A Legacy To Behold

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Book Review: This was a common policy and practice applied by the British authorities for the public places during their rule of India. It was perhaps this that led Mahatma Gandhi to remark

when asked by a journalist: “What do you think of Western Civilisation?” He replied: “I think it would be a good idea.”

Things have radically changed from the colonial days. Today a son of an Indian is the Prime Minister of Britain, residing at the 10 Downing Street with his dog, the official residence of the British Prime Minister. On the same note, the son of a Pakistani, Mohammed Sadiq, is the Mayor of London, the world’s premier city and the financial hub.

This demonstrates that the time does not stand still and with it the changes in the fortunes of people and nations are inevitable. Today, the current political fraternity in Pakistan would be better served to remember this rule of inevitability.

Economic Migration

With the ending of the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of former colonial subjects from India and Pakistan were invited over to the UK to provide the much-needed manpower for the mills and factories in order to rebuild the British economy following the devastation of the war. Mohammed Ajeeb’s story is also located in this post-war economic migration of Indians and Pakistanis to the UK.

This son of a proud craftsman, born on January 10, 1938, after completing his primary, middle and matriculation education in local schools, travelled to Karachi in 1954 which in those days was the preferred destination for young men being the capital of the newly founded Pakistan, the only seaport and the country’s commercial hub.

On reaching Karachi, he did find work but his innate desire for education also revived and heightened. Having witnessed the debilitating impact of poverty and inequality in the pre-independent British Raj, which was to leave an indelible mark on his view of the world, shaping his core life beliefs and values.  He regarded education to be the most effective tool for  breaking the shackles of poverty and, in fact,  actualising human dignity.

Accordingly, he joined and completed his BA from Karachi University in 1958 and in the same year, at the behest of his friend, travelled to the UK. In those days, the travellers to the UK were not required to obtain entry visas prior to commencing their journeys.

First Asian Lord Mayor

The book “Mohammed Ajeeb: The first Asian Lord Mayor in the history of Britain” tells a remarkable story of this extraordinary man from the backwaters of AJK’s Mirpur region to becoming the first Asian, Pakistani Lord Mayor of one of the premier cities of the UK,  namely, Bradford, now fondly referred to as ‘ little Pakistan’.

The story of Mohammed Ajeeb is of ‘rags to riches’, not in terms of monetary accomplishments but in terms of community service, uncompromising leadership and daring to be the first to ‘break the glass ceiling’ in a prejudiced and racism-laden society which although welcomed workers from it’s former colonies for their hard work, tenacity and application, never truly acknowledged them as being equal.

Journey Of Relentless Commitment

The book is a compilation of testimonial articles by outstanding individuals from diverse ethnic, religious and professional backgrounds such as politics, education, faith, equality, culture and civic arenas, who in their own rights have sternly served the city and the district.

They had an opportunity to work with the Mohammed Ajeeeb, witnessing and observing his enormous contributions and achievements unfold and evolve over six decades. The accounts of his life are robust and full of admiration, and rightly so.

It is a celebration of one man’s endeavour to fulfil his and his community’s aspirations. In the process, he opened many doors for others. In many ways, he outlined the vision and set the milestones and the pace.

Over his life journey of relentless commitment and passion for what he believed in, he had to overcome barriers of racism and prejudice of the white indigenous community but also the cynicism and intolerance of his own community that at the time could be so unforgiving  in  ‘leg pulling back/back peddling’, beset by the internal communal baradari entrenched prejudices and self-assigned and hyped-up self-importance.

Those of us who have worked in the community arenas are only too aware of the debilitating culture of ‘baradari-ism’ which was once an institution of welfare, safety and progress has become a suffocating reality for many, holding them back  and denying their g ability and merit.

What sets Mohammed Ajeeb apart from his contemporaries is his resolve to stand firm and remain consistent against high odds to this day, even against personal demeaning attacks on him and his family background.

Recalling From The History

I recall that on his appointment as the first Asian Lord Mayor of Bradford  in 1985, he was the recipient of thousands of hate letters. His family was harassed and his family home was attacked. But he remained resolute, discharging his civic functions with dignity, reaching out to all communities in the district, so much so that his Mayorship tenure is regarded as one of the most successful. Thereafter, followed 7 more lord Mayors of Pakistani origin in the city.

At the time of his inauguration, a close friend and the then Director of Bradford Racial Equality Council, Tim Whitfield, while being elated by Mohammed Ajeeb’s appointment observed, “if he fails to uphold and execute the demands of the office with dignity, he will shut the doors to it for other Pakistanis for a long time”. Well! The fact that further seven Pakistanis and Kashmiris were entrusted with the office is a resounding testimony to Mohammed Ajeeb conduct in the office.

Presently, there are a good number of British Asians and those of Pakistani/ Kashmiri origin in both Houses of Parliament with three of these (two MPs and one Lord) are from Bradford. There are hundreds of other elected members serving on local councils and an increasing number of mayors and Lord Mayors heading boroughs, towns and cities throughout the country. This is very much owed to the pioneering efforts of the likes of Mohammed Ajeeb.

The Book ‘Mohammed Ajeeb: The first Asian Lord Mayor in the history of Britain’ is an Urdu translation of the English edition published some two years ago titled ‘Mohammed Ajeeb: Rising Above Ordinariness’ by myself, Yaqub Nizami and Zaffar Tanweer. This Urdu translation is by Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah for readers in Pakistan.

Story of Struggles & Achievements

The book, in the wider context, is a story of the struggles, achievements and contributions of a community as represented by an individual in the person of Mohammed Ajeeb, honoured by the former Her Majesty, The Queen, Elizabeth II with the honorary title of CBE.

The book is in two parts, the first part contains succinct articles by friends and colleagues, including a moving testimony by his daughter. The second part is a compilation of short articles that Mohammed Ajeeb has written over the years on developments in Britain and Pakistan, often capturing the underlying issues and predicting what may be on the horizon. These short commentaries point to his mature and on-the-ball political acumen.

The British Pakistanis and Kashmiris are excelling all in all walks of life-politic, commerce, civic, community service and professional arenas- contributing to the welfare of their adopted country and their country of origin.

This is an enormous responsibility and heavy burden but they are discharging it with application and dignity. This is in sync with Mohammed Ajeeb’s core values, believing that the way forward for the British Pakistanis and Kashmiris is to be actively engaged in the affairs of British society and its structures-Political, commerce and civic. He has led on this by example.

The fact that today Britain has an Indian Asian as its Prime Minister, a Pakistani Asian as the Mayor of London and a Pakistani Asian as the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, along with likes of Sir Anwar Parvez of Bestway Cements and UBL is no accident but a reflection of vision and goals pioneered and set by Mohammad Ajeeb and his contemporaries.

I recommend reading of the book, a legacy to behold and pass on to the next generations.