Literary Abul Fazl's birthday today

Today, July 1, is the 117th birthday of Abul Fazal, a renowned writer and former Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University. Literary Abul Fazal was born on this day in 1903 at Kenochia in Satkania Upazila of Chittagong. He is basically a thoughtful and socialist essayist. His essay introduces a deep and clear vision of society, literature, culture, and the state.

Abul Fazal's father's name is Maulvi Fazlur Rahman and his mother's name is Gulshan Ara. Abul Fazl started his primary education in a primary school in his village. He passed matriculation in 1923 and passed Intermediate from Dhaka Islamic Intermediate College in 1925. He passed BA from Dhaka University in 1928 and MA from Calcutta University in 1940.

His father wanted Abul Fazal to become a Maulvi like his predecessors. But he was more attracted to literature. To become a teacher, he was admitted to Dhaka Teachers Training College in 1929 to study BT. He passed and returned to Chittagong in 1931. For some time, he worked as a second cleric in Chittagong Collegiate School. He then joined Chittagong Government Madrasa as an assistant teacher for two months and later temporarily joined Kazem Ali private high school as an assistant headmaster.

He joined the Khulna District School in 1933 as a second Pandit. He joined Chittagong Collegiate School as an assistant English teacher in 1937. He joined Krishnanagar College in 1941 as a lecturer. He joined Chittagong College in 1943. He won the election of the governing body of this college. He retired from the service in 1959.

Abul Fazal joined Chittagong University in 1973 as the Vice-Chancellor. He took charge of the Ministry of Education and Culture as a member of the Advisory Council of the Government of Bangladesh in November 1975 and resigned on 23 June 1977.

While studying at Dhaka University, Fazal was associated with the establishment of 'Muslim Sahitya Samaj'. Later he also became the editor. The purpose of the organization was to liberate people from social prejudice. The motto of their social movement was - "Where knowledge is limited, intellect is stagnant, liberation is impossible." In 1926, they published “Shikha”, the mouthpiece of the Muslim Sahitya Samaj.

Those who were involved with Muslim literary society and Shikha were known as 'Shikha Group'. This group started the liberation movement in Dhaka.

In the old days, Abul Fazal had a reputation as a socially conscious writer. In his writings patriotism, non-sectarianism, honesty, and a sense of humanity have come up. He strongly protested against the government of Pakistan announcing the ban on Rabindra Sangeet in 1967. He has written novels, short stories, plays, autobiographies, religion, and travelogues. His published books include- Jeevanpather Jatri, Ranga Prabhat, Chauchi, Matir Prithibi, Ayesha, Abul Fazaler Shreshtha Golpo, Sahitya Shanskriti o Jibon, Samaj Sahitya Rashtra, Shubhbuddhi, Samakalin Chinta, Rekhachitra, Safarnama, and Durdiner Dinlipi.

Abul Fazl has won many awards and honors. Notable among these are Adamji Sahitya Puraskar (1960), Bangla Academy Puraskar (1962), President Sahitya Puraskar (1963), Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1980), Muktadhara Sahitya Puraskar (1981), Abdul Hai Sahitya Padak (1982) And Shadhinata Padak (posthumously 2012). In 1974, the University of Dhaka awarded him an honorary doctorate.

 Abul Fazal, a renowned writer and former Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University, died on 4 May 1983.