PROFILE : KING KHALID BY MR. A.A. RAVOOF SAHIB, AMBUR PUBLISHED IN ECONOMIC FORUM DATED JUNE 1975

 PROFILE : KING KHALID BY MR. A.A. RAVOOF 

When Khalid ibn Abdul Azeez ascended the throne of Saudi Arabia on the assassination of his elder half-brother King Faisal in the last week of March, on the Prophet's birth day, many did not know much about him. And the few who knew a little wondered how this reluctant monarch, this man who shunned the limelight of publicity and who as a man of the desert, preferred to spend his time with the Bedouin tribes, cultivating contacts with them, who as a lover of wild life founded a local zoo and who as an ardent shikari, hunted big game and decorated the walls of his palace in Riyadh with tiger heads and elephant tusks, can make a good successor to Faisal who by his sagacity exercised powerful influence on West Asian politics and who by his oil diplomacy, had placed a number of developed western countries at Arab mercy. 

But opportunities make a man. Khalid, left to himself, would have had nothing to do with the monarchy. But the House of Saud, consisting of over three thousand princes and two thousand princesses which is really the power behind the throne, very thoughtfully, avert family disputes by settling the question of succession long before tragedy overtakes the ruler. That was so in the case of King Faisal. When Khalid found that in view of the unanimous family mandate, there was no escape for him from the onerous responsibilities of kingship, he accepted it gracefully.  Not only that. He also demonstrated that he was a man of quick and sound judgement. When there was divided opinion about thr real intention of the assassin, some calling it the act of a demented ma, some suspecting Israeli hand in it and some others fearing CIA involvement, while others thought it was part of a palace revolution, the king set all doubts at rest, by declaring that it was God's will and that the prince was acting on his own. This was shrewd statesmanship at a difficult time. Khalid proved he could rise to the occasion.

Good Samaritan:

Born in Riyadh in 1913 and educated at schools attached to the mosques by Muslim divines. Khalid did not take place in any military operations worth the name. But he represented his country at a number of international conferences. It is said that he negotiated with great skill the Yemen border settlement. 

He might not have made a mark in political affairs where Faizal had undisputed sway. But as a simple and unassuming prince he was both a family man and a good samaritan. He is deeply attached to his wife, five sons and seven daughters. He is helpful by nature, rushing to the rescue of not only those who are in trouble but also those who merely feign a limp.

Khalid was a sports lover from his youth and the best game he loved was camel race. This continues to this day. After he became King, he chanced to see a documentary on the annual camel race in Australia. He He was so much touched by it that he told the visiting Australian Deputy Prime Minister Dr, Jim Cairns that he would like some of the fleet-footed dromedaries for his racing stables. The Australian government readily responded -four wild camels are now on their way to Jiddah  as a special gift to the new monarch. 

Policy Statement 

In his first policy statement as King, he declared Saudi Arabia would follow the policy of the late King Faisal to the letter, the policy based on Islamic solodarity, the reinforcement of genuine Arab unity and international peace, the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people, the return of Jerusalem to Arab sovereignty and and the liberation of all Arab territories occupied by Israelis since 1967. 

He laid emphasis on "Shawra"- the consultative system of administration based on the teachings of Islam. Khalid explained: "My late brother had initiated the work for the fundamental law and my government is fully committed to the implementation of the same." He added that the Islamic Sharia has been and will continue to be starting point from which we proceed and for the aim which we seek. We shall seek counsel from its principles and guidance from its light."

In the first few days after his accession to the throne, he received in audience a number of dignitaries from all over the world who had come to attend the funeral of his murdered brother. In his own inimitable way he assured them that the policies of Saudi Arabia, both internal and external, would continue to be patterned on the policies pursued by his predecessor. When he mwt India's President Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, he assured the latterthat he would do his best to further strengthen the friendship between Saudi Arabia and India. 

 Heavy Responsibilities:

Khalid is fully aware that heavy responsibilities and big problems await him. Although he knows that he can deal with them, he finds out where the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. This is because he underwent open heart surgery in Cleveland three years ago, and this prevents him from travelling or exerting himself too much. So he decided to nominate his half-brother Fahed as Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. In a royal decree addressed to Prince Fahed, the king has said:

 "Since it is our wish to centralise resposibilities and to have a proper handling of affairs of state, and since you are endowed with the experience and knowledge for it, we ask you to handle matters which are addressed to us. We would also like you to take the measures, hand down the directives, both foreign and domestic and issue the administrative decisions, in accordance with the policies which are in effect, and after consulting us.

A New Image:

Prince Fahed is a dynamic and forward-looking man. He is a live wire and knows from A to Z of administration. Trained by King Faisal, he is a carbon copy of the late monarch's aspirations and ambitions. The collaboration between King Khalid and the Crown Prince will augur well in cementing various policies inside the country and building up a new image of Saudi Arabia abroad.

Fahed will be the real power behind the Saudi throne, because he is able, earnest and has that mysterious something which enables him to get things done.

Among Faisal's brothers, Fahed was closest to the late monarch and was groomed by him in the arts of diplomacy and administration. Though there was a wide gulf dividing the two – Faisal was simple and ascetic in the extreme and Fahed is regal and loves the good things of life – no two persons worked together in greater concord and cordiality.

Ambitious Projects:

Fahed is a remarkable prince who, thanks to his specialized knowledge, gets to the core of a case the moment he sees it. He has a unique way of dealing with desert problems. He keeps always smiling so much so one wonders if the smile is also a part of his handsome face. He receives everyone with a broad grin and has a knack of welcoming a visitor as if he waited all his life to meet him. He is attentive in conversation, gives everyone his ear even when he does not see eye to eye with a visitor; he sweetly disagrees without being disagreeable. In such a man's hands, the policies of the kingdom are very safely entrusted. Together with the new king, the two will strive to complete the ambitious projects initiated by Faisal. As long as these two will pull together, Saudi Arabia will march on the road to progress, prosperity and plenty.

—A. A. Ravoof