Institute for Development, Education and Action (IDEA)

CONDOLENCE MESSAGES FOR THE LATE RABIAL MALLICK

April 11, 2010

Dear IDEA Team,

On behalf of Habitat International Coalition Board Members, structures and HIC members and friends, I would like to express our most sincere condolences on the recent passing of our HIC Board Member and also sweet friend, Rabial.

No comfort is quite enough to replace the loss and we wish to send our thoughts and prayers to you at this difficult time.

Please pass our deepest sympathies on to his wife and daughter.

Very sincerely,
Habitat International Coalition (HIC)
General Secretariat Team
Ana, Charlotte, Gladys, Marie, Pablo, Shelley

Marie
Membership Contact
Habitat International Coalition (HIC) General Secretariat
Coronel Santiago Bueras 142, Of. 22
8320135 Santiago – Chile
Tel: +56-2-664 1393 +56-2-664 1393
Email: marie@hic-net.org
Skype address: mariehicgs

April 15, 2010

I extend our deepest condolence from Jaintia Shinnomul Songstha (JASHIS). May Allah rest his departed soul with peace.

regards
ATM Badrul Islam Executive DirectorJASHIS, Sylhet, Bangladesh

April 15, 2010

Dear Rabial’s Family and IDEA Team
It is hard to believe that what I heard from Somsook/ACHR is true. It is shocking, simply unbelievable that Rabial is no more.

The fact is that on returning from Vietnam on Monday, I sent him and Sheela Patel a letter asking if we could take joint responsibility to organize a community architects' meeting in India for ACHR.

I did not know that he would never read that letter as he had left for the other world.

It is terrible. I do not know what is wrong. We are losing some very special individuals one after the other. Peter, Ken. Now Rabial.

My association with Rabial is more than two decades old. He first landed up, some time in '80s, in Ahmedabad, unannounced, with plans, ideas and aspirations in his kitty on strengthening PROUD--People's Responsible Organization for United Dharavi--and development of Dharavi slum. I did not know him then. But his enthusiasm, his burning desire to do things for the disadvantaged and the deprived, his commitment and his vision were infectious. I became his admirer. That led to our doing many things together, including CIDHA--Citizens' for Dharavi, for which I prepared a long note. What is remarkable about Rabial is that, over two decades that I knew him, despite disappointments and setbacks, his passion for doing things for the pavement and slum dwellers never wavered. Last time I spoke to him, a few months ago, he was calling from Mumbai and was very low seeing things at Dharavi. I asked him, “What keeps you going, Rabial? His answer was typical of him. He said," What option do I have? What has been started has to be done. People are being cheated ".

This is a rude shock for all of you as it has come prematurely. There is no way you could be prepared. And how does one prepare for such disasters?

We will miss him always. More than us, thousands of poor for whose good and benefit he worked all his life.

He was a very special individual. And that makes his going that much more difficult. We pray for strength to you all. We know the world has collapsed for you. We pray for his peace in the God's heaven

In deep sorrow
Kirtee Shah and all at ASAG and INHAF

April 13, 2010

Dear Mrs. Mallick,

We have just learned of the passing of Rabial. We are in shock along with everyone else. It’s with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of your beloved husband and my friend. Rabial was as fine a gentleman as any person I’ve ever known. He certainly worked tirelessly on behalf of those who didn’t have a voice or whose voice was not heard.

I know Rabial was devoted to you, your family, friends, and his work. We will remember him as a lion in the fight to help those less fortunate. His community organizing work stands as a testament to the greatness of his conviction and ability to make a difference in the world. He will be missed by all.

As you know, I first met Rabial in 1980 in Mumbai when he was an organizer for PROUD and trained by Herb and Jessica Fernandez White. I was fortunate to reconnect with Rabial in the last several years through the efforts of George Todd and Leon Howell. Rabial hosted an IRD staff assessment in India several years ago and provided contacts and information for registration.

