Mashiar Rahman

THE name of Mohan Mia, as Yousuf Ali Chowdhury was known, still shines in the political horizon of this land, long after his death, for his selfless pursuit of political goals.

His 37th death anniversary will be observed today (November 26, Wednesday) when the nation, passing through an unprecedented crisis, possibly needs a leader like him, who can rise above personal interest to bring together political parties at loggerheads. Born in 1905, he died in 1971.

His father Khan Saheb Moizuddin Chowdhury died when Mohan Mia, just 18 was a student of class X. As his elder brother Lal Mia remained busy with Congress politics, the responsibility of running Zamindari fell on him.

Mohan Mia had a pragmatic approach for the spread of education. For making the society economically self-reliant, he launched 'Baitul Aman' an Agricultural Industrial Education project in Faridpur town. The inauguration of 'Baitul Aman' took place at the suburb of Faridpur on 25th January, 1945, by the Agricultural and Industrial Minister of the undivided Bengal in 1945 by one hundred and thousand people as audience which was chaired by Mohan Mia. His eloquent address of welcome on that occasion was superb and spoke eloquently of the great vision as well as realism.

Though he had to run a big Zamindary when still young he was conscious of the need to spread education. It is difficult to believe that one could have such a sophisticated and benevolent project so long ago. It speaks of his higher degree of perception and not the least a forward looking outlook and thinking.

There were five objectives of this project: (i) to inspire and imbue thoughts of Islam and its culture (ii) to bridge and acquaint people with modern civilisation and science (iii) to evoke sense of self-respect, dutifulness and zeal of work in the people (iv) to build and mould every man with the teaching and tenets of Islam and not the least (v) to create a scope for self-uplift of the people. The project envisaged setting up of (i) a residential school and madrasha, (ii) industrial school, (iii) agricultural and dairy farm, (iv) pisciculture, (v) printing, (vi) housing facility for officers and employees of Baitul Aman, (vii) mosque, (viii) library, (ix) gymnasium, (x) guest house, (xi) rural development education, (xii) medicare and hygiene.

Mohan Mia as its chairman for 13 years (1938-1953) was remarkable for many reasons. He took active step in the construction of roads, digging of ponds, setting up of madrashas and charitable dispensaries. The number of the tube-wells, the largest amongst all the districts, were sunk during Mohan Mia's tenure as chairman. The present day Rajbari district, previously within the Goalundo sub-division of Faridpur, was a den of malaria and kalajar fever. It was due to Mohan Mia's efforts that Rajbari got rid of these killer diseases of the day.

Yusuf Ali Chowdhury played a key role in the framing of the 1956 constitution of Pakistan. But he was the lone legislator of it the constituent assembly who was not a signatory to it since he firmly believed that the constitution did not properly and equitably protect the rights, hopes and aspiration of the people of the then East Pakistan. The late National Professor Abdur Razzaque aptly remarked, "I have never seen a man like Mohan Mia more dedicated in the championing the rights of East Pakistan".

Professor Humayun Kabir a celebrated writer, a distinguished educationist and a former Indian Cabinet Minister said, "In the political arena Mohan Mia is a practical student of reality and his method is scientific and experimental. Like Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, he made large donation for public charity and his left hand never knew what his right hand spent."

There has been a widespread misgiving that Mohan Mia was the villain in the tragic episode that was enacted in the erstwhile East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1958 that cost the life of the late lamented Deputy Speaker Shahed Ali. To speak the truth, it was not Mohan Mia but Rasaraj Mandal who caused grievous injury to Shahed Ali by hurling paper weight at his forehead and he succumbed to the injury after being admitted into the hospital. The surviving legislators, present on the occasion, can bear this out.

In the year 1956 the 80-member constituent assembly of Pakistan, had forty seats from the two wings. Yusuf Ali Chowdhury was a member of the constituent assembly. And he took the initiative to make Hamidul Huq Chowdhury and Justice Abdus Sattar, later President of Bangladesh, members of the constitutional assembly.

The first sitting of the assembly at Murree in West Pakistan, witnessed a stalemate on the formation of a central government since none of the political parties had the majority to form a ministry, creating uncertainty for the country.

