S M Ali (December 5, 1928 - October 17, 1993)

One of the most crucial traits of greatness is the ability to retain one's humility despite it. That would probably be an apt description of S M Ali, our founding editor who passed away on this day October 17, 1993, leaving behind for us, an example to be cherished and emulated. Long before he realised his dream of establishing a brand new English newspaper in every sense of the word, he had already become quite a celebrity, having established himself as a journalist of worth in the news world. 

In 1960 he became Assistant Editor of the Pakistan Times in Lahore, later joining The Asia Magazine in Hongkong with the same position. He was the South Asia Bureau Chief for the Karachi daily Dawn (1964-95) and then the Managing Editor of Thailand's leading English Daily the Bangkok Post (1966-70).  In 1972 he became the Managing Editor of the Hongkong Standard and in 1977, the Executive Director of Manila-based Press Foundation of Asia. He also started Depthnews Features a development feature service. In 1981 he joined UNESCO as regional Communications Advisor for Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur during which he actively promoted journalism in Asia.

This was probably what evoked such respect from eminent people at home and abroad – he was after all, quite a brand name in journalism. But more than that it was his extraordinary personality that drew people to him. He was confident yet self effacing, straightforward yet never aggressive, firm yet charming. As young aspiring journalists we loved him because he seemed genuinely interested in us. It is with great sadness that I realise how brief the time we had with him and how little we knew of his achievements at the time. Yet I feel so privileged that I had a chance to interact with him at a time when The Daily Star was taking its baby steps along with the nation as it started its tumultuous journey as a democracy.

We were then in a one-floor office in Motijheel and the area where the editorial and feature section where we worked, was spacious and largely empty. Every now and then S M Ali would walk towards us and chat for a few minutes. What amazed us was that he commented on our writing – he actually had read our pieces – praising us or suggesting ways to improve. All this was done in his characteristic paternal way, making witty comments, showing concern for our wellbeing and exuding a rare compassion for his employees. He was kind, knowledgeable and someone who was 'larger than life' as a colleague describes him and though we knew very little of his glories we recognised in him an inspiring leader.

In the commemorative pieces written by his friends – many of them prominent personalities from home and abroad – what keeps reverberating the most are his commitment to journalism and his bohemian approach to life. He is described as a restless spirit who could not stay in one place – he had to explore new horizons where he could gain new experiences and make a difference in the journalistic scene. Thus travel was a part of his karma and took him to South East Asia where he made his mark as an ace journalist/editor much in demand. But there was that unquenchable thirst to do something for his country which lured him back. His determination and dedication, despite his failing health, gave him the strength to establish an English daily that brought in a freshness and zest to journalism in the country. With his vast experience in papers in South East Asia, he brought in a set of standards that was unprecedented in Bangladesh. His paper The Daily Star stood for objectivity not neutrality, as a watch guard of all the political players. It was a platform for new writers, for public opinion and for the voices that had never been heard before. The editorial of the inaugural issue written by S M Ali on January 14, 1991 himself, stresses on the papers non-partisan position free of influence of any kind. It also confirms its role : "…we will be anything but neutral in conflicts between good and evil, justice and injustice, right and wrong, regardless of positions assumed by political parties – whether in power or in opposition. No politician will be able to take this paper for granted but none will be given cause to doubt our fairness." Remarkably under the leadership of his dynamic successor, friend, colleague and the paper's co-founder, Mahfuz Anam, The Daily Star has managed to retain this credo all these years.

All throughout his endeavours it was his wife Nancy Wong who supported him with her love, wisdom and care.

His writing gives a glimpse of someone who was unfazed by fame and always ready to laugh at himself, a quality that made him all the more endearing.

In one of the entries of his column 'My World' he writes: "In between bouts of choking cough, the lingering after effect of a weeklong bronchitis, I read out our paper's homage to the Shaheed Day last week with a certain pride but not without some regret that my name appearing on the print line as the editor, I had so little to do with the planning of the supplement. Since it gave the opportunity to more experienced hands to produce it, absence was perhaps something of a blessing in disguise." 

And with his incorrigible tongue-in-cheek style he could be critical:

"To what do we attribute this passion for talking? May be we are basically an articulate people, to put it nicely, or just garrulous, to put it less nicely, constantly promoting what a colleague describes as our 'vocal culture'. It has probably something to do with our high rate of illiteracy, which makes it necessary for us, especially the politicians, to talk rather than write, to repeat a point again and again (to make it sound convincing), to speak in a particularly loud voice (a habit acquired by politicians in total disregard of the use of microphone) and, at closed door meetings, to remain on the offensive in dealing with any viewpoint that may not come from 'your own side' (whatever that side may be)."

It is tragic that illness took away S M Ali from us long before he could see for himself the success of the paper that he had founded. What if he knew that, despite regular turbulence, it has managed to retain the philosophy that he had left behind. One can just imagine the twinkle in his eyes as he allowed himself to indulge in a moment of pride.

The writer is Deputy Editor, Editorial and Opinion, The Daily Star.