which he defends Palestinian land and society, justice, freedom, and equality.

“The mystery of Mahmoud Darwish resides in the essence of his national symbolism. He has entered history as a poet of exile, resistance, peace and martyrdom,” Dr. Norma continued. “He was able to formulate the identity of an entire people and has contributed to the formation of the Arab cultural identity.”

The opening session also included a documentary on the life and works of Mahmoud Darwish, prepared by Prof. Dr. Qustandi Al-Shomali.

With such a potent topic, conference participation was high. Attendees included writers, intellectuals, academics, local politicians and staff, faculty and students from Bethlehem University.

“It is an honor and pride for Bethlehem University to revive the memory of Mahmoud Darwish” said Br. Robert Smith, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Brother Robert, who read from an English translation of Darwish’s poem, “Homeland”,  noted that Darwish’s work has been translated into twenty languages. With such a broad international audience, he noted, Darwish succeeded in communicating the tragedy of Palestinian dispersal “to all parts of the universe”.

A total of 17 working papers were presented in four sessions, exploring Darwish’s work through the thematic categories of identity, entity and the significance of existence; homeland, exile and collective memory; death and the agony of life; beauty, love and dreams; and Darwish’s hopes for Palestinians. Presenters came from all over the West Bank, including Birzeit University, Al-Quds Open University, Jenin, Bethlehem University, the Alternative Information Center, Jericho College and the Legislative Council. Five BU sociology students also presented their own analyses of the Darwish legacy.

Local and regional Arab media covered the conference, with at least 38 conference mentions in the Arabic-language press. “It was a real success all in all,” commented Father Jamal Khader the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

“At the time when we celebrate Jerusalem as Capital of Arab Culture for 2009,” Dr. Norma concluded, the conference “shed light in an unprecedented manner on the interconnection between Darwish’s creative works and aspects of Palestinian human and social fabric.”