Abed won Knighthood for serving the poor, Huda for serving colonialists
Monday, 25 January 2010
Md. Mainul Islam
PEOPLE of Bangladesh feel happy that Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, has been conferred the Knighthood by the British Queen. This illustrious person has been working tirelessly to serve the poor not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world. It is heartening to see exceptional people like Fazle Hasan Abed and Prof Yunus in a country where not a few choose the short-cuts to power and wealth. Both Abed and Yunus dedicated their life, labour and talent solely to uplift the poor and wretched of the earth. They are both national heroes. They can be the role models for others to follow.
But this write-up is concerned with Abed, his Knighthood and title, 'sir'. The title, conferred on an individual, a citizen of independent Bangladesh by the British Queen, has a different meaning in the post-colonial period from what it was when some one won it in the colonial era. The BRAC press release mentioned that Abed was the second man of his family to get the honour. This is where I would take indulgence to give some explanations. Yes, Abed's father was the nephew of Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda. In fact, Sir Shamsul Huda was the maternal uncle of Abed's father. Nawab Shamsul Huda, MA, BL, was a brilliant lawyer of Calcutta High Court. Later, elevated to the Bench, he became a judge of the Calcutta High Court. The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prashad, learnt law from him as his article clerk. It was the only way to learn law in those days, as there were no law colleges. Dr. Prashad, in his autobiography, paid Shamsul Huda glowing tributes, as a lawyer and non-communal person. On Rajendra Prashad's insistence Shamsul Huda granted him leave during Eid-ul-Azha. Rajendra Prashad did not want to see cow slaughter. Shamsul Huda told him, on return, that there was no reason for him to go on leave because he only sacrificed a goat, not a cow.
The difference between their Knighting is that Nawab Shamsul Huda was Knighted by the British Raj during the colonial rule for serving it, while Abed got it for serving the poor. His honorary 'Nawab' title was also conferred by the British colonial rulers. This is what separates the two distinguished personalities. Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda and Barrister A Rasul were the two Muslim legal luminaries of the then British Bengal. Born in the villages of Gokarna and Guniauk respectively in Nasirnagar under Brahmanbaria both earned fame in professional and social life as well as politics.
Barrister Rasul was the first Muslim Barrister of Bengal. It is said that he was the first B.C.L. from Oxford among Hindus and Muslims of Bengal. Despite his birth in a zemindar family of Guniauk, he always identified himself with the oppressed and subjugated in the then Bengal and India. He was unassuming. He opposed British colonial rule. On return from England after finishing his education, he joined the Indian National Congress. He opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905, along with Maulavi Abul Kashem of Burdwan, Maulana Ismail Hussain Siraji of Sirajganj and Abdul Halim Gaznavi of Delduar, Tangail, besides others. For opposing colonial rule and his patriotic views, he earned the wrath of the then British colonial government. He was removed as a part-time Lecturer of Calcutta University and also as its Head Examiner in English. An undeterred Rasul successfully defended Bagha Jatin and his associates in the Alipur Bomb conspiracy case.
Barrister Rasul was nominated by Rabindranath Tagore to chair the Bengal Provincial Congress conference at Barisal in 1930s. The speech he delivered at the conference is remembered for opposing colonial rule and championing the cause of free India. It is also remembered for dispelling confusion of a section of Muslims about their Bangali identity. He also made caustic remarks about some Muslim politicians who were lackeys of British imperialism. Barrister Rasul never cared for the titles of 'Nawab' or 'Sir' from the British Raj. My father and some distinguished persons of our locality said he had a disdain for any award or title from the then British colonial rulers.
This is what sets Abed and Barrister Rasul apart from Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda, who indeed was a brilliant person of his time. This short write-up seeks to put things in proper historicl perspective, not to belittle a greatman or his contributions.
Dr. Md. Mainul Islam is a retired professor of Dhaka University. He can be reached at:
e-mail drmainul-mgt@yahoo.com
PEOPLE of Bangladesh feel happy that Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, has been conferred the Knighthood by the British Queen. This illustrious person has been working tirelessly to serve the poor not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world. It is heartening to see exceptional people like Fazle Hasan Abed and Prof Yunus in a country where not a few choose the short-cuts to power and wealth. Both Abed and Yunus dedicated their life, labour and talent solely to uplift the poor and wretched of the earth. They are both national heroes. They can be the role models for others to follow.
But this write-up is concerned with Abed, his Knighthood and title, 'sir'. The title, conferred on an individual, a citizen of independent Bangladesh by the British Queen, has a different meaning in the post-colonial period from what it was when some one won it in the colonial era. The BRAC press release mentioned that Abed was the second man of his family to get the honour. This is where I would take indulgence to give some explanations. Yes, Abed's father was the nephew of Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda. In fact, Sir Shamsul Huda was the maternal uncle of Abed's father. Nawab Shamsul Huda, MA, BL, was a brilliant lawyer of Calcutta High Court. Later, elevated to the Bench, he became a judge of the Calcutta High Court. The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prashad, learnt law from him as his article clerk. It was the only way to learn law in those days, as there were no law colleges. Dr. Prashad, in his autobiography, paid Shamsul Huda glowing tributes, as a lawyer and non-communal person. On Rajendra Prashad's insistence Shamsul Huda granted him leave during Eid-ul-Azha. Rajendra Prashad did not want to see cow slaughter. Shamsul Huda told him, on return, that there was no reason for him to go on leave because he only sacrificed a goat, not a cow.
The difference between their Knighting is that Nawab Shamsul Huda was Knighted by the British Raj during the colonial rule for serving it, while Abed got it for serving the poor. His honorary 'Nawab' title was also conferred by the British colonial rulers. This is what separates the two distinguished personalities. Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda and Barrister A Rasul were the two Muslim legal luminaries of the then British Bengal. Born in the villages of Gokarna and Guniauk respectively in Nasirnagar under Brahmanbaria both earned fame in professional and social life as well as politics.
Barrister Rasul was the first Muslim Barrister of Bengal. It is said that he was the first B.C.L. from Oxford among Hindus and Muslims of Bengal. Despite his birth in a zemindar family of Guniauk, he always identified himself with the oppressed and subjugated in the then Bengal and India. He was unassuming. He opposed British colonial rule. On return from England after finishing his education, he joined the Indian National Congress. He opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905, along with Maulavi Abul Kashem of Burdwan, Maulana Ismail Hussain Siraji of Sirajganj and Abdul Halim Gaznavi of Delduar, Tangail, besides others. For opposing colonial rule and his patriotic views, he earned the wrath of the then British colonial government. He was removed as a part-time Lecturer of Calcutta University and also as its Head Examiner in English. An undeterred Rasul successfully defended Bagha Jatin and his associates in the Alipur Bomb conspiracy case.
Barrister Rasul was nominated by Rabindranath Tagore to chair the Bengal Provincial Congress conference at Barisal in 1930s. The speech he delivered at the conference is remembered for opposing colonial rule and championing the cause of free India. It is also remembered for dispelling confusion of a section of Muslims about their Bangali identity. He also made caustic remarks about some Muslim politicians who were lackeys of British imperialism. Barrister Rasul never cared for the titles of 'Nawab' or 'Sir' from the British Raj. My father and some distinguished persons of our locality said he had a disdain for any award or title from the then British colonial rulers.
This is what sets Abed and Barrister Rasul apart from Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda, who indeed was a brilliant person of his time. This short write-up seeks to put things in proper historicl perspective, not to belittle a greatman or his contributions.
Dr. Md. Mainul Islam is a retired professor of Dhaka University. He can be reached at:
e-mail drmainul-mgt@yahoo.com