Foreword:
Nowadays, Bengali language literature is one of the most advanced literature in the world. Even today, this language is considered the sixth most spoken language in the world. However, the history of Bengali literature is very ancient and diverse, like other literature in the world. Although this classical language literature was mainly advanced by Hindus, the contribution of Muslims is unparalleled. As Dr Muhammad Enamul Haque said, “The Hindus of this country are the originators of the Bengali language and literature, but its patrons are the Muslims of Bengal.” Among the Muslim writers who have made unparalleled contributions to the development of this language, Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Abdur Rahim, Munshi Riazuddin, Syed Mustafa Siraj, Begum Rokeya, Kazi Nazrul Islam and other great personalities are quite popular and renowned.
Introduction:
However, despite of the existence of numerous Bengali Muslim writers, this article specifically focuses on Mir Mosharraf Hossain, the author of the timeless novel ‘Bishad Sindhu’. He was a Muslim Bengali whose writings were in pure Bengali; there was no mixture of Arabic, Persian or other languages. For example, He wrote the novel ‘Bishad Sindhu’ in the context of the events of Karbala. That means this book is associated with Islam. Despite he repeatedly refers to Allah as Ishwar or Vagoban (God), the Prophet as probhu (Lord), Sahabi (companion) as sisso (disciple), Imam or Maulvi as prohit (priest), Namaz or prayer as Aradhona (Adoration) or upasona (worship) or dhormalochona (religious rituals), Salam as nomoskar (Salutations) or pronipat (obeisances), mosque as a mondir (temple) and Muawiya (R.A.) as Mawiya. Besides, he has used words which are not in Muslim culture very well. For example: Karojore prarthona (prayer), Bhagwaner Prasad (god’s propitiousness), podochumbon (Kissing feet), pododhuli grohon (taking foot dust), Sandhyadevi (evening goddess), Suryadev (sun god) and so on. Therefore, if he wrote all these words in Bengali language, although there is no way but to mention them in Arabic. It shows that he did not use all the other Arabic-Persian words that have been included in Bengali; there is no room for doubt in that. But that does not mean that he had not knowledge of Arabic-Persian languages. At that time, he also had proper knowledge of the Arabic and Persian languages like other Muslims. However, he gave special importance to his mother tongue Bengali and declared in a loud voice, “The native language or mother tongue of the Muslims of Bengal is Bengali. He who does not have faith in his mother tongue is not a human being”. That is why the literary emperor Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay also admitted that he was a true Muslim Bengali. In the famous magazine ‘Bangadarshan’, the literary emperor wrote while criticizing ‘Zamindar Darpan’ that "This play has been composed in pure Bengali by a learned Muslim. There is not a single trace of Muslim Bengali in it. Rather, the Bengali of this Muslim writer is purer than the Bengali composed by many Hindus."
Moreover, he was the first novelist and playwright among the Muslims in the Bengali language. He even published a monthly magazine called ‘Azijan Nehar’ (1874), the first literary magazine edited by a Muslim in the periodical world. Therefore, it can be said from this that he was a great Bengali writer. Therefore, I think it is the duty of all Bengalis to know about him detail due to a very few people know this great Muslim writer today. And just as all the other poets and writers are highlighted today, Muslim writers or other Muslim personalities are not highlighted in the same way. As a result, even nowadays there is a flaw in the bond of unity between the Hindu and Muslim Bengali nations. Therefore, the life struggle of that great personality is discussed in detail below.
Genealogy:
Nineteenth-century Bengali literature’s pioneering Muslim Writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born on 13 November 1847 in the village of Lahinipara, Mahukumar, Kushtia, then Nadia district (now in Kushtia district of Bangladesh) into a noble landlord family. His hereditary title was Syed. His father’s name was Muazzem Hossain, and his mother’s name was Daulatun Nesha. He was ten years younger than Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Her first book was published four years after Bankim Chandra’s first book. In addition, renowned writers Michael Madhusudan Dutta and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar were his contemporaries.
Childhood and Education:
Mosharraf Hossain learned Arabic and Persian from a teacher at home and later he learned Bengali at a nearby school. He began his formal education at Kushtia School. And later he studied till fifth grade at Krishnanagar Collegiate School. Although he was admitted to Kalighat School in Kolkata, He could not complete his studies. He started his career for his father’s property. Later, he worked at the Faridpur Nawab Estate and in 1885 at the Delduar Estate. From 1903 to 1909, He lived in Kolkata until 2011.
