Prof Nurul Amin Chowdhury :
Mohammad Barkatullah was one of the most eminent and thoughtful high-ranking prose writers. He occupies a special position among the Muslim writers for his deep-rooted Islamic and philosophic writings. Over and above, he was a highly qualified government officer. He started his brilliant career with the then Bengal Civil Service during the British period and continued with tremendous success till 1955.
Barkatullah was born on 2nd March 1898 at village Ghorashal under Shahjadpur p.s. of Pabna district. His father Ali Azam was a physician. He was pious. His mother’s name was Tosiron Bibi. His elder brother was also a physician and locally renowned as a writer. He was brought up within an enlightened and educated family environment.
Barkatullah was Matriculated from Shahjadpur High School in 1914 in the first division. He passed Intermediate from Rajshahi College in 1916 in the first division and got divisional scholarship. From the same College he did his Honour’s course in Philosophy in 1918 and then completed MA and Bar-at-Law degree from Calcutta University in the year 1920 and 22. In 1923, he competed in the first Bengal Civil Service (BCS) Examination and was placed 5th among all candidates. In his job-career at first he was appointed as an Income Tax Officer and then he joined the administrative department of Bengal Civil Service. In 1924, he joined as a Deputy Magistrate cum Collector and served in various places in Bengal.
He started his writings from his student life. In 1915, when he was a student of Rajshahi College, he had an opportunity to come in touch with the famous writers of that time in a literary conference held in Rajshahi where he worked as a volunteer.
In 1916 and 1917, Rajshahi College Magazine published his articles Podmobokkshe and Bhogno deul. In 1917, The AI Ehsan published his article Chhatro Somaje Jatiota under which the editor Maulana Moniruzzman Islamabadi wrote an extolling comment.
When he was a student of Calcutta University, he wrote some philosophical articles on request of Nasiur Uddin, editor of Sawgat. His Dhrubo Kothay was the first article of any Muslim writer published in Sawgat in 1922. The editor of Sawgat commented about this article, “In this article the writer wrote very efficiently in wonderful splendid style of his own about the opinions of renowned philosophers about the justification of literature, life and the universe, life and death, worldly life and life after death, animates and inanimates, vast natural power, Heavenly evolution and the Supreme Power of the Almighty.” This article was afterwards included in his book Manusher Dhormo. At the same time, i.e. during his student life of Kolkata University, some of his writings about Persian poets and Persian literature were published in Moslem Bharat, Bongiyo Muslim Shahityo Potrika and Sawgat. These writings were included in his book ‘Paroshyo Protibha.
In 1924, after the publication of Paroshyo Protibha the papers and magazines like- Bongobashi, Weekly Mohammadi, Moslem Jogot, Soltan, Anondobazar, Bijlee, Dainik Boshumoti, Probashi, Shonjiboni, etc. praised much in the criticism of this book. In the first part of Paroshyo Protibha (published in 1924), the writer discussed about some Persian litterateurs and in its 2nd part (published in 1932), he discussed about the religious and philosophical aspects in Persian literature.
In the long period of his life as a writer, though many of his writings were published in papers, magazines and periodicals, the number of his published books are only seven:
1. Paroshyo Protibha (The genius of Persia) (1st part), 2. Paroshyo Protibha (The genius of Persia) (2nd part), 3. Manusher Dhormo, (The religion of humanity) 4. Karbala, 5. Nobigriho Songbad, (The news of the house of the Prophet (Sm) 6. Noya Jatisroshta Hazrat Mohammad (Sm) (Hazrat Mohammad (Sm): The creator of a new nation) and 7. Hazrat Usman (R).
During 1948, 1949, 1950, he served as the Deputy Magistrate of Khulna, Mymensing and Barishal district. In 1951, he joined as a Deputy Secretary in the Education Department.
When Bardwan House was going to turn as a Research Academy for Bengali Language he was selected to write the Sixteen Points for establishment of The Research Academy for Bengali Language within the 25 points of Juktofront. He was also -selected as a member of the Specialist Committee of The Research Academy for Bengali Language.
