Ispahani Colony and the Ispahanis

No family represents better the Ispahani Colony than the Ispahanis and no individual symbolises its values and spirit better than the Late Sadri Ispahani. To us, the youngsters, he was the popular "Sadri Uncle". One really has to know and feel the person before one can truly appreciate the finer values of life this gentleman represented and his family historically has upheld starting form the Late Senior Mirza Ispahani (father of Mr. Sadri Ispahani) to the current generation. I have read some of the articles that already have appeared on Mr. Sadri Ispahani since his sad demise and I will try to speak of things that many may not be aware of living outside the Ispahani Colony.

Most of the residents of Ispahani Colony have been living there for a long time inspite of the fact that nowadays lot of modern houses and apartments have cropped up in the city with superior design and amenities. The houses in the Colony represent traditional structure of the sixties but the spirit of the neighbourhood represent timeless values which are on slide in the modern day residential complexes -- a warm cordiality and openness among the neighbours, an open field for sports and fun, trees that shadow the weariness and reflect the ingenuity of the nature, an overarching sky where one can behold the rainbow and so on. During the childhood years, if we escaped home for fun with friends, our parents never worried where we were, having the confidence that we would be safely spending time somewhere within the boundary of trust and cordiality that has connected all the families of the Ispahani Colony for so long. Sadri Uncle used to have his evening walks in the road of the Colony and would not forget inquiring about the welfare of everyone he would come across during his walk. That gentle smile and caring heart would stretch itself into every nook and corner of the Colony. Some of our modern day house owners have much to learn from the likes of Sadri Ispahani who represented more than a transactional relationship between a lessor and a lessee. These are reasons, why once anyone lives in Ispahani Colony, finds it very difficult to leave, no matter how glittery other options are.

Just to share an example, there was one gentleman living at the Ispahani Colony, Mr. Merchant (or Merchant Uncle, for us) is what everyone used to call him. This gentleman used to live all alone in a small house with one attendant. His wife had expired long time ago and his daughter lives abroad. All he had was two simple rooms with basic furniture and a small garden that proudly exhibited red roses which he nurtured with utmost care -- probably that was the only rose of life he had. While in Dhaka and if well, Sadri Uncle would visit Mr. Merchant regularly and give him company by either walking together in the road of the Colony or having tea at Mr. Merchant's place. How many of us, both businessmen and non-businessmen, possess this human touch and have the ability to reach out and make a difference in people's lives ? Remember the Olympic song ? "Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place if you can……………."

While at school/college-/university and when we were having the football and cricket competition in the Colony, we used to go to every house of the Colony to raise fund (yes, a civilized way of collecting money for genuine sports within the Colony as opposed to the modern day "Chandbazi" or "Toll Collection"). Every house in the Colony used to contribute as per their means since most of their own children were participant in these events. However, our favourite target was always the ever generous "Sadri Uncle". We would not only get the most handsome contribution but also be treated to something extra -- some drinks (typically coconut water) or even snacks (nuts and cookies, mostly from Iran). He would typically ask how much would serve our purpose as opposed to what he considered to be appropriate.

Ispahani Colony is one of the most secured, congenial, and attractive residential areas representing a prime piece of land located in the heart of the city. Ispahani Colony is what it is -- a unique place with unparallel beauty, simplicity, and virginity -- only because of the core values the Ispahanis like Sadri Ispahani represent. We have seen how their sons and daughters have been taught in the essential values and education of life. Inspite of their riches, they have always led a simple life and have genuinely practiced, "simple living, high thinking". Their car parking space hosts average decent cars as opposed to the pathetic display of prohibitively extensive luxury ones.

The house the Ispahanis live in the Colony is older than many of us, but it has grace and civility tailored in every brick and stone that hold it together. Most of the times, we had tea/coffee being served by their own family members when they could have hired an army of servants. Their children were given home made tiffin for schools and not money to buy the entire school canteen as we see some of the children of nouveau riche doing these days.

