Feature

Dr. Amartya Sen has been to Bangladesh quite a number of times since his being awarded the Nobel for Economics. In essence, he is from Bangladesh. No matter where in the world he lives, he still talks in Bangla. On 24th December 2006, he had been to Bangladesh on an invitation from BRAC and CPD. I served as his chauffeur on this occasion. I had been to the airport VIP terminal at 2 PM on the 24th to receive him. But the Air India flight reached only around 4:40 PM. The journalists waiting for him in the airport surrounded him, asking questions and taking pictures. Just as he was getting in the car, a young journalist asked, “Sir, tell us something about the political scenario in Bangladesh?” He replied, “I just came in. You are the one who should be telling me about the political scenario in Bangladesh!” Saying this, he got in the car along with Professor Rehman Sobhan. We went to Hotel Radisson from there. It was on our way there that the whole thing dawned on me. I would be working for such a great man for the next two or three days! We went to Gulshan for dinner that night. On our way back to Radisson, he told me that he would have to attend a meeting of the Manikgonj Society at 10 AM tomorrow, in the Osmani Auditorium. We reached Radisson while he was talking to me.

The next day, 25th December 2006, I reached the hotel on time. Sir was a little late in starting from there. On our way to the Osmani Auditorium, he kept receiving calls from different people. Sir smiled and said, “The audience is there but they do not have a speaker!” I asked him whether I should give him his handbag when he gets down from the car, and he said, “Oh yes, I had forgotten. Give me the bag when we get down.” As soon as he got down from the car, reporters crowded around him and I couldn't give him the bag. He asked them to kindly make way so that he could take his bag. The meeting at Osmani was also attended by our other Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. After the meeting, on our way back to Radisson, Dr. Sen asked me, “Is there a train from Dhaka to Narayanganj?” I told him there is a train from Kamlapur. He reminisced his childhood, “When I was a kid, we would travel to Goalanda on train. There were many small hotels there that would serve rice and fish. It was delicious! Do they still have those hotels?” I told him those hotels are still there, and we have often taken meals there. Engrossed in this small talk, we reached Hotel Radisson.

The same day at 4 PM, we had to go to the National Museum auditorium for a meeting. We came back directly to the hotel after the meeting. At night, as we were going to the BRAC Center for a dinner, Dr. Sen told me that he has been working on a very tight schedule the last few days, and would like to be back from the dinner as soon as possible. During dinner, when he had fallen ill, someone had suggested to lay him down. He mentioned this to me on our way back to the hotel. I could tell he was not pleased at the incident.

On the next day, 26th December, Dr. Sen was supposed to attend a meeting at BRAC Center in the morning. I told Iqbal bhai from CPD that I would like to have a picture taken with Dr. Amartya Sen, and if Iqbal bhai could please request him on my behalf. On our way back from the meeting, Iqbal bhai told him, “Sir, Rab here has been working for you the last three days. He would like to have a picture taken with you, as a memento.” Dr. Sen said, “Sure. You will be taking me to the airport, so we can get the picture there.” We reached the hotel, and then went back to the BRAC Center from there.

Then it was time to go back. We reached the airport that night. Just before entering the airport sir said, “You wanted to take a picture with me, let's get it now. Do you happen to have a camera?” I said, “No, sir.” “Oh, then you missed out on getting the picture today. Don't worry; we will surely get a picture the next time we meet.” Saying this, he bid me farewell and went in.

The fact that he had not forgotten about the picture, despite his busy schedule, really touched my heart.

Closing words by Dr. Salehuddin: Rab told me all the incidents one after another, as if he could see them unravel right then in front of his very eyes. All I could do was to listen intently and behold his joy. His joy in being able to express himself. As if every word he spoke was an utterance of gratitude for the great man. In the dialogue between Rab and Dr. Sen, I sense a deep feeling of affection. Trains, hotel food, and childhood -- nothing seems to have been left out. As if they have known each other for ages. This is testament to Dr. Sen's ability to readily adapt to someone, as well as Rab's innocent, expressive attitude. Like so many others, Rab wanted a picture with Dr. Sen. He told Dr. Sen as much on the last day of his stay. But they never got the picture. I have seen the sadness on Rab's face at having missed out on the picture. But he was grateful to Dr. Sen all the same. As he says, such a great man actually remembered about the picture till the very last moment. Rab's happiness at this blends in with his sadness at not being able to get the picture. We all have one common tendency we do not like to let others talk or to listen to others. But all it takes is the will do pay some attention to others. I hope this article gives Rab the pleasure to being able to express himself, something he has truly earned.