Barely a year ago, Rabial spent a week with IRD and contributed to our own institutional study of community organizing theory and practice. He made a major presentation to a standing-room-only audience of our staff. We all enjoyed meeting him and we formed a good working relationship. He was also able to spend several hours with Leon before Leon’s demise last February.

Just last month, our staff consulted with Rabial about the feasibility of doing a project with Tamil refugees in India. We are confident that the IDEA staff will be successful in assisting vulnerable people in India and in keeping Rabial’s pragmatic vision alive.

Please accept my sincere condolences and those of the worldwide IRD staff. I hope you are able to find some measure of comfort during this difficult time. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts.

Sincerely,
Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr.

Tue, April 13, 2010

What a great loss to the world of community organizing! Rabial was a pioneer in field of organizing the urban poor in the major cities, MUMBAI, KOLKATA, BANGALORE and DELHI. He moved with political leaders, ,administrators ,scholars on equal footing and with grace and at the same time, mingled with the uneducated ,poor and down-trodden in the various urban centres with love and affection ,instilling hope and self-respect in them, I have known Rabial as a dear colleague since early 1980s and we have been close to each other ever since. There are so many good qualities in Rabial I can talk of. But one quality out-shines others. HE WAS SO LOYAL, HELPFUL AND HOSPITABLE TO HIS COLLEAGUES BOTH IN CISRS and WCSRC and also to his friends all over India and abroad. Rabial called me two days before his sad demise around 10 pm and we spent about half an hour talking to each other. Two things he was very concerned about: Mr.A N Chatterjee's illness. He wanted me to talk to Mr.Chatterjee's son, secondly, about the future of WCSRC; we decided during this talk that we should go to Delhi during the last week of April to meet a few funding agencies to raise funds for WCSRC. As Director of WCSRC, I pay my homage to Mr.Rabial Mallick, Executive Committee member and Deputy Director of WCSRC. He was a tower of strength and encouragement to the organization when it went through a crisis period and he helped us in various ways. WCSRC WILL EVER BE GRATEFUL TO MR.RABIAL MALLICK FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION. At this moment of grief, on behalf of WCSRC AND ON MY OWN BEHALF, WE AS WCSRC FAMILY, express our heart-felt condolences TO MRS. RABIAL MALLICK AND HIS DAUGHTER.

Brindavan c Moses
Director, WCSRC

April 13, 2010

We are deeply shocked at the untimely demise of our friend and well wisher Dr. Rabial Haq Mallick.
We express deep sorrow and condolence to the members of the bereaved family and Idea and pray to God for peace of his departed soul.

Dr. Mahmudur Rahman
Chief Executive
Initiative for People's Development (IPD)
Chairperson, Dhaka Development Forum (DDF)
Vice President, Dustha Shasthya Kendra (DSK)
210, West Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215 Bangladesh.

Apr 12, 2010

Dear Friends,
We are very sad to know about the sudden demise of Mr. Rabial Mallick. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues during this difficult time.
We express our condolence to his family and friends.

With best regards
IMSE & FIAN West Bengal Team

April 13, 2010

Dear Partners,

Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel; we would like to express our deepest sympathies to all the family, the staff and colleagues, during this difficult moment.

Best regards,
Éric Besner, Programme Manager and Louise Leblanc, Programme Assistant

L’ŒUVRE LÉGER
130 de l'Épée Avenue
Montreal, Quebec H2V 3T2
Canada louise.leblanc@leger.org
Telephone: 514 495-2409 Ext. 122
Fax: (514) 495-2059

April 13, 2010

We extend our deepest condolence from WaterAid Bangladesh. May Allah rest his departed soul in peace.

Regards,
Shamim Ahmed
Programme Officer - Programme Development & Advocacy
WaterAid Bangladesh
House # 97/B, Road # 25, Block - A, Banani, Dhaka - 1213
Tel: +88 (02) 8815757, 8818521 Ext 109
Fax: +88 (02) 8818521, Mob: +88 01713426789
www.wateraid.org/bangladesh

April 12, 2010, Seoul

Dear Bandita, Reshmi and IDEA Friends,
Leaders and Organizers of Community Organizations in Asia (LOCOA) friends join you in mourning the sudden passing away of Mallick. As you know, Mallick was one of the founders and leaders of LOCOA. Up to the last days of his life, he was busy with efforts to continue helping and organizing poor communities.

