Memories
Wherever you are....
It was a summer evening. Mrs. Imam our provost told me to meet Mr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurata, provost of Jagannath Hall. Quite a fresher from Comilla Victoria College, I was a bit shaky. I went to his place and was warmly accepted. Mr. Munier Choudhury was there. I recognized Jyotirmoy Babu and another tall, handsome, stylist personality was there, who was quite unknown to me. Jyotirmoy Babu gave me a piece of dialogue. It was the selection of artists for the annual play of Jagannath Hall. I went on with that. A silence for a while. Mr. Guhathakurata said, 'Wonderful!' 'Very good!', appreciated Mr. Choudhury. But the other one did not utter a single word. Suddenly he asked me, 'What's your name?'
I replied.
Again he enquired, 'Coming from?'
'Comilla', I said.
'By any chance, are you related to Professor Sudhir Sen?'
'Yes, I am. My dad!'
He took a long breath and concluded:
'That's why!'
I got the highest admiration in an exotic way and that was Khan Sarwar Murshid. His mannerisms, his wonderful delivery of speech combined with a romantic voice were rare qualities even among highly educated class. I was not a student of the English department. Nevertheless, I always used to respect him as my teacher. Being a rare symbol of knowledge, we could learn a lot from close quarters. Almost everyone, preoccupied with his intelligence and wit, never felt bored while conversing with him. Mr. Murshid's proficiency in both English and Bengali never made a stereotype of his personality.
When I got married, he came with Noorjahan apa, his wife, and blessed me. We won't forget his unfailing support at that crucial time. Soft spoken but firm, Murshid made it clear to my brother-in-law that we had done the right thing. Quite open-minded and very liberal, Sarwar Murshid used to encourage every good and honest deed. His graciousness, his charisma, his sophistication and magnanimity put him in a class of his own.
I used to talk to him even when he was ill. He loved to hear me recite. I cracked jokes and the professor pampered this immature fool a lot. Lastly, I requested him to write on my father. He asked me to go to him and take down his dictation. I could not make time and now I repent as I could not.
Note: Dr. Sarwar Murshid's nickname was Shahjahan and he had his schooling in Brahmanbaria. Once the annual examination of the school was going on. Class Eight was having its history exam and a question was related to the emperor Shahjahan in relation to his father (Emperor Jahangir). Unfortunately, a boy forgot Shahjahan's father's name and, in utter helplessness, he could only ask the peon, who was already in the exam hall to serve water, to help with the answer. The peon promptly answered, 'Why, it's Ammad Advocate!' He was referring to the boy Shahjahan's father!
Morshed Sir, wherever you are, rest in peace! I must weep and they are real tears!
Sunanda Kabir is a poet and short story writer.
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