Remembering an uncle on his first death anniversary

I do not know how to start but my inner instinct tells me to write a remembrance. This remembrance is for the memory of my uncle, Azimuddin Ahmed, former Home Secretary on his first death anniversary on June 11, 2016. I met Azimuddin Ahmed, or Azim Mamu during my visit from the USA in May 2015 after the death of his twin brother, former Finance Secretary, Nasimuddin Ahmed in March 2015.  Interestingly both of them belonged to the erstwhile Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) cadre. I never thought that would be our last meeting. Azimuddin Ahmed was straightforward and outspoken in nature. He was always full of life. He used to greet people with warmth and with a big smile. But late in life he cocooned himself and used to spend time reading books and watching TV. He restrained himself from any outdoor activities due to ill health. He was suffering from heart ailment and other complications, but as was his nature, never complained. He was very much subdued and not the same vibrant Azim Mamu that we used to know and adore. After his brother's untimely death in March 2015, I found him lonely and missing his brother immensely. I also found him talking in a melancholic tone, which was not his nature. The loss of brother changed him immensely and saddened him by all means.
The two stalwarts of the family, Azimuddin Ahmed and Nasimuddin Ahmed left us all in a hurry to an eternal world. They were born in a distinguished family, sons of Late Khan Bahadur Naziruddin Ahmed, the founding Registrar of the University of Dhaka. Although they lost their illustrious father while they were students in high school level, they were guided throughout their life by the memories of him, whom they respected immensely.
Azimuddin Ahmed was a true patriot and a courageous person who never deviated from his principled stand during his long and illustrious civil service career. A member of erstwhile Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) service cadre, he held many high-ranking positions in different Ministries of Bangladesh. Azimuddin's expertise in service was quite expansive. He held many senior administrative positions which include Secretary to the Ministry of Home affairs (twice), Secretary of Energy, Chairman and Director of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, and Chairman of Bangladesh Tea Board. Earlier, he served as Commissioner of Rajshahi Division and district judge of Mymensingh and sub-divisional officer of Chandpur. He retired as Home Secretary of Bangladesh in December 1995. While training in the Academy, he was encouraged to join the Foreign Service, which he refused as he could not leave his mother and live in a foreign country for a long period of time.  Love for mother and country led him to decide not to join the highly regarded choice in the civil service. I do not know if he had any regrets or not of not joining the Foreign Service. Suffice it to say it is very rare for a person to decline such an offer. He served the country with unfailing patriotism.
Azimuddin Ahmed was very generous in nature, he used to help people in need and never turned away anyone empty handed. He used to have monthly allotments for the distressed and needy people. He believed in honest living and high thinking. He was a man of integrity, a very upright and trustworthy person. He loved to read books of eclectic type. Chess grandmaster and world champion Bobby Fischer was   his favourite. He loved to acquire books, DVDs. He was a good sportsman, and used to play tennis, cricket, billiard and chess in his early life.  Late in life, he religiously used to watch cricket, tennis, and other championships on TV. He craved for sports and while visiting him for the last time in May 2015, I saw him watching French Open on TV. He loved fine cuisine and sipping coffee, a strong one of course was his preferable drink. He loved to do Adda at Dhaka Club. He had a leadership quality and he once mentioned that often members from the next table used to join their table to enjoy the spice of the discussion. I don't know how much he is missed by his friends at their Addas now, but he is immensely missed by his family members. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
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