At this hour of great crisis a silver-lining was discernible in the dark cloud when Yusuf Ali Chowdhury with his relentless efforts, grit and manoeuvring formed an alliance in political parties. KSP (Krishak Sramik Party) of the erstwhile East Pakistan and the Muslim League, the majority party in West Pakistan, formed the central government with Chowdhury Mohammad Ali a former bureaucrat, as the Prime Minister and Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque as the Interior Minister.

Yusuf Ali Chowdhury played a leading role in the framing of Pakistan's first constitution in 1956. Mohan Mia played a laudable role in promoting and safe-guarding the rights and privileges of the then East Pakistan, which is still acknowledged and acclaimed by the contemporary politicians and conscientious intelligentsia. But Yusuf Ali Chowdhury Mohan Mia himself did not join the government as a central minister despite requests from all. He stayed out to be able to influence, motivate and guide the course of political events. This he did, and did ably.

His fate line on his palms connected the Mount of Moon with Jupitor. No wonder, he had the magnetism which makes one a great public figure, who takes the career in public life with brilliance and prominence. Such marks were there on the palms of distinguished world leaders endowed with wonderful administrative talent and organising capacity. The sign of flag in his palm spoke of the virtues of renunciation, purity and strength of character.

In public life Mohan Mia was known for his tenacity of purpose and strength of conviction. He was never deterred by the complexity of problem. He knew if there was will, anything could be achieved.

Those who knew him say in one voice that he worked throughout his life for the country and the society. During the movement for Pakistan the provincial Muslim League President, Moulana Akram Khan used to say, "If there were 28 Mohan Mia's in 28 districts, we would have reached our goal much before."

For his ability to cobble heterogeneous parties together to form a government, with himself staying out of it, late Yusuf Ali Chowdhury Mohan Mia, earned the nick name of "King-maker". He was a great soul. He always placed national interest above his own. Is there any other instances of a politician staying out of a government. Everyone wants to become a minister. That way he remains an exception in this land to this day.

Although Pakistan was created through a mass movement to protect the down-trodden sections of the people, the successive governments of Pakistan drifted away from the goals. Mohan published the daily Millat from Dhaka to remind the rulers of the forgotten objectives. It is particularly relevant to remember a selfless leader like Mohan Mia when the society and the country, faced with hypocrisy and crisis lacks the sense of direction.

A nation that does not seek light at a time of visits has to pay dearly. The Mohan Mia Memorial Committee ought to focus on his qualities of leadership which is so essential in the present day context. The great Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, and Khawaza Nazimuddin, the first Chief Minister in the then East Pakistan and subsequently governor general of Pakistan depended on him heavily as Mohan Mia had no personal axe to grind. It so happened that his heart was bigger than his head. Undoubtedly he was very kind-hearted. Above all, he was a humanist. He stood by the needy who had come across his way.

Though born in a lauded family, the well being of the poor was the uppermost in his thoughts. His chequered political career cannot be covered in short write-up like this. The sufferings of the poor did not allow him to rest until he could do something for them.. He founded the 'Student Home', a hostel for the poor but meritorious students of Faridpur Rajendra College. He sank many tube-wells and established many medicare centres. For religious education, he founded 'Moijuddin Madrassah' of high school standard. He also established 'Halima Girls School', named after his mother for the education of the girls.

The goal of his life was to serve humanity at large which he cherished till he breathed his last. We have many things to learn from the life of this great man.

After the outbreak the great Calcutta riots in 1946, which spread to Bihar, and elsewhere Mohan Mia did not allow this to take place in Faridpur. In early 1964 when communal frenzy started at Dhaka as a sequel to massacre of Muslims at Calcutta he was in the forefront of the move with Ataur Rahman Khan, Shah Azizur Rahman, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and others to bring the heinous acts to an end. He sheltered hundreds of Hindu families at his Mahuttuli residence, Arminatola.

He set up a branch of Anjuman-e-Mafidul Islam which did a pioneering job for the burial and cremation of Muslims and Hindus alike. To say the least, Mohan Mia ranks distinguished amongst the great men who did not bow to intimidation.

Mohan Mia needs no memorial or mausoleum. Every house in Bangladesh, particularly in Faridpur stands as a memorial to commemorate Mohan Mia. His memory will remain ever shining in the heart of every Bangali.

Mohan Mia, whom I used to call "Mejochacha" is no more today. My heart bleeds for him.

The author is a former banker