On stage, playing various roles
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury trawls through one man's career
Mosaic Of Memories A.T.M.Shamsul Huq Pathak Shamabesh
Autobiographies are generally interesting for the obvious reason that they deal with graphic and narrative accounts of different events and that often range from the early days of the individual to the last ones. When the writer has varied experiences professionally and otherwise finding an opportunity of traversing in different occupational fields at times in somewhat conflicting ones an autobiography may be even more exciting. Mosaic Of Memories more or less falls in this category as the autobiographer seeks to bring the readers to the changing pattern of six decades that cover the period between his initial schooling and the last of several professions he has been in including a politician contesting national elections, despite the fact that this stint has not been very fascinating as far as electoral success is concerned. But the bottom line is that the author had the unique opportunity of working as a teacher, civil servant, international bureaucrat, lawyer and last but not the least politician. Whether politics is a "profession" or not like the earlier professions of A.T.M.Shamsul Haque may be a subject of intense debate, but this in the nearly last phase of his career definitely provided enthusiasm and stimulation to a person whose student life especially during prime time in college and at Dhaka university was not devoid of student politics that was also somewhat inextricably linked with the national political psyche. A.T.M.Shamsul Haque is basically known as a distinguished civil servant being from the 1960 batch of the erstwhile Pakistan civil service(CSP). He served in many key positions in a long career, including those of critically important ministries as diverse as information and food. He has also been member of the planning commission. But what makes him quite different from almost all other CSPs is that he chose to quit his job and go for early retirement while working as food secretary to the government. Barring very few exceptions, one will find it difficult to believe that the CSPs were willing to come out voluntarily from the attraction, grandeur and big high-flying image attached to their jobs before the normal retirement. But A.T.M.Shamsul Haque did it and probably this is one of the main reasons that could prompt him to write a book covering his myriad experiences. A civil servant, howsoever distinguished he or she may be, is likely to be familiar with more or less similar kinds of experience career-wise. That Haque chose to take a different line before superannuation is in itself definitely quite a rarity and it has certainly inspired him to go for this book as he knew his was a case different from that of a typical civil servant. It is true that his experience as a civil servant, particularly being deputy commissioner of Dhaka during the tense and crucially important time that 25 March1971 was, gave Haque an altogether totally different taste of the coveted position in any district. For apart from the normal charm and importance, the ordeals that the DC of Dhaka can go through --- and that stemming from the critical situations of the Bengalis longing for freedom --- is aptly described in the book because of his posting in that position at that particular time. Otherwise, the experience of a DC in any district, not even that of Dhaka, can be worth writing about as such or full of thrilling experiences. A.T.M.Shamsul Haque is somewhat lucky to have had the opportunity of witnessing such events even though he had also a providential escape from danger in that difficult period of national history. The book starts with Haque's childhood and finishes with his Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. It contains many chapters dealing with particular events and phases. He was not a stranger to politics, having been general secretary of the Dhaka college students union and subsequently general secretary and vice-president of the S.M. Hall students union of Dhaka University the "Oxford of the East" in those days. It goes without saying that anyone being elected to such positions in student life must have possessed something to attract others ideologically or otherwise. The author gets the benefits of these stints when he eventually joins politics, quitting government service, even though two unsuccessful bids at the parliamentary elections from Comilla sadden him, even though he basks in the glory of being in the thick of the game of politics. Haque, appointed chairman of the public administration reforms commission (PARC), was thus entrusted with great responsibility. He takes credit for several successes, but also bemoans what could not be accomplished. He happily enjoyed his job as director-general of CIRDAP, the only inter-governmental organization based in Bangladesh capital. He considers that whatever contribution he could make towards rural development and poverty alleviation was satisfying. However, throughout his career, Haque had also a feeling of frustration at not being able to deliver what he wanted to and he gives vent to his uncontrolled feelings in different ways in the book. Descriptions are galore and instances abound about many interesting incidents and matters surrounding his times in various capacities in different professions. A.T.M.Shamsul Haque's work is readable and interesting. This also provides readers with an opportunity of knowing of many political figures and events that are inseparably linked with our national history, eventually highlighted by our struggle for independence. The language is lucid and many of the events he narrates appear lively because of the descriptions. The work will serve as an important document of our long history covering political, economic, social and cultural life. Many of the chapters were mind-blowing. However, this writer has a mind-boggling question at the end: Why Mosaic Of Memories should have a sub-title at the cover that reads "varied experiences of a member of the civil service". The contents of the book are far wider than the experience of a "civil servant" notwithstanding that this part of Haque's career certainly comprises the important segment of the book.
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