Childhood
In
a family of two girls and four boys, I am the eldest. I grew up
knowing that God has created men and women equal. Both our parents
showered us with love and affection, and guided us to
differentiate between good and bad. We also led very disciplined lives. We
had fixed timings for everything. We were encouraged
to read newspapers, magazines, and books and every evening during
dinner we discussed whatever we read.
I
loved to write essays and stories since my childhood and when I
was in KG-II my first story appeared in the Young Observer(Children’s page of the then Pakistan Observer).
One
of my favorite memories of my childhood is getting a gold clip
designed as an aeroplane from my grandfather Dr. Muhammad
Shahidullah. The
first day I was going to school Dadu told me he would give me
anything that I asked him provided I could write it correctly. I
remember this and as soon as I
learnt to write and spell I wrote a little note saying
‘Dadu, I want a gold clip shaped like an aeroplane.” Dadu
promptly obliged.
Student
Life
I
went to an English medium missionary school St. Francis Xavier’s
Convent. I remember vividly the faces of the nuns who taught us. I
can even now hear their strict disciplining voices and feel their
love and warmth. I remember even now how Sister Marellina stood
outside the examination hall with a glass of milk for me when I
was doing my Senior
Cambridge exam. I had just come out of the hospital and Sister
felt I needed to drink milk for energy.
College
life at Holy Cross and Central Women’s College was fun filled. I took part in
debates and all other literary activities and I can still remember
the thrill in defeating the boys’ colleges in Inter–Collegiate Debates.
After
I finished my Intermediate I was sure I would be pushed into
marriage on the insistence of my Dadi. But the greatest joy came
when I was proven wrong. Even before my father could get the
University admission form my Dadu came with it. He handed me the
form and also gave me ten rupees to make a few long sleeved
blouses to wear to the University so that the boys would not see
my long, slender arms (Dadu thought they were beautiful).
I
did my Honors & Masters in English Language and Literature
From Dhaka University. University days meant not only serious
studies but also taking part in literary activities. Whenever I
think my days at the Dhaka University certain scenes flash in
front of my eyes. I can still see the 69 Students’ Movement
happening. I can smell the tear gas, I can see the police chasing
the students , I can feel the anxiety that I felt then for Kamran
who was one of the student leaders in the 69 Movement. (Kamran
and I got married in 69)
I remember
with great respect and fondness my teachers Dr. Sajjad Hossain,
Dr. Sarwar Murshed, Dr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, Dr. Sirajul Islam
Choudhury, Mrs. Hosne Ara Khan, Mrs. Razia Khan Amin. My eyes wet
up with tears every time I think of Dr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta who
came with a box of sweet to our home when my Honors result came
out. Sir knew how nervous I
was before the exams . he also knew I wanted to drop out from
taking the exams. He encouraged me all through to sit for the
exams and assured me I would do well. Sir was proven right and he
came with the sweets to show his love.
My
Career
My
parents always told me that I
would have to pursue a career and be economically independent. As
a kid I loved to write stories, essays etc. My father (Mr. A. F.
M. Safiyyullah) therefore geared me towards journalism.
I started writing in the children’s pages of different
newspapers and magazines like the Pakistan Observer, The Morning
News, the Statesman (published from Calcutta) and others.
Gradually after finishing my Senior Cambridge
I started assisting in bringing out the children’s page
of the Pakistan Observer called the Young Observer. Eventually I
became Uncle Kim and brought out the Young observer on my own .
I was also given the responsibilities of the women’s page and
the film page of the Pakistan Observer.
After
my marriage to Kamran in 1969 I had to relocate to Karachi(as
Kamran had to go for training there.) in Karachi I joined the She
Magazine (a progressive magazine for women promoting women’s
rights and issues amongst other things) as a Senior Editor. While
at She I did some free lance copy writing for a few advertising
agencies. These were done just for fun and often to meet
challenges put forth by clients to my friends who worked as
copywriters in advertising agencies in Karachi.
Once
again when my husband was transferred back to Dhaka I had to leave
my job at She and came back.
Back
in Dhaka I did not exactly know what I would do. I had offers to
join the Bangladesh Observer and also had some teaching offers.
