A tribute to Md. Maswood

Published on:

03 Feb 2018, 6:30 pm

My beloved father Md. Maswood left for his heavenly abode on the late evening of December 23, 2017, leaving us forlorn and shattered. Born to noted litterateur Md. Saleh and Nurjahan Begum and the eldest of the five siblings, Md. Maswood passed his matric examition from Cotton Collegiate School and went on to obtain his B.Sc. from Cotton College and M.Sc. from Gauhati University. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1974. He joined as lecturer in the Department of Geology and went on to become Reader and Professor. In between he got a fellowship and went to Austria from where he obtained his FPTC degree from Universitat Wien (University of Vien). During his six months stay aboard, he toured several European countries and almost every part of Austria, which eventually culmited in the form of a travelogue in Assamese titled Barofor Desh Vien (Snow-clad country Vien). This travelogue turns out handy for those visiting that country for its exhaustive and informative details.

During his chequered teaching career spanning several decades, my father earned high esteem of his students and colleagues for his impeccable and immaculate way of imparting lessons. I fondly remember accompanying my father to the university when I was in my teens. Sitting in his chamber I could hear his powerful, deep baritone voice resoting with the students listening to him with rapt attention.

Md. Maswood had several research papers published in the Jourl of Paleontological Society of India, Lucknow. He was elected joint secretary of the organization for 1996-97 term. Earlier, he was elected as executive council member of the organization for two consecutive terms. He was also elected for three consecutive terms as executive council member of the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Society of India, Calcutta, thus earning the enviable distinction of being the only person to hold such coveted positions in the entire north-eastern region. He was awarded the Michael Madhusudan Award in recognition of his research works by Michael Madhusudan Academy, Kolkata.

A disciplirian to the core, my father used to maintain a strict regimen throughout his life. He was very punctual and was way ahead of time, for he abhorred keeping anyone waiting. For him, time was precious and this he tried to inculcate in us.

Love of beauty in all its forms permeated his life. Nothing was too small for his care. He had a finer eye for details. And all this was amply reflected in his verses. He brought out three anthologies of poems, among which, Reminiscences earned rave reviews bringing him accolades galore. Kalpadrum, a literary mouthpiece, adjudged him the best poet. Several of his poems have found place in several editions of Heaven, a popular literary magazine published from Kolkata. Apart from this, he wrote several books in Assamese and English, including Prophet Muhammad and Razia Sulta-the first and last woman ruler of Delhi Sultate.

After his retirement, he became literarily obsessed with the world of letters. I could see him lost in wilderness jotting down the feelings of the inner recesses of his heart. Whenever his literary creations came out in print, he was elated and would show us and often read them aloud in his baritone voice. My father as well as my uncle inspired me to put pen to paper when I was in my teens.

My father’s passion for literature saw him forming the literary organization, Sahitya Manjari. Over the years, it grew in stature and witnessed a gathering of galaxy of literary figures. Guided, goaded and prodded by my father, I too participated in some literary discourses and even rrated some of my English poems much to the admiration of the elite gathering.

His was the fil say. Not only in family affairs even in matters of discord/dispute outside the family realm, my father prevailed over everything. He was looked upon with awe and reverence. Whenever any dispute or discord broke out, my father sat like a judge pronouncing judgement with the warring parties accepting his verdict gracefully and humbly. My father was philanthropic to the core. He always doted for a noble cause and reached out to the poor and needy.

Though he loved rocks being a Geologist, his love for flora and fau was equally noteworthy. He loved flowers of myriad hues and nursed them with tenderly care in his small garden. He always made it a point to keep aside a portion of his food to feed the birds and even rodents like rats. He always gave us the message that every plant and animal had a pivotal role to play and help in maintaining the ecological balance. Though he is no more with us, his words of wisdom will continue to serve as a beacon light in the days ahead. On the day of his chalisa today, I pray to the Almighty to grant his soul eterl peace.

Sabir Nishat

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