من رواد الوطنية في الغرب الجزائري : سي أمحمد بن رحال (1856-1928)‎ و نضاله من أجل تعليم الجزائريين

Abstract EN

Si M'hamed ben Rahal (1856-1928) from Nadrouma is considered a bicultural and bilingual Algerian elite.

he was raised in a Murabitic family (Darquaouia way) and he is regarded as link between the knights and some Algerian notables in the late 19th century and with the Algerian elites in beginning of the 20th century in which his name was associated with the group of prince Khaled the grandson of emir Abd-el-Kader.

Ben Rahal grew in the ancient city of Nadrouma and he opposed the civil regime (which limited the authority of the notables and their influence) along with gallicization, nationalization, compulsory Deputization and he fought for the cancelation of the Indigina law.

Ben Rahal requested to represent Algerians in the congress and the French national assembly, and he was elected as a municipality councilor in the municipality of Nadrouma and a financial representative in Oran.

this man also participated in the first Algerian delegation that travelled to Paris in the beginning of the 20th century in which he presented the citizens' demands.

he also took part of other delegations and he spoke in front of Jule Ferry committee in the 1892.

Si M'hamed Ben Rahal lived in an era in which the local culture was fighting to survive, and the Algerian elite community was so limited and divided into a Gallicized modern elite and an Islamic, traditional conservative elite.

this last necessitated the emergence of a unifying movement to unify the Algerian cultural scene.

Si M'hamed Ben Rahal saw education as a key for the Algerian renaissance and he released the importance of educating Algerians and consequently worked to repair the educational system via increasing the budget allocated for it.

he also asked the French authorities to give Algerians access to French education along with providing support to the existing Arab system and he called for inclusivity through his fight to educate girls.

it is also worth mentioning that Si M'hamed Ben Rahal was proud of his Arab Islamic roots and a lot of his writings are found in newspapers like : el-Ekdam, el-Haq and el Takadum.

he also lectured in a lot of clubs and associations like Rashidiya and the young Algerians club in Telemcen.