Wearing an elegant black dress and carrying an off-white scarf over her arm, Nada Gabriel Takla, granddaughter of Bishara Takla, one of the 19th century founders of Al-Ahram, visited the establishment this week to open its new historical museum which contains objects belonging to founders Selim and Bishara Takla. During her visit, Takla was able to sit at her grandfather's desk, and Mohamed Abdel-Hadi, today's editor-in-chief, presented her with a copy of the first ever issue of the daily Al-Ahram. Chairman of the Board Ahmed Al-Sayed Al-Naggar presented Takla with a ceremonial key to Al-Ahram building. In comments made at the opening, Takla said that she had fond memories of Salah Al-Ghamri, formerly chairman of the board of Al-Ahram, describing him as a gentleman whom she had met several times on her visits to Egypt. Takla, who today lives between Switzerland and Lebanon, said “I was raised in Egypt, and though I left the country in 1959 I still feel this is my country and where I would like to live because I love the people so much.” The family had left the country during the rule of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, when their assets were nationalised. “Before the 25 January Revolution I thought of coming back to Egypt. But then there was Muslim Brotherhood rule, the worst period in modern Egyptian history. Now, however, I am thinking seriously of coming back to Egypt,” Takla said. Takla talked to the journalists who attended the event, asking what they did on the paper. She evidently has a critical eye, since going round the exhibition of paintings at Al-Ahram she mentioned the names of many famous artists. She herself used to be an interior designer, but gave it up for health reasons. “It is hard to hang curtains or go around Milan designs fairs when your back is hurting and you're getting very tired because of it,” she said. “Today, I am an old lady,” she said, claiming that women today often do much more than she did, particularly if they work in journalism. She also mentioned her sister Sara Takla, author of a book on their father. Asked whether she was a supporter of newly inaugurated President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Takla answered with a question, asking why all Egyptians were so fond of him. She herself voted in the elections as was her right, she said, adding that everyone should exercise the right to vote and to participate. “It is a shame that some people did not,” she concluded. “Al-Sisi responded to the people when they wanted to get rid of the Muslim Brotherhood, and he stood up against the United States and other countries that supported the group,” she said. Perhaps because of his socialist policies, Takla does not have particularly good memories of Nasser. However, she is a firm supporter of Al-Sisi despite his similar military background. “He is totally different from Nasser,” she said firmly. Had she ever thought of working in the newspaper business given her family background? “No,” she said. “How can I be interested in the newspaper business when I don't have the paper any more?” She suggested that Al-Ahram should focus more on electronic advertising so that investors overseas would have a better idea of the opportunities available in Egypt. Asked her opinion of today's Al-Ahram and whether her grandparents' dream of a great daily paper had come true, she replied modestly that she had little to say on the matter. “You are ones responsible for the paper,” she said to the assembled journalists. “You are doing a wonderful job and writing very good articles,” she added, smiling. Showing her evident sense of humour, Takla said at the end of the visit that even though she had been presented with the key to Al-Ahram she doubted whether the security guards would let her in on a subsequent visit. “When you come again, phone anyone of us first and we will be sure to find a way of letting you in,” the assembled journalists said.
