Abul Kalam Shamsuddin
Encyclopedia
Abul Kalam Shamsuddin (November 3, 1897–1978) was a journalist, politician and littérateur. He was born at Trishal of Mymensingh
.
in 1919. Then we went to Ripon College
of Kolkata to gain higher studies. In 1921 he took the Upadhi examination from Gudiya Suvama Vidyayatan. He participated in Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
as a student.
as assistant editor. He also edited the weekly Moslem Jagat, The Musalman
, the Daily Soltan, the weekly Mohammadi and Mashik Mohammadi. He joined the daily newspaper called The Azad
in 1936. He worked as the editor of the daily from 1940 to 1962. He also was the editor of Daily Pakistan
.
. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi
and joined the Indian National Congress
. In 1927 he joined the Muslim League. He also took part in the Pakistan Movement
after becoming the president of East Pakistan Renaissance Society
. He also was the chairman of the Reception Committee of the Renaissance Society Summit at Kolkata in 1944. In 1946 he was elected to the Central Legislative Council. Shamsuddin became a member of Language Committee of East Pakistan Government in 1949.
. At that time he was the editor of the leading daily Azad
which supplied true news about the movement. On February 22, 1952 he resigned from the East Bengal Legislative Assembly to protest the police firing of the previous day. Azad also published a special evening edition on that day. According to him the editorial that he wrote to criticize the police firing created massive excitement among the youths.
in 1967. In 1969 during the revolution of people he protested against the government and refused his awards for the cause. He received the Bangla Academy
award in 1970. After the independence of Bangladesh, he was honored with the Bangladesh’s highest honour Ekushey Padak
.
Mymensingh District
Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division, Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by Meghalaya state of India and Garo Hills, on the south by Gazipur district, on the east by districts of Netrokona and Kishoreganj, and on the west by districts of Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail...
.
Early life
Shamsuddin passed IA from Dhaka CollegeDhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...
in 1919. Then we went to Ripon College
Surendranath College
Surendranath College is an undergraduate college affiliated to the University of Calcutta, in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1884 by the nationalist leader Surendranath Banerjea....
of Kolkata to gain higher studies. In 1921 he took the Upadhi examination from Gudiya Suvama Vidyayatan. He participated in Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
as a student.
Journalism
In 1922 he joined the daily MohammadiMohammadi
Mohammadi is a city and a municipal board in Lakhimpur Kheri district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Demographics: India census, Mohammadi had a population of 38,427. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Mohammadi has an average literacy rate of 48%, lower than the...
as assistant editor. He also edited the weekly Moslem Jagat, The Musalman
The Musalman
The Musalman is the oldest Urdu-language daily newspaper published from Chennai in India. It is an evening paper with four pages, all of which are handwritten by calligraphers, before being mass-produced with a printing press...
, the Daily Soltan, the weekly Mohammadi and Mashik Mohammadi. He joined the daily newspaper called The Azad
The Azad
The Daily Azad is a Bengali daily newspaper that was first published in Kolkata on October 31, 1936. The first editor of the daily was Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan. In the early days the daily was treated as the expresser of the Muslims of Bengal and Assam. In the 1940s the editor was Mohammad...
in 1936. He worked as the editor of the daily from 1940 to 1962. He also was the editor of Daily Pakistan
Daily Pakistan
Daily Pakistan is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Mr. Mujib ur Rahman Shami is currently its chief editor and it has a circulation of over 500,000 copies per day. Daily Pakistan is currently published from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan and Peshawar simultaneously. This Lahore-based daily...
.
Political career
Shamsuddin first came to politics after the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre in PunjabPunjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and joined the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. In 1927 he joined the Muslim League. He also took part in the Pakistan Movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
after becoming the president of East Pakistan Renaissance Society
East Pakistan Renaissance Society
The East Pakistan Renaissance Society was a political organisation formed to articulate and promote culturally and intellectually the idea for a separate Muslim state for Indian Muslims and specifically for the Muslims of Bengal...
. He also was the chairman of the Reception Committee of the Renaissance Society Summit at Kolkata in 1944. In 1946 he was elected to the Central Legislative Council. Shamsuddin became a member of Language Committee of East Pakistan Government in 1949.
Involvement in Language Movement
Abul Kalam Shamsuddin played an important role during the Language MovementLanguage Movement
The Bengali Language Movement, also known as the Language Movement , was a political effort in Bangladesh , advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan...
. At that time he was the editor of the leading daily Azad
The Azad
The Daily Azad is a Bengali daily newspaper that was first published in Kolkata on October 31, 1936. The first editor of the daily was Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan. In the early days the daily was treated as the expresser of the Muslims of Bengal and Assam. In the 1940s the editor was Mohammad...
which supplied true news about the movement. On February 22, 1952 he resigned from the East Bengal Legislative Assembly to protest the police firing of the previous day. Azad also published a special evening edition on that day. According to him the editorial that he wrote to criticize the police firing created massive excitement among the youths.
Literatures
Abul Kalam Shamsuddin wrote a number of books. He along with some other writer formed a domestic literature society named Raonok. Shamsuddin was the secretary of this 21 member society of Islamist writers. Amongst them his autobiography Atit Jiboner Smriti is considered as his masterpiece. His other works are:- Podojomi Ba Anabadi Jami (1938)
- Trisrota (1939)
- Kharataranga (1953)
- Drstikon (1961)
- Natun China Natun Desh (1965)
- Digvijayi Taimur (1965),
- Iliad (1967),
- Palashi Theke Pakistan (1968),
- Atit Diner Smrti (1968)
Awards
Abul Kalam Shamsuddin was awarded a number of awards in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Pakistan he was awarded the Sitara-i-Khidmat in 1961 and Sitara-i-ImtiazSitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
in 1967. In 1969 during the revolution of people he protested against the government and refused his awards for the cause. He received the Bangla Academy
Bangla Academy
Bangla Academy , established on 3 December 1955, is the national academy for promoting Bangla language in Bangladesh. The main office of the organization is located at the Burdwan House, once a part of the campus of the University of Dhaka, beside Suhrawardy Udyan.-History:The importance of...
award in 1970. After the independence of Bangladesh, he was honored with the Bangladesh’s highest honour 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...
.