Birth anniv of poet Munshi Md Meherullah today

Our Correspondent

JHENIDAH, Dec 25: Munshi Mohammad Meherullah, a noted poet, religious leader and social reformer was born at Ghopegram near Barobazar in his grandfather's home under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah on December 26, 1861. His parental home was in village Chhatiantala of Jessore. The great personality's 153th birth anniversary is today.

Meherullah who tried to inspire the frustrated and morally debilitated Muslim society was a self-educated scholar.

When Meherullah was a student of primary school, the premature death of his poor father Munshi Mohammad Wares compelled him to leave academic education. However, his unquenchable thirst for knowledge   made him a great scholar in later life.

He received training in tailoring and led the rest of his life by this profession.

The famous books on religion and society included Khristiya Dharmer Asaratta (The hollowness of the Christian religion), Meherul Islam, Hindu Dharma Rahasya O Devalila, Mussalman O Christian Tarkayuddha (Muslim and Christian Debates).

In order to spread the teaching of Islam, he established Madrasaye Karamatia and Islam Dharmottejjka Sabba at village Monoharpur in Jessore district.

His writings were regularly published in Shadhakar and Islam Pracharak newspapers from Kolkata.

He had a vast command in Urdu and he used to read books and periodicals in this language.

Munshi Meherulla got impassioned hearing the Christian parsons' critical motivational speeches intended to convert the simple-minded Muslims across whole Bangla. He started to make counter-speeches very popular among his audience.

He declared battle of religion without arms against the misinformation of the parsons.

This preacher of Islam died on June 7, 1907.

To keep the memory of the thinker live, E M School in Jessore has been renamed as Munshi Meherulla Academy. Munshi Meherulla Social welfare Organisation and Meherullah Foundation are working here.    

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