Abdur Rouf Choudhury

Abdur Rouf Choudhury (1929-1996) was a Bengali writer Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1960x2828, 3564 KB) from my own source I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1960x2828, 3564 KB) from my own source I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between India and Bangladesh) in Indian subcontinent with a history going back more than two millennia. ... The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ...

Choudhury was born on 1st March, 1929, in Habiganj District, Bangladesh (then part of Assam) where his father Azhar Choudhury, a land owner, and his mother Nazmun Nesa Choudhury, a house wife resided.-1... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Habiganj is a district in Northern Bangladesh. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur - now a part of Guwahati. ...

Contributions

In his contributions to Bengali literature, the writer and philosopher Choudhury depicted a transparent portrait of modern Bangladeshi’s life in abroad. He was a scholar of science, with great intellectual abilities and eloquent of both pen and speech. He had a remarkable openness to modern Western knowledge as well as Eastern knowledge. Choudhury made a lasting contribution to Bengali literature with his novels, travelogue, letters, essays and his introspective autobiographical and epistolary works. It has been suggested that History of Bengali literature be merged into this article or section. ... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Western World. ... The term Eastern can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... It has been suggested that History of Bengali literature be merged into this article or section. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... Travel literature is literature which records the people, events, sights and feelings of an author who is touring a foreign place for the sake and pleasure of travel. ... This article is about letter, a written message from one party to another. ... Essay, a short work that treats of a topic from an authors personal point of view, often taking into account subjective experiences and personal reflections upon them. ... For music albums named Autobiography, see Greek eauton = self, bios = life and graphein = write) is a form of biography, the writing of a life story. ... An epistolary novel is a book written using a literary technique in which a novel is composed as a series of letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. ...

His novels and short stories were often set against an emergent urban background, but more commonly in cities outside Bangladesh such as London, Bedford, Calcutta, Karachi and Kohat; where the majority of immigrant Bangladeshis resided. Choudhury created his characters from highly diverse backgrounds and developed themes that revolved around the twists and turns of events, the conflicts and contradictions prevailing in the social processes of Bengali society. His characters embraced a new change; death of an old society which were based on the ideals of religions and the rise of the youth movement, birth of a new society. These immediately preceded the social processes of the present day and hence are vital to identifying and understanding contemporary problems. A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... This article is in need of attention. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of the United Kingdom and the largest city of England (strangely, England has no constitutional existence within the United Kingdom, and therefore cannot be said to have a capital). ... Statistics Population: 82,488 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TL055495 Administration District: Bedford Shire county: Bedfordshire Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Bedfordshire Historic county: Bedfordshire Services Police force: Bedfordshire Police Fire and rescue: Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan, sometimes known as the City of Light and the City of Quaid (شہرِ قائد), after Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

It is essential to analyses Choudhury’s writings in the light of the social scenario prevalent at the time when deprivation and degradation were taken for granted by some and unknown by others. These realities were dedicated and made indelible in the name of religious sermons and social sanctions. Thus his main task was to focus readers' attention, by giving a frame-by-frame picture of the helplessness and inhuman predicament of the victims of injustice.

The wide canvas of words and tales of this artist brought out the plight of women in the patriarchal set-up of Bengali society; over and above the Islamic-based dictums of the society; patriarchal domination pushed woman into complete subjugation, making them property for the use of men. Because of such a 'life-style's set-up, economic and social oppression was principally faced by women of Bangladeshi origin. This drove women to utter frustration and desperation.

Choudhury portrayed women, their plight, and their helplessness in the face of this male-dominated society. On the other hand, he wrote about their sense of humanitarian values, their love, sorrows, their deep longing for a life as normal and beautiful as some western forward-minded women.

In the wake of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which surged up all over Bangladesh, was recounted in his writing 'Blood Legacy of a Nation'. Abdur Rouf Choudhury believed that in today’s world men no longer wanted to keep themselves constricted within the sphere of a specified duty. Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora General A. A. K. Niazi Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1][2] Pakistan Army: 365,000 Paramilitary: 280,000[1] Casualties India: 1,426 KIA 3,611 Wounded (Official) Mukti Bahini: NA...

In Choudhury’s time, in a modern society with priest as its advocate and protector, religion lost all its progressivism. It went so far that religion became bogged down in rituals, superstitions and bigotry, while its proponents stank of greed, corruption, even debauchery: even the so-called mullahs could not keep themselves free from this downfall. Almost half the characters in his novel 'St. Pancras' represented the mainstay of the decadent old society, while the other half, were imbibed with the emerging thoughts, ideals and values of the new society- humanist and secular in content.

