Prof Nurul Amin Chowdhury :
The history of Bengali literature appeared in its own shape by Raja Ram Mohon Roy (1774-1833), Peari Chand Mitro (1814-83) the writer of ‘Alaler Ghorer Dulal,’ 1858, considered as the first Bangla Novel, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagor (1820-91), Bhudev Mukhopadhayay (1825-95), Dinobondhu Mitro (1830-74), Bankim Chandra Chottopadhyay (1838-98).
Among them, Bankim was the strongest and greatest prose-writer. Bengali language and literature became wealthy and prosperous by his hand from all sides. He earned success and reputation as a Bengali novelist as he wrote his novels following the style of English literature.
His first novel Durgesh Nondini was published in 1863. To enrich the base of Bengali literature to its highest standard he has afforded an extra-ordinary contribution though he would hold a kind of malicious feeling to the Muslim community.
In the act of going upwards of Bengali literature, especially in the field of prose or novel, we do not find any Muslim figure. After Bankim Chandra, Bengali literature headed towards by Rabindranath Tagore, (1861-1941), Provat Kumer Mukhopadhyay (1873-1932), Sharat Chandra Chottopadhyay (1876-1937), Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) and other writers.
In the blooming period of Bengali Muslim literature, Mir Mosharrof Hossain (1848-1912) was considered as the first Muslim writer, even he was considered as the greatest prose-writer of 19th century for his famous literary work Bishad Shindu, which was published in three parts during 1885, 1887 and 1891. It was a profusely read and popular book. It was written on the tragic historical base on the Muslim community’s inter-wrangling tragic matter which happened during 7th century in a Middle-East country (Karbala, Damesk). Mir Mosharrof Hossain had written more than fifty books, but most of them could not achieve the recognition as a novel in the justification of literary art.
In this context, Mohammad Najibor Rahman is evaluated to be the first successful Muslim novelist and writer. Among his writings, novel ‘Anowara’ placed him in the position of the best popular novelist. ‘Anowara’ was published in 1914. From the time of its first publication, it became a legendary performance in the history of Begali literature as successful novel. It became so popular and profusely read book which had its 27th edition within 15 years and 6 lakh copies were sold.
Thus Najibor Rahman by his extra-ordinary contribution fertilised the field of Bengali novel and literature by Muslims and earned tremendous success and reputation as a novelist. It is mentionable that during the decade of the last sixty, late Zahir Raihan, the renowned writer and motion picture maker and director, made a cinema with the theme and subject of the novel ‘Anowara’. The film was accepted and admired by viewers tremendously as well as the readers of it. Bangladesh Television authority aired a serial of this novel in 1987.
It was a time when novel, drama etc. were generally prohibited in the Bengali Muslim families. There was a historical importance of the novel ‘Anowara’ to its buyers, readers, collectors and viewers of its cinema and drama. Once it became a system to present the novel ‘Anowara’ on the occasion of marriage ceremony, prize giving ceremony of school and college and in other ceremonial functions.
The main cause of its mass acceptance and popularity was that, in this novel, Najibor Rahman has illustrated and picturesqued the real sight of Muslim society, their family activities and love-affairs, which were absent in the writings of many writers of neighbouring society. They exhibited the Muslim characters in their writings either very negligently or in the role of less countable lower label.
In this regard, Najibor Rahman extra-ordinarily, exceptionally, prestigiously and courageously droved his sharp pen to draw and exhibited the Muslim characters properly in his novels. He did never represent any Hindu character in his writings negligently or never hurt any Hindu character. Thus ‘Anowara’ became a master piece among other books and novels of other writers of his contemporary period.
Contd on page 9
The history of Bengali literature appeared in its own shape by Raja Ram Mohon Roy (1774-1833), Peari Chand Mitro (1814-83) the writer of ‘Alaler Ghorer Dulal,’ 1858, considered as the first Bangla Novel, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagor (1820-91), Bhudev Mukhopadhayay (1825-95), Dinobondhu Mitro (1830-74), Bankim Chandra Chottopadhyay (1838-98).
Among them, Bankim was the strongest and greatest prose-writer. Bengali language and literature became wealthy and prosperous by his hand from all sides. He earned success and reputation as a Bengali novelist as he wrote his novels following the style of English literature.
His first novel Durgesh Nondini was published in 1863. To enrich the base of Bengali literature to its highest standard he has afforded an extra-ordinary contribution though he would hold a kind of malicious feeling to the Muslim community.
In the act of going upwards of Bengali literature, especially in the field of prose or novel, we do not find any Muslim figure. After Bankim Chandra, Bengali literature headed towards by Rabindranath Tagore, (1861-1941), Provat Kumer Mukhopadhyay (1873-1932), Sharat Chandra Chottopadhyay (1876-1937), Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) and other writers.
In the blooming period of Bengali Muslim literature, Mir Mosharrof Hossain (1848-1912) was considered as the first Muslim writer, even he was considered as the greatest prose-writer of 19th century for his famous literary work Bishad Shindu, which was published in three parts during 1885, 1887 and 1891. It was a profusely read and popular book. It was written on the tragic historical base on the Muslim community’s inter-wrangling tragic matter which happened during 7th century in a Middle-East country (Karbala, Damesk). Mir Mosharrof Hossain had written more than fifty books, but most of them could not achieve the recognition as a novel in the justification of literary art.
In this context, Mohammad Najibor Rahman is evaluated to be the first successful Muslim novelist and writer. Among his writings, novel ‘Anowara’ placed him in the position of the best popular novelist. ‘Anowara’ was published in 1914. From the time of its first publication, it became a legendary performance in the history of Begali literature as successful novel. It became so popular and profusely read book which had its 27th edition within 15 years and 6 lakh copies were sold.
Thus Najibor Rahman by his extra-ordinary contribution fertilised the field of Bengali novel and literature by Muslims and earned tremendous success and reputation as a novelist. It is mentionable that during the decade of the last sixty, late Zahir Raihan, the renowned writer and motion picture maker and director, made a cinema with the theme and subject of the novel ‘Anowara’. The film was accepted and admired by viewers tremendously as well as the readers of it. Bangladesh Television authority aired a serial of this novel in 1987.
It was a time when novel, drama etc. were generally prohibited in the Bengali Muslim families. There was a historical importance of the novel ‘Anowara’ to its buyers, readers, collectors and viewers of its cinema and drama. Once it became a system to present the novel ‘Anowara’ on the occasion of marriage ceremony, prize giving ceremony of school and college and in other ceremonial functions.
The main cause of its mass acceptance and popularity was that, in this novel, Najibor Rahman has illustrated and picturesqued the real sight of Muslim society, their family activities and love-affairs, which were absent in the writings of many writers of neighbouring society. They exhibited the Muslim characters in their writings either very negligently or in the role of less countable lower label.
In this regard, Najibor Rahman extra-ordinarily, exceptionally, prestigiously and courageously droved his sharp pen to draw and exhibited the Muslim characters properly in his novels. He did never represent any Hindu character in his writings negligently or never hurt any Hindu character. Thus ‘Anowara’ became a master piece among other books and novels of other writers of his contemporary period.
Contd on page 9
