Abdus Salam (Editor)
Encyclopedia
Abdus Salam, born on 2 August 1910 in the village South Dharmapur in the Chhagalnaiya Upazila
(subdistrict) of Feni District
in Bangladesh, was one of the most well-known newspaper editors of Pakistan, editing the Pakistan Observer (renamed The Bangladesh Observer http://www.bangladeshobserveronline.com/ after the liberation of Bangladesh) from 1949 to 1972, except for a discontinuity from 1952 to 1954, when the newspaper was banned by the government, already irked by its pro-Bengali stance, and finding an excuse to get rid of it when Salam wrote an editorial comparing the nepotism of one of the early caliphs with that of Prime Minister Nazimuddin, which was interpreted as blasphemous. In 1954 the balance of political power changed and the ban was lifted, after Salam won a seat in the Provincial Parliament in the general elections.
Earlier Salam had earned reputation as one of the best students of the country with top scholarships all the way from Matriculation to MA of Calcutta University. He won the Tony Memorial Gold Medal for securing the first position in the BA in English Examination at Presidency College%2C Kolkata. After a brief period as a Professor of English at Feni College, he served in many government departments during the British period, including Income Tax, Civil Supplies and Audit. In Pakistan he became the Deputy Accountant General, but left government service because of its anti-Bengali policies, and joined the Observer.
He was jailed twice - first for the editorial on Nazimuddin, and then again when the press of The Morning News, a newspaper catering to the interests of non-Bengalis, was destroyed in a fire. Apart from editorials Salam wrote two popular columns - The Political Scene, and The Idle Thoughts. His criticism of General Ayub Khan brought down the wrath of the dictator, and the Observer lost all its government advertisements. Salam, however, became a very respected figure nationally and even became the President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.
After liberation , when Salam wrote an editorial headed The Supreme Test, giving some constructive criticism to the new government of Bangladesh, he was removed from the Observer. He continued to write for the Bangladesh Times. Later, after the political change of 1975, he became the founder-Director-General of the Press Institute of Bangladeshhttp://www.pib.gov.bd. He was awarded an Ekushey Padak
when it was first introduced in 1976.
He died of a massive heart attack on 13 February 1977.
2. Banglapedia : National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Online: Bangladesh Observer http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/B_0228.htm
3. Boi-Mela: Salam, Abdus http://www.boi-mela.com/banglapedia/ViewArticle.asp?TopicRef=5792
Chhagalnaiya Upazila
Chhagalnaiya is an Upazila of Feni District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.It lies in the southern part of the district, bordering Tripura state of India and Mirsharai Upazila of Chittagong. It is rich in history and culture. The great medieval warrior Shamser Ghazi hailed from...
(subdistrict) of Feni District
Feni District
Feni is a small southern district of Bangladesh, bordering Tripura in India, Chittagong district, the Bay of Bengal, Noakhali district and Comilla district...
in Bangladesh, was one of the most well-known newspaper editors of Pakistan, editing the Pakistan Observer (renamed The Bangladesh Observer http://www.bangladeshobserveronline.com/ after the liberation of Bangladesh) from 1949 to 1972, except for a discontinuity from 1952 to 1954, when the newspaper was banned by the government, already irked by its pro-Bengali stance, and finding an excuse to get rid of it when Salam wrote an editorial comparing the nepotism of one of the early caliphs with that of Prime Minister Nazimuddin, which was interpreted as blasphemous. In 1954 the balance of political power changed and the ban was lifted, after Salam won a seat in the Provincial Parliament in the general elections.
Earlier Salam had earned reputation as one of the best students of the country with top scholarships all the way from Matriculation to MA of Calcutta University. He won the Tony Memorial Gold Medal for securing the first position in the BA in English Examination at Presidency College%2C Kolkata. After a brief period as a Professor of English at Feni College, he served in many government departments during the British period, including Income Tax, Civil Supplies and Audit. In Pakistan he became the Deputy Accountant General, but left government service because of its anti-Bengali policies, and joined the Observer.
He was jailed twice - first for the editorial on Nazimuddin, and then again when the press of The Morning News, a newspaper catering to the interests of non-Bengalis, was destroyed in a fire. Apart from editorials Salam wrote two popular columns - The Political Scene, and The Idle Thoughts. His criticism of General Ayub Khan brought down the wrath of the dictator, and the Observer lost all its government advertisements. Salam, however, became a very respected figure nationally and even became the President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.
After liberation , when Salam wrote an editorial headed The Supreme Test, giving some constructive criticism to the new government of Bangladesh, he was removed from the Observer. He continued to write for the Bangladesh Times. Later, after the political change of 1975, he became the founder-Director-General of the Press Institute of Bangladeshhttp://www.pib.gov.bd. He was awarded an Ekushey Padak
Ekushey Padak
Ekushey Padak is one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 that took place on February 21, 1952.-2001:*Shah Abdul Karim...
when it was first introduced in 1976.
He died of a massive heart attack on 13 February 1977.
External links
1. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Online: Abdus Salam http://banglapedia.org/HT/S_0658.htm2. Banglapedia : National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Online: Bangladesh Observer http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/B_0228.htm
3. Boi-Mela: Salam, Abdus http://www.boi-mela.com/banglapedia/ViewArticle.asp?TopicRef=5792