The Ispahanis have correctly implanted the core values of good living and sound business practices throughout their successive generations by ensuring that from the very early on, the finer values of life are appreciated not only in sermons but also in practice and day to day living. The absence of which explains the dismal performances of many of our second and third generation business families where in many cases the children are encouraged by their parents in the display of flamboyance and wealth and in some extensive English medium schools it becomes an open competition as to who gets down from what type and brand of car and who lives in which part of the city. The Ispahanis truly have represented entrepreneurialism perhaps at its best.

As one of the writers of article on Sadri Ispahani has correctly observed in the Daily Star, how even a small amount of unpaid bank loan used to make the Late Sadri Ispahani restless and anxious, while we have seen how some bank defaulters and controversial persons have adorned the highest places in the different strata of society. We have also seen the growth of millionaires accompanied by even faster fall of moral values and good business practices. In these hopeless times, the likes of Sadri Ispahani used to beacon some ray of light in the middle of the gloom that is permeating the society.

The Ispahanis have been the selfless philanthropists. From the Later Mirza Ispahani to his son Late Sadri Ispahani to the current generation led by Behrouz and Salman Ispahani -- they have been the ones to actively demonstrate the softer side of business through the long list of charitable work they have done over so many decades. From the Islamia Eye Hospital to Ispahani schools and colleges, big or small, they have reached out to the society and displayed a deep sense of social commitment to the underprivileged section. The best part is that it was not done for being elected as an MP or for making any political or personal score. Sadri Uncle's soft heart, compassion for the poor, and love for people in general has been felt by those who have had an opportunity to know him. It is so sad to see that even the successful business houses of our country are so stingy when it comes to doing selfless charitable work with a pure sense of duty to the society. Many of the modern day affluent won't mind buying their 3rd and 4th luxury transport for their wards but would shrink at the thought of giving away money to the needy and poor. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "How great a nation is, is reflected by how best it treats its most worst affected people".

Late Sadri Uncle had a special care and attention for the Ispahani Colony and nothing would go unnoticed in his watchful eyes -- whether it was cutting of any tree or trimming of branches or erection of any bamboo fences. He cared for both the Colony and its people. I remember when once the former US Ambassador John Holzman and former World Bank Country Director Frederic Temple came to our house on a social occasion how they were awestruck by the fact that such a green and serene place lay at the heart of Dhaka which they never imagined being used to the noise, pollution, and crowdiness that have been devouring the city including the diplomatic enclaves. I guess it is safe to say, that had it not been the likes of Sadri Ispahani and his family, this prime piece of land would have been commercialised long time back. In contrast, almost everyday we read in newspapers how unscrupulous developers are seizing land and flouting the laws.

I will end with a personal note. As I was graduating from a leading business school of the US, my parents came to attend the graduation ceremony. To my surprise my mother brought a ring for me and as one can imagine what could have been my instant reaction. I thought whether my parents were in the process of taking care of the next obvious thing to follow in my life without my knowledge and whether this ring had anything to do with something I was not aware of. To my even greater surprise, my mother told that Sadri Uncle had sent me the ring as a graduation gift with the hope that I would someday return home to serve the country. At that time, the general assumption was that I would not return home and continue exploring career opportunities abroad.

When I returned to Bangladesh, Sadri Uncle warmly greeted me and emphasised on two key factors. First, that there was a dearth of qualified professionals in Bangladesh and the best way to do justice to the taxpayers' money spent on educating people like us was to either to teach or to start a new venture to generate employment and growth in the economy. I did end up doing both. Second was his deep conviction on the need for the children to stand by their parents in their old age which also I have been fortunate to perform. These were truly great inspirations and I am happy that my heart sailed in these directions. There are not too many businessmen these days with the kind of intellectual breadth and social awareness as late Sadri Uncle had. Any meeting with him was enlightening and joyful and would leave the mind pondering on things that ideally we should everyday be thinking about and working upon.

Dear Sadri Uncle, you will be missed both within and beyond the Ispahani Colony and may God Almighty bless you with eternal peace that you so richly deserve.

Syed Munir Khasru is a Faculty at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka and a resident of Ispahani Colony.