Ziad Kaj on the Children of the Previous Porter

Left to right:: Ziad Kaj and Hiba Omeiche

The Anis Makdisi Program in Literature has organized a lecture on March 4 dedicated to the work of Ziad Kaj. The lecture was introduced by Hiba Omeiche, a graduate assistant at the Anis Makdisi Program. Kaj wrote a “memoire” entitled The Children of the Previous Porter, in which he narrates his personal life and the experience of the suffering of the Lebanese during the Lebanese Civil War. He starts his memoire by discussing the issue of society’s negative perception of his parents. He is the son of a mother and a father who have two different religions: Christianity and Islam, and two opposing cultural beliefs: the city and the province. Also, Kaj describes the horror of his presence in some events of the Lebanese Civil War such as the massacre of Sabra and Chatila. He was present during the massacre because he worked as a volunteer in the Civil Defense and could describe the real fear and terror of the Lebanese people.

Although he suffered from being a “bipolar,” he was able to challenge himself and pursue his determination to build himself in a shattered and sectarian country and in a poor family. After all, Kaj belonged to the Communist Party, and he has a passion for reading and learning. One notices this passion through his ambition, as mentioned in his “memoire,” to learn the English language along with learning media and working at the AUBMC. Kaj got married to a woman who used to work at AUBMC, the place where he met her. He has now two children: Jad and Mira. He considers his children as his dream for a better “tomorrow.” Kaj portrays the society’s prejudices, racism, and his sufferings by using a sense of humor. The lecture was well attended and received. The nurses of the AUBMC and his family were present. Kaj also translated his “memoire” to English.