Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh
An Account of his Life and Work
By MUHAMMAD OBAIDUR RAHIM

Author Horatio Alger Jr. carved a literary niche in the 1880s with tales of impoverished boys who rose from humble backgrounds to achieve success.

Those rags-to-riches stories have a parallel in the real-life story of Khuda Buksh, who almost single-handedly created a respectable career and a larger industry in his homeland through hard work, fortitude, a sunny outlook and a caring nature.

This book, written by his son, details Buksh’s rise in insurance at a time where superstition ruled, and many believed to take on insurance was to court death. That ingrained notion, and the political upheaval in the sub-continent and its prejudices, were enormous barriers to success.

Insurance agents were looked down upon at the beginning of Buksh’s career, so much so that he was often not granted a seat when pitching a prospective client at their home. That led to him carrying his own folding chair and often winning over a reluctant customer through his personal charm and caring nature.

This is the second edition of this biography, with an added chapter detailing the personal and family life of Buksh. The added color to his relentless pursuit of business is helpful in more fully defining a man whose charity and focus seem at times almost superhuman.

Starting out as a door-to-door life insurance salesman, Buksh climbed the success ladder, eventually forming his own company and being hailed for his humanity and ingenuity by even his business rivals.

History fans will find it fascinating that this story is set in the era of partition between India and Pakistan, and later between West and East Pakistan, the latter becoming Bangladesh. Through it all, Buksh perseveres, bringing

a human touch to a sometimes grim task by personally delivering benefits to bereaved families and blazing a career path for many who followed him.

Buksh’s remarkable success can serve as a guide to aspiring business people who wish to be respected and prosperous. The ultimate lesson of the book: if you give of yourself, good things can happen.

As his son notes, “My father did not take insurance as a job, but as a motto in life.” This fascinating journey of a remarkable man has much to teach all in business and in relationships.

You can buy the book here.