Mohammed Mozammel Haque (born 1860) was one of the greatest poets in Bengal. He was also a journalist by profession. He was born at Shantipur in the district of Nadia, Pashchimbanga, India. His father’s name was Nasiruddin Ahmed. Sir Azizul Haque was his eldest son.
Mozammel Haque lost his father early and was then raised by his maternal grandfather in Shantipur. He was a brilliant student and studied at Tamachika Bari English School and Santipur Municipal High School respectively. He began his journey as a journalist with the Calcutta Weekly Samay. He had been Commissioner for Santipur Municipality for 40 years and had the post of Vice-Chairman for three years. Besides this, he was a member of the Education Committee of the Nadia District Board for 30 years and Honourary Magistrate for 20 years. He was the Vice-President of the Bangiyo Mussalman Sahityo Samiti (Bengal Muslim Literary Society). Here he met with legendary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and a close friendship grew between them. Later he became a teacher of Santipur Junior Jubilee Madrasah in Santipur. When his son Sir Azizul Haque became Minister of Education for Bengal, he upgraded the Madrasah to Santipur Muslim High School.
His poetic talent was evident from his childhood days. He was then regarded as a distinguished poet and writer of prose. Mozammel Haque wrote both prose and poetry. The idea of Muslim Renaissance inspired his poetry. However, he excelled in writing prose that included biographies and novels. He also translated Persian writing Shahnama into Bengali in 1909. He composed the popular novel Johra in 1917. He was the Secretary of Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Patrika (1918) in which many of the writings of Kazi Nazrul Islam were published. His writings influenced the then Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee so much that he appointed him as an Examiner of Bangla language in the Matriculation Examination of 1919. He continued on this post from 1919-1933. He was the Editor and Publisher of many monthly literary journal like – Moslem Bharat (1920), Lahari (1899), Mudgal, Santipur Dipika, Biswadoot, Jubak, Nawroj etc.
He played a prominent role in fighting superstition, orthodoxy, backwardness and apathy in Muslim society. Bangiyo Sahitya Parishad conferred the title Kabya Kantha on him. Moslem Bharat stood for communal harmony. A message from Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore appeared on the front page of the journal. Many eminent authors wrote through this journal.
Some of his notable poetic works are : Kusumanjali (1881), Premahar (1898), Jatiyo Foyara (1912), Apurba Darshan Katha (1885), Islam Sangit (1923), Tapas Kahini (1914). Some of his famous prose works are : Hazrat Mohammed (1903), Tipu Sultan (1931), Khawja Mainuddin Chisti (1918), Ferdousi Charit (1898), Maharsi Mansur (1896), Shahnama (1909), Hatemtai (1919), Santipurer Raslila.
He wrote two novels. Those were Johra (1917) and Daraf Gazi Khan (1917).
He breathed his last on 30 November 1933 at Santipur.
References : Kalyani Nag, Santipur Prasanga: Vol-2 ( Santipur,1998 ), Kalikrishna Bhattacharya, Santipur Parichoy:-Vol 1 & 2 (Santipur Municipality, 1952), Letter written by Rabindranath Tagore to Mohammed Mozammel Haque (Page No.6).
External links : Historic Language Movement, Banglapedia article on ‘Moslem Bharat’
Bangla Literature, Jasimuddin & other Poets, Banglapedia article on Haque.
–Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mozammel Haque lost his father early and was then raised by his maternal grandfather in Shantipur. He was a brilliant student and studied at Tamachika Bari English School and Santipur Municipal High School respectively. He began his journey as a journalist with the Calcutta Weekly Samay. He had been Commissioner for Santipur Municipality for 40 years and had the post of Vice-Chairman for three years. Besides this, he was a member of the Education Committee of the Nadia District Board for 30 years and Honourary Magistrate for 20 years. He was the Vice-President of the Bangiyo Mussalman Sahityo Samiti (Bengal Muslim Literary Society). Here he met with legendary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and a close friendship grew between them. Later he became a teacher of Santipur Junior Jubilee Madrasah in Santipur. When his son Sir Azizul Haque became Minister of Education for Bengal, he upgraded the Madrasah to Santipur Muslim High School.
His poetic talent was evident from his childhood days. He was then regarded as a distinguished poet and writer of prose. Mozammel Haque wrote both prose and poetry. The idea of Muslim Renaissance inspired his poetry. However, he excelled in writing prose that included biographies and novels. He also translated Persian writing Shahnama into Bengali in 1909. He composed the popular novel Johra in 1917. He was the Secretary of Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Patrika (1918) in which many of the writings of Kazi Nazrul Islam were published. His writings influenced the then Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee so much that he appointed him as an Examiner of Bangla language in the Matriculation Examination of 1919. He continued on this post from 1919-1933. He was the Editor and Publisher of many monthly literary journal like – Moslem Bharat (1920), Lahari (1899), Mudgal, Santipur Dipika, Biswadoot, Jubak, Nawroj etc.
He played a prominent role in fighting superstition, orthodoxy, backwardness and apathy in Muslim society. Bangiyo Sahitya Parishad conferred the title Kabya Kantha on him. Moslem Bharat stood for communal harmony. A message from Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore appeared on the front page of the journal. Many eminent authors wrote through this journal.
Some of his notable poetic works are : Kusumanjali (1881), Premahar (1898), Jatiyo Foyara (1912), Apurba Darshan Katha (1885), Islam Sangit (1923), Tapas Kahini (1914). Some of his famous prose works are : Hazrat Mohammed (1903), Tipu Sultan (1931), Khawja Mainuddin Chisti (1918), Ferdousi Charit (1898), Maharsi Mansur (1896), Shahnama (1909), Hatemtai (1919), Santipurer Raslila.
He wrote two novels. Those were Johra (1917) and Daraf Gazi Khan (1917).
He breathed his last on 30 November 1933 at Santipur.
References : Kalyani Nag, Santipur Prasanga: Vol-2 ( Santipur,1998 ), Kalikrishna Bhattacharya, Santipur Parichoy:-Vol 1 & 2 (Santipur Municipality, 1952), Letter written by Rabindranath Tagore to Mohammed Mozammel Haque (Page No.6).
External links : Historic Language Movement, Banglapedia article on ‘Moslem Bharat’
Bangla Literature, Jasimuddin & other Poets, Banglapedia article on Haque.
–Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
