Abul Mansur Ahmad's ideals can enlighten Bangladesh
Knowing the philosophy and ideals of the writer-politician Abul Mansur Ahmad can greatly help overcome the challenges of religious fanaticism and extremism the country is facing today, said noted personalities yesterday.
His great literary works illuminated with unique satirical quality skillfully exposed the contemporary political and social grotesque absurdity and his subtle satirical power can help deal with the religious fanaticism in today's society, said noted novelist Selina Hossain.
“Abul Mansur Ahmad through his role as a journalist, politician and writer looked deep into the human society with honesty and boldness…and realised the truth,” she said, adding, “It is imperative and a huge task to rediscover him.”
Let his great literary works and philosophy inspire today's Bangladesh, she said.
He had some original thoughts and dealt with religious fanaticism with great satire, said Prof Mansur Musa.
They were speaking at a memorial discussion organised by Abul Mansur Ahmad Smriti Parishad at the capital's Bangla Academy in celebration of his 118th birth anniversary.
Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Abul Mansur Ahmad and poet Jasimuddin propagated Islamic modernism in the then undivided Bengal, said Musa.
Abul Mansur Ahmad was a powerful thinker, and an extraordinary Bangalee nationalist and a multi-dimensional literary genius with remarkable persuasive and reasoning skills, said folklorist Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy.
“We need to analyse and comprehend his thoughts well with due importance and take his works to today's readers,” said Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman, who chaired the discussion.
His political involvement with the then Muslim League was a manifestation of his love for Bangalee people, he said, adding, “We will remain ever-indebted to him for drafting the 21-point Jukto Front manifesto.” He had remarkable literary aptitudes for creating art, and his two personal memoirs will remain as invaluable documents of social history, said Prof Anisuzzaman.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, called upon all to read the works of Abul Mansur Ahmad and said, “We do not always place all the gifted geniuses deep in our hearts.”
Among their contemporary prominent Bangalee political figures, only Abul Mansur Ahmad and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wrote on their political knowledge, said Prof Emeritus Rafiqul Islam as the chief guest.
Jibon Shilpi Abul Mansur Ahmad, a compilation of essays and speeches featuring Abul Mansur Ahmad, edited by Emran Mahfuz, was unveiled on the occasion.
One of the greatest satirists of Bangla literature, Abul Mansur Ahmad was a renowned politician, lawyer and a powerful journalist.
He worked for Krishak, Nabajug and was the editor of the daily Ittehad published from Kolkata in 1946 in undivided Bengal. He was a pioneer in modern and progressive journalism.
A successful politician, Abul Mansur Ahmad was the provincial education minister in the United Front Cabinet under Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq and the central commerce and industries minister of the Awami League government of Prime Minister Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy in 1957.
Abul Mansur Ahmad's publications include satires like Aina, Asmani Purdah, Gulliverer Safarnama and Food Conference. His works also include insightful writings on social and political history of Bengal. He has two autobiographical writings -- Atma Katha (about myself) and Amar Dekha Rajnitir Panchash Bachar (50 years of politics as I saw it).
He was the author of the famous Ekush Dafa (21 points programme) election manifesto of the Jukta Front in the 1954 election.
Abul Mansur Ahmad was born in September 3, 1898 at Dhanikhola village in Trishal Thana of Mymensingh.
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