Mir Mosharraf Hossain

Mir Mosharraf Hossain
Native name	মীর মশাররফ হোসেন
Born	Mir Mosharraf Hossain 1847 Pangsha, Rajbari District.
Died	19 December 1912 Padamdi
Occupation	Writer
Language	Bengali
Nationality	Indian
Notable works	Bishadsindhu_The story is based on Islamic History Line
Spouse	Aziz-un-Nesa, Bibi Kulsum

Mir Mosharraf Hossain (Bengali: মীর মশাররফ হোসেন; 1847–1912) was a Bengali novelist, playwright and essayist in 19th century Bengal. He is principally known for his famous novel Bishad Sindhu. He is considered as the first novelist to emerge from the Muslim society of Bengal.

Early life

Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born in the village of Lahinipara in Kumarkhali under Kushtia District.^[1] But most of the time of his life spent in Padamdi in Baliakandi PS under district Rajbari. His widely accepted date of birth is 13 November 1847.^[2] But some researchers also claim his date of birth is 26 October 1847.^[3] He was born to Mir Moazzem Hossain, a Muslim aristocrat, 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 Nawab Estate and, in 1885, the Delduar Estate. He lived in Kolkata from 1903 to 1909.^[4]

Career

While still a student, Mosharraf Hossain worked as a mofussil reporter for the Sangbad Prabhakar (1831) and Gram Barta Prokashika (1863). His literary career started here.^[4]

Literary career

Mir Mosarraf 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 (Reflections on Zamindars, a play on the plight of common people under the Zamindars (landlords installed by the British colonial rulers) 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.

Novel

• Ratnawati (1869)
• Bishad Shindhu (1885–1890)

Play

• Jamidar Darpan (1873)
• Bosontokumari Natok (1873)

Poetry

• Gorai Bridge or Gouri Setu (1873)

Essay

• Gojibon

Autobiographical

• Amar Jiboni (autobiography)
• Bibi Kulsum

Others

• Gazi Miar Bostani
• Bajimat
• Bibi Khodejar Bibaho
• Hazrart Umarer Dharmo Jibon Labh
• Musolmaner Bangla Shikhya-1
• Musolmaner Bangla Shikhya-2

Personal life

In 1865 he married Aziz-un-Nesa. His second wife was Bibi Kulsum married in 1874. He died on 19 December 1912 in Padamdi.

See also

• Golpo Songroho (Collected Stories), the national textbook of B.A. (pass and subsidiary) course of Bangladesh, published by University of Dhaka in 1979 (reprint in 1986).
• Bangla Sahitya (Bengali Literature), the national textbook of intermediate (college) level of Bangladesh published in 1996 by all educational boards.

References