Mallick's unceasing committment to struggle for social change, helping organize communities change their conditions required much discipline, hardwork and sacrifices which he practised. He combined his passion for working with the poor with close family ties and a simple lifestyle.

We deeply thank you; Bandita and Reshmi, for sharing Mallick with countless lives who benefited from his work as well as accompanying him and supporting him till the end. LOCOA friends will certainly miss Mallick.

Our thoughts, prayers and support are with you.

Sincerely,
Fides

LOCOA Secretariat
91-6, Ihwa-dong,Jongno-gu
110-500 Seoul
mobile-82-10-7550-9051
landline-822-766-9251
fax-822-740-9058
homepage:http://www.locoa.net

April 12, 2010

My dear friends
I want to joint the sorrow and pain of Jhunu, Rashmi, and Shikha, the team of Idea and so many community organizers and communities from West Bengal, Mumbai and from so many parts of India who have got so much love care support and guidance from Rabial .
In the 30 years I have been in contact with Rabial, I find him always looking for ways to improve the situation of the poor lacking of water drainage, housing, and suffering from fires, eviction. He is a model not only for me but for all of us.
My best prayers snd wishes for the rest of his soul, and for all his family and friends the entire world

Jorge Anzorena

April 12, 2010

We send our deepest condolences to the Mallick family and our eternal gratitude for his work. He lives on in his work and in our memories.

Anita L. Beaty
National Coalition for the Homeless
Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless

Dear IDEA Staff:

I was able to get through to Mrs. Mallick who confirmed the death of her husband. Unfortunately and understandably, she was not in a condition for a prolonged conversation.

Would you do us a favor then? Kindly send us details surrounding Mallick's death, memorial service, and related information. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jessica F. & Herbert D. White

April 11, 2010

Dear Reshmi,

On behalf of REHASWISS, I am writing this letter to express our deep sorrow for your loss.

We knew Robial Mallick for a very long time and shall always remember him. He was very kind hearted friend of our organization in West Bengal. I feel that your dad is a great loss to all the people who knew him.
He was our advisor and consultant. REHASWISS is working with two NGOs in West Bengal – Protibondhi Shangha and Protibondhi Sahayak Samithi since more than two years. I used to meet him during all my project visits.

He always stood by us in all project matters.

May God bless his soul and complete all his wishes.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are sharing the burden of this great grief. May God bless you.

With love and sympathy,
Rao Satapati
(a member of REHASWISS Project Group)

REHASWISS
Postfach 7655
3001 Berne
Switzerland
www.rehaswiss.ch

April 11, 2010

Hearing the news of untimely sad demise of Mr. Rabiul Mullick really shocked us. We hereby express our heartfelt condolence for his untimely death and pray to Allah that his soul may rest in peace and fully bear with his family members.

Thanking you

Yours sincerely
MD.ALAMGIR
(TILJALA SHED, FOCUS & UBDA)
PARK CIRCUS
KOLKATA

April 11, 2010

Dear Reshmi,

We are deeply shocked to hear and see the passing away of your father, our very beloved Rabial. We feel it’s a personal loss as we recollect the many joyous moments we had shared with him and your family. We shall forever remember his smiling face filled with spirit and humour…We shall deeply miss his association in our sphere of work. He was a messiah for the poor, needy and disadvantaged who dedicated his entire life for their uplift. You'll always have fond memories of the wonderful years you spent together.

We pray for the departed soul and express our sincerest condolences to you, Bandita and others in his extended family. We also pray for you and your family to come into terms with the loss in this grey hour of bereavement.

