Dr. Syed Mujtaba Ali (1904-1974) was a Bengali author, academician, scholar and linguist.
Mujtaba Ali was born in a prominent family in Sylhet. His father, Syed Sikandar Ali, was a sub-registrar. Ali studied at various educational institutions on account of his father's frequent transfers. As a school student, Ali wrote a letter to Rabindranath Tagore, who promptly sent an inspiring reply and invited him to study at Shantiniketan. He had the honour to be taught directly by Tagore.
September 13 marked the 112th birth anniversary of the versatile litterateur.
From 1929 to 1932, Ali studied at universities in Berlin, London and Paris. He earned a PhD in comparative religious studies from Bonn. In 1934-1935, he studied at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Subsequently, he taught at colleges in Baroda (1936-1944) and Bogra (1949). After a brief period at Kolkata University (1950), Ali became secretary of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and editor of its Arabic journal "Thaqafatul Hind". From 1952 to 1956 he worked for All India Radio at New Delhi and Patna. He then joined the faculty of Visva-Bharati University (1956-1964).
Ali was a brilliant conversationalist and storyteller. When Ali was in his mid-40s, the Desh editor encouraged him to write "Deshe-Bideshe" and it instantly catapulted him to fame.
The multilingual Ali knew 15 languages: French, German, Italian, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarati, Pashtu, English and several dialects of Bengali.
After Partition in 1947, Ali went from India to then East Pakistan, his motherland. He was a language activist and a supporter of Bengali as the national language of East Pakistan. In 1948, as principal of Azizul Huq College, Bogra, he wrote an essay, "The State Language of East Pakistan", which was printed in "Chaturanga" of Kolkata. At the time, the West Pakistani rulers were trying to impose Urdu as the only state language of East Pakistan while Bangla was spoken by most of the people. The government of Pakistan sought an explanation from Ali, who promptly resigned and moved to India.
The great scholar breathed his last in Dhaka on February 11, 1974. He was an outspoken critic of the British rulers. His writings are profuse in sarcastic comments about the colonial rulers. He published 25 immensely popular volumes of novels, stories, essays and columns. He smoothly mixed Arabic, Farsi and Sylheti words in his works. Then he dipped it in his great wit, brilliant satire and incomparable scholarship. He was always interesting and never dull. He researched extensively on religion but was secular and progressive. He was cosmopolitan as well as deeply rooted in the Bengali ethos.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
Remembering a progressive artist
Nitun Kundu's tenth death anniversary observed
Cultural Correspondent
Noted artist Nitun Kundu's tenth death anniversary was observed on September 15. He was a widely respected cultural figure, entrepreneur and hero of the Liberation War, and for his artistic contributions, received a state funeral that was attended by a cross-section of civil society and government.
Kundu graduated from Dacca Art College (at present the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1959. Apart from being a sculptor, he was also a painter and was recognised for both his abstract and realistic works. Before his demise, he had plans to hold a solo painting exhibition.
During the Liberation War, some of his poster colour based works gave him recognition in our art scenario. He was also known for furniture design. Wood and metal both were main ingredients in his works.
During the Liberation War, Kundu worked with veteran painter Quamrul Hassan for the public relations department of the then Bangladesh Government at Mujibnagar. Posters by him including "Shoda Jagrato Banglar Muktibahini", "Amra Shobai Bangali" and "Banglar Bir Muktijoddha" are well known. These figurative works highlight a nation's struggles to earn freedom. Long faces and large eyes are two noticeable traits of the works.
Professor Anisuzzaman once said, "Nitun Kundu was a remarkable man of our times. He came from Dinajpur without knowing anyone. He got admitted in the Institute of Fine Arts, overcoming all difficulties by sheer determination. He was able to establish himself as one of the successful entrepreneurs in our country. As an artist he made figurative works in the beginning and he later switched over to abstraction. He tried his hands in sculpture and some of his works have been greatly admired. He was a genuine patriot and an exceptional friend."
Among his sculptures, "Shabash Bangladesh" is much acclaimed. Cement, clay and bamboo are the main elements of the work. The SAARC Fountain, known for its molecular shape and 21st century aesthetics, is also famous. With the design, Kundu wanted to present a complex structure in a simple atmosphere. His metal-based works have an air of modernism and the designs have enriched the Bangladeshi contemporary art scenario.
Among Kundu's contemporaries, Debdas Chakraborty, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Biren Shome and noted art critic and journalist Sadeq Khan were his close friends.
Kundu was the founder of Otobi and received several awards throughout his illustrious career, including Ekushey Padak, National Film Award, Notun Kuri Award, President Gold Cup and The Daily Star-DHL Best Entrepreneur Award.
