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Geeteara Safiya Choudhury

Chairman & Managing Director    

Adcomm Limited  

 

 

Childhood

In a family of two girls and four boys, I am the eldest. I grew up knowing that God has created men and women equal. Both our parents showered us with love and affection, and guided us to differentiate between good and bad. We also led very disciplined lives. We had fixed timings for everything. We were encouraged to read newspapers, magazines, and books and every evening during dinner we discussed whatever we read.

I loved to write essays and stories since my childhood and when I was  in KG-II my first story appeared in the Young Observer(Children’s page of the then Pakistan Observer).

One of my favorite memories of my childhood is getting a gold clip designed as an aeroplane from my grandfather Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah. The first day I was going to school Dadu told me he would give me anything that I asked him provided I could write it correctly. I remember this and as soon as I  learnt to write and spell I wrote a little note saying ‘Dadu, I want a gold clip shaped like an aeroplane.” Dadu promptly obliged.

Student Life

I went to an English medium missionary school St. Francis Xavier’s Convent. I remember vividly the faces of the nuns who taught us. I can even now hear their strict disciplining voices and feel their love and warmth. I remember even now how Sister Marellina stood outside the examination hall with a glass of milk for me when I was doing my  Senior Cambridge exam. I had just come out of the hospital and Sister felt I needed to drink  milk for energy.

College life at Holy Cross  and Central Women’s College was fun filled. I took part in debates and all other literary activities and I can still remember the thrill in defeating the boys’ colleges in Inter–Collegiate Debates.

After I finished my Intermediate I was sure I would be pushed into marriage on the insistence of my Dadi. But the greatest joy came when I was proven wrong. Even before my father could get the University admission form my Dadu came with it. He handed me the form and also gave me ten rupees to make a few long sleeved blouses to wear to the University so that the boys would not see my long, slender arms (Dadu thought they were beautiful).

I did my Honors & Masters in English Language and Literature From Dhaka University. University days meant not only serious studies but also taking part in literary activities. Whenever I think my days at the Dhaka University certain scenes flash in front of my eyes. I can still see the 69 Students’ Movement happening. I can smell the tear gas, I can see the police chasing the students , I can feel the anxiety that I felt then for Kamran who was one of the student leaders in the 69 Movement. (Kamran and I got married in 69)

I remember with great respect and fondness my teachers Dr. Sajjad Hossain, Dr. Sarwar Murshed, Dr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, Dr. Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Mrs. Hosne Ara Khan, Mrs. Razia Khan Amin. My eyes wet up with tears every time I think of Dr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta who came with a box of sweet to our home when my Honors result came out. Sir knew how nervous  I was before the exams . he also knew I wanted to drop out from taking the exams. He encouraged me all through to sit for the exams and assured me I would do well. Sir was proven right and he came with the sweets to show his love.

My Career

My parents always told me that  I would have to pursue a career and be economically independent. As a kid I loved to write stories, essays etc. My father (Mr. A. F. M. Safiyyullah) therefore geared me towards journalism.  I started writing in the children’s pages of different newspapers and magazines like the Pakistan Observer, The Morning News, the Statesman (published from Calcutta) and others. Gradually after finishing my Senior Cambridge  I started assisting in bringing out the children’s page of the Pakistan Observer called the Young Observer. Eventually I became Uncle Kim and brought out the Young observer on my own . I was also given the responsibilities of the women’s page and the film page of the Pakistan Observer.

After my marriage to Kamran in 1969 I had to relocate to Karachi(as Kamran had to go for training there.) in Karachi I joined the She Magazine (a progressive magazine for women promoting women’s rights and issues amongst other things) as a Senior Editor. While at She I did some free lance copy writing for a few advertising agencies. These were done just for fun and often to meet challenges put forth by clients to my friends who worked as copywriters in advertising agencies in Karachi.

Once again when my husband was transferred back to Dhaka I had to leave my job at She and came back.

