THE LECTURE WAS DELIVERED AT MILAN MELA, PARK CIRCUS MAIDAN ON 15TH FEBRUARY 2022

 

MY LIFE AND MY ACHIEVEMENTS

Respected Janab Nadimul Haque Sb, Member of Parliament, Janab Istiaque Raju Sb, Janab Mukhtar Ali Sb and other dignitaries present on the dais and off the dais, dear students, I am honored to be here today and share with you about my life and achievements with hope to encourage you all to dream big, walk with courage, work hard, adopt perseverance and BE SMART. Remember these five set of words just now I said: (a) dream big; (b) walk with courage; (c) work hard; (d) adopt perseverance; and (e) be SMART.

 

I will soon explain all these five words contribution in my life and will act as magic in your life too.

 

So much inequality do exists in our society in its varied forms, that access to basic need is a challenge for many of us. But will those challenges deter us achieving our goal? Even in such challenging situation, can one able to change one’s own life? Can we have better world where everyone will be equal? Can the capability which bestowed upon us will help in making life better not only of one self but of all?

 

I am reminded with what Mohd. Iqbal, the great Urdu poet said,

KHUDI KO KAR BULAD ITNA KE HAR TAKDIR SE PEHLE
KHODA BANDE SE KHUD PUCHE BATA TERI RAJA KYA HAI
(You make yourself so high even before your luck that God himself will ask you what your wish is)

 

All my previous questions answers are YES, YES and YES. We can change our own luck with our own deed and by following those five words!

 

Let me share some insight from my life.

 

Like many of you who do not get opportunity to study in the best schools of Kolkata, I too studied in Monu Memorial Institution Topsia and thereafter at Calcutta Madrasah, which is an Urdu Medium Government School at Taltala. We six brothers and sister, my parent and grandmother all were living in the tiled shed room of around 100 square feet at Topsia and in my adolescent age we got another tenanted room. Despite all challenges my father ensured that all of us get education. My father was a hawker and that time having hawker stall at esplanade. During those days from my Class VI to Class X, I have to go to my father hawker stall to support him. I had a bicycle by which every day I had to cycle from residence to School and then from School to Esplanade. Every day I worked with my father, used to sell Sarees there on the footpath of Esplanade, and in the night around 10 to 11 we together returned to residence at Topsia. My father also had a Cycle. Within couple of years my younger brother also joined us and also did the same thing. Whenever I used to upset with our condition, or on comparing ourselves from others who have resources, my father used to reply just look on the other people who are worse than you, who do not have money to have two time meal, whose children works in factory or Hotel to feed himself as well as parents. It will give you some satisfaction. I always remember those words of my father and reiterate the same whenever anyone complained about their conditions.

My father is rare example of hardworking, dedicated, Muslims from humble background of Kolkata who while facing all challenges makes children educated. Despite all ordeals my father never stops us from studying. In fact, he is the source for education for all of us. I am happy to share my two youngest sisters are Doctors while my youngest brother is practicing lawyer in Kolkata. May Allah make every parents of the community like my father, the face of community will automatically changed.  

 

Even with all these difficulties I continued my study. Passed Madhyamik Examination in the year 1988. Similarly I did Higher Secondary from Umesh Chandra College in the year 1990. My father purchased one small shop at Topsia and started Building Materials business there. It brings some fortune for us. But his business becomes victim of Local Goondas belong to ruling party. Our shop was looted. My father and younger brother got injury. This entire episode of loot and Goondagardi encountered us with police and court system.

 

I had to support my family. I started working as Agent of Peerless, LIC and then luckily got opportunity to work at United Bank of India as Commission Agent just before my Higher Secondary. There was a break in my study. I had to support my father, my family along with working as commission agent of United Bank, Topsia Branch. My agency at Bank gave me financial assistance to continue my study. I joined South Calcutta Law College and completed LL.B in the years 1998 and result got published in February, 1999. I got arranged marriage around same time.

 

I practiced for around two years and had been selected for admission at National Level Entrance Test of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. The study at NUJS gave a new meaning to my life. Many new avenues opened for me.

