The Pen That Defied Silence: Rasim Rushdi’s Legacy / Ink and Exile: A Chronicle of Circassian Memory

The Pen That Defied Silence: Rasim Rushdi’s Legacy

Ink and Exile: A Chronicle of Circassian Memory

Adel Bashqawi

August 15, 2025

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Introduction

There are many ways to begin highlighting the legacy of this remarkable figure, whose Circassian identity and homeland—described by him as “violated”—are central themes in his work. Rasim Rushdi stood firm in his convictions, leaving behind a legacy that reflects his indispensable cultural and intellectual profile. His writings illuminate the diaspora experience in vivid detail and offer insight into a personality shaped by unique patterns of thought, emotion, conduct and good manner.

Rasim Rushdi was more than a writer—he was a guardian of memory, a voice for a scattered nation, and a chronicler of truths that empires tried to silence. Through eloquent prose and unwavering commitment to Circassian identity, he preserved the stories, struggles, and spirit of a people whose history was nearly erased. At a time when documentation was scarce and cultural survival uncertain, Rushdi’s work became a lifeline—connecting generations across borders, languages, and exile. This article seeks to honor his legacy, explore his contributions, and reflect on the enduring relevance of his words in the ongoing journey of Circassian resilience.

Biography

The Circassian writer, historian, and intellectual Rasim Rushdi adopted a naming convention common among Circassians—using his first name alongside his father’s or grandfather’s name. According to his son, Nabil Rushdi, their original Circassian family name is Dabrak (pronounced Dubraque in Circassian), originating from the Hatuqwai tribe, which once resided in the northwestern part of Circassia along the banks of the Kuban River. The Hatuqwai homeland extended between the Pshish and Belaya Rivers.

Nabil Rushdi Dubraque recounts that Rasim’s father, Rushdi, was born in Cairo in the late 1860s or early 1870s. His grandfather, Hussein Rasmy Dabrak, was deported—presumably with another family member—to Turkey, and eventually made his way to Egypt, where he lived in the household of Cherif Pasha, Egypt’s Prime Minister and a fellow Circassian. “Contacts with any Dabraks in Turkey were lost,” Nabil notes.

Rasim Rushdi is remembered as a political activist, a passionate and creative defender of his nation’s legitimate rights. His people had endured invasion, occupation, destruction, racism, genocide, and forced displacement at the hands of the Russian Empire. As a public figure, his legacy resonates deeply with Circassian identity and cultural preservation.

Rushdi studied electrical engineering in Britain and emerged as a leading voice among Circassian diaspora intellectuals, contributing to the national and cultural renaissance of the 1930s. He devoted himself to translation, publishing articles, documents, and books on Circassian culture, history, and political issues.

His son Nabil shared the following on Facebook:

“Rasim Rushdi was born in 1917 in Tiberias, Palestine, then under Ottoman rule. In the early 1950s, the nationalistic Egyptian government took away our Egyptian citizenship and, after a period of statelessness, we became Lebanese. We immigrated to the United States at the end of 1959, and became American citizens. Rasim Rushdi worked for and retired from the American State Department. He died in Falls Church, Virginia in 1986, and is buried in Alexandria, Virginia. He has four sons (I’m the eldest), a daughter and about a dozen grandchildren.” [1]

Rushdi’s immigration to the United States in October 1959 marked a new chapter. He worked for the U.S. State Department until his retirement and passed away at the age of 69.

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Analysis

This article aims to introduce Rasim Rushdi’s legacy to a wider audience and analyze his literary and cultural impact within the history of Circassia and the North Caucasus. His writings are grounded in logical reasoning, dissecting complex topics into their component parts to reveal deeper truths. Through a systematic approach, he verified events and clarified meanings, allowing readers to uncover facts wrapped in evidence.

Rushdi’s work is infused with a strong Circassian nationalist spirit and reflects a careful, almost scientific examination of historical realities. His integration of personal and national identity reveals the depth of his loyalty to his nation and homeland.