We know no prayer is enough but still…we also know nothing can comfort this heart-wrenching feeling but life has to go on. Hope you will find enough inner strength to sustain this great loss yourself and console others. We are reminded of T.S. Eliot’s famous lines:

People smile and change, but the agony abides.
O time the destroyer is time the preserver.

Yours ever,
Prof. Sankar Basu-Mallik and family
30/3-A, N.S. Dutta Road, Howrah-711101

25 April 2010

Dear Members of IDEA,

We wish to express our deep sentiments of regret and sympathy regarding the death of Mr. Rabial Mallick. It must have happened all of a sudden and unexpectedly. In such cases it is very difficult for the surviving members of the family and friends to accept a beloved person's death in its definitiveness. We pray to God for strength for all who knew him well.

There is a time for teariness and mourning and there will be time for remembering him without pain.

Affectionately yours,

Almuth Schauber
MISEREOR, Germany

The 20th foundation day of IDEA was celebrated from January 23 to 25, 2009 in a grand manner at SNKA High School in Shyampur Block II, Howrah. The inaugural session of the celebrations and the start of the Agricultural & Health Fair witnessed eminent speakers with around 400 participants, mostly women.

In his welcome address, Rabial Mallick, the Director & Secretary of IDEA, delved on the work being done by his organization in sectors like education, health and sanitation, empowerment of women and girls through self-help groups, housing rights and generating environmental awareness and also training of farmers for sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture through use of organic fertilizers for retaining soil health and increasing production. He also informed that the block have been declared as a fully Sanitize Block.

Dr. S. K. Majhi, a well known doctor and a social activist, discussed the poor status of health in the country in spite of pledges to ensure health for all. Even after the constitution of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the progress in the sector has been quite slow. Referring to the health of women and girls, he suggested that the nutritional component of pregnant mothers has to be given special attention. Dr. Majhi also urged the need for devolving greater responsibility in the health sector to NGOs who should generate health awareness and ensure health for all.

Ms. Anamika Maity, the saphapati of Shyampur Block-II, called on mothers to come forward and become conscious about the health of children and contact ICDS workers of and when necessary.

Prof. Hossainur Rahman, an eminent historian who was the chief guest, while comparing the status of Muslim women in the cities of Kerala and Lucknow, said that the situation in the former state is much better because education has spread there effectively. He observed that real and scientific education, which develops one’s personality and also social awareness, is the cornerstone for making women and girls conscious about the need for health. The spread of such education would also empower them to fight physical and mental torture and exploitation by religious leaders or others. Later he inaugurated the Fair.

Mr. Akkel Ali Khan, the MLA of Bagnan, pointed out that NGOs doing good work in the field of development like IDEA will receive all types of support of the state. Referring to women’s and girls, he said that 7.5 lakh women have become members of SHG in Howrah district and are coming forward to play a more constructive role in society. Mr. Khan also said that farmers have to be trained to use new technology and better farm practices in agriculture so that production and productivity increases and with it the earnings and living conditions of the community.

Among others present on the occasion were Mr. Shyamsundar Metia, gram panchayat pradhan, Mr. Dhurjati Mukherjee, Jt. Secretary of State Habitat & Environment Forum (SHEF), Mr. Amit Kumar Tung, Agriculture Development Officer of the Block and Mrs. Bandita Mallick, a school teacher. Mr. Jagannath Ghosh, former Headmaster of SNKA High School presided over the deliberations.

On January 24, a discussion was held on women’s empowerment where the need to impart education and generate social awareness amongst the opposite sex was discussed. Initiating the discussions, Mrs. Mina Ghosh Mukherjee, Savadhipati, Howrah Zila Parishad, urged the need for women and girls to become more aware about their rights and called on mothers to come forward to educate their children and also become conscious about preventive health. She urged voluntary organizations to work with the panchyats to carry forward this task. The role of IDEA in empowering women, setting up self-help groups and helping women in various ways, including imparting skilled education, to enable them to become self-sufficient was also outlined by the members of the organization. Ms. Shyamali Chakraborty and Mr. D. P. Maity of IDEA coordinated the discussions.