Sheikh Jaber adopts his uncle’s vision
Sheikh Al Salem’s death … a loss of a great friend
This is the 13th in a series of articles on HH the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah (1926-2006), the 13th ruler of Kuwait.
— Editor
On the 25th of October 1965, the loveable Amir, HH Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Mubarak Al Sabah, suffered from a massive heart attack while opening the second year’s Parliamentary session. For days his condition remained critical; it was made worse with a second cardiac arrest a few days later.
As the nation stood hoping and praying, his soul was reaching out for the great Source from which it came, ready to start its new journey into a new reality more permanent and real than the one it was leaving behind. The Great Man had done his duty; he fulfilled the dream he had been nurturing from early youth — to give to his people a life of dignity and the right to a share in government. Having fulfilled his intention, he was ready to leave without regrets marring his passage. On the 24th of November, the announcement of his death caused intense grief; for he had indeed been a loving father to his people, a wise man widely respected and cherished in his country and abroad for his humility, wisdom and generosity.
For Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad his loss was particularly painful. The Sheikh was his favorite uncle whom he loved dearly. Since he could remember, he had been attracted to his affable personality and good humor; his kindness and compassion for all living things inspired him to follow in his footsteps. He was about seven years old when caught beating with a long stick the branches of a Seder tree to get to the ripe fruits, his uncle held him back, saying: No, my boy! Don’t do this! All living things have feelings; we must be kind to them.”
“But, uncle, it is only a tree!” said Sheikh Jaber, turning surprised.
“Is it not alive?” said his uncle. Sheikh Jaber stood quiet. That incident became a guide for his feelings and emotions towards all living things; it was the main reason why he could never hunt down animals for sport. His love of nature developed into a passion for gardening and keeping hives, which he looked after with tender care even when he became deeply involved in governmental affairs that took most of his time away.
Admiration
When he became involved in political affairs, a stronger, mutual admiration developed between him and his uncle. The Amir trusted the statesmanship potential and financial shrewdness of his young nephew, and Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad cherished his uncle as his closest friend and advisor. Indeed, he was so enticed by his uncle’s ways of dealing with peoples and situations that he was inspired by his example. When he became involved in the administration of state, he made a habit of driving through town and the suburbs, while his people were at rest, to inspect works in progress and making notes on anything that needed to be rectified as his uncle used to do. He also encouraged people to speak their mind during meetings, even insisting on them to express their opinion, as his uncle used to do; he also shared his love for children, finding in their innocence the reflection of all that is best in the human soul.
The Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem was a very humble man; he cared nothing for riches, which he only used for helping people in need. His generosity touched millions in the poorest countries. On his example Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad made Kuwait the most outstanding donor country whose policy from the very beginning has been a vehicle of peace and compassion in the world, providing humanitarian aids without political strings .
On the 27th of November 1965, HH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Mubarak Al Sabah became the new Amir of Kuwait. Soon after on the 30th of November, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah was chosen Prime Minister, in the following day he was proclaimed Crown Prince by unanimous vote at the National Assembly. He was then 40 years old, skilled and knowledgeable, perfectly fitted to administer every affair of state.
Among his many concerns in assuming his new responsibility was trying to spur the laggard element in the administrative system whose lack of determined action was causing drag and losses affecting the country’s development. While private enterprises were booming, the government’s set plans were moving at a snail pace mainly due to Parliament’s interfering and its lack of awareness in political and economic affairs.
Session
During session, instead of focusing their attention on issues of importance, many MPs were wasting precious time on matters irrelevant to the issues, thereby, creating drags and problems. While attending the sessions, though keeping his characteristic calmness, HH Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad was becoming increasingly concerned, especially when a minister had to undergo questioning for the most trivial of reasons that only revealed the shallowness of the argument of those MPs questioning him. Since 1966, he found himself at odds with the Parliament whose priority were short-term minor issues instead of the greater interest of the country’s development. Time needed for constructive work and problem- solving was wasted. Many opportunities of great benefit to the country were also lost and that was causing him great pain. Time and again he advised moderation and mutual respect during session until finally seeing the excesses of the Parliament as a threat to national security, he felt imperative to dissolve it in 1976.
The people supported his decision wholeheartedly eager to see their beloved Kuwait moving ahead again with progressive strides and avoid the limbo of indecision and inertia. In dissolving the parliament HH Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad was hoping that a more competent one would be elected in its place, but his expectations were thwarted when the next Parliament proved to be no better than the one he dissolved.
To be continued