Professor Manzoorul Haq Chaudhry of Economics Over a period of the past half century, certain commodities, values, protocols, procedures and phenomena have almost completely disappeared from our society. One such phenomenon is Aligarh educated gentry who called themselves “ALIG”. There was a selected group of ‘Aligarians’ in Sargodha that included Lectures, Lawyers, Engineers and poets. Irrespective of caste, creed and color, they were all tied into a brotherhood of their own. The present-day youth may know a lot about Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh movement by book reading and net surfacing, they certainly miss the real aroma of this magical fraternity. My big-brother Ashraf had once told me that these Aligarians may not have been educated appropriately but they were trained meticulously at Aligarh. What I have acquired by observing and meeting them in Sargodha could be called ‘pearls of wisdom’. This conglomeration of Sargodha society has disappeared now but not without leaving their positive imprints. I remember, in 1960s, passing through the road between 12 and 18 Block I could watch a green- color name board of the forehead of a building: Mir Muzahir Husnain BA, LL.B. (ALIG) Wakil. In Sargodha, hardly anybody would remember this Aligarian who unquestioned leader of the then ‘Mohajir’ community and in local bodies election he was elected President of the Municipality by defeating the stalwart local leader Khan Mian Khan who had had that position for years. Professor Manzoorul Haq Chaudhry MA Economics, LL.B. (Alig) was one of the senior staff members of Demontmorency College, head of Economics department (the only other lecturer was Syed Sajjad Hyder), Custodian and Chief of Cooperative Store (adjacent to College Canteen) and In Charge of Lawn Tennis game. He was six feet plus in height, well-built, robust, with a little bulging belly, good-eater, sophisticated but informal and a moving reservoir of physical energy. He was naturally blessed with grandeur in his personality. He had a life style that he did not change. In college, he could be regarded as “chief of non-aligned group”. He had the unique ability to distance himself from all kind of controversies and heat generating from such hullabaloo. Since I have never been his student in Economics, it is not possible to comment on his teaching mythology and classroom discipline. One of my best friend Rana Mohammad Hanif (Advocate at Sargodha) was student of Economics from 1s year to 4th year and he had been a true fan of Chaudhry Sahib always praising his verbal communication skills that eased the clarity of complex conception. Personality orientations and national orientations always vary. Pakistani, Pathan and Muslim, if you are blessed to be all three at the same time, what is the order of priority? There are a number of hilarious jests in circulation about the communities in Pakistan and abroad about fixing the priorities. For Professor Chaudhry, it was very apparent to all those who knew him that his order of priorities was: 1. Aligarian, 2. Teaching, and 3. Shikar (Shooting/Hunting). Because of my upbringing, I have a natural tendency of substantially drift from the subject of discussion when it comes to Shikar (shooting and hunting). I have been born and raided in the family of “Shikaris” of birds, animals and fish. Because of this common trait, I happen to know Professor Chaudhry from my childhood time. In all seasons, he would go out for Shikar a minimum of four days a weak. He had the stamina to get up early morning go for Shikar, get back, change and reach the college on the dot showing no signs of fatigue or tiredness. Till 1962, he had used his Rally brand bicycle equipped with full chain cover and dynamo light. Then he had purchased a brand new Italian made Auto-cycle” Grallie for Rs. 1250. I know the details for my big-brother Ashraf had also purchased the same one month before and their license plate numbers were SG in the serial of eleven-hundred. Even after acquiring the auto-bicycle, Chaudhry Sahib regularly used his bicycle in order to keep himself fit. His favorite places for quick hunting trip were Mari Luk and Nabi Shah Bala. In 2014, it appears absurd and painful to me to write that Chaudhry Sahib had been to Nabi Shah Bala on his bicycle regularly – a minimum distance of about 35 km one way. Shooting-gear of a Shikari is about 20 kg. Chaudhry Sahib had a medium length double barrel 12 bore gun of Belgian manufacturing which he dearly kept in the leather cover after regularly cleaning and oiling that. He was good-shot, used to take more than one duck (Murghabi) in one shot, swim in the cold water, slaughter his Shikar inside the water and after reaching home he would incise, clean and cook the Shikar. During the decade of 1960, Sargodha had a number of crazy Shikari-groups who shot doves, pigeons, variety of Siberian ducks, snipers and partridges – rarely a hudyal. My elder brother (late) Sikandar Alam Qureshi, most favorite of Professor Chaudhry was an exhibitioner sharp-shooter – with two