He got retired from government service in 1955. Then he was appointed as the Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee of BangIa Academy and he joined as special officer on 2nd December,1955 after the establishment of Bangla Academy. He worked in this post till February 28 of 1957. He was the draftmaker of the by-laws and principles of Bangla Academy.
In 1957, his 4th book ‘Karbala’ was published and he presented in it the heartbreaking description of Karbala war and an ancestral history of Prophet Muhammad (Sm). The Ad hoc Committee of Bangla Academy got recognition as a Council and Barkatullah served as its Secretary. In 1960, Bangla Academy started to provide an Award in the name ‘BangIa Academy Prize’ and Barkatullah won this prize for the first time in the same year.
In 1961, Indo-Pak Cultural Conference was held in Delhi and Barkatullah represented the country and presented an article there.
He was nominated as the Chairman of BangIa Academy and he presided over the Annual General Meetings held on 10th June, 1962 and on 4th August, 1963. He was a lifelong fellow of BangIa Academy. He was awarded Daud Sahitya Puroskar for his book Noya Jati Sroshta Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) in 1963·
In 1970, he was honoured with the Award of President Pride of Performance. In 1984, he achieved ‘Islamic Foundation Puroskar’ (posthumous).
At the age of 70, Mohammad Barkatullah expired on 2nd November, 1974·
His achievements and contributions are important in the field of our literature. He should be remembered with due respect for his valuable and rare contribution of high thoughts. In this context, it is necessary to put an important comment by Hari Das Bhattacharya, a renowned Professor of Philosophy of Dhaka University about Barkatullah : “Undoubtedly Barkatullah is one of those writers who helped to enrich Bengali Language and make it self-reliant.”
Our publication sector should take keen interest to publish new editions of the writings of Barkatullah and other writers’ of yester years for our present and next generations to awaken and inspire their nobility and acquaintance. The print and electronic media should publish articles and air programmes on those stalwarts who contributed to awaken us to rejuvenation. n
Mohammad Barkatullah was one of the most eminent and thoughtful high-ranking prose writers. He occupies a special position among the Muslim writers for his deep-rooted Islamic and philosophic writings. Over and above, he was a highly qualified government officer. He started his brilliant career with the then Bengal Civil Service during the British period and continued with tremendous success till 1955.
Barkatullah was born on 2nd March 1898 at village Ghorashal under Shahjadpur p.s. of Pabna district. His father Ali Azam was a physician. He was pious. His mother’s name was Tosiron Bibi. His elder brother was also a physician and locally renowned as a writer. He was brought up within an enlightened and educated family environment.
Barkatullah was Matriculated from Shahjadpur High School in 1914 in the first division. He passed Intermediate from Rajshahi College in 1916 in the first division and got divisional scholarship. From the same College he did his Honour’s course in Philosophy in 1918 and then completed MA and Bar-at-Law degree from Calcutta University in the year 1920 and 22. In 1923, he competed in the first Bengal Civil Service (BCS) Examination and was placed 5th among all candidates. In his job-career at first he was appointed as an Income Tax Officer and then he joined the administrative department of Bengal Civil Service. In 1924, he joined as a Deputy Magistrate cum Collector and served in various places in Bengal.
He started his writings from his student life. In 1915, when he was a student of Rajshahi College, he had an opportunity to come in touch with the famous writers of that time in a literary conference held in Rajshahi where he worked as a volunteer.
In 1916 and 1917, Rajshahi College Magazine published his articles Podmobokkshe and Bhogno deul. In 1917, The AI Ehsan published his article Chhatro Somaje Jatiota under which the editor Maulana Moniruzzman Islamabadi wrote an extolling comment.
