Cairo - I was never intrigued by the notion that I would be mourning his death one day. Rather, I have always been haunted by the other notion that he was the one who would be mourning the death of the "troublesome boy" as he would have liked to call me so. I well remember when I received death threats from extremist groups in a statement that I among others were targeted, his stern voice came from far away propelling me to keep on the struggle and the fight against those dark forces without fear or reluctance. This was Dr. Refaat El-Said, the teacher, the mentor and the godfather of my generation. El-Said was our educator and champion. He used to rejoice in our success and come to our rescue when we needed him. He would send us his salutary advice wherever we were and whatever we were doing. Par excellence, we are: "The disciples of Refaat El-Said " as some would like to call us. When one writer penned an article describing El-Said as "the great patriarch" who greatly influenced "the younger patriarch," which was me, I never been so happy. I was happy that I have become an example of him; and people started likening me to him.
