Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran
Famous as Poet, Artist and Novelist
Born on 06 January 1883
Born in Lebanon
Died on 10 April 1931
Nationality Lebanon
Works & Achievements The Prophet









Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese American artist, writer, philosopher and the third most popular poet in history after Shakespeare and Laozi. Born in an underprivileged and deprived family, Khalil rose to the level of world renowned author and artist despite the adverse circumstances he often landed into. As an artist, he has also created some of the most fascinating drawing during his lifetime. His best selling book The Prophet, a collection of 26 splendid poems, has been translated into over 20 foreign languages.
Childhood
Gibran was born on 6 January 1883 in a Christian Town of modern day Lebanon. His mother Kamila, who was from a Christian family had married twice before marrying his father whose name was also Khalil and had a son Peter from her previous marriage. Later, the young Khalil’s two siblings, both girls, Mariana and Sultana were born. His father Khalil, however, proved to be an irresponsible father and husband and became so indebted from gambling that the family lost almost all its property.

Due to family’s abject poverty, young Gibran was deprived of the formal schooling though he was often visited by priests who taught him about Bible and other languages. The conditions worsened when his father, who was a tax collector, was arrested for alleged fraud. When was released by the authorities in 1994, the family had lost its last asset; their home. It was then, that his mother Kamila decided to move to the United States along with her children to make a life far from her husband. The family left for New York on 25 June 1895.

Education & Early Life
In the United States, Gibran’s family stayed in Boston’s South End, which was the second largest Lebanese-American community at that time. His mother began to work as a peddler selling things door to door and the family suffered from many other hardships there until Peter was grown enough to take up the major responsibilities of the family. Meanwhile, Khalil was sent to a school especially for immigrants in 1895 and later to an art school in the same year where he caught his teacher’s eye with his promising drawings.

In 1898, Gibran returned to Lebanon where he studied at a preparatory school and later enrolled into a higher studies institute in Beirut. In 1902, his younger sister Sultana died of tuberculosis before he could return to them in the United States. His brother Peter died of the same disease the following year. Already shattered by the death of his siblings, Khalil lost his mother in the same year who died of cancer. It was his younger sister Mariana, who consoled and supported him during this toughest time of his life.

Khalil as an Artist & Poet
Khalil devoted himself to his childhood passion for drawings and organized his first exhibition in 1904, where he met Mary Elizabeth Haskell who was a headmistress and ten years senior to him. The relationship between them which started with a casual friendship became more intimate as time passed and had a great influence in Khalil’s later life. In 1908, Gibran enrolled into an Art college in Paris and studied there for two years before going to Boston. As a native of Lebanon, Khalil’s wrote extensively in Arabic and other Syrian languages, before he acquired a proficiency in the English language and most of his works published after 1918, were in English. His first book was The Madman, which was published in 1918. While in New York, he became associated with the New York Pen League, an organization formed by Lebanese-American immigrant poets.

Notable Works & Political Views
Gibran’s early works were largely influenced with Christianity and he wrote several books based upon Christian beliefs and sometimes contradicting it. One of such work was Jesus, The Son of Man. His best selling book, The Prophet, which is a masterpiece of 26 poetic essays, became a landslide success and remains so till this day. The book was first published in 1923, and since then it has been translated into over 20 languages. It was ranked as the most popular book of the 20th century in America. His other notable work was poetry, Sand and Foam that became famous for its quotes.

A Syrian nationalist, Gibran wrote a political draft in 1911, where he showed his unwavering allegiance and commitment to his country and its territory integrity. Despite being a great supporter of internationalism, he believed in a Syrian nationalism, which was distinguished from Lebanese or Arab nationalism. Furthermore, he also demanded for the adoption of Arabic as a national language of Syria.

Death
Khalil Gibran died on 10 April 1931 in New York. His death came as a result of advanced tuberculosis and cirrhosis of the liver. Keeping with his wishes, he was buried in Lebanon in 1932, in a monastery purchased by Mary Haskell and his sister Mariana. After his death letters between Haskell and Gibran and his large art collections were donated to the museums in Lebanon and Carolina. Some of the letters were published in a book Beloved Prophet in 1972.

Timeline:
1883- Gibran was born on 6 January 1883.
1894- His father was arrested and released.
1895- His family left for New York on 25 June 1895.
1895- Khalil was sent to a school especially for immigrants in 1895.
1898- Gibran returned to Lebanon for studies.
1902- His younger sister Sultana died of tuberculosis.
1903- His brother Peter died of the same disease.
1903- Khalil’s mother Kamila died of cancer.
1904- Khalil organized his first exhibition in 1904.
1908- Gibran enrolled into an Art college in Paris.
1911- Gibran wrote a political draft in 1911.
1918- His first book ‘The Madman’ was published in 1918.
1923- His best selling book The Prophet was first published in 1923.
1931- Khalil Gibran died on 10 April 1931.