Dewan Mohammad Azraf

Dewan Mohammad Azraf (Bengali: দেওয়ান মোহাম্মদ আজরফ; 1908–1999) was a Bengali philosopher, teacher, author, politician, journalist and activist. In 1993, he was honoured as a National Professor in Bangladesh. He was also a supporter of the Bengali Language Movement. For his support of the movement, he was dismissed from the post of the principal of Sunamganj College in 1954, the same year he was promoted to the post. His support was particularly influential when he edited the Nao Belal in 1948. He was actively involved with Kaikobad Sahitya Majlish (1972–99).[1]

Dewan Mohammad Azraf
দেওয়ান মোহাম্মদ আজরফ
Born(1906-10-25)25 October 1906
Teghoria, Sunamganj, Sylhet District,  Bengal Presidency
Died1 November 1999(1999-11-01) (aged 93)
 Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma materMurari Chand College
University of Dhaka
RelativesHason Raja (grandfather)
AwardsEkushey Padak

Influenced by the thought of Muhammad Iqbal, he has been described as "a prolific writer" who "produced sixty monographs, over 1,000 articles in Bangla and English, 109 novels, poems, songs, and ninety short stories. His works range from literature, arts, music, and religion to philosophy."[2][3]

Early life

Azraf was born on 1 January 1908 into Teghoria, Sunamganj, Eastern Bengal and Assam, British Raj in the home of his maternal grandfather, the poet Hason Raja. He completed his schooling at the Middle English School in Duhalia. He passed BA with distinction from Murari Chand College, Sylhet in 1930 and received MA in Philosophy from the University of Dhaka in 1932.[1][4] As a college student, he was able get Kazi Nazrul Islam to visit Sylhet.[5]

Career

Azraf joined Sunamganj College as a teacher in 1948 and principal in 1954. He was dismissed from college for supporting the Bengali Language Movement. After his dismissal from Sunamganj College, he taught at various colleges. In 1967, he was appointed the principal of Abujar Gifari College in Dhaka, where he served till 1980. He taught part-time at the departments of Philosophy and Islamic Studies of the University of Dhaka from 1973 to 1990.[1]

A supporter of Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, he joined the Muslim League in 1946 in protest of the treatment of Muslim immigrants in Assam, and afterward was elected to the Assam Provincial Committee. He also served 10 months of a prison sentence for violation of Section 144. He helped the formation of the Kendriya Muslim Sahitya Sangsad unit in Sylhet and served as its president from 1940 to 1943. He was a member, as well as a treasurer for some time, of the Pakistan Philosophical Congress. From 1984 to 1989, he served as the president of the Bangladesh Philosophical Association.[1]

Death

Azraf died on November 1, 1999.[6]

Bibliography

Some of his notable publications include:

Bengali
  • Jībôn sômôsyār sômādhāne Islām (Islam as a solution to problems in life), articles on Islamic doctrines
  • Hāsôn Rājā, 1854-1922, study of the life and works of the famous Bengali poet Hason Raja
  • Sileṭe Islām (Islam in Sylhet), study on the advent and spread of Islam in Sylhet District, Bangladesh
  • Ithihāse upekkhita ekṭi côritrô. Hashrata Ābuzôr Gifārīr jībônālekkhā o bôiplôbik kôrmadhārā (A neglected character in history), on the Islamic figure of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari
  • Itihāser dhārā, on the history of philosophy
  • Dhôrmô o dôrśôn (Religion and philosophy), essays on philosophy
  • Sonā jhôrā dinguli , autobiography depicting the author's vast experience of life
  • Kôbir dôrśôn, articles, mainly on Sir Muhammad Iqbal
  • Bôktitter bikash, on self-improvement and psychology
  • Tômôdduner bikash
  • Sôtyer sôinik abuzor (Soldier of Truth Abu Dhar), on Abu Dhar al-Ghifari
  • Nôtun Surjô (New Sun), storybook
  • Islami andolôn juge juge (Islamic movements by era)
  • Islam o manôbôtabad (Islam and humanism)
  • Sôndhani dristite islam
  • Amader jatiyôtabad (Our nationalism)
  • Otit jibôner smriti (Memories of past life)
  • Nôya zindegi (New life), novel
  • Bigyan o dôrshôn (Science and philosophy)

English
  • The back-ground of the culture of Muslim Bengal
  • Science and revelation
  • Philosophy of history
  • Islamic movement : its origin, growth and development

Awards

Trivia

The husband of Azraf's granddaughter, Baraheen - Mohammed Salahuddin Chowdhury, was killed in the 9/11 terror attacks. he was working in the twin towers.[7]

References
  1. Islam, Sirajul (2012). "Azraf, Dewan Mohammad". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. M. Golam Dastagir, "AZRAf, Dewan Muhammad (1906–99)" in Oliver Leaman (ed.), "The Biographical Encyclopedia of Islamic Philosophy", Bloomsbury Publishing (2015), p. 40
  3. "Philosopher Dewan Mohammad Azraf". The New Nation. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  4. খাতুন চৌধুরী, রাবেয়া (1993). সিলেটের কাব্য সাধনা (in Bengali). p. 101.
  5. "Nazrul In Sylhet". The Daily Star. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  6. "Prof Azraf's anniversary of death today". The Daily Star. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  7. "Ten years after 9/11, Baraheen Ashrafi recalls 'the day my world ended'". The National. Retrieved 2018-12-16.


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