The First Imprisoned Poet for Independence

Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji (1880-1931) is one of the pioneers of the Muslim Renaissance in the subcontinent. He was born in an illustrious Muslim family at Sirajganj town in the then Pabna district on 13 July 1880 and also died in the same place on 16 July 1931. He is considered to be one of the key authors of period of the Bengali Muslim reawakening; encouraging education and glorifying the Islamic heritage. He also contributed greatly to introducing the Khilafat Movement  in Bengal, and providing medical supplies to the Ottoman Empire and its allies during the Balkan Wars . Anal-Prabaha, his first poetry book, was banned by the government and he was subsequently imprisoned as the first South Asian  poet to allegedly call for independence against the British Raj.

The government issued Section 144 against him 82 times in his lifetime. Mainly he was a Bengali writer and poet. He was one of the proponents of the Bengali Muslim renaissance in the 19th and 20th centuries. He writes for Muslims in the fields of science, mother tongue, and women's education. His fiery poetry was confiscated by the British government and he was imprisoned as the first poet of the subcontinent to write for independence. 13 July is the birth anniversary of this famous author.

He then had the offset of 4 and they had a 2 boys and 1 girl names Mahia Tooba Siraji. He added the title 'Siraji' at the end of the name in honor of his birthplace. As a child, he attended a local school and a knowledgeable minor English school. He then studied up to ninth class in Sirajganj Banwarilal High School. Siraji learned Persian at school and Sanskrit at home and studied Sanskrit grammar and literature as well as Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas, Manusmriti and Upanishads.

Ismail Hossain Siraji was famous as a speaker. He used to speak on the revival and political issues of the then Bengali Muslims. He was a believer in Hindu-Muslim equality. He was active in various political parties and associations, such as the Congress, later the Muslim League, the Jamiat Ulamaye Hind, the Swaraj Party, the Krishak Samiti and so on.

While still a student, Siraji started writing poetry and recited his fiery poem at a public meeting of the preacher Munshi Meher Ullah. Munshi Meherullah was fascinated by poetry and published the book in 1900 at his own expense. An extended version of the book was published in late 1908, which was confiscated by the then Bengal government and an arrest warrant was issued against him. Siraji then went into French-occupied Chandannagar and hid for six months. He later surrendered and was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for spreading hatred against the British government. During the Balkan Wars in 1912, the Indian Red Crescent was formed in India under the leadership of Dr. Mokhtar Ahmad Ansari. The organization sent an 'All India Medical Mission' with a team of doctors. Ismail Hossain went to Turkey as the Bengali representative of the Siraj Mission. He gave a detailed account of the trip in his book Travels to Turkey 1910.

In 1919, Siraji published a magazine called Monthly Noor. His own Mahashiksha epic and some of Nazrul's stories were published in this magazine. The weekly Chholtan was published in 1923 under the joint editorship of Siraji and Moniruzzaman Islamabadi. Most of Siraji's articles are published in this magazine. His works focused on awakening the disadvantaged Bengali Muslim society by glorifying the Islamic tradition, culture and heritage and advocating for both modern education and traditional Islamic learning.

Initially, Siraji Syed Jamal Uddin was interested in Afghan pan-Islamism.  However, he was more influenced by the contemporary Shibli Nomani and Allama Iqbal. Ismail Hossain Siraj is one of the earliest Muslim writers of Bengali literature. His political ideology is also visible in his literary work. His works can be included in Islamic literature. However, the poet Abdul Qadir remarked that Bankimchandra's characteristic "fierce nationalism" was first seen in Siraj's writings among Muslims. Note that Siraj wrote his Rayanandini in response to Bankimchandra's Durgeshanandini, Premanjali wrote as a competitor to Rabindranath's Gitanjali. However, due to its timeliness, his novels and poems became popular. Flowing, aspiration, excitement, inauguration, new stimulus, Spanish conquest poem, Mahashiksha epic (1st volume, 1969, 2nd volume, 1971),  Anal Prabaha (1899, then 1908), Akangkha (1906), Uchchhas (1907),Sabodhan (1907), Naba Uddipana (1907), Spain Bijoy Kabya (1914), Sangit Sanjibani (1916), Premanjali (1916), Mahashikhkha Mahakabya (vol-1 1969, vol-2 1971), Ray Nandini (1915), Tara Bai (1916), Feroza Begum (1918), Nooruddin (1919). Travelogue- Turoshko Bhromon (1913). Essays -Stri Shikkha (1907) - advocating for Muslim women's education and Sajati Prem (1916).

His literary works have become more popular at home and abroad. I think that public and private patronage is necessary to protect the present condition of the place of birth of the poet and his literary works.

Finally, Ismail Hossain Siraji was one of the earliest Muslim writers in Bengali literature. His political ideology is also visible in his literary work. We are remembering this great man with utmost respect on his 142nd birth anniversary on July 13. On the poet's birthday, I conveyed my humble respect and love to him.


Md Atikur Rahman is a columnist.