'Any man's death diminishes me,' wrote the poet, 'because I am involved in mankind'. But one thing is certain that the demise of some men diminish us more than that of others, tragic they though all are. Myriad recollections crowd the memory lane as I think of him with a feeling of profound sorrow and sadness. The rain soaked afternoon of Tuesday, August 19, 2014, the day following his quiet departure from this world epitomised the tragedy of the passing away of a humane man. To all intents and purposes for us who were slightly junior to him, Musharraf bhai was a soothing symbol of the swirling sixties of the last century. Even in his zealous youth he was not disproportionately rattled by the swinging tenor of the time. On the contrary, he represented the tranquil goodness which constituted the core of that potent epoch.
Like all significant human beings, he cannot be appropriately measured safe in the context of his times. Despite various ups and downs, twists and turns, he began and ended his career as a kind, generous and good man whose occupation was business. Since our teens and the early twenties when we first met Zaki bhai and Mosharraf bhai 'the inseparable duo', Mr. Zakiuddin Ahmed and Mr. Mosharraf Hossain, we constantly and consistently enjoyed their love and affection. The inception was during the closing years of the 1950s. As activist in middle-of-the-road student politics we belonged to the now defunct Student Force. Both were loyal to universal ideals of fidelity to the truth and universal human values. But the convictions of Zaki bhai and Mosharraf bhai did not breed extremism, it was soft and mellow as the tone and temper of the late fifties and early sixties.
Mosharraf bhai immediately after graduation joined hands with Zaki bhai after he obtained his Masters degree from the Dhaka University to embark on a career of business and independent enterprise. This was quite unusual in those days when most of higher educated youth opted for secure government, semi-government or corporate jobs and professional careers. The duo did not have any capital worth mentioning save zeal, perseverance and tenacity of purpose. At the end of their career by the late 20th and early 21st century they reached the peak of their business career.
They were pioneers and highly dependable, honest and fair enterprisers in the stormy seas of human resources export from Bangladesh. Their company 'Bay Eastern' still bears a very high standard of fair practice. Mosharraf bhai, of course in team with Zaki bhai, also had other business ventures in sectors such as garments and real-estate. Another dimension of activities constituted of publications where honour and repute rather than the profit was the reward. In the middle of 1960s Mosharraf bhai and Zaki bhai embarked on a challenging venture of publishing the English monthly 'CONCEPT' and the Bangla bi-monthly 'Moushum', with me as the editor of both the journals, Mosharraf bhai the publisher and Zaki bhai the managing editor. It was their sheer courage and enterprise which made the 'Concept' a prestigious publication in both erstwhile East and West Pakistan. From 1964 to 1967 I was a teacher of political Science in the Dhaka University and part-time editor of the two journals. Mosharraf bhai's generousness and Zaki bhai's kindness, combined with their business skill, immensely helped me to make these magazines eminently acceptable to the intellectuals, the literary-minded and the eager young students of the times. The 'Concept' publication of which Mosharraf bhai, was the Managing Director, also published several of my English and Bangla books including my first novel 'Patale Sharbori' (first publication 1965). Mosharraf bhai and Zaki bhai brought out the popular Bangla weekly 'Shachitra Swadesh' in the 1980s. I had resigned from my government job in 1980 after a civil service career of only thirteen years. Mosharraf bhai and Zaki bhai made me the advisory editor of the journal from 1982 to 1986.
Mosharraf bhai in later life joined politics. He won a massive victory in parliamentary elections from Feni. He was a member of parliament from the BNP. He remained loyal to the party through good days and bad ones. Nevertheless, his politeness, toleration, generous, kind and friendly personality cut across party lines. He was near and dear to all. The degenerate and the violent elements of politics, despite their intensification over the years, could not pollute him or distort his unbending character. He was kind in a quiet manner. He lived simply and humbly. He lived a peaceful and happy life. His wife Farida Hossain unhesitatingly helped him in his work despite her busy time as a reputed writer.
He and Zaki bhai contributed much of their earnings of business to the poor and the needy, especially those who could not openly ask for help. Mosharraf bhai did not want to buy good reputation and fame as a generous person. It came naturally to him and remains indivisibly tied with his memory now that he is on the other side of eternity. Â
[Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, the founder Chairman of Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh (CDRB) and Editor quarterly "Asian Affairs", was a former teacher of political science in Dhaka University(1964-1967) and former member of the erstwhile Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) (1967-1980) and former non-partisan technocrat Cabinet Minister of Bangladesh (1990).
cdrb@agni.com
End of an epoch
Mizanur Rahman Shelley paying tribute to Mosharraf Hossain | Published: August 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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