In his book This Is My Nation: A Circassian Speaks About His People, Rushdi writes:

“When it comes to the history of Circassians, we are talking about one of the brightest pages of human history, as well as one of the most miserable and wretched. Since the sixteenth century, the Circassians have written the pages of their history with their own blood in defending the freedom of their homeland and the integrity of their beliefs. This is not what saddens us, but it pains us most that we were forced to leave our country… We were mentioned in the books of ancient Greek historians, such as Herodotus, Strabo, and Seleucus. They called the Circassians by different names, such as Sarkis, Karkat, and Karkas.”

He continues:

“Some historians of Byzantium also used to call the country of the Circassians Kazadekhia, and perhaps this last word is derived from Caucasus. Al-Bustani mentioned in the Encyclopedia, Part 1, p. 440, that medieval historians used to refer to them as Cyrax, and all of these historians praised the civility of the ancient Circassians and their good qualities, to the point that Homer, the ancient Greek historian and poet, made their country a ‘scene’ for his famous Iliad, just as the legends of the ancient Greeks narrate that the god of fire, Prometheus, was exiled to the Caucasus and arrested there.” [2]

Commemoration

Rasim Rushdi’s life and work offer a vivid portrait of a Circassian historian and writer whose intellectual and national identity shaped a distinctive legacy. His historical narratives are grounded in documented memory, yet presented with engaging clarity and emotional depth.

His writings chronicle the harsh conditions endured by the Circassian nation—displacement, adversity, and cultural erosion—while emphasizing resilience, pride, and the enduring power of national identity. Through a realistic yet hopeful lens, Rushdi guided readers to confront obstacles and envision a future rooted in dignity and return.

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He has published nine books, some in English and others in Arabic. These titles reflect the breadth of his interests and comprehensive vision, and the depth of his commitment to preserving cultural heritage:

• Islam and Intellectual Freedom, Jerusalem, 1936
• The Tragedy of a Nation, Jerusalem, 1939
• This Is My Nation – A Circassian Speaks of His People, Cairo, 1947
• Egypt and the Circassians, Cairo, 1948
• Jan: A Circassian Tale, Cairo, 1949
• Abdul Hamid: The Shadow of God by Alma Wittlin, translated by Rasim Rushdi, 1950
• Carmen by Prosper Mérimée, translated by Rasim Rushdi, 1950
• Tripoli (Libya): Past and Present, Tripoli, 1953
• Kuwait and Kuwaitis – Studies in Kuwait’s Past and Present, Beirut, 1955

Rushdi’s commitment extended beyond books. As one source notes:

“The struggling writer was not satisfied with publishing only the mentioned books, but rather he turned to raising Circassian national awareness by issuing and distributing pamphlets and articles calling for not forgetting the motherland, the Circassian language, customs, and morals. He also called for planned work drawn up with knowledge, faith, and perseverance to achieve a free, honorable, and safe return to the land of the ancestors.” [3]

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Conclusion

Rasim Rushdi was, without question, a historian of Circassian memory. His work enriched the Circassian literary archive at a time when it was still in its formative stages—both in the homeland under then Soviet rule or throughout the diaspora before and after World War II.

His writings were not limited to Circassian history alone; he also documented the places where Circassians settled after displacement, offering insight into their evolving identities and communities.

To preserve his legacy, we must revisit what he accomplished under the most difficult circumstances. His journey was marked by perseverance, clarity, and a deep sense of duty. He provided accurate, heartfelt documentation that continues to inspire those who follow in his path—those who amplify the Circassian cause and deepen awareness of its enduring struggle.

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References:

[1] https://www.facebook.com/A.Jaimoukha/posts/rasim-rushdi-the-tragedy-of-a-nation-the-story-of-the-cherkess-with-an-introduct/575904069120528/

[2] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251685139

3] https://beeadiga.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-post_41.html