Professor M Zahidul Haque
If God allows me to fly
Beyond the territory of living world
I’d take my journey to heaven
To bring you back dear brother
On this earth once again!
It seems as if you are still talking to me on phone as you did a year back on this 24th day of February. You asked me what I was doing…I said I’m preparing my academic notes. But I could never dream that on this 24th February I would sit on my computer to compose an eulogy on your first death anniversary.How a fully alive person could die so unexpectedly only after a few hours of our conversation over phone would always remain an enigma to my thought. Perhaps such is the way of nature. The only consolation before us is that you are alive in soul and perhaps sharing our feelings from the heaven. Goethe is right in saying-“I am fully convinced that the soul is indestructible, and that its activity will continue through eternity. It is like the sun, which, to our eyes, seems to set in night; but it has in reality only gone to diffuse its light elsewhere”.
February 24 is a tragic day for us because on this day in 2014 our beloved elder brother Dr. M S Haq passed away putting us in a deep sea of pain and sorrows. My brother was a very noble person. He always tried to walk by the path of honesty. Throughout his life he demonstrated his honesty, sincerity and truthfulness in all his actions. His religious belief was very strong and he always depended on God’s will. He believed that religious philosophies and practices could significantly reduce the man-made gaps in human relations and in universal peace.
My brother was a very caring person who always put the needs of his parents and siblings first. He always tried to fulfill our expectations. He was much concerned about our educational and cultural accession. Whenever he visited a foreign country he would invariably bring a special gift for our little sister Neena. Even on the last day of his life on this earth, he had a long conversation with our ailing younger sister Neena over phone in the morning. He advised her to take medicines in time and do the exercises as prescribed by the doctors. He expired in the same evening around 5:00 indubitably due to a massive cardiac arrest.
Although he was senior to me, still we were close friends. In our school and college days we used to share our hopes and aspirations. He was a critical analyst and always tried to explore the root of all causes. Often my opinion differred from his and we sometimes ended up our arguments in great disagreement but still he would consider me more knowledgeable than him. Of course in reality I knew that brother was much more erudite than me. He was an excellent orator and debater. In school and college he won a number of prizes in debating competitions. Both in his educational and professional life he was outstanding and successful. He was a prolific writer and used to contribute articles to different national and international newspapers and magazines. Several of his writings were published. His most notable work was “Gene Mechanics” of which he was the proponent.
My elder brother Sayeed was very fond of traveling. He had the opportunity to travel to so many countries including Fiji, UK and USA. He was a dedicated and loving husband. He always encouraged his wife that is our Bhabi (sister-in-law) Sarwar Sultana in achieving her professional goal who served UNDP in important capacities.
On his 1st death anniversary his memories are flashing across my mind. It is really hard to believe that he is no more with us. I would pray to Almighty God to grant his soul everlasting peace and let his memories live for ever among us and his admirers.
(Professor M Zahidul Haque works in the Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka)
