An industrialist with an artist's soul
So many small incidents rush into my mind when I remember Nitun Da. I first met Nitun Kundu in the latter part of 1970, when we were colleagues at Bitopi Advertising. From the beginning he stood out because of his affectionate, caring nature. He had an inner strength which was his driving force.
He often talked about his humble origins. He had an overpowering desire to be a successful man. He came to Dhaka in pursuit of his passion to become a painter. To pay for his day-to-day expenses, he worked as a commercial painter of cinema billboards. He completed his graduation from the then Art College (now the Institute of Fine Arts of the Dhaka University), securing first position in his class. He often lamented the fact that he could not become a teacher at the Art College, despite his academic accomplishment. He so much wanted to be a teacher in his alma mater. It was one dream which remained unfulfilled.
During the time I was studying law in London, in the mid-seventies, about the time when Otobi was being set up in Dhaka, Nitun Da visited London. It was my privilege and pleasure to accompany him to the many museums, art galleries and theatres in London.
In many ways Nitun Da was a Renaissance man. His talents were diversified and he distinguished himself in many fields. He designed and sculpted many monuments. He has produced many mementos and souvenirs. Later he became a successful industrialist by dint of his merit, innovative mind and hard work.
With determination and hard work Nitun Da set up Otobi, initially as a very humble enterprise in 1975. From Sukrabad to Topkhana Road and then to Mirpur, Shyampur and Gulshan where he set up branches of his company, I am witness to Nitun Da's unflagging devotion, superior intellect and unbounded creativity in the establishment of Otobi as a centre of excellence in modern living. Otobi grew over the years under his passionate leadership. He was as caring towards Otobi as he was with his children Amity and Animesh.
The Bangla word for artist is shilpi and a closely related word is shilpa which means industry. Remarkably, Nitun Da combined the artist and the industrialist in him. And what a wonderful and amazing fusion it was!
Those of us who had the privilege of working with him will always cherish the most loving memories of the man who is a truly self-made man. All his life he lived a life of unfeigned simplicity. His innate humility was impressive and very inspiring to all around him. He had a wonderful ability to rejoice at the success of others in the profession. His overall humanity makes one feel that it was indeed an honour and a privilege to have known the man—a pleasure to treasure his memory. This thought makes me recall what I had read a long time ago: "If I have the privilege to meet you for a while, it will be to treasure a memory which will make me a little richer than I am." The enrichment is abundant. And the rewards are plentiful.
On his passing away on September 15, 2006, his colleagues and friends lost a very dear person, whom we all had learned to love and value; the world of fine arts and culture lost an icon; the industrial and entrepreneurial arena lost a fine industrialist and the country lost an eminent citizen. He has done us proud and we are all privileged to have known him, seen him work. What a difference he has made in our lives. May his soul blissfully rest in eternal peace.
Fida M Kamal is a former attorney general.
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