A non-compromising, courageous scholar

A misunderstood personality in the socio-cultural arena of our time, Dr. Ahmed Sharif was a towering scholar, researcher of Bangla literature and a forerunner of free thought movements in Bangladesh. A man with a deep sense of dignity who was a true non­conformist, the former Chairman and Professor of the Bangla Department of University of Dhaka was born in February 1921, and died on February 24, 1999. The colorful life of Dr. Ahmed Sharif can be divided into two broad lines, one is his literary and intellectual side, and the other is his socio-cultural and philosophical side. Before describing these two sides, I am tempted to give a brief life sketch of Dr. Sharif.

On December 18, 1950, he joined the Bangla Department of University of Dhaka as research assistant, and retired as chairman and professor in 1983. During his teaching life in the university, he was elected a member of the senate, the syndicate, the President and Teachers Associations and the University Teachers Club. Even today, Dr. Sharif is the only person to be elected the Dean of the Faculty of Arts for three consecutive terms. After his retirement from Dhaka University, he was given the offer to join the University of Chittagong as the first Kazi Nazrul Islam Professor; he served there for two years from 1984 to 1986.

He was the recipient of many honours and awards for his outstanding contributions in the field of medieval Bangla literature and contemporary socio-cultural-political essays. These include: the BangIa Academy Literary Award (1968), Daud Literary Award (from Pakistan: - 1969), Bangladesh Women Writers Association Literary Award (1980), Alakta Literary Council Award (1989) and the Ekushe Padak in 1991. A major recognition came from the Rabindra Bharati University of India which conferred upon him a doctorate in literature in 1995 for his outstanding contribution to Bangla literature. 

In his lifetime, he was the lone authority on ancient and medieval Bangla literature, as he enriched discussions with several original contributions. He was the author of more than 100-research publications and edited 46 manuscripts of ancient and medieval Bangla literature. The two volumes of his Bangali O Bangia Shahitya (Men and Literature of Bengal) published between 1978 to 1983 are considered masterpieces by litterateurs in the subcontinent. Despite widespread recognition, he didn't really care much for publicity for his massive scholarly works. 

During his lifetime, a large section of so-called liberal democrats and secular intellectuals of the country continuously denied his scholarly contributions, trying to suppress his thoughts; even after his death, some of them continue to do the same, but no one has ever questioned his intellectual honesty.

The late scholar was universally regarded for his ability to say "no" to various material temptations; his dignity and self respect never permitted him to be submissive to powerful forces. Among his Dhaka University colleagues, he was often considered to be an impractical man, a cynic seized with radical ideas who was never "clever" enough to work for his own mundane interests, as he never took any undue advantage of his scholarship position and influence to become wealthy, famous and powerful. The educated but ignorant people of Bangladesh are unaware of this misunderstood and controversial person who played a vital role to provoke our thoughts, to make us conscious of our conscience. 

He played an instrumental role in the liberation movement of Bangladesh. 

Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman had once written that on October 1, 1965, Dr. Ahmed Sharif wrote a secret document for Apurba Sangsad (Asthaee Purba Bangia Sarker - Temporary Government of East Bengal) and the document titled lttihasher Dharay Bangaiee (Historical Trends of Bengalees) was known as the third manifesto of the Sangsad. Here he wrote about the ways to attain an "independent Bangladesh"; he also suggested ways for socio-economic, political and cultural freedom for the Bangalis. Here he proposed the name of then East Pakistan as "Bangladesh" and chose Rabindranath Tagore's "Sonar BangIa" as the national anthem of the yet to be formed country (Prothom Alo, February 4, 2000; also for detail see: Abdul Aziz Bagmar: Swadhinatar Swapna: Unmesh - 0 - Orjan (Dream of Independence: Inception and Achievement, December 1999, Dhaka). His role in demanding the liberation of East Pakistan was further established when on March 5, 1971, cultural activists and intellectuals went to the Shahid Minar" and took an oath under his leadership, stating that "Even at the cost of our life we will continue our struggle for the rights of East Bengal (Pakistan) and through our writings we will inspire the struggling people. For the success of the movement, our writings will act as bayonet and bullet. Forgetting the differences of the past, we will be united with the general mass and proceed forward for the success of the struggle" (Rafiqul Islam: Ekattorer Osohojog Andolon-O-Buddijibira, 1982)

As Dr. Tajul Islam Hashmi wrote, Dr. Sharif had the chance to become the VC of different universities "both during pre- and post-Bangladesh periods" or could at least have been nominated as a National professor for his "knowledge and rich contributions to the field of Bangla literature." Alas, this was not to be. Others with far less education qualifications and talent were chosen for these important positions, while Dr. Sharif had to retire in 1983. Neither the Bangla Department nor Dhaka University took any serious initiative to continue his service and take advantage of his scholarship to serve national interest, stated Dr. Hashmi. "He probably knew the art of antagonising the powerful people and different government agencies," Dr. Hashmi wrote. Moreover, his strong sense of dignity and self-respect did not permit him to be submissive to power.

In these days of political and social turmoil, it would serve us best to remember Dr. Ahmed Sharif words: "Any individual can be happy and successful in his life, if he can apply his knowledge with intelligence, strength with courage and initiative with determination; the success of the person who applies these in their personal, family and soci-political life will be inevitable."

The writer is Professor of Sociology, University of Dhaka. E-mail: nehal.karim@yahoo.com.