KARACHI – Eminent stalwart of the Left and democratic movements in Pakistan, B. M. Kutty, now gets to tell a tale of his own: Kutty’s autobiography titled “Sixty Years in Self Exile: No Regrets” was launched on Tuesday at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) auditorium, with his comrades eulogizing his services to political movements in the country.
The book launch was jointly organised by the University of Karachi’s Pakistan Study Centre and Pakistan Labour Trust. Senior journalist Mahmood Sham formally launched the book, after Kutty presented a copy to him. Kutty said the book’s title owed much to the late Nirmala Deshpande, who had suggested it much before her death.
“In my dedications, I have also put her name along with three other women – Benazir Bhutto, my mother Biriya Umma, and my wife Birjis. I spent 60 years with my wife.” Kutty said that after having launched Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo’s biography in 2009, he had promised to include all outstanding issues in his autobiography. He said that in mentioning his comrades, he has been absolutely candid and has tried to convince of no bias in any facet.
He said that his book starts with Kerala, the only state in India where Muslim League is an active political party as their members are in the state parliament. “I owe sincere gratitude to Karamat Ali, who stood behind me at every difficult juncture. I also want to thank Dr Jafar Ahmed for publishing this book,” he said.
In his presidential address, senior journalist Mehmood Shaam said in a situation when many people, irrespective of their political affiliations, are being killed in the city, it is very difficult to comment on the book. “Kutty Saheb has written about a better period of his life – some 10 years before independence. I have been friends with Kutty Saheb since long, and I even remember the time when intelligence agencies were after both of us,” he said.
I. A. Rahman, director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said that Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo was called the “Baba of Balochistan” and Kutty Sahib was described as “Chhota Baba.” He said that Kutty not only spent some portion of his life locked up in jails, but he actively took part in politics of Pakistan and the book was a reflection of workers and politicians of the Left.
Karamat Ali of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) said that Kutty’s book documents political struggle even before the independence of the Indian Sub-Continent. “You can get insights into a unique person in this book. Kutty was born in Kerala, reached Madras, then spent some time in Lahore, and remained politically active in Quetta.
Pakistan’s political history is incomplete without mentioning Kutty Saheb’s political struggle for the rights of Balochistan,” he said. Ali said that Kutty’s autobiography portrays the problems of the common man, but not any of his own, particularly in times of incarcerations. “We have been working with Kutty sahib for 25 years and I know that he has not mentioned many things in this book.”
Congratulating Kutty on getting the book published, Ali urged him to get it translated into other languages. Pakistan Study Centre Chairman Dr Syed Jafar Ahmed said the after Kutty’s book on Bizenjo, a lot of people felt that many secrets have not been disclosed. But hopefully, Kutty’s autobiography will reveal more things.
Tahir Bizenjo of National Party said that the book was a reflection of Kutty’s personal life. He said that Kutty described many hidden aspects of Pakistani politics and political parties of Pakistan, and injustices against Balochistan have been explained in detail. Congratulating Kutty, he said the book is an asset for every political worker who wants real democracy in Pakistan.
Workers Party Pakistan Senior Vice-President Yousuf Musti Khan said that the title of the book itself is an indication that Kutty had no regrets. He urged Kutty to write more books, because according to him, he was a living political encyclopaedia. “When I first met Kutty Saheb in Quetta, I did not know much about him. Later, we struggled for rights of Balochistan together. Kutty used to reprimand us most of the time, but we knew he is a genuine and sincere person,” Khan said.
HRCP’s Syed Iqbal Haider said it is an honour for him to have struggled for democracy in Pakistan alongside Kutty since the 1970s. “I did not know that Kutty Saheb was first arrested in 1959, and remained in the jail for two years. He was incarcerated by many governments,” he said, adding that the book is a perfect reference for political students.
Haider mentioned Kutty’s relation with the Awami League and then PNP, and pointed out he was a progressive political worker. During a friendship that spanned over 30 years, he said, not only did he learn from Kutty but also learnt much about him.
Kutty’s son, Javed Mohiuddin, said he was proud of having such a great father.
