Ataus Samad: Curtain falls on the life of an illustrious newsman
Friday, 28 September 2012
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
It is indeed difficult to bear with the harsh reality that Ataus Samad is no more. He needs no introduction in the realm of journalism of this country or for that matter, to many of his countrymen. A newsman with rare qualities, Ataus Samad combined in himself extraordinary traits of embellishing and invigorating various aspects of journalism during five decades of his association with the profession. "Pray for me so that I can remain active with writing till the last days of my life", he said not long ago. True to his intentions, Ataus Samad remained in the thick of the game almost untill the fag end of his life. He was the embodiment of classic reporting as a newsman, and by dint of his extraordinary merit he was able to create a unique space of his own as a respected writer (both in English and Bangla), a thought-provoking analyst, and above all, a fearless crusader in print, broadcast and television journalism. He was a teacher as well and today it is heartening to see that a good number of his students have risen to eminence in a variety of media in this country.
It was a bolt from the blue when many saw in the newspapers two days ago that his left leg had to be amputated after he was rushed to the hospital at a critical stage of illness. He was not well for sometime but hardly anyone was ready for such a shocking deterioration of his heath. Then within hours the media - both print and electronic - splashed the appalling news that the famed journalist was fighting for life. Close on the heels of this news, came the worst for which no one was prepared. When many of us rushed to the Apollo hospital, a gloomy atmosphere pervaded the scene with many finding it unbelievable that a glorious chapter of the history of journalism of this land has come to an end.
Personally, Ataus Samad was my mentor in a way during my more than four decades of active journalism career, and like many others I owe it so much to him that never will it be possible to forget his contributions to my professional career. I saw him first in the late sixties, when I briefly worked as the university correspondent of the then Pakistan Observer. He was at that time the Chief Reporter of the daily. For me, it was a thrilling experience to meet him and work with him, because by that time he had already carved out a niche for himself in the profession. Particularly notable was his reporting on parliamentary matters. Later, when he became the magazine editor of the daily, I used to contribute small pieces, which probably would not have been published without his support and the penchant to help a young man nourishing the ambition to become a newsman.
Soon after the liberation of the country, legendary journalist and littérateur Faiz Ahmed took over the charge of the national news agency BSS and gave me a regular job and to my great delight I was placed under Ataus Samad who was the Chief Reporter. By that time he had shot into prominence beyond the boundaries of erstwhile Pakistan by his courageous reporting from the eastern wing of the country as the Correspondent of the Karachi-daily The Sun. Samad Bhai gave me the first assignment in the BSS in January, 1972.
Soon, he was sent to New Delhi as the Special Correspondent of the BSS and we missed him. When I made a trip to the Indian capital during his tenure, I was mostly at his Kakanagar flat and he would take me to places of interest including the Indian parliament. He would say, who knows all these may be helpful for you some day. He was prophetic as I was rather unexpectedly posted in his place several years later by the then Chief Editor of BSS Abul Hashem. The first thing that I did after my posting was to get a long briefing from Samad Bhai whom like many others I had the privilege of addressing as Khokon Bhai - going by his nick name. Many of the top journalists in New delhi like Mark Tully, M L Kotru, G K Reddy and Ranjit Roy Chowdhury had great respect and admiration for him.
Ataus Samad, to say the least, was one of the most illustrious journalists of this country who demonstrated professional courage and exemplary commitment and integrity. His coverage as the BBC Correspondent was simply remarkable. Generally suave, Samad Bhai could also be exuberant.
Personalities like Ataus Samad are seldom born. He is no more, but would always remain as a shining star in the Bangladesh media for all times to come.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com
It is indeed difficult to bear with the harsh reality that Ataus Samad is no more. He needs no introduction in the realm of journalism of this country or for that matter, to many of his countrymen. A newsman with rare qualities, Ataus Samad combined in himself extraordinary traits of embellishing and invigorating various aspects of journalism during five decades of his association with the profession. "Pray for me so that I can remain active with writing till the last days of my life", he said not long ago. True to his intentions, Ataus Samad remained in the thick of the game almost untill the fag end of his life. He was the embodiment of classic reporting as a newsman, and by dint of his extraordinary merit he was able to create a unique space of his own as a respected writer (both in English and Bangla), a thought-provoking analyst, and above all, a fearless crusader in print, broadcast and television journalism. He was a teacher as well and today it is heartening to see that a good number of his students have risen to eminence in a variety of media in this country.
It was a bolt from the blue when many saw in the newspapers two days ago that his left leg had to be amputated after he was rushed to the hospital at a critical stage of illness. He was not well for sometime but hardly anyone was ready for such a shocking deterioration of his heath. Then within hours the media - both print and electronic - splashed the appalling news that the famed journalist was fighting for life. Close on the heels of this news, came the worst for which no one was prepared. When many of us rushed to the Apollo hospital, a gloomy atmosphere pervaded the scene with many finding it unbelievable that a glorious chapter of the history of journalism of this land has come to an end.
Personally, Ataus Samad was my mentor in a way during my more than four decades of active journalism career, and like many others I owe it so much to him that never will it be possible to forget his contributions to my professional career. I saw him first in the late sixties, when I briefly worked as the university correspondent of the then Pakistan Observer. He was at that time the Chief Reporter of the daily. For me, it was a thrilling experience to meet him and work with him, because by that time he had already carved out a niche for himself in the profession. Particularly notable was his reporting on parliamentary matters. Later, when he became the magazine editor of the daily, I used to contribute small pieces, which probably would not have been published without his support and the penchant to help a young man nourishing the ambition to become a newsman.
Soon after the liberation of the country, legendary journalist and littérateur Faiz Ahmed took over the charge of the national news agency BSS and gave me a regular job and to my great delight I was placed under Ataus Samad who was the Chief Reporter. By that time he had shot into prominence beyond the boundaries of erstwhile Pakistan by his courageous reporting from the eastern wing of the country as the Correspondent of the Karachi-daily The Sun. Samad Bhai gave me the first assignment in the BSS in January, 1972.
Soon, he was sent to New Delhi as the Special Correspondent of the BSS and we missed him. When I made a trip to the Indian capital during his tenure, I was mostly at his Kakanagar flat and he would take me to places of interest including the Indian parliament. He would say, who knows all these may be helpful for you some day. He was prophetic as I was rather unexpectedly posted in his place several years later by the then Chief Editor of BSS Abul Hashem. The first thing that I did after my posting was to get a long briefing from Samad Bhai whom like many others I had the privilege of addressing as Khokon Bhai - going by his nick name. Many of the top journalists in New delhi like Mark Tully, M L Kotru, G K Reddy and Ranjit Roy Chowdhury had great respect and admiration for him.
Ataus Samad, to say the least, was one of the most illustrious journalists of this country who demonstrated professional courage and exemplary commitment and integrity. His coverage as the BBC Correspondent was simply remarkable. Generally suave, Samad Bhai could also be exuberant.
Personalities like Ataus Samad are seldom born. He is no more, but would always remain as a shining star in the Bangladesh media for all times to come.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com