Aamal Tulaimat
Journalist
The journalist Aamal Tulaimat is the daughter of the pioneer woman Rose al-Youssef, and the sister of author Ihsan Abd al-Quddous. She was a member of al-Wafaa w al-Amal Association, and the Association for Health Improvement. In the interview, Aamal shared the milestone of her career in journalism.
Aamal commenced the interview by speaking about her mother, the pioneer journalist Fatima al-Youssef, known as “Rose al-Youssef.” Aamal recalled her mother’s strength, describing her as an extraordinary woman, who taught her honesty and responsibility, and to always keep her promises. During her childhood, Aamal was not impressed by her mother’s wide fame, since she attributed it to her mother’s constant preoccupation with work, and inability to spend more time with her. As for her father, the actor Zakie Tulaimat, Aamal described him as an understanding man, and a romantic artist. Their relationship was more like a friendship, and he was the one person Aamal would go to when she encountered any problem in life. Her father also had the greatest impact on how she dealt with others because he was always keen on helping people. Aamal recounted that, after their divorce, her parents maintained their friendship and good relations. She also recalled her relationship with the author Ihsan Abd al-Quddous, her half-brother from her mother’s side, explaining how their lifestyles varied based on the way each one of them was raised. He had a conservative upbringing, while she grew up in a more liberal and progressive environment.
Aamal attended Abla Zozo’s Kindergarten, on al-Qasr al-Aini Street. Abla Zozo worked in the radio, and presented a children’s radio program. Among her classmates at the kindergarten was Dr. Ibrahim Badran. Aamal then enrolled in the French Lycée School, on al-Hawayati Street (now Youssef al-Gendi), and earned the equivalent of a primary school certificate. Since she did not learn the Arabic language at school, she was tutored at home by the poet and journalist Kamel al-Shenawi, at her mother’s request. Aamal later attended the American College, which was affiliated with Queen Nazli. After only two years, her mother decided to stop her school education because she was not performing well in school, and also because the mother was going through a financial crisis at the time. The mother had to shut down the daily newspaper Rose al-Youssef, which opposed the ruling party at that time, al-Wafd Party, and was published between 1935 to 1937. The mother also decided to send Aamal to learn the art of cartooning and caricature under the tutelage of the Egyptian cartoonist Zuhdi, at the headquarters of Rose al-Youssef, located on al-Falaki Street. However, Aamal had no desire to continue in this field.
At the age of 17, Aamal married her cousin, but the marriage did not last long due to her young age, and also because of the large age gap between them. She got married for the second time to the journalist Salah Abd al-Maggid, and had her son, Zakie, but that marriage did not last as well, and ended in divorce. Aamal attributed both her first and second marriages to her desire to escape her family home, and to achieve the stability she did not find in her family, with her parents’ divorce, and her mother’s constant absence. Since she did not have any desire to return to live with her mother, Aamal lived with her son in a separate house, and remained there until she met her third husband, Ahmed al-Gendi, who was a friend of her brother. They got married and had two daughters together, Fatima and Zain. Their marriage lasted for 25 years, and was based on love and mutual understanding, yet ended in divorce.
During her third marriage, Aamal traveled to London with her husband, since he was subjected to the imposition of security custody following the 1952 Revolution. In London, Aamal studied the English language, and continued her studies after returning to Egypt, until she earned a diploma from the British Institute. In 1975, and following her divorce, Aamal turned to painting, initially selling her paintings to improve her financial situation, and later participated in a number of exhibitions. She also organized weekly exhibitions at her home every Monday, and invited her friends and people interested in the art. She stopped organizing home exhibitions when she reached the age of 70, and could no longer host them. Aamal also participated in a number of activities conducted by charity and social service associations, including al-Wafaa w al-Amal Association, and the Association for Health Improvement, and was mostly involved in the public relations. Aamal recounted that she joined these associations thanks to the, then, First Lady Gihan Sadat, whom Aamal had met and befriended during her stay in England, and before Mrs. Gihan became the First Lady. Aamal recalled the support she received from Gihan Sadat following her third divorce. It was a difficult time for her, since Aamal had to leave her two daughters behind in England, and return to Egypt.
Aamal was affected by the life conditions in which she grew up, with the separation of her parents, and the lack of stability within her family, which made her decide to always put her children first, and prioritize their care. Despite the hardships she endured in her life, Aamal considered herself fortunate to have had the cultural atmosphere in which she grew up. She recalled meeting a number of great intellectuals during her childhood, such as Mustafa Amin and Ali Amin.