cartridges of Char number (number 4) in his WW Greener double barrel gun he would kill two flying birds (generally partridges) one after an other. My big-brother Ashraf was also a sharp-shooter with his point two two (.22) Winchester riffle that he had purchased for 140 Rupees in 1951. Dr Inshallah Khan and his brother Mashallah Khan of 22 Block were also our group mates. By 1963, I had acquired my license and a 12 bore gun but I have never been a good-shot. The craze of this game in my family could be judges from the fact we could prepare our own 12 bore cartridges. Chaudhry Sahib had settled down at Sargodha after his dynamic activities in the first quarter of his life. He hailed from Julhander, educated at Aligarh where masters’ degree and law could be studied simultaneously, and was made an offer of job by his Alma Matter. He was deputed to be the tutor of some young ‘Prince’ of a Princely state for quite some time and in this assignment he accompanied the Prince to Spain also. He was class mate of Mr. Justice Anwarul Haq and there were a few stories that he used to narrate about ICS exam of Justice Anwarul Haq. I have cherished memories of my juvenile age relevant to Professor Chaudhry for I had known him, from inception, as a kind of family member and a ‘Professor’ without even knowing what a professor was. He was a celebrated jolly person who could spread laughter around him in tons, humor was built-in his conversation be it in Udru, Julhanderi Punjabi or English. He was affectionate generally, stern in his tone if need be and friendly to all sections of society from a commoner to intellectuals. I recall my time of 10th class for recording my profound gratitude to Professor Chaudhry. In 9th class result my performance was evaluated to be the worst and I was severely chastised by all family members including by my loving and kind-hearted married elderly sisters. My ego was smashed collectively by the entire group called ‘family’ to a point that I felt less than a Shudar. I had no option but to keep absolutely mum knowing fully well that it was less than what I deserved. In a move to rectify my blunders and wash off the stigma, I settled down to my studies alone. Then, Professor Chaudhry used to take his walk morning and evening from his house to our house. During the academic year of 10th class, he saw me studying in the lawn in the morning and again the same in the evening. After some time I could notice, he was visibly moved with the way I was reacting to counter my insult for producing better result.. He would regularly sit with me for about five minutes, ask me a few questions, tell me something helping me and pose a question to ponder over. His contribution to my marathon effort was indeed substantial. I also remember another rib-tickling incident. My brother Sikandar Alam Qureshi who was Professor Sahib’s chum made an inadvertent dull mistake when he was taking his intermediate exam at the premises of Ambala Muslim High School. He was perhaps in the ‘charm’ of his newly acquired Vespa scooter that he inscribed his scooter number SG-1480 on the perforated corner of his examination sheet. It was a complete fiasco. Professor Chaudhry was in the forefront to sort out this mess including sending telegrams to the Secretary Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education 86 Mozang Road Lahore. Professor Sahib had beautiful bold handwriting and his writing speed was faster than average. During my studentship in the college, every student enjoyed the common knowledge that Sahibzada Abdur Rasool had been student of Professor Rafiullah Khan in “History” and Syed Sajjad Hyder had been student of Professor Manzoorul Haq Chaudhry in “Economics”. All these four teachers and taught were very prominent and, I am sure, they were proud of each other. Professor Sajjad and Professor Chaudhry were tennis players and greatly enjoyed defeating each other. (I intend to write a separate note, composing my association with Professor Sajjad, who died in a helicopter accident in fog of Lahore in 1990s.) All his activities in his life-style from western-style of education to his dress, from his profession to his thought process and from his games to leisure time were apparently far from religion. His apparent orientation was not that of a Molvi or Maulana. I know he used to recite the last Aayaat of Sura Al Baqra regularly everyday from the time of his youth. Based on his “Ma’amlat” in life I regard him as a wonderful Muslim who did not interfere in the matters of others, refrained from ‘Ghiba’, helped others as far as he could and enlightened his students with the most pertinent knowledge. May Allah Subhana wa ta’ala rest his soul in peace. I would always remember his good name with profound respect. (I apologies for any error of omission of facts for I write purely based on my memory without any references. I humbly request my readers to post a brief comment expressing their reaction).
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:36:44 +0000
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