Mahfuz Ul Hasib Chowdhury portrays the luminous glimpsesof a versatile life.
Syedur Rahman (1909-1987) was an educationist, an enlightened philosopher and a dedicated social reformer. He was born in Nabinagar under Brahmanbaria district on 1st May 1909. He had been a meritorious student throughout his academic career. He achieved first division in secondary school exams. He acquired first class securing first position both in Bachelor of Arts (Honors) and Master of Arts in Philosophy from Dhaka University respectively in 1931 and 1932. He started his professional career by joining Department of Philosophy in Rajshahi College after completing his academic studies. Philosophy was Syedur Rahman's academic discipline and at the same time he had passionate attachment with philosophic studies throughout his life.
Syedur Rahman's professional life is dotted with a broad spectrum of varieties. He worked as a professor in Calcutta Islamia College which is now known as Abul Kalam Azad University. He also held the post of Superintendent of Baker Hostel, Special Officer of Education Department and some more designations. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was his student at Baker Hostel. Syedur Rahman was involved as a teacher in Dhaka College and some more government colleges between the years 1947 to 1952. He left for London in 1957 with Commonwealth Scholarship and obtained higher education on "Organization and Administration of Further Education." After coming back home he served different institutions such as Chittagong College and Eden College as professor and principal.
I became familiar with all these facts and figures about esteemed scholar and author Syedur Rahman while going through his life-sketch titled "Shotabdir Sreeti" published by Anannya Prokashoni. Its first edition appeared back in 1995 while its second edition was printed in 2017. The book is divided into forty eight chapters illustrating different angles and dimensions of Syedur Rahman's colorful life as a successful academic, a valued writer and a renowned pedagogue. A few letters by Syedur Rahman have made this book more interesting adding an epistolary trait to the book. The appendix of the book contains some articles by different columnists and bureaucrats paying homage to the memories of Syedur Rahman.
According to this book, Syedur Rahman was appointed Principal of Jagannath College in 1963. He restored discipline and academic standard of the college by means of implementing some reforms for the betterment of the college, its teachers, employees and students. He also resumed coeducation in Jagannath College which reflects his noble efforts to terminate social barriers discriminating women. Following the independence of Bangladesh, Syedur Rahman taught in Dhaka University from 1972 till 1981. With the money he received from Dhaka University during those years, Syedur Rahman launched a welfare foundation.
This foundation aimed at training up students with oratory skills to deliver speeches on academic matters, scholarships, educational environment and some more similar issues. Particularly, Syedur Rahman's roles for enhancement of women's education are highly admirable. Tejgaon Women's College was established through his endeavors and he held the post of this college's honorary principal till 1978. He was actively occupied with different welfare organizations aiding deaf and dumb people. He was engaged with Boys Scouts too.
Syedur Rahman was a dynamic organizer of Bangladesh Philosophic Association and he led this think-tank as its president since 1973 up to 1983. He set up a small medical clinic at his village home during the Liberation War of 1971 for providing medical services to wounded freedom fighters. Moreover, he helped freedom fighters in many other ways putting his own life at risk. He made vital contributions in his village for establishment of banks, community seed stores, schools and colleges in his own area. These philanthropic activities bear evidences of Syedur Rahman's leaning towards the expansion of enlightenment among his country's people.
One of the books by Syedur Rahman is named "Introduction to Islamic Philosophy". In his autobiography "Shotabdir Sreeti" Syedur Rahman has marvelously described a lot of important events that took place in the history of Bangladesh like the partition of 1947, the Language Movement of 1952 and the Liberation War of 1971. Syedur Rahman was well-versed in Holy Quran. But he had a broad-hearted approach to people of all religions. He offered generous cooperation to everyone associated with him. Serving people was the highest form of piety for Syedur Rahman. He was a good tennis player too, as found in his life-sketch. He visited several countries including England, France, Russia and so on.
Syedur Rahman's wife Rawshan Ara Rahman was also devoted to education. She taught at Banglabazar Girls School for a long time. On the other hand, Syedur Rahman's son Shafik Rehman is a well-known journalist of Bangladesh. Shafik Rehman was the founding editor of Jay Jay Din magazine which later on became a daily Bengali newspaper. Moreover, Shafik Rehman hosted different programs on television channels. Shafik Rehman also introduced Valentine's Day in Bangladesh for the first time. Shafik Rehman's wife Taleya Rehman is a prominent journalist too. Taleya Rehman is known for her versatile talent and creativity. She participated in the Language Movement of 1952. She also organized global views in favor of the Liberation War of 1971 while she was working for BBC in United Kingdom.
Syedur Rahman breathed his last on 28th August 1987 at Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka. His autobiography "Shotabdir Sreeti" is a well-written, informative and educative book which has the quality to teach us a lot of constructive, didactic things. People who have not yet read this book may get a copy to go through it for mitigating their curiosity about multifarious fields.
The reviewer is a literary analyst for The Asian Age
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