Bimal Guha :
Mir Mosharraf Hossain (1847-1912), novelist, playwright and essayist, was born at Lahiripara in the district of Kushtia on 13 November 1847, son of Mir Moazzem Hossain, a zamindar. Mosharraf Hossain learned Arabic and Persian with a teacher at home and then Bangla at a Pathshala.
He began his formal education at Kushtia School and then studied up to Class V at Krishnanagar Collegiate School. He was admitted to Kalighat School in Kolkata, but could not complete his studies. Mosharraf Hossain began his career looking after his father’s landed property. Later he served the Faridpur Nawab Estate, and in 1885, the Delduar Estate. He lived in Calcutta from 1903 to 1909.
While still a student, Mosharraf Hossain worked as a mofussil reporter for the Songbad Probhakor (1831) and Grambarta Prokashika (1863). His literary career also started here. Kangal Harinath, Editor of Grambarta Prokashika, was his literary guru. Mosharraf Hossain later worked as Editor of the Azizannehar (1874) and Hitokori (1890). He was also associated with the Bangiyo Sahityo Porishod.
Mosharraf Hossain was a pioneer among Nineteenth-century Bengali Muslim writers. His first novel, Rotnaboti was published in 1869. Apart from novels, Mosharraf Hossain wrote poetry, plays, textbooks and an autobiography. Among his works are Gouri-Setu (1873), Bosontokumari Natok (1873), Zomindar Dorpon (1873), Er Upay Ki (1875), Bishad Sindhu (1885-1891), Songit Lohori (1887), Go-Jibon (1889), Behula Gitabhinoy (1889), Udasin Pothiker Moner Kotha (1890), Tahmina (1897), Tala Obhinoy (1897), Niyoti Ki Obonoti (1889), Gazi Miyar Bostani (1899), Maulood Sharif (1903), Mussalmander Bangala Shiksha (2 parts, 1903, 1908), Bibi Khodejar Bibaho (1905), Hazrat Omarer Dhormojibon Labh (1905), Madinar Gourob (1906), Bajimat (1908), Amar Jiboni (1908-1910), Amor Jibonir Jibani Bibi Kulsum (1910) etc.
Bishad Sindhu, which narrates the tragic tale of the battle of Karbala, is considered to be his masterpiece. Zomindar Dorpon was written against the background of the peasant riots in Sirajganj during 1872-73. In much of his writing, Mosharraf Hossain satirised the follies and vices of contemporary society. In Gazi Miyar Bostani, for example, he criticised the chaos and corruption of Nineteenth-century Bengal in general and the increasing freedom of women in particular, which he believed, led to lose living.
Mosharraf Hossain was outspoken and free from communal prejudices. He did not hesitate to take up positions that would make him unpopular among his own community. He believed that the indiscriminate slaughtering of cows would endanger agriculture and accordingly, wrote the essay Gokul Nirmul Ashonka, against this practice.
He breathed his last in 1912 and was buried at Padamdi.
Mir Mosharraf Hossain (1847-1912), novelist, playwright and essayist, was born at Lahiripara in the district of Kushtia on 13 November 1847, son of Mir Moazzem Hossain, a zamindar. Mosharraf Hossain learned Arabic and Persian with a teacher at home and then Bangla at a Pathshala.
He began his formal education at Kushtia School and then studied up to Class V at Krishnanagar Collegiate School. He was admitted to Kalighat School in Kolkata, but could not complete his studies. Mosharraf Hossain began his career looking after his father’s landed property. Later he served the Faridpur Nawab Estate, and in 1885, the Delduar Estate. He lived in Calcutta from 1903 to 1909.
While still a student, Mosharraf Hossain worked as a mofussil reporter for the Songbad Probhakor (1831) and Grambarta Prokashika (1863). His literary career also started here. Kangal Harinath, Editor of Grambarta Prokashika, was his literary guru. Mosharraf Hossain later worked as Editor of the Azizannehar (1874) and Hitokori (1890). He was also associated with the Bangiyo Sahityo Porishod.
Mosharraf Hossain was a pioneer among Nineteenth-century Bengali Muslim writers. His first novel, Rotnaboti was published in 1869. Apart from novels, Mosharraf Hossain wrote poetry, plays, textbooks and an autobiography. Among his works are Gouri-Setu (1873), Bosontokumari Natok (1873), Zomindar Dorpon (1873), Er Upay Ki (1875), Bishad Sindhu (1885-1891), Songit Lohori (1887), Go-Jibon (1889), Behula Gitabhinoy (1889), Udasin Pothiker Moner Kotha (1890), Tahmina (1897), Tala Obhinoy (1897), Niyoti Ki Obonoti (1889), Gazi Miyar Bostani (1899), Maulood Sharif (1903), Mussalmander Bangala Shiksha (2 parts, 1903, 1908), Bibi Khodejar Bibaho (1905), Hazrat Omarer Dhormojibon Labh (1905), Madinar Gourob (1906), Bajimat (1908), Amar Jiboni (1908-1910), Amor Jibonir Jibani Bibi Kulsum (1910) etc.
Bishad Sindhu, which narrates the tragic tale of the battle of Karbala, is considered to be his masterpiece. Zomindar Dorpon was written against the background of the peasant riots in Sirajganj during 1872-73. In much of his writing, Mosharraf Hossain satirised the follies and vices of contemporary society. In Gazi Miyar Bostani, for example, he criticised the chaos and corruption of Nineteenth-century Bengal in general and the increasing freedom of women in particular, which he believed, led to lose living.
Mosharraf Hossain was outspoken and free from communal prejudices. He did not hesitate to take up positions that would make him unpopular among his own community. He believed that the indiscriminate slaughtering of cows would endanger agriculture and accordingly, wrote the essay Gokul Nirmul Ashonka, against this practice.
He breathed his last in 1912 and was buried at Padamdi.
