THIS is with reference to Manzoor H. Kureshi’s letter, ‘A crumbling heritage’ (Jan 30). It is a true reflection of the apathy of civil society, as well as of its governing classes, towards conservation of national heritage and at the same time it takes one back to the era when there existed individuals like K.B. Azim Khan whose selfless hard work for the welfare of the people left indelible footprints on society.
The occasion has also provided me an opportunity to unveil a few facts about the personality of Khan Bahadur Azim Khan, an upright, talented and a capable civil servant.
He came from a humble background. Born in 1882, he went through difficult times as at the age of four he lost his father. Thus at a young age he came under the patronage of Qazi Abdul Wahid of Old Hala, his brother-in-law and benefactor.
He became compassionate towards his fellow being right from the beginning. After passing matriculation in 1900, he joined government service where he initially worked in a junior position in the revenue department. However, his exceptional competence, brilliance, intellectual honesty and commitment for the uplift of Sindhi society endeared him with the masses and won him respect amongst his seniors as well.
Thus, shortly, he was elevated and worked on many important positions in the Bombay Presidency. Finally, in recognition of his untiring zeal the British government honoured him with title of ‘Khan Bahadur’.
In 1934, he was chosen for the noble cause of establishing cooperative societies in Sindh and thereafter he was elevated as collector, a distinction Muslims rarely attained in those days.
After retirement in 1937, he was elected member of the Bombay Council on account of his social standing, hard work and non-bureaucratic approach to social work. Besides, he was made in charge of the Organisation of Agriculture Propaganda, a newly-established agency for the uplift of villages in Sindh.
K.B. Azim Khan died of cardiac arrest in 1939 while he was on extensive tour in connection with village development work in Sindh.
It is for his memorable services, first as a pioneer of establishing cooperative societies and later on as a leader of village development that he would always be held in high esteem in Sindhi society.
DR KAZI KHADIM HUSSAIN Hyderabad