The best year ever

The gentleman boarding the flight in New Delhi looks awfully familiar – probably a friend of my dad's. Here's the dilemma – if I ask him who he is, that's bad manners. If I ignore him, I'm labeled as a beyadob.

I take no chances. I grab his hand, shake it vigorously, "Salaam Chacha!! How are you? So good to see you!"

A perplexed, yet genuinely warm greeting in return.

As the 'uncle' boards the plane, I ask my friend, "Who's he by the way?"

"You idiot! He's the Governor of Bangladesh Bank!"

Oops! No wonder he looks so familiar!

Having a bad memory is one thing, trying to be smart with it is suicidal. And this is no lone incident. As I get off the stage after a comedy show, a gentleman compliments me on my performance and asks me what I do. I answer with a thank you and ask him the same question.

"I am in the Army," he replies.

I look him up and down, "Let me see. You're a Brigadier General?"

"I am Lt. Gen. Sarwardy."

The gentleman breaks into a beam, knowing that only a comedian is capable of instantly demoting a three star general to a one star one at the stroke of one over-smart sentence.

And finally, I am at the Bangabandhu Cantonment to do a comedy show.  "Are you the CO (Commanding Officer – a position held by a Lt. Col.)?" I ask a fine young officer.

"I was, many, many years ago. I am now the Brigade Commander."

History repeats itself as my faux pas demotes a one star general by two ranks to a lieutenant colonel. Perhaps all the Captains are now giving pushups, anticipating being demoted to gentlemen cadets and being sent back to the Military Academy.

The life of a comedian – full of mis-steps, mis-statements, mis-judgments and mistakes. But perhaps 'comedian' is a misnomer for what is in essence a blatant truth teller. Humour is a delivery mechanism of truth with its efficacy at its peak when delivered with the best in class humour, no matter how sensitive the payload.

All roads lead to Rome. If a truth needs to be told, it can be done by writing an Op-Ed, speaking (debating) on a talk show, bringing out a procession, creating blockades, calling a hartal, throwing a petrol bomb or vandalising a car. But there is also humour, that can deliver the same truth, perhaps more effectively, as when one laughs, the eyes are shut and the mind is wide open, allowing the truth to embed itself in the mind of the recipient.

Again, therein lies the tremendous responsibility of the humourist, to laugh WITH everybody and not AT anyone's cost. That is the thin line that a comedian has to tread with caution.

After a show of mine in post 9/11 America at the Ann Arbor Showcase comedy club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, an American gentleman comes and shakes my hand, "Sir. I am a Warrant Officer of the US Army. I just returned from a two-year tour of duty in Iraq. I learned more about your religion [Islam] through your subtle comedy than I did during my deployment in Iraq. I want to thank you."

Mission accomplished.

Make laugh, not war. Smile, grin, laugh. It doesn't cost a dime, nor is there any VAT on it. This mantra has given me the best calling and the best purpose in life.

Follow suit. May the year 2016 be the best year ever…

The writer is an engineer at Ford & Qualcomm USA and CEO of IBM & Nokia Siemens Networks Bangladesh turned comedian (by choice), the host of ABC Radio's Good Morning Bangladesh and the founder of Naveed's Comedy Club.

E-mail: naveed@naveedmahbub.com