Choudhury’s most vividly depicted the unity of Bengal and the articulation of Bengali nationalism in his novel Notun Digonto. Reason and humanity - these are its two eternal pillars. The essence of Choudhury’s thought is a complete faith in the efficiency of these two immeasurable forces. Its most striking characteristic is its insistent association of work, precept and practice. It appeals not to controversial tests, not to any appearance of sweet reasonableness but to trials in the rough and tumble of daily life, and it will accept no other judgment. 'New Horizon' gives warning against: 1) dogma, mysticism, ceremonial hypnotism, the binding of the mind and will by oaths, and other inventions of external authority in religion and politics, 2) participation in violence, individual or social, and organisation’s dependence on violence, 3) exploitation, luxury and material property, 4) self-degradation and 5) devotion to self-sacrifice. Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in the Bengali language, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolizing French nationalism during the July Revolution. ... Mysticism from the Greek μυστικός (mystikos) an initiate (of the Eleusinian Mysteries, μυστήρια (mysteria) meaning initiation[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion or identity with, or conscious awareness of, ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight; and the belief that such experience is an... A ceremony is an activity, infused with ritual significance, performed on a certain occasion. ... Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ... Look up material in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

He was an understanding revolutionary in his own right, ploughing alone a firm held furrow. He carried on his revolution through revealing revelations of all surviving social practices and norms. Unlike many others of his stature, Choudhury as a man, towers far above Choudhury as a writer, though he carved out a place for himself amongst the galaxy of contemporary novelists.

Works

• New Horizon 1, novel, 1992.
• St. Pancras, novel, 1993.
• New Horizon 2, novel, 1994.
• Life on Distant Shores, novel, Dhaka 2003.
• A Collection of Short-Stories, Vol.1, 1995.
• Blood Legacy of a Nation, Dhaka, 2003.
• Rabindra and Nazrul, Dhaka, 2000.
• Collection of Short-stories, Vol.2, Dhaka, 2001.
• History of Bengal, Dhaka, 2003.
• New Horizon (Complete work), novel, Dhaka, 2005.
• A name cannot be deleted, Dhaka, 1989.
• Prophet of Islam, Dhaka, 1990.
• Bible and Mohammed, Dhaka, 1991.
• Final words on Religion, Dhaka, 2000.
• Mohammed, Prophet of Islam, Dhaka, 2004.

Chronology

• 1934, entered 'Khanjanpur' Primary School.
• 1936, entered 'Sherpur' English School at class three.
• 1938, entered 'Shadhuhati' Middle English School and in 1939 sat for M.E. final exam and received first division.
• 1940, completed F.E final and received first division.
• Mid 1943, his father Azhar Choudhury died.
• Late 1943, entered 'Habiganj Brindabon' College. Completed his IA in 1945 and BA in 1947.
• Late 1947, left college to work in Silchor. Started work in a shop as a bookkeeper.
• 1948, left Silchor and started teaching at 'Aaushkandi' High School.
• 1949, joined Pakistan Air Force.
• 1950, sent to Kawrangi Creek for one year further training.
• 1951, got married to Shirin Choudhury.
• 1955-56, was an external candidate of University of Dhaka, reg no P-64.
• End of 1956, went for a journey by ship with his wife to Calcutta, Colombo and Karachi. Later moved to Kuhat with his wife.
• 1961, applied to come to Great Britain for Further Training as a Pakistan Air Force's Serviceman.
• 1962, first came to Bedford to work for Royal Aircraft Establishment, Ministry of Aviation.
• 1963, founded the Bedford Pakistan Association and became the General Secretary. Started writing 'A name cannot be deleted', a research book to combat non-Muslims misinterpretation of Islam.
• 1964, became the member of Bedford constituency Labour Party. Started writing 'Bible and Mohammed', another research book to combat non-Muslims misinterpretation of Islam.
• 1965, started making regular donations to Pakistan Relief Fund. Started writing 'Final words on Religion', another research book to combat Muslims misinterpretation of Islam.
• 1966, became a member of the Election Commission of the National Federation of Pakistan Association of Great Britain. Left Ministry of Aviation and returned to Bangladesh.
• 1968, started writing on reform policy of the Madrassaha Education of Pakistan. The President of Pakistan appreciated Choudhury’s reform policy and wrote '...attempts are being made to reform Madrassaha education...the process of the change has to be gradual' [a letter written to Pakistan's Education Minister, 1968]. Returned to England and joined Illist Automation, St. Albans. Lived there for several years. Founded St. Albans Pakistan Association, and was the first President of the Association. Started writing 'Jesus', a research book.
• 1971, founded the Bangladesh Action Committee, St. Albans, and sent regular donations to Bangladesh Aid Committee and the Bangladesh Fund. He received many correspondence from the Head of the Mission of the People’s republic of Bangladesh (Calcutta and London), and the High Commissioner (Calcutta), Shirley William MP, Nigel Fisher MC MP, Mervyn Pike MP, Victor Goodhew MP, Peter Shaw MP and many others.
• 1971, joined 'Janomot', a Bengali Newspaper, as a regular columnist and expressed his own frustration in written outbursts against the Pakistan's attack on Bangladesh. These writings were later incorporated in his book 'Blood Legacy of a Nation'.
• 1972, 18 February, received a letter from the Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after returning to Bangladesh.
• 1972, visited Moscow. Started writing essays on conflicts and contradictions prevailing in the social processes of the Bengali society. Later a few of these have been included in the collection of eassys.
• 1972, joined The Post Office and moved to London.
• 1974, founded Mukimpur Primary School.
• 1979, started writing his autobiography, 'My life'. End of the same year he lost his mother Nazmun Nesa Choudhury.
• 1983, Shirin Choudhury moved to Britain with their third and fourth children. Started rewriting 'New Horizon', his first novel.
• 1987, founded the King’s Cross Mosque and Islamic Centre and became the Chair. Started writing 'St. Pancras', his second novel.
• 1988, started translating 'Prophet of Islam' by K S R Rao.
• 1989, retired from The Post Office and returned with his wife to Bangladesh.
• 1989-1996, wrote and published many of his work.
• 1990, founded Habiganj Islamic Orphans School and became Treasurer of Islamic Foundation, Habiganj.
• 1993, received Life Membership of Bangla Academy, Dhaka.
• 1993, founder and Vice President of Habiganj Shahitya Parishod. Patron of Khela Ghor, Payra, Shet Payra, Shurja Shiri, Pithua Girls School and Mukimpur Madrasha.
• 1994, founder and President of literary society 'Sangjojan', Habiganj.
• 1995, received Book Award.
• 1996, 23 February collapsed at the Literary Society's lecture, died at Red Cross Building, Habiganj at 11.30am.

Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... The University of Dhaka (commonly referred to as Dhaka University or just DU) (Bangla: ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় Đhaka Bishshobiddalôe) is the oldest university in Bangladesh. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... Map of Colombo with its administrative districts Coordinates: District Colombo Division, Colombo District Mayor Uvaiz Mohammad Imitiyaz (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) Area    - City 14. ... Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan, sometimes known as the City of Light and the City of Quaid (شہرِ قائد), after Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... The Ministry of Aviation was a department of the United Kingdom government, established in 1959. ... Statistics Population: 82,488 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TL055495 Administration District: Bedford Shire county: Bedfordshire Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Bedfordshire Historic county: Bedfordshire Services Police force: Bedfordshire Police Fire and rescue: Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... St Albans, St. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bangladesh) to his people in Bangladesh. ... Cover of An autobiography, from the Greek auton, self, bios, life and graphein, write, is a biography written by the subject or composed conjointly with a collaborative writer (styled as told to or with). The term dates from the late eighteenth century, but the form is much older. ... Bangla Academy, established on 3 December 1955, is the national academy for promoting Bangla language in Bangladesh. ... The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Rouf Award

Following Bengali writers and free-thinkers received Drouhee Kotha-shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award:

• Partho Sharati Choudhury (Poet)
• Shamshuzaman Khan (Folklorist)
• Razia Khan (Novelist)
• Shirajul Islam Choudhury (Free-thinker)
• Shah Abdul Karim (Baoul)
• Hasan Azizul Huq (Writer)
• Barun Ray (Free-thinker)

Razia Khan (Bengali: ), (1936) is a renowned modern female Bangladeshi author, famous novelist. ... Hasan Azizul Huq is a Bangladeshi writer, notable for his short stories. ...

References

• Abdul Mannan Syed, New Horizon: A new direction for Bengali novels, 2004.
• Biplob Maji, A new style for the world of Bengali novels, Amritalok:106, 2006.
• Ketoki Dyson, Life on Distant Shores by A R Choudhury, Feb 2005.
• Syed Mojurul Islam, New Horizan for Bengali, Feb 2005.
• Shirajul Islam Choudhury, A R Choudhury's works, 2001.
• Hasan Azizul Huq, A free-thinker, 2002.
• Selina Hussain, Women in Choudhury's writings, 1997.
• Shamshuzaman Khan, Folk culture in Choudhury's works, 1998.
• Jibani Granthamala: A Series of Literary biographies, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Feb 1991.
• Biletey Bish Shotoker Bangla Kobi,Rabbani Choudhury, Agamee Prakashani, Dhaka, Feb 2000.
• Silver Jubilee Commemorative Volume of Bangladesh Independence, The Committee to Celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence, London, 1997.
• Brihattar Syleter Itihas (History of Greater Sylhet) Vol.1, Brihattar Sylheter Itihas Pranayan Parished, November 1997.
• Shoto Bochorer Sangbadikota, Sylhet Itihas Pranayan Parished, Jan 1998.
• Habiganj Porikroma, Habiganj Etihash Pronoyan Parished, Bangladesh, October 1994.
• Protayo, Shahitya Porishad, 1993.
• Habiganj-er Muslim Manosh, Habiganj.
• Hsbiganj-er Shahitoyang, Nandalal Sharma, Jhalabad Lokashahitya Porishad, Bangladesh, December 1992.
• Aajo Onek Rohoshya, London, 1997.
• Sharak 1 (Dhaka, 1997), Sharak 2 (Dhaka, 1998), Sharak 3, (Dhaka, 1999).