Dr M Mosharraf Hossain
If individual popularity irrespective of one’s professional involvement is taken as a dependable yardstick to measure his/her inner potentials, then, by all means, Professor Mobasher Ali would be one who had been popular by his own merit. Professor Mobasher Ali died on November 09, 2005 of Cardiac problem succumbing to post-operative complications at Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University.
Prof. Mobasher Ali used to traverse the field of language and literature ever glittering and majestic. His pride of performance as one of the most distinguished personages in the realm of Bangla literature used to have an additional fillip owing to his active participation in the historic· Language Movement in 1952.
Basically an educationist, precisely a teacher by profession Mobasher Ali excelled in many other branches of language and literature with enviable distinction. He was an academician, educationist on one hand and on the other a prolific writer, an introspective researcher besides being a multi-pronged litterateur of immense reputation.
Prof Kabir Chowdhury commented that his works add a new dimension in Bangla literature to hasten the progress of the society as well as the nation.
Mobasher Ali’s ancestral home was at Bagichagaon in Comilla town. Here he was born on January 01, 1931 in an aristocratic, educated and highly enlightened family. A law graduate of Aligarh Muslim College (later turned into Aligarh Muslim University) Mobasher Ali’s father late Nawajesh Ali was the first B. L. of greater Comilla District. His grand father late Bazlul Haque was also the first graduate of the greater Comilla District from Presidency College. He held the position of a Deputy Magistrate during British rule. Father of Bazlul Haque Khan Bahadur Ali Nawazesh was Sadar-e-Alah.
In the historic year of the Language Movement, that is, in 1952 Mobasher Ali obtained Masters degree in Bangla from Dhaka University. Having opted for teaching profession he took employment with Netrokona College, Mymensingh in 1953. He shifted himself to M M College, Jessore in 1954 where he stayed for four years. He joined the noted Comilla Victoria College thereafter. Here he worked till 1979 when he was transferred to B.L. University College, Khulna as its Acting Principal. He was with Haji Mohd. Mohsin College in 1980 as Principal and worked till his retirement in 1987.
Mobasher Ali’s contribution to Bangla literature commenced in 1958 when his illuminating article on the Nobel Prize Winner Boris Pasternak of Russia was published in Samakal, founded and edited by noted poet and litterateur Sikandar Abu Jafar. Professor Ali evinced keen interest in Greek, Latin and English literature parallel with Bengali. Professor Monsoor Musa, former Director General of Bangla Academy observed that Prof. Ali worked hard to enrich Benglai research work and his contribution towards nation will be remembered even after his death.
As a most conscientious and dedicated teacher he used to nurse within a missionary zeal and enthusiasm to build the educational career of his students on a right track away from the obtrusive student politics. To him education and education, nay, real education alone, used to receive topmost priority. Development of language with concurrent proficiency used to occupy his prime consideration at all times. Indeed he used to enjoy immense popularity among his students in particular and the selected people he used to associate with.
Prof. Ali took real pride in working relentlessly for establishing ethical values among the people he worked within different institutions. This outstanding personality tirelessly worked for the welfare of the people through application of his erudite scholastic faculties and imaginative fervour.
In this, development of human resource in the country had been placed in the upper hand to be more rewarding.
Around the past five decades till his death Mobasher Ali played a pivotal role in the field of literary criticism and translation from world literature. It had been his firm conviction that our own literature, if properly exposed to world literature could be eventually richer. Hence he laid special emphasis on translating works of great writers of the world for the lovers of literature in Bangladesh. And in such a pursuit the nation had from him a sizeable number of translation works making our own literature more and more engrossing. Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bishwa Shahitya Kendra observed that Ali worked for humanity and played important role for creating awareness among Bangla readers.
Parallel to his original works in Bangla and on our literature he had a fabulous number of publications on Greek, Roman and Russian literatures vis-a-vis great works of the authors belonging to European continent.
On the home front his books on Michael Modhusudan, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam had been best sellers for years.
Some of these publications had sixth edition which would atone for the great interest evinced by myriads of readers at home. Likewise his translation works of collection of Greek stories. British poet P.B. Shelley’s works and of Leonards Da’ Vinci among others received tremendous attention of Bengali readers.
Mobasher Ali traced glorious past of the nation in his book Bangladesher Sondhane (In quest of Bangladesh). The book started with the ancient history of Bangladesh (500 B.C.) and ended with 16th december, 1971 when the country became independent. Poet Prof. Abdul Mannan Sayed commented that he had shown relentless personal efforts and strength of persuasion which enabled the people of the country see a dream of long cherished cultural heritage of Bangladesh.
And in the sphere of education Prof Ali was particularly careful about the ever deteriorating level of knowledge of the students in respect of Bangla Grammar.
He was consequently inspired to include in his publication a book on Bangla Grammar and essay for the Intermediate students. Taken all together the total number of his published books stood at 45. This number shall have by itself corroborated his personal stature as a prolific writer scarcely matched by others in this part of the sub-continent. And coincidentally all his works have been very widely read and warmly appreciated by many eminent authors and critics here.
Taken separately his research works have also been largely acclaimed both at home and abroad. This year two books which were earlier written was published-one is on Bankimchandra and another one is Famous People of Bengal. Mobasher Ali was a member of the Film Censor Board. He was also a member of the Film Award Jury Board.
Prof Mobasher Ali had been a proud recipient of a good number of Prizes and Awards which included among others, Bangla Academy Prize (1974), Ekushey Padak (1992), Madhusudan Academy Prize (1993), Bangladesh Lekhika Shangha prize(1993), Jatiya National Samaj Padak (2001), Rapport Award for excellence in Human Resource development-2004.
Prof Mobasher Ali was buried at Shaheed Buddhizibi Graveyard at Mirpur in a temporary grave on 9th November, 2005. His well wishers sought permission on 10th December, 2005 to the Mayor of the City Corporation to make the grave permanent after making full payment; but City Corporation did not respond it. Necessary steps are yet required for permission to make it permanent.
A book on Mobasher Ali has been published in the occasion of his 6th death anniversary.
His well-wishers and readers lament that such a noted personality in the world of literature was not considered for the National Swadhinata Padak.
Such an instance of ignoring a most eligible citizen of the country is considered by many as ignoring the real human assets that the nation could be proud of.
Some feel that even a posthumous award now could partially heal the sore born of discrimination in the selection process. n
