A brush with an erudite patriot

Iwas deeply saddened by the news of Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali's death on September 14. I first saw him on the front page of The Daily Star, standing with a cigarette in his hand, a large audience in front of him. I began reading the news story only to find that he was from Sylhet, where also lies my childhood connection. His cigarette seemed to have had quite an impression on the whole nation!

Many months later, when I was visiting Sylhet to attend a syndicate meeting at Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, I was introduced to him. I was surprised and impressed with his command over English and found him to be erudite with versatile interests. I learnt that he had completed his high school education at St. Xavier's in Calcutta. That was probably the reason why I found him to be quite different from the image gleaned from the newspaper photograph. We also discovered that both of us had attended the same school for a brief time – Maulvibazar Govt High School, where other eminent personalities such as writer Syed Mujtaba Ali, founding editor of The Daily Star SM Ali and finance minister Saifur Rahman also studied.

During our conversation, I couldn't resist asking the honourable minister about his much-talked about picture showing him with a cigarette in hand at a school function. He just smiled and said: "You know, I was supposed to deliver a speech at BGB School in Sylhet Cantonment. I was very nervous to see the large crowd and decided that I must deliver a good speech. But I was completely blank! I could hardly organise my thoughts. Then I turned around and saw an officer and asked him, 'Brigadier, can I smoke?' He said, 'Yes sir.' As soon as I started smoking, I found my disjointed thoughts come running back to me in an organised manner and I was even able to instantly recall a few lines from a school poem. While smoking, I drafted my speech in my mind and delivered it so well that it came out like a well- drafted speech that won the applause of the audience. Now you see, if I had not smoked, I would have delivered a very dull speech and left the student audience disappointed." I couldn't help but laugh alongside him when he said this.

Undoubtedly, his remarks and disposition would sometimes create quite a stir in the media. But unlike shrewd politicians, he found it hard to resist saying his mind and his youthful exuberance made him appear naïve sometimes. But he had always maintained good relations with journalists and was even close to many leading reporters of the country.

His progressive personality and deep conviction in communal harmony was remarkable. He was a dedicated politician and social worker, a valiant freedom fighter. He tried discharging his duty with honesty and sincerity – a rare thing among people of his stature. He will not be forgotten. Syed Mohsin Ali will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

The writer is Additional Secretary to the government.