Profile of a martyr

Sardar Mahbub Neaz

Son of a civil servant, late Manje Ali Sardar, Neaz was every inch a Bengali. He cherished in him a spirit of non-bowing Bengali. After 25th March an inborn flame of liberation was kindled in him. Probably that's why he set off from the chain of affection of all near and dear ones to take part in liberation war in its very beginning. In Sector-2 headquarters, Melaghar Camp, everybody used to be touched by the most humble etiquettes of Commander Neaz. He had an inborn capacity to lead in a confident manner. Everyone in Banani specially the youngsters cannot check tears while they speak of their beloved Neaz Bhai.

Who can forget the unique act of courage set by him two days after the devastating night of 25th March. Simple story of demolition of an LMG-fortified Punjabi devil with bare hands.

To the thousands of his mourning admirers he was a total hero. The love and respect he enjoyed was very hard earned. Naturally, those people weak in some sense or other always sought his protection and help in a situation they felt helpless. There was an unmatched combination of courage and integrity, self-respect and respect for others.

An unceasing flame of independence of character was in him. He infused this spirit in all those who came near him. Neaz's solemn vow was to shake off all the efforts to make Banani citizens subservient to the lordships of Monem Khan, all petty lords and local wicked class, the then people at the helm of affairs. As the local people say, in those years of tension everybody depended on him for their safety and honour. When everybody was afraid of the nefarious designs and physical dangers, it was Neaz who stood like a rock to defend them. Naturally, those disturbance prone people in power had always been conspiring and he had to act as saviour for years. At one time in desperation they concocted a case, the so-called Banani Conspiracy Case (for 'conspiring against the state'). As founder of Banani Nabarun Shangha he had to face all the police action that followed. Every time Neaz stood with his unmatched personality and courage, his ruthless adversaries, all professional armed goons in hundreds backed by those unscrupulous people in power, had to evaporate.

A lover of truth and justice, Neaz would always oppose the breach of truth and justice. It was one bright sunny morning in the month of March 1969 a couple of days after the imposition of Yahya's Martial Law, he challenged the whimsical behaviour of five Punjabi Air Force officers at Banani. While everybody was experiencing a shivering sensation of fright and nervousness, Neaz with his usual calm, confident and smart steps ordered them to restrain themselves. What magic his lips bore, all God knows, it had the effect of a command and the officers instantaneously obeyed it. There were great many incidents when he would beat up a few Punjabi soldiers for misbehaviour with the passengers in the Cantt. Bus Service. These are examples of his omni-strong nerves.

Although not an office bearer of EFU employees union, they always took Neaz as their mouthpiece. Neaz was a shield to them against the high handed activities of the Karachi-based authorities. This love of justice and revolt against gestures put him into suspension for five times but reinstated, but finally after the army crackdown one Lt Col Bashirullh, Chief Personnel Manager, EFU Insurance Co. came here to dismiss him and a few others.

One illuminating feature of this many sided genius was his softness of heart and affection to the poor and distressed. His face was stiff at sight and lips were closed most of the time. But his softness touched all those who came near him. He used to take many poor employees of his office to his doctor brother-in-law for free treatment. Hundreds of such erstwhile unknown people come weeping, narrate countless such small acts of love, kindness he bestowed on them.

All these are but vain attempts to depict what he was. Homosapiens are greater than angles. A glance at Neaz Bhai at least gives some justification of what God said: A combination of all the best a physique can contain with least boast and highest respect for others as well as for self. A valiant freedom fighter he was captured and believably killed by the occupation forces between 10th and 15th December 1971.

Today, he sleeps among the greatest and bravest martyrs in the countless, nameless graves of unknown soldiers. That is the sole solace of his admirers. The love and respect right from the core of hearts of the admirers will illuminate his unknown grave. At the heyday of his life, he rendered the biggest sacrifice that can touch our imagination. I cannot but recall here some oft-quoted lines of Shelly:

"We look before and after and pine for what is not,

Our sincerest laughter with some pain is fraught,

Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought...

His dream along with thousands of martyrs has come true. I can visualise his gentle looks with heavenly light smiling from across the bar. Let us all hope and pray that his soul rests in peace. He has submitted to the crudest truth of the world -- death, wherefrom no one can escape. It is a truth that one can never fail, a truth that every one has to avail.