Literary practice:
He started his literary career during his student life. Harinath Majumdar, aka Kangal Harinath of Kumarkhali, present-day in Kushtia district, used to publish a magazine called ‘Gram Barta’. He also used to write for Ishwar Chandra Gupta’s ‘Sangbad Prabhakar’ magazine from his youth. In short, He initially worked as a reporter and editor for various newspapers. Then he has demonstrated his talent by writing various books in thought and language. He wrote a total of 35 books. He achieved fame in essays, novels, farces, plays, biographies and so on. Among them, His most popular and best work is the novel “Bishad Sindhu”. Moreover, his first novel ‘Ratnabarti’ (1869), first plays ‘Basantakumari’ (1873), ‘Zamindar Darpan’ play (1873), ‘Gojivan’ (1889) essay, ‘Er upai ki?’ (1876) Comedy is also quite outdated. His other works include ‘Gauri-Setu’ (1873), ‘Sabgeet Lahari’ (1887), ‘Behula Geetavinoye’ (1889), ‘Udasin Pathiker Moner Kotha’ (1890), ‘Tahmina’ (1897), ‘Tala Abhinay’ (1897), ‘Niyoti ki Obonoti’ (1889), ‘Gazi Miar Bastani’ (1899), ‘Mawlud Sharif’ (1903), ‘Musalman Bangla Shikhok’ (2 parts: 1903, 1908), ‘Bibi Khadeejar Bibah’ (1905), ‘Hazrat Omarer Dhormojibon Lav’ (1905), Madinar Gourab’ (1906), ‘Bajimat’ (1908), ‘Amar Jiban Bani’ (1908-1910), ‘Amar Jibaner Jibani Bibi Kulsum’ (1910) and so on.
Major Contributions:
In the nineteenth century, Western education had changed. Consequently, the political, social and cultural environment of the country changed too. Hindu writers educated in Western education focused on creating literature of high quality and taste. On the other hand, the Muslim educated society was still dependent on Arabic-Persian. They were busy with their literary works. The stateless Muslim society was still unable to compromise with its arch-enemy, the British. They did not accept their introduced educational system wholeheartedly. As a result, Bengali Muslims deteriorated in all social, political and economic aspects. Although late, among the Muslims who took up literary works with the spirit of social reform education and religious awakening, Mir Saheb was one of them and the main pioneer. He was the renaissance man of Bengali literature in the minds of Bengali Muslims.
Before him, there was no significant Muslim literary work in Bengali prose. That is why Akshay Kumar Maitreya commented about Mir Saheb’s Literary establishment that “There was poetry in Bengali literature written by Muslims before Mir Saheb, but there was no prose to read. Now, many enjoyable prose pieces have been written. Even now, among Muslim prose writers, Mir Saheb is known as the first and greatest prose writer."
Writing Features:
In the 19th century, two trends were found in Muslim literary pursuits. One was independent and the other was syncretistic. Those who were more interested in spreading Islam than in creating literature were called independent. On the other hand, those who were interested in developing literature were called syncretistic. Mir Saheb belonged to the second group. Therefore, although the books written by him were religious, they were viewed as secular. And his books have become enjoyable readings because of his generous humanity and impartial perspective. However, his ideas about life, religion, etc., are not shallow. His familiarity with the complexities of human life is also sufficient. The artist has given shape to Islamic religious stories, universal through decorating in literary taste. He has shown achievement in character portrayal.
Writing Contents:
The content of Mir Saheb’s essays was mainly centred on history, society, religion and biography. The author could not support social injustice and disorder. He reflected it in his dramas and farces by gaining simple ,practical experience in his own life. Even though he himself was the son of a landlord, writing such a poem about the oppression of the landlord is an indication of his generous humanity. The author has shed light in the book ‘Gohatya’ because there should not be division between the Hindu and Muslim societies over cow slaughter. Due to this, even today, he has made a place deep in the hearts of all Bengalis and is considered immortal. He satirised the contemporary follies and faults of society in most of his writings. For example, in the book Ghazimiya’s Bastani, he satirised the chaos and corruption in general in Bengal of the nineteenth century and particularly criticised about independence of women, as he believed that living a life of deprivation leads to poverty.
Afterlife:
He was devastated by the death of his second wife, Kulsum, in 1901 and was unable to compose anything further. He finally died on 19 December 1912 in Nawabpur, Baliakandi, the royal house bid farewell to this world forever. Finally, he was buried in Padmadi. But his unparalleled achievements and contributions to literary pursuits have played a major role, and he remains deeply in the hearts of Bengalis even today. Therefore,. It is the duty of all literature lovers to pay worthy tribute to his talent by rescuing all his works from destruction.
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