March 3,2008
Dear Jahed Ahmed,
Thank you very much for your writeup about my favorite personality Professor Ahmed Sharif. I am remembering his departure holy soul. His sacrifice for the sake of human being has made him a great.
Dr. Ahmed Sharif, who was a renowned scholar, researcher of Bengali literature and a forerunner of free thought movements in Bangladesh. Dr. Sharif was born in 1921 in Patiya, Chittagong. Dr. Ahmed Sharif was not my direct teacher because I was student of Rajshahi University but I was familiar with his name. In my early service life, I met with Mr.Kazi Habibur Rahman , who was direct student of Sharif sir. I and Kazi Habibur Rahman were living in a mess . So I got a great opportunity to know more about Sharif sir. Dr. Ahmed Sharif was an enthusiastic topic for me. By hearing detail about Dr.Ahmed Sharif from my dear friend /colleague Mr. Habibur Raman, I was appearing my self-devoted to Dr. Ahmed Sharif. He was outspoken and punctual and very honest and humanitarian author and always thinking about human being.
He was the recipient of many honors and awards.During his teaching life in the University he was elected a member of the senate, Syndicate, President, Teachers Association and the University Teachers Club and even today, Dr. Sharif is the only person who was elected the Dean of the Faculty of Arts for three consecutive terms. After his retirement from the Dhaka University, he was offered to join as first "Kazi Nazrul Islam Professor" at the University of Chittagong, where he served for two years from 1984 to 1986.
In his lifetime, he was the lone authority on ancient and medieval Bengali literature, the discussions of which he enriched with many original contributions. He was the author of more than 100-research publication in the form of books on history, philosophy, socio-cultural and contemporary political issues. He edited with long introductions 46 manuscripts of ancient and medieval Bengali literature and a number of others were in joint collaboration.
Even till his last days, he had been living a secluded life to avoid the wrath of a section of the public who thought his views to be too dangerous for the establishment. During his lifetime, he was very much controversial and misunderstood personality among his contemporaries in the country. He was controversial because of his out spoken views against the establishment, spineless intellectuals and political leaders, and above all religious and parochial outlooks. He was also misunderstood because he was always reluctant to be associated with government agencies and he never attended any government sponsored programs or any elite class programs. Therefore, he was not known or his huge publications on different issues were not read. Moreover, he was blacklisted from the national media. On the other hand, because of professional jealousy, opportunist national (!) intellectuals used to misinterpret him to the curious people, who wanted to know Dr. Sharif's philosophy and works.
After is death, educated but ingrate people realized how they grossly misunderstood Dr. Amed Sharif during his lifetime.Dr. Ahmed Sharif, the prominent figure of free thought of Bangladesh died on February 24, 1999. His death is irreparable for the nation. Uncompromising till death, Dr. Sharif rose above all religious and parochial outlooks towards life. For his brave utterances against communalism and superstitions, autocracy and fascism, his life came under threat many times. But He did not care.
Now a day's outspoken honest humanitarian intellectual integrity is very rare as Professor Ahmed Sharif. He was not only popular teacher he was guide like mentor for all the student of Dhaka University. Now he is past but his memory will be immortal forever. His holy eye and body alive yet for the sake of human being. If I don't fail my memory: there are uncountable `Mollahs` in our society but no one agrees to donate/sacrifice for the sake of human being. I will be pleased if any body or Government establishes an Eye Hospital in the name of respected Dr. Ahmed Sharif Sir.
*****
M. Danesh Hawlader
__._,_.___
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
__,_._,___