MR. ABDUL AZEEZ is a social activist based in Kolkata, where he came from Uttar Pradesh in 1958, and completed his school, college and university education in due course of time. In an interview with DR. WAQUAR ANWAR he talks on the various facets of his life. Excerpts:
How did you come in contact with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind?
My initial contact with the Jamaat was in 1965. I was doing some social work after passing out from school. I met a Jamaat worker who gave me a few books to read. Later I was invited to attend a national convention of the Jamaat in Hyderabad that I declined. However, I continued reading books as I have always been a book-loving person if not a book worm. I was studying Tafheemul Qur’ān (Towards Understanding the Qur’ān). I was amazed why the gentleman was providing me with books, and that too voluminous ones. (Laughs) Other people do not give books fearing that their books will not be returned.
I have been interested in writing as well. On reading and appreciating the books of Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi I thought his thoughts should be propagated. I felt at home with the ideas of Maudoodi, as if it is akin to my feelings (eh bhi mere dil mein hai). Earlier I had developed the same feeling after reading the poetry of Iqbal. In the year 1971 an ijtema was organised in my house at Moulvi Lane and I was invited to speak on Shahadat-e-Haq (Witness to the Truth) after reading the book of Maulana Maudoodi under the same title. Before finishing the last sentence of the book I had decided to join the Jamaat. And there has been no looking back from then. By June 1971 I was a member of the Jamaat.
Who were the important Muslim personalities of Kolkata whom you met those days?
First such prominent person I came closer was Mulla Jaan Muhammad. In 1964 I had to appear in matriculation examination. A severe communal riot broke out. Despite that examination dates were announced. I was trying to get the dates deferred so that the riot affected examinees may get some respite. I was discouraged by seniors saying that this campaign should be done by elders. But I succeeded in involving some journalists and active persons in favour of the campaign and letters were written in the newspapers and other actions taken. Ultimately the examination dates were deferred for 15 days. This was the first success in my social life. Ejaz Afzal, a prominent Urdu poet and my teacher, supported me.
Another job taken by me was to arrange books for students whose study material was destroyed in the riot. I met Mulla Jan Muhammad in this regard. This contact with that mercurial personality continued till his last days. I came closer to Dr. Maqbool, Abubakar Makkar, Kaleemuddin Shams and other prominent persons of Kolkata in the days after formation of Janata Party when we strived to form a core group under the banner of Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat.
One cannot miss the name of Abdul Fattah, our leader. I was very close to these persons. This core team always worked for Muslim issues and was always concerned about betterment of the community. There were other persons like Javed Nehal and Dr. Abdus Subhan who were with us on different issues without any permanent bond.
What made Mulla Jaan Muhammad an important person among the Muslims of Kolkata?
He had devoted his 24 hours to the community. He had no family. The community was his total concern and like a family. He was alone in the field and legacy of involvement in educational, medical, sports and other institutions of the community was continuing from the days of independence movement, unchallenged and without any competition. His sway was so complete that nobody would dare come forward as his competitor. He was working hard to keep alive the institutions of the community. For example, he often told me to keep Muhammadan Sporting alive and kicking. In his words, “Its one goal is more effective than thousands of speeches of the Muslim leaders!” (Laughs). He was a disciple of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar. He used to recite the poems of Muhammad Ali and describe his achievements and anecdotes.
Tell us something about Janab Abdul Fattah.
You know Maulana Abdul Fattah as good as I know.
But your association with him was for a longer period.
His devotion for the Islamic movement was total. Every minute of his life was meant for advancement of this objective with all sincerity. This is a rare phenomenon. Persons live for many purposes but here was a man who had only one objective of pleasing his Creator, Allah. Another beauty of his personality was that he could face any criticism without reacting unduly. This selflessness where a person is not disturbed by any adverse comment by any other person keeping himself focused on his objectives is very difficult to find. And……(he starts weeping…not able to speak any word for about forty seconds…. the eyes of all of us who were present at the time of the interview get moist…. I reword my question to break the sudden drop in discussion….)
Abdul Fattah Saheb was neither a good orator, nor a writer, nor any intellectual, nor any attractive person with any extraordinary abilities; despite that he was popular. Why was he loved that much?
He always tried to take people along with him and worked for moral, social, intellectual and economic betterment of other persons. It is now not found that a leader will strive for the uplift of his people both in this world and hereafter, assuring that abilities are grown and worldly positions too are bettered. He was not any handsome or attractive person per se. What attracted was his simplicity and traits of character.
As a writer and journalist with interest in the Urdu literature you must have come in contact with the progressive and Left-oriented writers in Kolkata. What type of relationships you had with them?
I maintained very close relationships with most of them and never let my association with the Jamaat become any bone of contention in our cordial and personal relationships.
How come you remained acceptable to them? Is it not strange?
In fact I noticed that progressive movement here had no seriousness. It was merely a tool to earn prestige and other worldly gains.
You mean it was a fashion of the day.
No, I am emphatic that their association with progressive movement and/or the left establishment was merely for earning goodies, worldly benefits, nothing more. Urdu Academy, power galleries and other such things attracted them. They maintained close liaison with both the Left parties and the Congress party.
This dual policy of a newspaper in Kolkata to support the Left locally and Congress at the Centre is not new.
You are talking about the policy adopted by Azad Hind. The paper is now breathing its last.
What is the situation of Muslims here today?
In my opinion the situation today is better than yesterday. Now it is possible to bring together persons from all groups on a common platform. This was not possible earlier. Nobody refuses to accept the invitation or declines to come if invited. However, persons closer to power and pro-establishment persons come to disintegrate and sow seeds of distrust. I have developed this feeling about Milli Council, at least in Kolkata. Till they feel that the government and the establishment will not censor they are with you, the day any anti-establishment poser is taken they would slip out.
Despite high concentration of Muslims in West Bengal we do not find any worthwhile contribution of Bengali Muslims at national level. This may be true in the Jamaat too where no noteworthy persons save Maulana Yaqoob Gholai rose on national podium. Your comments.
Bengali Muslims with good abilities are contended with other political establishments. I call it a phenomenon of suhbat e zaagh [(Eagle baby) in the companion of crows]. Their own individual personalities are buried in the groups they have opted. There is obvious dearth of capable persons of local origin in the Jamaat too. This is sad and I hope with the passage of time the situation would ease out.