Intellectual persona

“In the exciting, turbulent, sad and happy days of 1971, I read “Chacha Kahini” in my village home and instantly fell in love with Syed Mujtaba Ali's books. His erudition, brilliant wit and humor, skillful satire and wonderfully lucid prose simply bowled me over.” -- Junaidul Haque.

Syed Mujtaba Ali (1904-1974), the name cited above evokes similar reactions even on his 41st death anniversary that falls today.

Ali, a prominent Bengali author, academician, scholar and linguist, was born in a distinguished family of Sylhet. Like his two brothers and five sisters, Ali was a commendable student who received a scholarship from his primary school. Later Ali was nurtured by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan as he was successful and gifted enough to catch the bard's attention. Subsequently, this  brilliant speaker earned his PhD from Bonn in comparative religious studies.

In his mid-40s Ali was known for his intellectual persona as well as dazzling discourse.  Desh editor therefore encouraged him to write “Deshe Bideshe”, known as one of the best travelogues in Bangla. This successful piece worked as an elixir for Ali to establish himself as a writer, with his spicy combination of humour and reality. Ali came up with 30 books that included novels, short stories, travelogues and satire. His every work conveyed the flavour of versatility and learning. Books like “Shabnam” revealed his excellent command over Bangla, French, English and Arabic.

The multilingual Ali mastered 15 languages, including his mother tongue. However, this never dimmed his respect and affection for Bangla. After the partition of India, Ali was the first to proclaim Bangla as East Pakistan's state language on November 30,1947. Later as principal of Azizul Huq College, Bogra; he published an essay 'The State Language of East Pakistan' in support of the establishment of Bangla as the state language.

Afterwards he resigned from his position and returned to India; however, he came back to Bangladesh after the Liberation War where he breathed his last. This enormously versatile writer died on February 11, 1974 leaving behind his beautiful writings as remnants.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent