Published: 12:00 AM, 30 October 2016
Tribute to TV icon-Fazle Lohani
We are going to observe Fazle Lohani's 31st death anniversary today. He was born on March 12 , 1929 in the district of Shirajgonj and passed away on 30th October, 1985 in Dhaka. I had an opportunity to meet this personality on many occasions in the office of my first cousin Nayeem Gauhar(a poet, lyricist, BBC news caster , commentator and national independence awardee) at Motijheel during Ershad regime.
He was a bosom friend of Gauhar. Sayeed Shamsul Hauqe who recently died was also in one sense follower of Lohani who for the first time wrote some stories in the magazine of Fazle Lohani, The magazine's name was "Agatya" but unfortunately the stories were not up to the mark, so Syed Hauqe was very much disheartened but this T.V. Personality Lohani inspired him to go ahead with his literary works and ultimately he rose to this position. Nayeem Gauhar, Fazle Lohani and Syed Hauqe were the three gems of Bangladesh.
During my student life I used to accompany my cousin like a shadow and met many celebrities of different sectors. I was introduced to Fazle Lohani by him. From then I also became his junior friend. Lohani also served for long ten years in BBC Bangla. He married a foreign lady and was blessed with only one son named David who is now residing in London with his mothe Lohani actually is not a title, there is a locality called Lohan which is situated in between a valley of Afghanistan and Iran. His ancestors came to East Bengal and settled down there. That's why after their name they use Lohani. He was a good humorist.
He was a polite, perfect gentleman and he had no narcissism. He always called me by my nick name Badal. One day he and my cousin were talking about a new TV program which they wanted to telecast. It would be completely a different one having educative and social value. Gahar immediately proposed a name of the program "Jodi kichu Mone Na Koren". Lohani stood up from his chair and praised him highly and said "it will be a wonderful name". He further said."It will be accepted by the general viewers no doubt".
Yes, indeed it was a very popular program of BTV that time. Hanif Shanket was one of his followers who after his death started a new program under the title "Ittyadi". It has also become very popular now-a-days. Fazle Lohani was a talented personality. He was a journalist, film producer, distributor, writer and TV program presenter. He was associated with progressive politics. He was one of the sponsors of the monthly magazine "Agatya", published in Dhaka during fifties. He was producer of the film "Pension" and distributor of a number of foreign movies.
. I remember, before broadcasting the new program "Jodi kichu Mone Na Koren" a rehearsal was held in the BTV studio at Rampura TV centre. Gauhar's family members and I was present there. Ajanta Gahar, daughter of Nayeem Gauhar sang a beautiful opening song which was composed by his father. A few lines of the songs were "Ichey kore Jodi keu bhul kore….." She was applauded by the audience.
On another day in same office of my cousin, Fazle Lohani came to meet him. Luckily, I was present at his office at that time. They were gossiping on different issues. By the by, I uttered some dialogues in Barisal dialect which was like a comic plot. He was very much amused to hear the dialogues and promptly told me in presence of Gauhar to meet him in his TV office. But unfortunately it was too late to reach him. A few days after, he met the end of his life. He died in a heart attack on 30th October, 1985 at his Elephant Road residence.
I remember in another occasion Gahar, Fazle Lohani, and I was in a motor car. Gauhar was driving the car. All on a sudden the car stopped at the rear of the Gulistan Cinema Hall. Both of them got down from the car leaving me inside. After about half an hour they came back carrying two double breasted black coats.
Though these were second hand coats but looked like new. Whenever Fazle Lohani presented TV programs he used to wear that coat. Nobody could understand that it was a second hand coat. He would say, "what is the use of making new coat which will be more costly?" and then with a sweet smile, "If we wear second hand coats nobody will believe these were old-coats".
His programs were not only for amusements or relaxation of the mind but also those had values of social messages. He wanted to remove immoral activities, corruption, terrorism, anti-social activities, social difference and dishonesty. He wanted to enhance economic development of the poor villagers in Bangladesh. He had an amour and altruistic motive to give something to the society. He always had humanity for which everybody liked him. It is to be noted here that his elder brother late Fateh Lohani was a noted film actor.
He acted in different films of Bangladesh, before that he acted in the name of Kiron Kumar in Kolkata film arena. Our present talented follower of Fazle Lohani, Hanif Shanket is going forward with his program "Ittyadi" which has brought name and fame in and around Bangladesh and West Bengal also. May Almighty Allah rest the soul of legendary personality Fazle Lohani.
