Mir Mosharraf Hossain


Syed Mir Mosharraf Hossain was a Bengali writer, novelist, playwright and essayist. He is considered to be the first major writer to emerge from the Muslim society of Bengal, and one of the finest prose writers in the Bengali language. His magnum opus Bishad Sindhu is a popular classic among the Bengali readership.

Early life

Syed Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born in the village of Lahinipara in Kumarkhali under Kushtia District. But most of the time of his life spent in Padamdi in Baliakandi PS under district Faridpur. His widely accepted date of birth is 13 November 1847. But some researchers also claim his date of birth is 26 October 1847. He was born to Nawab Syed Mir Moazzem Hossain, a Muslim aristocrat and Zaminder of Padamdi Nawab Estate, and Daulatunnesa.
Mosharraf Hossain learned Arabic and Persian with a teacher at home and then Bengali at a pathshala. He began his formal education at Kushtia School and then studied up to Class V at Krishnanagar Collegiate School. He was admitted to Kalighat School in Kolkata but could not complete his studies. Mosharraf Hossain began his career looking after his father's landed property. Later he served the Faridpur Padamdi Nawab Estate and, in 1885, the Delduar Zamindari Estate. He lived in Kolkata from 1903 to 1909.

Career

While still a student, Mosharraf Hossain worked as a mofussil reporter for the Sangbad Prabhakar and Gram Barta Prokashika. His literary career started here.

Literary career

Syed Mir Mosharraf Hossain's magnum opus is Bishad Shindhu, depicting the tale of martyrdom of Hasan and Husayn in Karbala. He was one of the first Muslim writers to emerge from colonial British India. His other works include Jamidar Darpan, a play on the plight of common people under the Zamindars and their struggle against them.
His literary works were included in the curriculum of school level, secondary, higher secondary and graduation level Bengali Literature in Bangladesh. Mir Mosharraf Hossain wrote his 'Jamidar Darpan' about the background of the peasant uprising against the landlords in Sirajganj 1872-73. He had always shown an active interest in the everyday life of his fellow countrymen.

Personal life

In 1865 he married Aziz-un-Nesa. His second wife was Bibi Kulsum married in 1874. He died on 19 December 1911.

Works

Novel