Rashid Maqsood Hamidi’s career as a banker spans over four decades, during which he served in some of the prime banking institutions, allowing him to extensively travel the world – from South Asia to the Middle East and from Latin America to North America. The experiences Rashid gained through his work, traveling, and developing acquaintances and friendships are thoroughly shared in his book, The Reluctant Banker. Rashid, who retired in 2018, began writing during his free time.
The book is a collection of stories and experiences from his life and career. “This short book is a synopsis of my encounters,” writes Hamidi. He considers himself fortunate to have lived in Yemen and Venezuela, “the two absolute opposites,” and throughout his career, he “...was able to build lasting friendships, learn a few languages, and understand and appreciate the finer nuances of culture.”
The intriguing Foreword of the book seemed peculiar to read, and why wouldn’t it? It was penned by his nephew, Faraz Maqsood Hamidi, who refers to his uncle, Rashid, as a ‘man for all seasons by choice.’ He adds that Rashid’s choices may seem conservative, but he has an effortless and boundless creative spirit. He admires his uncle’s attitude and aptitude to break the fences of pretense and clinch onto his imperfections.
The book then shares testimonials from Rashid’s friends and family, who relive the good times and fond memories. These endorsements come from people living in the UAE, India, Venezuela, Bahrain, the U.S., Canada, and Pakistan, making readers ponder the friendships, family ties, and professional influence Rashid acquired, developed, and maintained throughout his career.
While reading the book, readers may feel like they are sitting with Rashid over a cup of tea. Rashid’s casual writing style sends readers into a trance where they read and experience the words in their own light. He introduces the short film “1978,” produced in collaboration with his company, Mansfield Film and Sanat Initiative by Abid Merchant. It was Rashid’s dream project that recently transpired into reality. The life of Norman D’Souza, a rock musician from the 1970s, inspires the story.
Rashid begins the book by taking readers to the 1950s when he grew up in Karachi. However, he still has faint memories of his train journey from Budaun, UP, in India, to Pakistan in 1958 when he was five. He recalls Karachi from 1971 to 1977, a bustling city with bars, restaurants, open-air cafes, and clubs packed with tourists. Iranian cafes served delicious delicacies, bringing to life the Karachi that our elders and their ancestors lived in - a time of trams for transport, daytime music jamming sessions, and the best beef burgers and coleslaw found at Spinzers. The life of Karachi and Rashid’s time in this city both ended with the rise of General Zia-ul-Haq in the country’s political scene. In 1977, Rashid was appointed a management trainee at the now-defunct Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI).
Once Rashid stepped into the banking world, there was no looking back. He lived for three years in Yemen and was selected to head the Bank’s new offshore branch in Manama, Bahrain, from 1980 to 1984 before moving to Miami, U.S., and Caracas, Venezuela, from 1984 to 1991. Following the closure of the BCCI, Rashid worked with the American Express Bank and Standard Chartered. In the book’s epilogue, Rashid narrates his family life and how his late brother, Arif Maqsood, was his guardian. He ends the book with Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Indeed, Rashid took the one less traveled by, which has made all the difference 
Leave a Reply