Finally I recall some words of noted philosopher, Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau - Short absence quickens love, long absence kills it. It is true for our dead celebrities also. Fazle Lohani is such a personality who is worthy to be remembered for his outstanding contribution to social reformation and it is the responsibility of this generation to follow his path. I also recall a quote from John Milton- Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.
The writer is a senior journalist and columnist
He was a bosom friend of Gauhar. Sayeed Shamsul Hauqe who recently died was also in one sense follower of Lohani who for the first time wrote some stories in the magazine of Fazle Lohani, The magazine's name was "Agatya" but unfortunately the stories were not up to the mark, so Syed Hauqe was very much disheartened but this T.V. Personality Lohani inspired him to go ahead with his literary works and ultimately he rose to this position. Nayeem Gauhar, Fazle Lohani and Syed Hauqe were the three gems of Bangladesh.
During my student life I used to accompany my cousin like a shadow and met many celebrities of different sectors. I was introduced to Fazle Lohani by him. From then I also became his junior friend. Lohani also served for long ten years in BBC Bangla. He married a foreign lady and was blessed with only one son named David who is now residing in London with his mothe Lohani actually is not a title, there is a locality called Lohan which is situated in between a valley of Afghanistan and Iran. His ancestors came to East Bengal and settled down there. That's why after their name they use Lohani. He was a good humorist.
He was a polite, perfect gentleman and he had no narcissism. He always called me by my nick name Badal. One day he and my cousin were talking about a new TV program which they wanted to telecast. It would be completely a different one having educative and social value. Gahar immediately proposed a name of the program "Jodi kichu Mone Na Koren". Lohani stood up from his chair and praised him highly and said "it will be a wonderful name". He further said."It will be accepted by the general viewers no doubt".
Yes, indeed it was a very popular program of BTV that time. Hanif Shanket was one of his followers who after his death started a new program under the title "Ittyadi". It has also become very popular now-a-days. Fazle Lohani was a talented personality. He was a journalist, film producer, distributor, writer and TV program presenter. He was associated with progressive politics. He was one of the sponsors of the monthly magazine "Agatya", published in Dhaka during fifties. He was producer of the film "Pension" and distributor of a number of foreign movies.
. I remember, before broadcasting the new program "Jodi kichu Mone Na Koren" a rehearsal was held in the BTV studio at Rampura TV centre. Gauhar's family members and I was present there. Ajanta Gahar, daughter of Nayeem Gauhar sang a beautiful opening song which was composed by his father. A few lines of the songs were "Ichey kore Jodi keu bhul kore….." She was applauded by the audience.
On another day in same office of my cousin, Fazle Lohani came to meet him. Luckily, I was present at his office at that time. They were gossiping on different issues. By the by, I uttered some dialogues in Barisal dialect which was like a comic plot. He was very much amused to hear the dialogues and promptly told me in presence of Gauhar to meet him in his TV office. But unfortunately it was too late to reach him. A few days after, he met the end of his life. He died in a heart attack on 30th October, 1985 at his Elephant Road residence.
I remember in another occasion Gahar, Fazle Lohani, and I was in a motor car. Gauhar was driving the car. All on a sudden the car stopped at the rear of the Gulistan Cinema Hall. Both of them got down from the car leaving me inside. After about half an hour they came back carrying two double breasted black coats.
Though these were second hand coats but looked like new. Whenever Fazle Lohani presented TV programs he used to wear that coat. Nobody could understand that it was a second hand coat. He would say, "what is the use of making new coat which will be more costly?" and then with a sweet smile, "If we wear second hand coats nobody will believe these were old-coats".
His programs were not only for amusements or relaxation of the mind but also those had values of social messages. He wanted to remove immoral activities, corruption, terrorism, anti-social activities, social difference and dishonesty. He wanted to enhance economic development of the poor villagers in Bangladesh. He had an amour and altruistic motive to give something to the society. He always had humanity for which everybody liked him. It is to be noted here that his elder brother late Fateh Lohani was a noted film actor.
He acted in different films of Bangladesh, before that he acted in the name of Kiron Kumar in Kolkata film arena. Our present talented follower of Fazle Lohani, Hanif Shanket is going forward with his program "Ittyadi" which has brought name and fame in and around Bangladesh and West Bengal also. May Almighty Allah rest the soul of legendary personality Fazle Lohani.
Finally I recall some words of noted philosopher, Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau - Short absence quickens love, long absence kills it. It is true for our dead celebrities also. Fazle Lohani is such a personality who is worthy to be remembered for his outstanding contribution to social reformation and it is the responsibility of this generation to follow his path. I also recall a quote from John Milton- Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.
The writer is a senior journalist and columnist