When he was a student of Calcutta University, he wrote some philosophical articles on request of Nasiur Uddin, editor of Sawgat. His Dhrubo Kothay was the first article of any Muslim writer published in Sawgat in 1922. The editor of Sawgat commented about this article, “In this article the writer wrote very efficiently in wonderful splendid style of his own about the opinions of renowned philosophers about the justification of literature, life and the universe, life and death, worldly life and life after death, animates and inanimates, vast natural power, Heavenly evolution and the Supreme Power of the Almighty.” This article was afterwards included in his book Manusher Dhormo. At the same time, i.e. during his student life of Kolkata University, some of his writings about Persian poets and Persian literature were published in Moslem Bharat, Bongiyo Muslim Shahityo Potrika and Sawgat. These writings were included in his book ‘Paroshyo Protibha.
In 1924, after the publication of Paroshyo Protibha the papers and magazines like- Bongobashi, Weekly Mohammadi, Moslem Jogot, Soltan, Anondobazar, Bijlee, Dainik Boshumoti, Probashi, Shonjiboni, etc. praised much in the criticism of this book. In the first part of Paroshyo Protibha (published in 1924), the writer discussed about some Persian litterateurs and in its 2nd part (published in 1932), he discussed about the religious and philosophical aspects in Persian literature.
In the long period of his life as a writer, though many of his writings were published in papers, magazines and periodicals, the number of his published books are only seven:
1. Paroshyo Protibha (The genius of Persia) (1st part), 2. Paroshyo Protibha (The genius of Persia) (2nd part), 3. Manusher Dhormo, (The religion of humanity) 4. Karbala, 5. Nobigriho Songbad, (The news of the house of the Prophet (Sm) 6. Noya Jatisroshta Hazrat Mohammad (Sm) (Hazrat Mohammad (Sm): The creator of a new nation) and 7. Hazrat Usman (R).
During 1948, 1949, 1950, he served as the Deputy Magistrate of Khulna, Mymensing and Barishal district. In 1951, he joined as a Deputy Secretary in the Education Department.
When Bardwan House was going to turn as a Research Academy for Bengali Language he was selected to write the Sixteen Points for establishment of The Research Academy for Bengali Language within the 25 points of Juktofront. He was also -selected as a member of the Specialist Committee of The Research Academy for Bengali Language.
He got retired from government service in 1955. Then he was appointed as the Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee of BangIa Academy and he joined as special officer on 2nd December,1955 after the establishment of Bangla Academy. He worked in this post till February 28 of 1957. He was the draftmaker of the by-laws and principles of Bangla Academy.
In 1957, his 4th book ‘Karbala’ was published and he presented in it the heartbreaking description of Karbala war and an ancestral history of Prophet Muhammad (Sm). The Ad hoc Committee of Bangla Academy got recognition as a Council and Barkatullah served as its Secretary. In 1960, Bangla Academy started to provide an Award in the name ‘BangIa Academy Prize’ and Barkatullah won this prize for the first time in the same year.
In 1961, Indo-Pak Cultural Conference was held in Delhi and Barkatullah represented the country and presented an article there.
He was nominated as the Chairman of BangIa Academy and he presided over the Annual General Meetings held on 10th June, 1962 and on 4th August, 1963. He was a lifelong fellow of BangIa Academy. He was awarded Daud Sahitya Puroskar for his book Noya Jati Sroshta Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) in 1963·
In 1970, he was honoured with the Award of President Pride of Performance. In 1984, he achieved ‘Islamic Foundation Puroskar’ (posthumous).
At the age of 70, Mohammad Barkatullah expired on 2nd November, 1974·
His achievements and contributions are important in the field of our literature. He should be remembered with due respect for his valuable and rare contribution of high thoughts. In this context, it is necessary to put an important comment by Hari Das Bhattacharya, a renowned Professor of Philosophy of Dhaka University about Barkatullah : “Undoubtedly Barkatullah is one of those writers who helped to enrich Bengali Language and make it self-reliant.”
Our publication sector should take keen interest to publish new editions of the writings of Barkatullah and other writers’ of yester years for our present and next generations to awaken and inspire their nobility and acquaintance. The print and electronic media should publish articles and air programmes on those stalwarts who contributed to awaken us to rejuvenation. n
