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My biggest regret? My mother didn't live to see me become mayor
ARSHAD Mahmood describes the day he was named as Calderdale's next mayor as one of the happiest of his life.
But the momentous occasion for the 52-year-old who came to Britain as a young boy was tinged with sadness.
A special person was missing from the guests in Halifax Town Hall to see him begin his year of office.
"I found out I was to be mayor on December 3 last year. I was so thrilled but I think the proudest member of my family was my mum," he explains.
But tragically, two days later, Arshad's mother, Karamat Bibi, died after suffering a brain haemorrhage so the family's celebrations were cut short as he flew her body to Kashmir to be buried.
"My biggest regret is that she never lived to see the mayor-making day. She would have loved that," he says.
If there's one thing Arshad has on his agenda for his term as mayor it is that he fulfils as many engagements as possible.
"I want to cover every bit of Calderdale, attend as many functions as I can, see as many people as I can because I think that's what people expect of a mayor. I really don't want to say 'no' to anybody. I don't want to let anybody down," he says.
And at the heart of it all is to raise as much money as possible for the Calderdale Young People With Diabetes charity – inspired by his 17-year-son Raza Ali who has the condition.
He gives me a run-down of his diary so far – special birthdays, the re-opening of charity shops, a neighbourhood day and a meeting with dignitaries and visitors from Aachen, Halifax's German twin town.
There has even been a climb to the top of Wainhouse Tower.
"It is just fascinating meeting so many people and if you can make a difference in some, small way, then that is fantastic," he says.
Arshad recalls how he came to Halifax in 1971, aged just 13 and his early days were not happy times.
His father, Abdul Karim had come over in 1960 looking for work because there were no prospects back home in Mirpur. He found a job at a foundry in Hanson Lane and, once settled, returned to Kashmir for his family. Arshad's father died in 1996.
"I was so close to my grandmother that I was heartbroken at having to leave," says Arshad.
And his homesickness was made worse by unhappy days at school.
"The racist abuse was quite bad. Most days at school I would get beaten up. In fact, I used to have a different playtime but it was very confusing for me and once I had reached 15, I decided I wanted to start working."
Arshad's first job was in a clothing factory at Gibbet Street where he earned 6 for a 40-hour week.
"It seemed like an awful lot of money to me," he laughs.
Arshad then moved into textiles, working in a number of mills before going back to Kashmir in 1978 to marry his cousin Yasmin Akhta, whom he brought back to Halifax the following year.
He worked in the mills until being made redundant in 1987 when he was given a job as a taxi driver by a friend. "He gave me a lift one day told me how he enjoyed his job. I started working for him before setting up on my own”, he says.
“I have made some great friends through the job. I meet lovely people and I make a point of never being too busy to chat. I get a lot of elderly customers and for some they might not have anyone else to talk to. I never rush them,” he says.
Arshad’s interest in politics began in the early 1990s, encouraged by friends who talked about what was happening locally. He joined the Labour Party in 1993 and was thrilled to be elected in the St John’s ward (now Park ward) in 2002.
Education is one of his main interests, in particular encouraging young people into higher education. He is proud of the fact that all of his children – two daughters and three sons – have either been to university or college or are on their way.
Arshad’s daughters Arzoo, 24, and 22-year-old Sanam are going to be his mayoral consorts.
“I’m also interested in bringing people together because we are all the same really and we face the same problems.
“I’m proud to be Calderdale’s first Asian mayor. I hope that can inspire people into believing you can fulfil your ambitions.”
Arshad reveals he was especially touched on a recent school visit when a young Asian boy told him: “I want to grow up to be mayor like you”.
The boy’s mother rang me later and said ‘you’re his role model.’ It was very humbling”, says Arshad.
As for role models of Arshad’s, he has no hesitation in naming one.
“I’m a huge cricket fan so I greatly admire Imran Khan. After he retired from cricket he wanted to give something back and opening the first cancer hospital in Lahore was tremendous. Now he’s trying to build another. He’s a great ambassador.
“I feel in my year as Mayor of Calderdale, I really want to give something back too.”
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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