Back in Dhaka I did not exactly know what I would do. I had offers to join the Bangladesh Observer and also had some teaching offers.  While I was being picky and choosy I was offered a job in one of the leading advertising agencies at that time. I took that up little knowing that within three months I would climb up from being a copy writer to General Manager to Executive Vice President after two years at this agency I left after I had a difference of opinion with my boss. By this time I had  started enjoying my advertising profession so when a few clients wanted me to open an advertising agency of my own it needed only just a little persuasion. With trepidation and a lot of excitement I started Adcomm on the 4th July, 1974 with six people in a small room and a billing of Tk. 10,000/=

My advertising career which started more as a pastime became my profession and now it is my passion.

 Impression of my Family

As far as my family is concerned I could not have been luckier. Not only close my immediate family (parents, brothers, sister, brother in –law, sisters in –law nieces and nephews) love me , but the extended family consisting of my paternal and maternal uncles and aunts, cousins grand parents all showered their love and blessing on me. As  young a girl when I came into my in laws’ home I could not believe my good luck. My mother and father in law loved me like their own daughter and my two brothers in law pampered me like their own younger sister. What I say is no exaggeration and I guess this is an unusual phenomena. I can only thank Almighty Allah for this.

 Impression of My Partner

I knew Kamran (Nazim Kamran Choudhury) for four years before I married him on the 26th of April , 1969. It would not be the whole truth if I said we have not fought over the most stupidest and silliest things like snoring , time spent in the bathroom, late nights choosing to watch television rather than listening to cassettes etc. etc. But I must also admit Kamran gave me a lot of encouragement in my work. And I think he will agree that I stand by him too.

Ups and Down In my career

I am a positive thinking person and I would like to remember  only the “ups” in my career. If from being a small agency with six persons we have risen to the number one position and have 152 persons in the agency. I do not think I should think of the “downs.” I am grateful to God for being so kind.

 Environment of the Service Place

 It is one big happy family. There is a lot of concern and care for one another .

 Discrepancy between male and female  at our office

Discrepancy ? No, not at all in the real sense, however, male colleagues tell me I love my female colleagues more. If I was asked to leave the job and become a housewife how I would react? 

I would be dumb struck –who in his or her right mind would want me in the house ? I would drive everyone crazy if I did not have any office work.

But having said that I am a housewife – I do my own grocery and food shopping every week, I plan the menu for the meals I send the clothes to the laundry I supervise the cleaning of the rooms , I set the flowers, I deal with the servants. When the children were younger I took care of them. I supervised their studies, went to the Teachers –Parents Day, took them to the doctors, did whatever had to be done for them.

Is there anything left out that need to be done for which reason I have to leave my job?

My family environment

My immediate family consists of my husband Kamran, our eldest child- our son Farhan

(Nazim Farhan Choudhury), his wife Faiza (Faiza Rahman) , our second child- our daughter, Keya (Fahima Choudhury & her husband Adit (Adit Bhagat). We are a small, happy family. We are especially fortunate to get two wonderful people Faiza & Adit come into the family & become part & parcel of our lives.

How I Adjust My  time Between Family  & Office

I am a good juggler – I have learnt to manage my time between family & office. I must admit it is very difficult but I manage.

Ups & Downs In My Life

The only down that I can remember just now was the sudden death of my father.

How I faced This Situation

I do not think I’ve been able to accept Abba’s death. I miss him, terrify especially when I have to take some major decisions or when I am celebrating something. I start paying for him and I find solace.

My Views as a Member of the Society, as a Careerist and as a Women

I would like to slightly change John F Kenedy’s saying “ Ask not what the country can do for you. Ask what you can do for the country” to “Ask not what the society can do for you. Ask what you can do for the society ” We have a lot of responsibilities to the society and we should not shrug our shoulders and say it’s not our responsibilities. We individuals form the society so if each and every one of us tried and  fulfilled  our social obligations we could make this a beautiful society.

 As a careerist I feel we have a long way to go to  become really professional. Most times we do not set high standards for ourselves and try to take the short cut to success.

As a woman I would like to see every home in Bangladesh shower all the love they can on their girl child, give her equal opportunities as the boys, teach the girl child  to be confident, encourage her in whatever she does and stand by her when needs assistance.

As a woman I would also like to see other women teach their sons to respect women, to give them their due place in the society and treat women as equals.

I believe in the French saying “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” 

 


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