While I was being picky and choosy I was offered a job in
one of the leading advertising agencies at that time. I took that
up little knowing that within three months I would climb up from
being a copy writer to General Manager to Executive Vice President
after two years at this agency I left after I had a difference of
opinion with my boss. By this time I had
started enjoying my advertising profession so when a few
clients wanted me to open an advertising agency of my own it
needed only just a little persuasion. With trepidation and a lot
of excitement I started Adcomm on the 4th July, 1974
with six people in a small room and a billing of Tk. 10,000/=
My
advertising career which started more as a pastime became my
profession and now it is my passion.
Impression
of my Family
As
far as my family is concerned I could not have been luckier. Not
only close my immediate family (parents, brothers, sister, brother
in –law, sisters in –law nieces and nephews) love me , but the
extended family consisting of my paternal and maternal uncles and
aunts, cousins grand parents all showered their love and blessing
on me. As young
a girl when I came into my in laws’ home I could not
believe my good luck. My mother and father in law loved me like
their own daughter and my two brothers in law pampered me like
their own younger sister. What I say is no exaggeration and I
guess this is an unusual phenomena. I can only thank Almighty
Allah for this.
Impression
of My Partner
I
knew Kamran (Nazim Kamran Choudhury) for four years before I
married him on the 26th of April , 1969. It would not
be the whole truth if I said we have not fought over the most
stupidest and silliest things like snoring , time spent in the
bathroom, late nights choosing to watch television rather than
listening to cassettes etc. etc. But I must also admit Kamran gave
me a lot of encouragement in my work. And I think he will agree
that I stand by him too.
Ups
and Down In my career
I
am a positive thinking person and I would like to remember
only the “ups” in my career. If from being a small
agency with six persons we have risen to the number one position
and have 152 persons in the agency. I do not think I should think
of the “downs.” I am grateful to God for being so kind.
Environment
of the Service Place
It
is one big happy family. There is a lot of concern and care for
one another .
Discrepancy
between male and female at
our office
Discrepancy
? No, not at all in the real sense, however, male colleagues tell
me I love my female colleagues more.
If I was
asked to leave the job and become a housewife how I would react?
I
would be dumb struck –who in his or her right mind would want me
in the house ? I would drive everyone crazy if I did not have any
office work.
But
having said that I am a housewife – I do my own grocery and food
shopping every week, I plan the menu for the meals I send the
clothes to the laundry I supervise the cleaning of the rooms , I
set the flowers, I deal with the servants. When the children were
younger I took care of them. I supervised their studies, went to
the Teachers –Parents Day, took them to the doctors, did
whatever had to be done for them.
Is
there anything left out that need to be done for which reason I
have to leave my job?
My
family environment
My
immediate family consists of my husband Kamran, our eldest child-
our son Farhan
(Nazim Farhan Choudhury), his wife Faiza (Faiza Rahman) , our
second child- our daughter, Keya (Fahima Choudhury & her
husband Adit (Adit Bhagat). We are a small, happy family. We are
especially fortunate to get two wonderful people Faiza & Adit
come into the family & become part & parcel of our lives.
How
I Adjust My time
Between Family &
Office
I
am a good juggler – I have learnt to manage my time between
family & office. I must admit it is very difficult but I
manage.
Ups
& Downs In My Life
The only down
that I can remember just now was the sudden death of my father.
How
I faced This Situation
I
do not think I’ve been able to accept Abba’s death. I miss
him,
terrify especially when I have to take some major decisions or
when I am celebrating something. I start paying for him and I find
solace.
My
Views as a Member of the Society, as a Careerist and as a Women
I
would like to slightly change John F Kenedy’s saying “ Ask not
what the country can do for you. Ask what you can do for the
country” to “Ask not what the society can do for you. Ask
what you can do for the society ” We have a lot of
responsibilities to the society and we should not shrug our
shoulders and say it’s not our responsibilities. We individuals
form the society so if each and every one of us tried and
fulfilled our
social obligations we could make this a beautiful society.
As
a
careerist I feel we have a long way to go to
become really professional. Most times we do not set high
standards for ourselves and try to take the short cut to success.
As
a woman I would like to see every home in Bangladesh shower all
the love they can on their girl child, give her equal
opportunities as the boys, teach the girl child
to be confident, encourage her in whatever she does and
stand by her when needs assistance.
As
a woman I would also like to see other women teach their sons to
respect women, to give them their due place in the society and
treat women as equals.
I
believe in the French saying
“The
hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”
