Ziyad Barşa
Ziyad Barşa | |
|---|---|
 Sketch of Barşa by Nwngan Dydd (Camille) | |
| Born | 5th Lyddian 1623 |
| Died | 14th Lyddbán 1706 (aged 83) |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Education | University of Werna |
| Occupation(s) | Professor of Political Sciences; Personhood rights activist |
| Spouse | Fınaş Qışmıtu |
Professor Ziyad Barşa Maran (Hermian IPA [ˈziʝad ˈbarʃa maˈran]) was a hermian professor at the University of Werna and a personhood rights activist known for his support of queer and clúnath rights in the largely homophobic and clúnophobic country of Hermia. He was also involved in a controversy that would see him fired from his position, as he held a long term homosexual relationship with one of his students, Fınaş Qışmıtu, whom he would later marry after fleeing to Levon, Amrhyl due to the start of the Hermian Civil War of 1672. Through Qışmıtu, Barşa would become close friends with his ex-student's employer, novelist Duidh Tóirríon cear Sheadab.
Biography
Early life
Barşa was born in the small town of Zıḷu Hamṛanca, in the hermian province of Semra, to a single mother and an absent father. Not much is known about his early childhood, as he was secretive of it for the entirety of his life.
Young adulthood
Barşa, having entered adulthood at his 17 years of age, had a short-lived marriage with a fellow female student, Amaş Gurwür, also 17. This lasted until they reached 20 years of age, having realised they'd rushed into their marriage, which had become bitter and unhappy during that time. They divorced (a procedure which by 1623 had only recently become legal) against the wishes of both their families shortly after.
Professor Barşa
In 1651, at the age of 28, Barşa received his professorship in political sciences, and a few years later he began working at the very university where he had studied, the University of Werna. He was highly regarded by his students and peers, although he was frequently criticised for his lack of leniency, and his defiance of the more conservative teachings of his time.
Around 1657 was when 22-year-old Fınaş Qışmıtu became a student of Barşa. Qışmıtu was also adamant about personhood rights and progressive ideals, although he was much more naïve and inexperienced than his professor. To amend his gaps in knowledge, Qışmıtu began frequently requesting to meet outside class hours to discuss their stances. This quickly evolved into a mentorship, and, with time, a close friendship.
Having become close confidants, during one of their less serious private meetings, an intoxicated Barşa would have his first of many sexual encounters with Qışmıtu.
[Dydd]: How did your relationship begin, if you don't mind me asking?
Fynais: I remember it was winter. Winters back in Hermia aren't very snowy, you know? We're too close to the sea for that. It did rain a lot, though, and I distinctly remember the rain pouring and pawing like a dog on the windows of his apartment. It started as a private lesson, but after we'd decided to have a break from studying, he started bringing out the alcohol. It would've been rude of me to say no, right? So we started drinking on his couch. After a while, we'd gotten a little out of hand. You could tell by how my hands were all over him. It's a little embarrassing in retrospect, I wasn't subtle about it at all. I think it was a mix of annoyance and arousal from his part that finally led him to throw himself at me. I had my back against the couch, and he was over me, restraining my hands over my head. In that extremely vulnerable position, I was the one to reach in for a kiss, which he returned very eagerly. You can imagine how the rest of the night went. The humid fragrance of the rain still brings me back to that.— Nwngan Dydd, Interviews with my staff
Following this, both of them only became closer and closer. Curiously, though, Barşa still showed no leniency towards his lover in the academic field. Despite this, rumours about their suspected relationship had already started spreading. Because of this, Barşa and Qışmıtu started meeting in secret, away from the eyes of their peers. They enjoyed this informal relationship for the duration of Qışmıtu being his student.
Imprisonment
In 1662, having ended his studies, due to rising political tensions in Hermia, Qışmıtu began arranging to flee and live the rest of his life in Amrhyl, having found employment under Nwngan Dydd as part of his house staff. He urged Barşa to follow suit, but the professor refused, not wanting to let the rest of his students down, although he promised him that they'd meet again if all-out war broke out. Shortly after Qışmıtu's departure, Barşa found himself investigated and imprisoned for five years for his suspected homosexuality and ties to other hermian progressive activists.
His time in prison did not kill his leftist ideals. On the contrary, although he held a low profile, he had become even more of a fervent progressive. He was released a year early for positive conduct. After his release, he'd found that he'd become disowned by his family.
Barşa at the Red Lion
Having lost the chance to return to his position as professor, no family to turn to, and with a criminal record, his prospects after release were looking very poor. However, through reconnecting with a friend, he'd found a job opportunity as a barista at the Red Lion club, an underground bar frequently investigated for suspected homosexual gatherings. The risks were high, but he believed there was no other choice.
For six years, he experienced several of these investigations, but he never quit his job. He already had a good grasp on mixing drinks and bar-tending, and he developed a very positive reputation in the underground scene of the hermian capital of Qırtṛiçän. Although he remained sexually active, he had promised himself to remain single until he met Qışmıtu again. To cope with his absence, Barşa became a heavy smoker during his employment at the Red Lion.
Fleeing the Hermian Civil War
Previous tensions between progressives and conservatives in Hermia reached a boiling point in 1672, when the Hermian Civil War started. Barşa, due to his record as a homosexual, was deemed mentally unstable and managed to avoid the draft. Shortly after this, he arranged to leave for Levon, Amrhyl, beginning the process to become a permanent resident. Later that year, he met with his former student and lover again, now a full citizen of Amrhyl, who had also remained single while waiting for him.
Marriage to Qışmıtu
Shortly after their reunion, Fınaş Qışmıtu, now 37, married a 49-year-old Barşa, allowing him to apply for citizenship. Qışmıtu left his position as Tóirríon's valet, whom gifted the newlyweds an large sum of money. The exact amount is still unknown to this day, but it proved to be enough to provide the couple ample time to adjust to their new life.
Death
Due to his heavy smoking, which continued long after his arrival to Amrhyl, Barşa began experiencing lung complications. It would later be confirmed in early 1706 that he'd arrived at the later stages of lung cancer, and had less than a year to live. He admitted he'd led a long and happy marriage until the very end of his life, and he held no regrets. He died the 14th of Lyddbán later that year, with his husband and friends by his side.
Barşa's death heavily affected Qışmıtu, and he became a fervent anti-smoking advocate afterwards.