Articles
The Late Dr. Haddis Alemayehu
12:34 |
Written by Wemezekir
Haddis
Alemayehu was a humble patriot who has served his country and enriched the
lives of his fellow Ethiopians in diverse ways. Not only has he fought for his
country at the frontline against Italian occupation, he has also defended
Ethiopia’s interests through remarkable diplomacy after the war. He wrote the
first masterpiece of Ethiopian literature ፍቅር እስከ መቃብር (“Love Unto Grave”). He also made efforts toward cultivating the
minds of young Ethiopians through education when he was a top official of
Ministry of Education.
Haddis
Alemayehu was born on Tikimt 7, 1902 E.C. (15th October 1909 G.C) in
the Indodam Kidane Mehret, a village not far from Debre Markos, capital of
Gojam Province. He was the son of an Orthodox priest, Abba (Father) Alemayehu
Solomon, and his wife Woizero Desta Alemu. Haddis embarked
on religious education from a very young age. As he grew older, he studied
at the renowned Gojjam monasteries of Debre Elias, Debre Worq, and Dima. Later,
he moved to Addis Ababa and enrolled at the Swedish Mission, and then at
Taffari Makonnen School for further studies. Upon graduation he took up a post
as a teacher.
In the
1930s, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia and the young patriotic Haddis went to
the war front to defend his country. He joined the freedom fighters under the
leadership of Ras Imru Haile Selassie. Vigorously fighting the Italians on many
fronts, he was caught by the Italians and sent to Italy where he was imprisoned along with Ras Imru. He stayed
there for 7 years and 8 months. Although the fascist troops were defeated and
thrown out of Ethiopia in 1941, Haddis did not return to Ethiopia until a year
later.
Since his
return Haddis was assigned to a number of official posts. After brief stints In
the Department of Press and Propaganda and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he
became the Ethiopian consul in Jerusalem (1945-1946) where he stayed for about
two years there. There he met and married Kibebe-Tsehay Belay, who had been
brought up in Jerusalem.
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| Dr. Haddis signing the UN Charter at the UNHQ in San Francisco |
Haddis was back to
diplomacy, when he was sent to London as the Ambassador to Britain in 1961. He
stayed there until he was recalled to Ethiopia in 1966. After his recall,
Haddis, who was not in good health, preferred not to reenter government
service. Reluctantly, he agreed to become minister of planning and development,
and later served as Senator (1968-1974).
During the first two years
of the Dergue regime, Haddis served as a member of the “advisory body” that had
been created to replace the dissolved parliament. However he declined Dergue’s
offer to become prime minister, thus removing himself from any meaningful role
in government.
Besides his official
responsibilities, he was known for writing great Amharic literary works such as ‘YeAbeshana
YeWedehuala Gabicha (የሐበሻና የወደኋላ ጋብቻ) (1948 E.C.) “Teret,
Teret YeMeseret (ተረት ተረት፣ የመሰረት) (1948E.C.)
etc. Haddis Alemayehu became a prominent author when he wrote his most famous
novel ፍቅር እስከ መቃብር (Love Unto Grave) in 1958 E.C
which has become a classic Amharic novel and which deals with love across the
social class divide of feudal Ethiopia. He also wrote ወንጀለኛው ዳኛ (The
Guilty Judge) in 1974 E.C. and other works.
Haddis Alemayehu was
awarded the Haile Selassie Trust Prize Medal, and the Gold Mercury Medal for his contribution to Ethiopian literature.
He also received an honorary Doctorate degree from Addis Ababa University.
On Saturday, Hidar 26, 1996 E.C. (6th December 2003) Haddis Alemayehu passed
away in Addis Ababa, and was buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral. He was 94 years
old. Haddis Alemayehu left a legacy of a solid work and an immense contribution
that spans over six decades.
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