Ismail Hossain Siraji

Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji (Bengali: ইসমাঈল হোসেন সিরাজী) (1880–1931) was a Bengali writer and poet. He was born in Sirajganj in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh). He added the suffix Siraji in honour of his home region.[1]

Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji
Born13 July 1880
Sirajganj, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Bangladesh)
Died1931 (aged 50–51)
LanguageBengali

Early life

As a young boy, Ismail Hossain Siraji learnt Persian in school and studied Sanskrit at home and was well versed Sanskrit grammar and literature, studied Sanskrit dictionaries as well as Hindu scriptures like Vedas, Manusmriti and Upanishads. [2]

Career

He earned his living by writing and making public speeches. He acquired a great reputation as an orator. He was an advocate of Muslim interests, but was not a communalist. Hindu-Muslim amity based on equal sharing of resources was his belief. He was active in many parties and organisations, such as, Indian National Congress, Muslim League, Anjuman-i-Ulamah-i-Bangala, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Swarajya Party and Krishak Samiti.

He went to Turkey in 1912 with a medical team during the Balkan War.

Shibli Nomani and Allama Iqbal influenced Siraji. Like them, he felt that it was necessary to harmonise religious and secular thought to awaken the Indian Muslim community.

Muslim Enlightenment of Bengalis

Siraji is one of the most prominent figures in the Bengali Muslim Reawakening during the British occupation. He encouraged Muslims to get a good education (especially women whose place in society was merely in the house) and the learning of the English language (many didn't learn the language because they thought that it was the language of the British). He believed in religious tolerance. He also thought that Hindu-Muslim unity would be needed to create a strong Bengali society that would be able to fight against tyranny. His writings often handled these sort of issues. His views were unpopular at first, and during his speeches, he would at times have objects thrown at him.

Works

Poems
  • Anal Prabaha (1900)
  • Uchchhas (1907)
  • Udbodhan (1907)
  • Naba Uddipana (1907)
  • Spain Bijoy Kabya (1914)
  • Sangit Sanjibani (1916)
  • Premanjali (1916)
  • Mahashikhkha Mahakabya (vol-1 1969, vol-2 1971)

Novels
  • Ray Nandini (1915)
  • Tara Bai (1916)
  • Feroza Begum (1918)
  • Nooruddin (1919)

Travelogue
  • Turoshko Bhromon(1913)

Essays
  • Stri shikhkha (1907)
  • Sajati Prem (1916)
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References
  1. Rana, Razzaq. "Shiraji, Ismail Hossain". Banglapedia. BAnngladesh Asiatic Society.
  2. Kabir, Nurul (27 October 2013). "Colonialism, politics of language and partition of Bengal PART XXVII". New Age. New Age. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
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