Mahbubul Alam - A tribute
Mahbubul Alams career
in journalism spanned over 50 years. He was the mentor of many professionals, doyen of the Bangladesh newspaper industry, a
consummate professional and absolute gentleman
Sir Frank Peters
It is always sad when a friend leaves, never to return. Such is the case of Mahbubul Alam, former multi-award-winning journalist, absolute gentleman, esteemed Editor of The Independent, and a man of national and international renown and acclaim.
His departure on June 6, 2014 (he was 78) to a higher level of existence has proved the adage out of sight, out of mind totally wrong in my case, at least. Hes seemingly ever present.
Here I could make all sorts of outlandish claims saying Mahbubul and I were the absolute best of friends and inseparable, but it would be untrue. Good friends, most definitely, but we werent forever chatting, meeting, dining and in the cross hairs of each others vision regularly, especially in the latter years, but we did have good friendship and mutual admiration going for us.
When I first arrived in Dhaka 20-odd years ago I didnt think twice about jumping into a car, driving from Gulshan to Dhanmondi for a coffee, and dropping-by his Bel Tower office to throw him a just happened to be passing phrase, gift-wrapped in a smile.
Similarly, he would visit me in Gulshan, but all that changed some years back when Dhaka contracted the horrific traffic disease of congestion, chaos, madness and the insurmountable stupidity of some drivers who seemingly obtained their drivers licence in a cigarette packet. It reached the point to get from Gulshan to Dhanmondi one seemingly needed to plan a week in advance, and, sadly, this hasnt changed. The last time Mahbubul and I spoke I had invited him to dinner at my favourite restaurant in Gulshan.
He politely declined and said it would take him two hours to get there, two hours to get back and the time needed there. Thats an awful lot of time for a busy Editor (or businessman) so we filed our plans in the some other time tray.
Of course, if I had been able to see into the future, I would have gone to him by hook or by crook then, perhaps even asked Sheikh Hasina for a loan of a helicopter, but
They say you never regret the things you do in life, its the things that you dont do. Accepting a lucrative job offer at The Independent that Mahbubul had made several times to me is one of mine. Im in no doubt we would have worked well together, had fun, and achieved much.
Both of us shared a similar love for the newspaper industry, even with its ever-present insanity and stress by the bucket-load. Once you smell the printers ink and see and hear the presses whirring into action, the smell and sounds stay with you for life. Ive often think of him and wonder how my life would have changed if I had joined him.
Although we maintained contact over the years and shared many anecdotes and laughs (every journalist has at least a 1,000 that never makes it into print!), it disappointed me greatly to learn I knew nothing about his ill health leading up to his death.
Mahbubuls career in journalism spanned over 50 years. He was the mentor of many professionals, doyen of the Bangladesh newspaper industry, a consummate professional and absolute gentleman. Ive never known him to raise his voice, say anything bad about anyone, or to backtrack on his word. Whatever he promised he delivered and on time (a rarity in Bangladesh!). His word was gold and bankable.
His death is not only a personal loss to me, but also a gigantic loss to the newspaper industry and Bangladesh at large. When I learned of his demise I knew I had lost someone special in my life and whom I was able to turn to for guidance and advice in this oft-complicated Bangladesh mix.
It was Mahbubul who encouraged me to speak out and write against the senseless horrific practice of corporal punishment in schools. This later evolved into a national anti corporal punishment campaign and is still ongoing. He also warned me not to expect support from some English-language newspapers and to my disappointment he was right. I was nave enough to think the campaign was in the best interests of the entire nation and I still believe that.
Most of us (including me) are guilty of taking life for granted. We assume the friends forever we love and admire will always be there its their duty! Parents, brothers/sisters, friends, teachers and others who are admired and loved ones are most times never given the appreciation they truly deserve.
Fortunately my conscience is clear. I had expressed my gratitude and admiration to Mahbubul often when he was alive, but now in retrospect I wish I had been a lot more generous.
Death is the inheritance of us all, but I like to view his as a mere transition to a better life. Some people are born and never to be forgotten.
May Almighty Allah forever embrace him and shower him with blessings for being the lovely human being that he was. So talented, so learned, yet so humble.
The writer is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor
