A New India
Chapter 193 - 193: The Egyptian Stand - I

On February 2, 1954, Cairo buzzed with anticipation.

Word had spread across Egypt: a major speech was coming from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Egypt's young, charismatic leader, Nasser had risen to prominence as the voice of a new Egypt, a nation yearning to shake off the results of colonial influence and reclaim its destiny.

People gathered in cafes, homes, and public squares, crowding around radios to hear him speak.

The atmosphere was filled with both hope and tension.

In a small office, a radio crackled to life, filling the air with the constant noise of voices and static.

The nation waited, holding its breath.

In the city's heart, Nasser took his place before a modest podium in an open courtyard, surrounded by his closest advisors and soldiers.

Behind him, the Egyptian flag fluttered, a visual reminder of what he stood for.

Nasser adjusted the microphone, his face calm but resolute.

When he finally spoke, his voice cut through the static, clear and steady.

"My fellow Egyptians," he began, his tone both warm and firm, "today we find ourselves at a turning point, a moment that will define our future, the future of our children, and the dignity of Egypt."

Across the nation, people leaned in, drawn by the quiet power in his voice.

"For too long, Egypt has been bound by chains it did not forge," he continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd gathered before him. "We have been a nation shackled by those who claim to bring civilization while they drain our resources, and stifle our voices. Colonial powers have always seen Egypt as a prize, a jewel in their empire, something to control and exploit. They took our lands, our labor, our very lifeblood, and left us to bear the burdens."

Nasser's voice grew louder, rising like a tide as he spoke of Egypt's painful past, the long years under the British mandate, and the countless lives affected by foreign control.

He reminded his people of the sacrifices they had made, the pride they had lost.

"But I tell you today," he declared, his voice almost thundering, "we are no longer a people who will bow, who will kneel, or who will accept foreign masters. We are a sovereign nation, and it is time we are treated as such."

In every corner of Egypt, from the crowded streets of Alexandria to the quiet villages along the Nile, people felt a shiver of pride, a sense of unity they hadn't felt in years.

Nasser was articulating something they all knew but had been afraid to admit, their subjugation was not fate; it was something they could change.

"For years," Nasser continued, lowering his voice slightly, "we have been promised progress, promised aid, promised respect by foreign nations. They told us they would help us, support our development, and assist us in building our own future. But what have they really given us?"

He paused, letting the silence stretch, letting the question linger.

"They have given us empty promises, false hope, and a dam that remains unfinished." There was a murmur of agreement among the crowd.

"Just last week," Nasser continued, his voice hardening, "the United States our supposed ally, the great superpower that prides itself on freedom and democracy decided to withdraw its funding from the Aswan High Dam project. A project that was meant to lift Egypt out of poverty, to provide water and electricity to our people, to irrigate our fields and fuel our industries."

The anger in his tone was increasing, and it rippled through the crowd, igniting their own frustration.

The Aswan Dam had been a symbol of hope for Egypt, a promise of modernization and prosperity.

The American withdrawal felt like a betrayal, a reminder that Egypt's interests would always be secondary to the ambitions of Western powers.

"They withdrew their support," Nasser repeated, his voice tinged with bitterness, "because they saw that an independent Egypt a strong Egypt did not serve their interests. They wanted us dependent, weak, always looking to the West for scraps while they held the real power over our lands, our resources, our very future."

In the crowd, murmurs turned to shouts of agreement.

Men and women clenched their fists, faces set in expressions of anger and defiance.

The betrayal over the Aswan Dam funding had been deeply personal; it was a project that promised not just economic growth, but dignity.

"Let me ask you, my people," Nasser continued, raising his hands, "who owns the right to Egypt's progress? Who holds the power over our future? The people of Egypt, or foreign powers who see us as nothing more than a pawn on their chessboard?"

"Egypt!" came the response, shouted back with fervor from those gathered before him, and echoed by countless others listening on radios across the nation.

"Exactly," Nasser said, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "Egypt. The power lies with us, the people of Egypt. We will no longer be the puppets of imperialist ambitions. We will stand tall, we will build our nation with our own hands, and we will protect our sovereignty at all costs."

He paused and suddenly shifted his tone, becoming softer, almost reflective. "But my brothers and sisters," he said, "breaking free from the chains of imperialism requires more than words. It requires action. It requires courage, determination, and sacrifice. And it requires us to claim what is rightfully ours."

The crowd quieted, sensing that something significant was coming.

Nasser's voice took on a steely resolve.

"For centuries, one waterway has been the lifeline of Egypt, a river of opportunity flowing right through our homeland. But it has been under foreign control, used to fill their coffers while we toil in the shadows."

People whispered to each other, realizing where he was heading, excitement and tension building in equal measure.

Those foreign reporter who were listening as well stood there stunned and in utter disbelief because they know understand if what everyone thinks will happen, then god bless this country.

One of the reporter looking around seeing the madness in the eyes of Egyptian people murmured "Madness, this is utter madness".