Dr. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury: The perennial pedagogue

PRIOR to December 30, 2010, strange things were known to have been possible. Education came free of cost for many: enlightenment could be attained from a mere encounter; a thousand children looked up to one father; and an angel treaded the same ground as us mere mortals. Up until December 30, 2010, we had shared our world with Dr. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury.
Words seem futile when talking about a man who taught more through his silence than others did through their words. As boundless as his knowledge was, the best examples he would set for others was through his own actions. As a citizen he was the epitome of patriotism, on a never-ending quest to explore, unravel and acquaint himself with all there was to know about his motherland, from the history of her birth, to the people, to each river that ran through her. As a son he was dutiful and devoted. As a husband he was a pillar of support and empowerment, the embodiment of loyalty, love and reverence. As a father he offered his daughters the greatest gift of respect, the strongest source of guidance and the open arms of a friend.
Despite being the highest authority in the household he was never rigid in his ways and never faltered in his expressions of love towards his loved ones. As a confidante he was an ocean of buried secrets, where you could express your anguish, unleash your dreams, whisper your hopes, and they would be preserved in silence. With his grandsons he shared his unforgettable childlike laughter, with innocence that mirrored that of a newborn. With his friends he was affectionate, loyal and sincere, taking pride in their achievements, standing by through their tribulations, growing old with them through decades of unending companionship.
Aside from being a source of superpower for his friends and family, Dr. Chowdhury was in essence an exemplary teacher. He believed in the power of knowledge and its endless acquisition. His success as a teacher was largely ascribed to the humility with which he always remained a student at heart. And it is that humility which allowed him to remember the names of each student that ever walked up to him. His paternity extended far beyond the walls of his home to the doors of each student. He always took a keen interest in their ambitions, and paternal pride in their achievements.
Dr. Chowdhury's pedagogy extended far beyond the classroom to anybody who had had the privilege of an encounter with him. He would teach about the importance of respecting peers and elders alike through the way in which he addressed them. He would teach about loving immediate and extended family the same through his relentless efforts to maintain close ties with relatives worldwide.
Through his humble daily chitchat with the chauffeur, discussing the traffic, weather and even political situation, he taught us to never discriminate against the impoverished. Seeing him impart knowledge about his motherland, through his stories about the liberation war, and through his extensive knowledge about his culture and heritage, would teach any citizen to remain as loyal to their origin as they would to their parents.
Dr. Chowdhury was a natural leader, with charisma that was impossible to overlook. However, it wasn't his professional stature that would leave you awe-struck upon encounter as much as it was just his aura alone. Apparent admiration existed wherever he walked into a crowd and I have had the privilege of witnessing this marvelous occurrence many a times myself. Silence transpired when he spoke, as he truly was a captivating speaker. With his contagious smile and heart-warming demeanour, he won the hearts of those he met -- from friends, family, students and peers to even the hospital staff who saw him through his last days.
Though this angel no longer walks the same ground as us, his pedagogy will persist forever. His was a life lived as per God's great guidance, free of crime, free of sin, and free of wrong. A man, who never told a lie, never broke your trust, never hurt a soul and never breached a bond, is a man who continues to teach beyond his mortality. A year has passed since his demise, yet he still speaks to me from photographs, helps me tell right from wrong, keeps me company when I am alone, smiles down on me when I reminisce and guides me when I'm lost. Today, I can only seek solace in knowing that I am not alone when I pray to God to grant my father his rightful place in Heaven, for that is where angels are known to return.
The writer is daughter of Dr. B.M. Chowdhury.