 

I may remind here that once Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning’.

 

Sir C. V. Raman said in 1969 while addressing young graduate, ‘I would like to tell the young men and women before me not to lose hope and courage. Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you…..if that indomitable spirit were to arise, nothing can hold us from achieving our rightful destiny’.

 

My Professor at NUJS, Prof. D. Banerjea always reminded us that for all successful life, whether in professional career, administrative career, academic career or otherwise we need three ‘C’ – Character – Commitment – Competence. I had courage and determination, the Almighty Allah (SAT) made me what I am today.

 

Dr. A. P.J Abul Kalam said, to quote; ‘what is life but a mixture of unsolved problems, ambiguous victories, and amorphous defeats? The trouble is that we often merely analyse life instead of dealing with it. People dissect their failures for causes and effects, but seldom deal with them and gain experience to master them and thereby avoid their recurrence. This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when you hopes and dreams and goal are dashed, search among the wreckage, you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins’.

 

About the aforesaid phenomenon, I have used the words “walk with courage”. I will also use the word “Grab the opportunity” as it comes.

Let me explain from my life:

 

1.     After devastating loot and torture at our shop at Topsia, there were case and counter case. We have to go to court regularly. This encounter with legal systems had encouraged me to study law. Though, this episode had many adverse impact it our life but when I see those incident now it look like Allah provide me guidance to choose my career and made me capable of helping others.

 

2.     In the year 2000, I was practicing at Alipore Court. My income was quite reasonable in comparison to other junior lawyer of my age. My wife was pregnant and soon we were expecting our first child. I appeared for 1^st NUJS entrance, a new University just established. I got selected. It was a full time residential program. Every student has to stay at Hostel. Two challenged I had. One suddenly stoppage of income at such crucial time when we are expecting our first baby. Staying at hostel leaving my family. I did not want to loose the opportunity. Joined LLM and successfully completed. It was really a difficult decision. Had I not joined that course, I would have not reached where I am today.

 

3.     When I almost completed my LL.M, impliedly I have completed my dissertation and went to our Vice-Chancellor N. R. Madhava Menon (Padma Shree and Padma Bhusan Awardee) to show him first draft. He used to call me as Mr. Khan.  He asked me after seeing my first draft. “Yes Mr. Khan, What you want to do next”. I said, “sir not decided”. He replied, “would you like to join NUJS”. After hearing this I was almost shaking. Never imagine to get such offer. It was difficult to open mount in front of person of such strata. I only said will shaking lips “it will be my privilege sir”. I came back to our sitting place. I receive appointment letter as “Research Assistant” with half an hour. More difficult decision sweeter fruits.    

 

4.     I was teaching with contractual appointment since November 2002. In the 2004 August, I got permanent appointment at NUJS as Lecturer with UGC scale. Same time I receive scholarship to study at University of Essex. Going to Essex impliedly means not joining your job. Few of teachers whom I contacted told me join job as I may get another scholarship in future. I decided to go abroad without caring about job. The University was kind enough to allow me to join after one year. It was also very difficult decision but Allah (SAT) is only our Rajjaq. Let grab the opportunity.  

 

5.     One recent example of difficult decision was to repatriate back to NUJS. The executive council of NUJS directed me to repatriated back within 7 days. On one side I have an option to stay on the lucrative post of Professor and Director Symbiosis Law School Hyderabad on the other hand I have an opportunity to come back to my own city, to live with my parents and all family members. On  one hand, our own aspirations for name and honour forces us to reach at higher pedestals of success while on the other hand, your family wants you to come back to the city where they live, with your parents and siblings. I took the decision to come back and stay with my parent and fulfill the desire of my family. Unless you get peace in your life and make your family members happy, your life remain unsuccessful no matter which higher rank or post you have attained. Naturally, I was upset with the decision of NUJS. Had no idea how come such regressive decision can be taken by Public University. But Almighty Allah had foreseen challenges in my family. My younger brother diagnosed with cancer. At least in the last few months, I was with him. Had I been in Hyderabad, I would have not able to spend time during last days of my younger brother. I have no regret for coming back now.

