Justice Muhammad Ibrahim

My husband, Aziz, knew him from before. We were in Karachi for a brief trip in the late fifties and were guests at the official residence of Justice Ibrahim, Law Minister of Pakistan at that time. His busy schedule did not prevent him from paying personal attention to the welfare of his house guests from East Pakistan.

Involvement with the Dhaka (then spelt Dacca) University Old Boys' Association (Iater, under our initiative renamed Dhaka University Alumni Association) brought us together when we assembled for our meetings usually at the Teacher-Student Centre. Justice Ibrahim was founder President of the Association. Aziz was also actively associated with the Dhaka University and we had a few meetings in Justice Ibrahim's imposing official residence when he was the Vice-Chancellor.

His manner of conducting these meetings was typical of his personality. Quiet, unassuming, soft-spoken, he allowed members to make their points. Patiently, he put up with our emotional verbosity the penchant of the Bengali when roused, intervening only when he considered it necessary. Uttering his few sentences, in his inimitable, measured low tone, contrasting with our over-exuberant fervour, he offered his remarks, usually containing points for serious consideration.

During the late 60's we were residents of the same neighbourhood. Justice Ibrahim was leading a retired life -- not a life of leisure judging from his involvement with numerous organisations such as the Boys Scouts Association of Pakistan. Aziz was an ardent Scouter from his school days. Mr Thurman of Gilwell Park and the British Boys Scouts Association was visiting East Pakistan with his wife. We had a dinner get-together at our home. Justice Ibrahim as head of the East Pakistan Boys Scouts Association was invited to meet them. One group photo shows tall and slim Mrs Thurman standing next to me. She was about 5'8" while I was 5'2". I remember she quipped on this saying "The more I travel in the East, the taller I become."

Other group photos show Justice Ibrahim with the guests. Our son, Zia, is next to Justice Ibrahim. A rapport linked the 5 year old and the 65 year old, notwithstanding the difference in age. Benign, smiling, seniority bent graciously to accommodate himself to the little boy. Once in a while, when he dropped in at our place, he always enquired about Zia. Through this, appealing relationship, my husband and I had a glimpse with the tender, sensitive, resilient, engaging side of Justice Ibrahim's nature. He one mentioned that the old and the young can often be lonely. In reaching out to Zia, I think Justice Ibrahim was brushing aside the loneliness that inevitably creeps into life with age and changing circumstance.

He would drive over to our place in his old black Austin. When we quipped him on his vintage model and enquired why he did not buy a new car, he would patiently explain that he saw no reason, he was happy with his old car, it suited him and he left it to the next generation to make the change.

One hot summer evening when he drove over to our house, I offered him yoghurt. Smiling politely, he refused with the remark that what I was offering him was poison in his asthmatic condition.

Justice Ibrahim was a man you respected even if you did not agree with him -- a man of courage and conviction. Such people are always needed in society.

Husniara Huq is a retired Associate Professor, Department of English, Dhaka University.