Dream Merchants, Politicians and Partitian: Memoirs of an Indian Muslim

by I. Masud

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Merchants, Politicians and Partition: Memoirs of an Indian Muslim (Paperback) by Iqbal Masud- In the Preface to this Book author has mentioned that his real name is FG Jilani. Iqbal Masud is a pen name adopted for administrative and self-preservatory reason (The Emergency). Author retired as Commissioner of Income Tax, Bombay. This book illustrates the history of India from 1930 to 1993. Author was born in a South Indian well to do Muslim family. His mother is a Faruqi Muslim. Her father was Inspector General of Police, Madras in 1917. He resided in a large residence in Saidapet, Madras. His mother and his father’s sister were Urdu writers whose articles were published in Lahore Women’s magazines like Tehzib-e- Niswan, Ismet. His father was serving British Government as a Police officer then as an Education Officer in Madras Presidency. At the age of five, author was taught the Holy Koran and by the age of seven years, author was fasting for Ramadan. Author attended a local school where he learnt Urdu and Persian languge. Later he attended a Convent School. Books reflects on British Education system. Even though author’s father was transferred, author changed schools. In all schools, level of education is high. Author is quite a well-read person in English, European and American literature. In the Book, author quotes from Christopher Isherwood, T S Eliot, James Joyce, Upmanyu Chaterjee, Evelyn Waugh, Anees Jung, Rover Graves, Oscar Widle, Cyril Connoly’s magazine “Horizon” and other authors. His mother is related to Nizam of Arcot. Her parents participated in Khilafat Movement. After school, in college, author studied leftist theory and met important Leftist leaders of his time during college programmes. During Second World War, Muslim League in 1940 advocated the idea of a separate Muslim nation in the areas of India where Muslims are in majority. Muslim League invited Muslims from all over India to attend the conference. Muslims from two communities reside in Southern India. Their representatives /delegates attended the conference. In 16th August 1946 Muslim League declared as Direct Action Day. Southern Indian Muslims attended the conference, but they informed the League that they will consult and decide. Author met the leaders who informed him and others that leaving for Pakistan is not an immediate necessity. Muslims can decide to go later also. First let us look at the Budget presented in Pakistan for the next financial year. In the budget we will study how much money the Nation has and how much they plan to spend on Mojahir community who has arrived from India. When the budget was presented, the result was informed. Some Muslim families left on 1947 to 49. Later, after the budget much Muslim families decided to opt for India. Author appeared for Union Public Service Examination. During interview, Mr K. P. S. Menon, Indian Ambassador to USSR questioned him about quotes from Shakespeare. Author was able to recite the poem and bring the interview to the topic of his choice. Mr V. V. Giri was also a member of the interview board. Author was selected for the Indian Revenue Service. Author, now a Bureaucrat was trained and posted at various district and Commissioner level cities. During his posting at Bombay, he found that he was interested in reviewing Indian and Foreign movies. In 1948, Author was married Asgari, a Convent educated non-purdah Muslim girl. During his posting at Madras, both viewed Indian and Foreign movies. Author mentions one incident of adverse remarks in his Annual Character Roll. Author met the Commissioner who expunged the remarks as not based on reason and his work. Author says that had such an incident happened in Pakistan, the Hindu would have to suffer. Author has mentioned Movie “Kismet” starring Ashok Kumar and Mumtaz Shanti, Mehboob’s “Elan”, “Anmol Ghadi” starring Surendra, Suraiya and Noorjehan. Author met Devikarani and Nicolas Roerich during his posting at Bangalore their Annual Income tax return. Tara a beautiful girl stayed with them. Later she was married to a doctor. In Bangalore, author viewed the movie “Pather Panchali” in 1956 and was impressed with this movie. Another incident about Bangalore mentioned in the Book is that author detected a case against a rich Deccan Herald owner. Newspaper brought a write up. Finance Minister, Government of India Mr C D Deshmukh said “There is a mistake. But I do not punish a mistake against the enemy.” This quote is from by Winston Churchill in a novel by Evelyn Waugh. Author was promoted. At He met Manekda -Satyajit Ray and befriended him. As the Author was well read in Urdu and Persian languages, he could appreciate the dialogues of Bollywood movies. Thus, he was able to appreciate movies of Guru Dutt “Pyasa”, “Sahab, Biwi aur Gulam, Kagaz ke phool”. Leading newspapers of Bombay provided him with a 1600 to 1200- word space in the newspaper.”. Later in life, he was able to promote Gurdutt movies with French Cinema. Author mentions that there were Anonymous complaints against him. His superior officers in Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta enquired and closed these complaints. Such situation could not be successfully decided in favour of a hindu in Pakistan. During his at Hyderabad as Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, he decided Income tax appeals on merit. Nizam of Hyderabad got the benefit in an appeal. Later author was transferred from Hyderabad to Bombay. In 1965, the was a United Nations Vacancy in South Yemen. As this a Muslim nation, no officer was interested in applying for this post. Author’s superiors found this vacancy and asked him to apply for this post. Author was selected to move to South Yemen for a period of 7 years. On his retirement, Author was able to get pension from United Nations along with pension from Central Government. Income tax case of R K Karajia Editor Blitz was placed in his court. He decided on merit. Officers had recommended otherwise. Author was made member of a 6- member committee to visit USA to study Income tax laws. On his return from South Yemen posting, author found that Emergency has been declared in India. Author found that those officers who were selected with him by the Union Public Service Commission and who were from higher caste, proved to be weak. These officers could not take the pressure from higher ups during Emergency. They followed instructions from the Government about strictness in decision making. Author was posted as Commissioner Income Tax, Bombay. Under Indian Tax Act, author’s power on decision making was defined. Author worked normally. After the Emergency, author was transferred to Calcutta. For the rest of his life author has spent writing review of Bollywood and Hollywood movies for newspapers. It is a classic memoir. I think it is classic because it is historical document on the Question before a Muslim about whether to opt for Pakistan or stay back in India. Second, that Muslims in India can survive whims of bureaucracy but in Pakistan an Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsee will become the space goat and there is no question of rising to the top of the ladder in administration. It is a classic book for readers of all age groups.