Ghulam Kibria was larger than life yet intensely human

Business Recorder introduced me to Ghulam Kibria, whom, not long after introduction, I started addressing ‘Bhai Sahib’, an address – no one shared with me. Writing, basically on accounting and finance related subjects from my student days in the sixties, I had my article: “Book Profit & Tax Profit” flashed by Business Recorder of 06 October, 1979. It could appear in the newspaper with a good subbing by Akhyar Bhai, the News Editor of the daily. I put the suffix of ‘Bhai’ to M. A. Akhyar not long after I had entered his room with my ‘writing’, desiring to have the same carried by his newspaper. Thence on, in line with staff members of the newspaper what was M. A. Akhyar turned “Akhyar Bhai”, whose passion was to shape aspirants approaching him to be a writer into worth their salt. There, in his chamber, one day I met a tall, relatively dark skinned middle aged man, expressing himself with clarity, forcefully, creating an impression, who had gone into ‘industrial consultancy’ after leaving a senior position in a multinational company followed by cushy chair in the Government. He was Ghulam Kibria, a friend of Akhyar Bhai from his Aligarh Muslim University days before partition.

More an intellectual den than a privately owned newspaper’s office, Business Recorder’s was a bastion of luminaries likes of which included Qazi Abrar, Jamil Zuberi, Babar Ayaz, Sabihuddin Ghausi and so on. Joining the den from outside were Ghulam Kibria, Habib Ahmad of Union Biscuits and myself besides many others left out due to memory lapse. I happened to be younger to most of them. M. A. Zuberi, the Editor – popularly referred ‘Zuberi Sahib’, never interfered with faith of the den or in anyway restrict thinking and working of the den which had shaped into a group with its convictions. There would often be the group’s lunch. We also had mushairas or poetry recitals on top floor of the newspaper’s building.

Business Recorder from its inception has been pro-private sector. Pleading private sector’s cause with prescriptions and formulae for its development and growth. At the top of which was Zuberi Sahib, the Editor, more than just a friend and believer in the philosophy of free enterprise but a genuine democrat. If memory does not fail me, with the exception of Akhyar Bhai who was a free thinker – not taking a clear side, rest of the crowd did not hospitalize the concept and working of private sector.

Soon I started visiting Bhai Sahib’s house, turning into his family member, a younger brother, closer vis-a-vis his real brothers. He was Bhai Sahib to me, due to the care and affection he demonstrated, the long and deep association growing, probably also because I wanted an elder brother. Later it turned out that his younger brother was Azhar Mustafa, my childhood friend. It was much later that the relationship with his other junior brother, Mazahir Mustafa, grew and became deeper. Mazahir was politically on a wavelength that was different from me and Bhai Sahib. Despite being very sentimental in relation to his belief and philosophy of life, Bhai Sahib always loved and patronized his brothers and sister. He did the same with me. His political thinking or philosophy did not interfere.

He was a believer in public sector. He could live with the idea of public-private partnership and, as an academician, had formulae to suit specific cases generically. His passion compelled him to be seized with issues, not scarce quagmires. He would come-up with a firm and loud voice on issues, but always loving with eloquent delivery.

General Jalal and Bhai Sahib, were almost the same age and old buddies. Jalal Bhai as Chairman PACO resolved to introduce Suzuki cars progressive assembly in Pakistan. Bhai Sahib who was Chief Consultant of the set-up to finance the project took great fancy to the venture. The issue on which the two locked horns was whether to initially fabricate the car’s body – deferring engine making to the next phase or to fabricate engine parts in the first phase, leaving body making to the next phase. Both were knowledgeable – intellectually and otherwise, honest, enthusiasts to the core. But both had a strong mind. Anyway, they developed differences on the subject as all with differing convictions would. Well wishers of them, including myself – near to both, were worried over this strange development. However, Suzuki Cars were on Karachi roads despite strong views of concerned quarters, probably including the financiers. But for the confidence and reverence General Zia had for Jalal Bhai this would not have been there. Very happy Bhai Sahib was to see the 800cc car on the road although he believed that nation would be better served with steps the other way round.

Bhai Sahib’s analogy was that local parts manufacturing will provide employment to the artisans making them better off, conserve foreign exchange, reduce dependence on foreign sources, cultivate research and development, taking the country on meaningful development path. Getting into engine production could lay a solid industrial development foundation. Jalal Bhai appeared to hold that in the initial stage local parts outfits were not likely to be efficient, with the result that efficiency of cars made was not likely to be acceptable. Production would be relatively expensive also. We should simultaneously go ahead with local parts development, he, however, believed.

I was at a loss to judge who was right, Jalal Bhai or Bhai Sahib. My feeling was that the process of local parts development posed a long drawn exercise. Original manufacturers of machines and vehicles may crucify local development by changing set-ups in their final products in a way that the local parts becomes irrelevant.

After locally produced Suzuki appearing on the road, myself and Masoud Naqvi got together to find a way to bring Jalal Bhai and Bhai Sahib together again. I went to Jalal Bhai. Willy-nilly, he agreed on incorporation of a trading company, basically to accommodate myself who had turned jobless due to a strong position taken with his employers on principles. He willingly agreed to Bhai Sahib being a director of the proposed company. Masoud Naqvi thence suggested that it would again be on me to go to Bhai Sahib to put the cart before the horse. Instead of explaining the project, I told Bhai Sahib that the proposition was incorporation of a company – with him, Jalal Bhai, Masoud Naqvi and myself as directors. Believing that it would be a plan to provide me with a livelihood, Bhai Sahib stood-up. He got prepared to go to Jalal Bhai, with whom he was no longer on happy terms. He rising to go to Jalal Bhai was in deference to the fact before him, like Jalal Bhai, that I had just no resources to live with. Bhai Sahib believed and practiced modesty with practicality writ large on the face of it.

Bhai Sahib’s pursuits were relentless. Working as adviser to the government with the rank of a Federal Secretary, hand in glove with Dr Mubashir Hasan, a vociferous exponent of ‘appropriate technology’, with files in hand concerning issues, he would freely barge into cabins of section officers of the relevant offices he was stuck-up with and ask for a cup of tea. Meaninglessly, cutting jokes with them he would spend time with them. This happened when he came to believe that things he wanted to move would not move through conventional ways. His ‘small doings’ would always have a chamatkar. He would have the booty. So he once narrated to me, sermoning modesty and conviction even in small doings and gestures.

Bhai Sahib authored many books, most likely second editions of which never saw light of the day. These books are lessons for planners in the Government and industrial leaders, works of an academician paving way to sure and enduring success. But probably these cater to an ideology, which does not carry the buzz words ‘quick success – consequences do not matter’.

Voh faqir, ibne faqir, ibne faqir

Iskandar tha sultanon ke beech