ABU Mohammad Murtaish, more known as Kochi to his friends and close acquaintances, was an enlightened man with a golden heart, if not a persona extraordinaire. He always extended his helping hand to anyone in distress around him. And very often he extended it beyond his immediate capacity. A legal practitioner by profession, he was a cultural as well as a social activist. But was very short-lived. He passed away when only in his mid-forties, cutting short hopes and expectations of so many around him.
Born to the aristocrat Kazi family of Dhanbari in the district of Tangail in 1957, he did his honours graduation in 1978 and post-graduation in 1979 in law from Dhaka University. He grew up as a cultural organiser from his very boyhood.
His drama career began with the establishment of Podatik Natya Sangsad in Dhaka in 1978. He discharged responsibility of its general secretary and again as president and successfully played major character roles in almost all plays of Podatik, viz. Sojan Badiyar Ghat, Tin Rostamer Gappo, Monoshar Pala, Kabar, Maa, Chandravati, Ballavpurer Rupkatha, Ratarati and most talked about street play, Khapa Paglar Pyachal. A powerful character actor he also proved his mettle in direction with the play Chikitsa Bibhrat.
In 1978 Kochi also established Bangladesh Ain Samity with his university batchmates and later on discharged the responsibility of its general secretary and again as president with apt popularity. Soft-spoken, almost introvert, dedicated to his assignments, Kochi was very popular not only in the realms of drama and law but also among people from all walks of life. I have seen even some foreigners could not check tears while mourning his untimely demise. He worked for some time with them in World Bank's Bangladesh Judiciary Capacity Building project before his death. I heard them saying that they had not seen many patriots like him.
He never compromised in matters of policy. For instance, during the autocratic regime of Ershad, while he was posted as Judiciary Munsiff at Monohardi, he was pressurised by different quarters to pass judgement is favour of the influential accused in a case. He did not do that, rather passed his judgement in favour of justice and resigned from the lucrative government service on the same day. He was offered various "benefits" not to leave the job, but he stuck to his decision and started independent legal practice at the Supreme Court, Dhaka.
Abu Mohammad Murtaish Kochi was a bachelor. It may be mentioned here that in Bengali kochi means young. One of our friends' wife once told him joking: "Kochi Bhai, would you remain kochi (young) all life and won't marry?" He replied jovially: "Yes, Bhavi, I want to remain kochi!"
In our parlance, an unmarried youth is not generally considered an adult. He proved his words by dying young. He succumbed to a heart attack on September 13, 2002. But he is surviving in our hearts and he will continue to do so. On this 6th anniversary of my friend's death, once again I pray for the salvation of his departed soul.

Selim Shamsul Huda Chowdhury is a cultural organiser.