Ananda Puraskar
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (1961) Winner
Syed Mujtaba Ali
サイード・ムジトバ・アリ
Syed Mujtaba Ali
Pen Names:
Saiyad Mujtaba Ali（Alternate transliteration / variant used in publications）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1904-09-13 （Karimganj, Sylhet region, British India）
- Died
- 1974-02-11 （Dacca (Dhaka), Bangladesh） age 69
- Nationality
- British India (born), Bangladesh (later)
- Languages
- Bengali, Sylheti, English, German, Russian, French, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarati, Pashtu
- Religion
- Islam (Muslim; Sufi-influenced lineage)
- Residence History
- British India (Sylhet / Karimganj) → Afghanistan (Kabul, 1927–1929) → Germany (Berlin, Bonn, 1929–1932) → Egypt (Cairo, 1934–1935) → India (Baroda, Kolkata, New Delhi etc., 1936–1964) → Bangladesh (Dhaka, 1972–1974)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, journalist, teacher, academic, linguist, travel writer
- Active Years
- 1949-1974
- Affiliations
- Kabul Agricultural College (Kabul; taught 1927–1929), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Baroda; 1936–1944), Government Azizul Haque College (Bogra; principal, 1949), University of Calcutta (1950), Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR; secretary, journal editor), All India Radio (1952–1956), Visva-Bharati University (professor, 1956–1964)
- Influenced By
- Rabindranath Tagore, Bidhushekhar Shastri, Moriz Winternitz, Giuseppe Tucci
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visva-Bharati University (Santiniketan) | — | — | B.A. | 1921–1926 | India |
| Aligarh Muslim University | — | — | — | — | India |
| University of Bonn | — | Comparative Religious Studies | PhD | 1929–1932 | Germany |
| Al-Azhar University (Cairo) | — | — | — | 1934–1935 | Egypt |
Visva-Bharati University (Santiniketan)
Degree:
B.A.
Period:
1921–1926
Year of Graduation:
1926
Country:
India
One of the early graduates of Visva-Bharati
Aligarh Muslim University
Country:
India
Studied for a brief period; exact completion year unknown
University of Bonn
Comparative Religious Studies
Degree:
PhD
Period:
1929–1932
Year of Graduation:
1932
Country:
Germany
PhD dissertation on the Khojas (1932)
Al-Azhar University (Cairo)
Period:
1934–1935
Country:
Egypt
Studies in Islamic culture/learning
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Narsinghadas Prize | — | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1961 | Ananda Puraskar (Ananda Prize) | — | — | Anandabazar Group | 受賞 |
| 2005 | Ekushey Padak | — | — | Government of Bangladesh | 追贈（死後受賞） |
Narsinghadas Prize
1949
Result:
受賞
Ananda Puraskar (Ananda Prize)
1961
Organization:
Anandabazar Group
Result:
受賞
Ekushey Padak
2005
Organization:
Government of Bangladesh
Result:
追贈（死後受賞）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Deshe Bideshe
1949 Travelogue / Anecdotal essays (Ramya Rachana)A travelogue based on his experiences in Kabul, mixing observation, anecdote and humor to portray cross-cultural encounters.
travelcultural comparisoncross-cultural encountershumor
Panchatantra
1952 Essays / Short stories collectionCollection of short pieces and reflections drawn from his time in Europe, Cairo and Baroda, notable for wit and concise storytelling.
memories of travelcultural observationpersonal reminiscence
Chacha Kahini
1955 Children's stories / Humorous talesA set of approachable, humorous stories aimed at younger and general readers; popular for their storytelling style.
humordidactic elementseveryday observation
Bibliography
- Deshe Bideshe (1949)
- Panchatantra (1952)
- Abishwasya (1955)
- Chacha Kahini (1955)
- Mayurkanthi (1957)
- Jale Dangay (1957)
- Dhupchhaya (1958)
- Shabnam (1960)
- Chaturanga (1960)
- Shreshtha Galpa (1962)
- Parash Pathar (1962)
- Bahubichitra (1962)
- Bhabaghure O Anyanya (1962)
- Shreshtha Ramya Rachana (1962)
- Tunimem (1964)
- Duhara (1966)
- Pachandashai (1967)
- Shahriyar (1969)
- Hitler (1970)
- Kato Na Ashrujal (1971)
- Musafir (1971)
- Prem
- Dwandwa Madhur
- Tulanahina
- Raja Ujir
- Chalak Hobar Pahela Kitab
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Ramya Rachana (anecdotal, essay-like narrative)observational style mixing humor and ironyconcise, witty narration
- Recurring Motifs
- travel and cross-cultural experiencelanguage and identityinsight into everyday details
Legacy
Syed Mujtaba Ali was an influential Bengali travelogue and essay writer whose works are included in school and university curricula in Bangladesh and parts of India. His literary contributions have been recognized posthumously, including the Ekushey Padak in 2005.
Academic Societies
- Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- Bangla Academy
Archives
- National Archives of Bangladesh (est.)
In Popular Culture
- Inclusion of his extracts in school and university Bengali literature curricula (Bangladesh, parts of India)
Trivia
- Met Rabindranath Tagore in 1919 and was influenced by him.
- Was an early and vocal supporter of the Bengali language movement after 1947.
- Polyglot: spoke many languages including English, German, Arabic and Persian.
- Died in 1974 and was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2005.