What the point in saying these five examples of difficult decisions?

(a)   Take difficult decision in life and walk with courage.

(b)  Whenever opportunity comes, do grab it. Many occasions we miss opportunity.

(c)   Allah (SAT) always has some greater plan for us. Never upset with His decision. Some new opportunity is hidden, even if there is misery.

 

Let me share two examples OF PERSEVERANCE from life.

1.     When I was in Class IX, I went to British Council pavilion during book fair once to enquire about the process to study law at United Kingdom. Those days book fair used to be in Esplanade. My mother used to tell some story in my childhood where invariably Barristers, Judges were characters. She also never thought that her son will become lawyer one day and then faculty of one of the best law Universities of India. It was uncommon for Urdu Medium School student to visit British Council to enquire about studying at United Kingdom at that age. More so for me knowingly that my father resources will never be sufficient to send me U.K. My father was merely a hawker and I used to assist him every day from evening 4 to 10 in the night and during school holidays whole day. The fortune turns on me. I had been awarded British Cheveing Scholarship, which is one of the world most reputed scholarship, to Study LL.M at University of Essex, United Kingdom in the year 2004. The dream which I have seen in class IX got realized in the year 2004.

 

2.     I always wanted to do PhD from abroad. I got admission in many Universities but was unsuccessful to secure scholarship. I completed first LL.M in 2003 and 2^nd LL.M in 2005. In fact, in the year 2011, I was recommended for Commonwealth Scholarship from India but later on rejected at final round in UK. At last, in the 2012, I got scholarship from City University of Hong Kong Scholarship funded by UGC Hong Kong for PhD and ultimately completed PhD from one of the top University. It rank within 50 Top Universities of world.  

 

If anyone consistently following own dream, one day opportunity will come for sure. Even while doing PhD, I applied for research fellowship at Michigan Law School USA to work under Prof. Catherine MacKinnon, world legendary Feminist and fortunate enough to receive fellowship with funding.

 

Thus, follow your dream with perseverance. You will get it today or tomorrow.

John Maxwell once said “Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.” The last word which I am going to explain is SMART. I want you all to be SMART. I know you all are smart, intelligent, and good students for a fact that you came here, you are hearing us and learning from our mistakes and success. But what I meant from SMART here is established Management Goal Setting Theory, explained by G. T. Doran, it consists of five alphabets SMART and for you, this is the last golden key to unlock your success. These 5 pointers will help you develop a smart goal. Let us see what SMART stands for-

The First alphabet ‘S’ stands for Specific. Your goal must be specific which ideally means that it should be simple, sensible, significant. Make sure that you are extremely specific with your goal. Do not dream of a thousand goal. Just aim a bullseye.

 

The second alphabet ‘M’ stand for Measurable. It might be difficult to always measure your goal but there must be some meaningful or motivating measurable objects that you design to measure accessibility to your goal. Make sure you can track the progress of your goals.

 

The third alphabet is ‘A’ stand for Achievable. This implies that try to have a goal which stretches your ability but remains possible

 

The fourth alphabet is ‘R’ stand for Relevant. This implies it should be reasonable, realistic, resourced and results-based. Make sure your plan drives you forward and keeps you authentic. That is to say, your goal must be realistic.

 

The last alphabet T stand for Time-bound. This implies time-based, time-limited, time/cost limited, timely and/or time-sensitive. Fix some deadlines to reach it, do not procrastinate.

 

I have shared with you the story of life, the struggle which million of underprivileged youth of this Country faced. No one, however poor, deprived, underprivileged or small need feel disheartened about their life. I firmly believed that sheer determination, dedication and hard work will lead to one’s life accomplish all that he/she dreamt. The five words (a) dream big; (b) walk with courage; (c) work hard; (d) adopt perseverance; and (e) be SMART, impliedly fixing your goal reasonably, will definitely make you successful, wherever you want to be. Resources can never be a constrained for your achievement.

 

May Allah (SAT), accomplish the life of all of us.

 

I am again express my gratitude to West Bengal Minorities Development Corporation for felicitating me and giving this opportunity.

Thank you all very much.