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Tharwat Okasha
Tharwat Okasha (1921–2012) served as Egypt’s Minister of Culture from 1958 to 1962 and again from 1966 to 1970. He supported Heshmat in securing an estate in Ain Shams, which provided him with a place to live and work until his death. In 1959, Heshmat received a scholarship so he could become independent from his day job as a teacher. Heshmat was tasked by Okasha with designing a work of art to serve as a state gift from the Egyptian government, which Okasha gave out 82 times.