Mir Mosharraf Hossain: A pioneer of Bengali Muslim writers

P M Serajul Islam Mir Mosharraf Hossain was a novelist, dramatist, poet, journalist, literary figure, teacher, reformer and essayist in 19th century. He was born at Lahinipara in the district of Kushtia on 13 November 1847. His father Mir Moazzem Hossain was one of the few Muslim landlords of the nineteenth century Bengal. His mother's name is Daulatunnesa. Mosharraf Hossain learned Arabic and Persian with a teacher at home and then Bangla at a pathshala. He is principally known for his famous novel Bishad Sindhu. He is considered as the first novelist to emerge from the Muslim society of Bengal. Mir Mosharraf Hossain began his formal education at Kushtia School and then studied up to Class 5 at Krishnanagar Collegiate School. He was admitted to Kalighat School in Kolkata but could not complete his studies. Mosharraf Hossain began his career looking after his father's landed property. Later he served the Faridpur Nawab Estate and, in 1885, the Delduar Estate. He lived in Kolkata from 1903 to 1909. While still a student, Mir Mosharraf Hossain worked as a mofussil reporter for the Sangbad Prabhakar (1831) that was edited by famous journalist Iswar Gupta and Grambarta Prakashika (1863) that was edited by famous journalist Kangal Harinath. His literary career also started here. Kangal Harinath was his literary guru. Mosharraf Hossain later worked as editor of the Azizannehar (1874) and Hitakari (1890). He was also associated with the Vangiya Sahitya Prishad. His literary works were included in the curriculum of school level, secondary, higher secondary and graduation level Bengali Literature in Bangladesh. In 1865 he married Aziz-un-Nesa. But he was very unhappy