Today is the 16th death anniversary of Prof. Mobasher Ali. If individual popularity irrespective of one's professional involvement is taken as a dependable yardstick to measure his or her inner potentials then, by all means, Professor Mobasher Ali would be one who had been popular by his own merit. Professor Mobasher Ali died on November 09, 2005 of Cardiac problem succumbing to post-operative complications at Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University. Throughout his life time, he used to traverse the field of language and literature.
Basically an educationist, precisely a teacher by profession Mobasher Ali excelled in many other branches of language and literature with enviable distinction. He was a prolific writer and an introspective researcher besides being a multi-pronged litterateur of immense reputation. Prof. Kabir Chowdhury commented that his works add a new dimension in Bangla literature to hasten the progress of the society as well as the nation.
Mobasher Ali's ancestral home was at Bagichagaon in Cumilla town. He was born on January 01, 1931 in an aristocratic, educated and highly enlightened family. A law graduate of Aligarh Muslim College (later turned into Aligarh Muslim University) Mobasher Ali's father late Nawajesh Ali was the first B.L. of greater Cumilla District. His grandfather late Bazlul Haque was also the first graduate of the greater Cumilla District from Presidency College. He held the position of a Deputy Magistrate during British Rule.
In the historic year of the language movement, Mobasher Ali obtained Master’s degree in Bangla from Dhaka University. Having opted for teaching profession he took employment with Netrokona College, Mymensingh in
1953. He shifted himself to M M College, Jessore in 1954 where he stayed for four years. He joined the noted Comilla Victoria College thereafter. There he worked till 1979 and later he was transferred to B.L. University College, Khulna as its Acting Principal. He was with Haji Mohd. Mohsin College in 1980 as Principal and worked till his retirement in 1987.
Mobasher Ali's personal contribution to Bangla literature commenced in 1958 when his illuminating article on the Nobel Prize Winner Boris Pasternak of Russia was published in a Bangla newspaper - Samakal founded and edited by noted poet and litterateur Sikandar Abu Jafar. Professor Ali evinced keen interest in Greek, Latin and English literature parallel with Bengali. Professor Monsoor Musa, former Director General of Bangla Academy observed that Prof. Ali worked hard to enrich Bengali research work and his contribution towards nation will be remembered even after his death.
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As a most conscientious and dedicated teacher he used to nurse within a missionary zeal and enthusiasm to build the educational career of his students on a right track away from the obtrusive student politics. He was immensely popular among his students and the people he used to associate with.
Prof. Ali took real pride in working relentlessly for establishing ethical values among the people he worked with in different institutions. This outstanding personality tirelessly worked for the welfare of the people through application of his erudite scholastic faculties and imaginative fervor.
Around the past five decades till his death Mobasher Ali played a pivotal role in the field of literature criticism and translation from world literature. It had been his firm conviction that our own literature, if properly exposed to world literature could be eventually richer. Hence, he laid special emphasis on translating works of great writers of the world for the lovers of literature in Bangladesh.
Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bishwa Shahitya Kendra observed that Ali worked for humanity and played important role in creating awareness among Bangla readers. Parallel to his original works in Bangla and on our literature he had a fabulous number of publications on Greek, Roman and Russian literatures vis-à-vis great works of the authors belonging to European continent. On the home front his books on Michael Modhusudan, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Rabindranath Tagore had been best sellers for years. Likewise his translation works of collection of Greek stories. British poet P.B. Shelley's works and of Leonards Da' Vinci among others received tremendous attention of Bengali readers.
Mobasher Ali traced glorious past of the nation in his book Bangladesher Sandhaney (In Quest of Bangladesh). Abdul Mannan Sayed commented that he had shown relentless personal efforts and strength of persuasion which enabled the people of the country see a dream of long cherished cultural heritage of Bangladesh. And in the sphere of education Prof Ali was particularly careful about the
ever deteriorating level of knowledge of the students in respect of Bangla grammar.
Taken all together the total number of his published books stood at 45. All his works have been very widely read and warmly appreciated by many eminent authors and critics here. Taken separately his research works have also been largely acclaimed both at home and abroad. Last year two books which were earlier written were published. One is on Bankimchandra and another one is Famous People of Bengal. Mr Mobasher Ali, during his lifetime was a member of the Film Censor Board. He was also a member of the Film Award Jury Board. Prof Mobasher Ali had been a proud recipient of a good number of prizes and
awards including , Bangla Academy Prize (1974), Ekushey Padak (1992), Madhusudan Academy Prize (1993), Bangladesh Lakhika Shangha prize(1993), Rapport Award for excellence in Human Resource development-2004. He also received MTC global award from India for his contribution after his death. He was the Chief Editor of the book on Greater Cumilla District. He dreamt that Cumilla Victoria college will be a virtual university with multimedia facilities.Prof. Ali also said in the address as Chief guest in the Old Victorians programme.
Prof. Ali was buried at Shaheed Buddhijibi Graveyard at Mirpur in a temporary grave on November 9, 2005. Though his well wishers sought permission on December 10, 2005 to the Mayor of the City Corporation to make the grave as permanent after making full payment but City Corporation did not respond to it. Necessary steps need to be taken to make it permanent. A book on Mobasher Ali was published on the occasion of his 6th death Anniversary. Yet his well-wishers and readers wonder why such a noted personality in the world of literature is not considered for the National Swadhinata Padak. Such a glaring instance of ignoring a most eligible citizen of the country having no political identity is considered by many as a blatant and deliberate instance of ignoring the real human assets that the nation could be proud of. Some feel that even a posthumous award now could partially heal the sore born of discrimination in the selection process.
Dr Tahmina Khatun is a researcher, academician and development worker.
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