Professor Ahmôđ Shorif: the face of a Bengali free-thinker

Dr Ahmôđ Shorif [officially spelled as ‘Ahmed Sharif’] is one of the very few prominent faces of the Bengali free-thinking titans. He was an educationist, critic, creative writer, philosopher and scholar of Bengali literature. He was an outspoken secular thinker and the one-and-only before Dr Humayun Azađ. Alond with Dr Azađ, he is considered as a legendary figure of the history of free thought in Bengal. Till his last breath, this Bengali titan fought against communalism and fanaticism, autocracy, superstitions, and all sorts of irrational activisms. Even after his death, he intended to serve the humanity and donated his body for medical research.

Professor Ahmôđ Shorif was born on 13^th of 1921 February in Potia of Chittagong of unpartitioned Bengal and died on 24 February 1999.

He studied Bengali at Dhaka University and earned his PhD from this very institution.

His professional career started as a clerk in anti-corruption department. But his knack for teaching runs him to Poshchimga̐o Nôwab Fôyjunnesa College. The salary was below the half of what he got as the anti-corruption clerk. Then he shifts to Feni Degree College. His uncle Abdul Korim Shahiṭṭobisharôđ’s huge collection of Bengali scarce puṭhi changed his life and made it a legend. He was appointed as the ‘research assistant’ of Dhaka University in exchange of handing over all the collection of Bengali rare puṭhi that he got from his uncle, without royalty. His talent and excellence amplifies his career up to the post of Chairman of the Bengali Department and then to the post of the Dean of the respective faculty.

He composed more than 100 books. He edited, he researched and he composed creative writings. Few of his excellence are—

· Bangalee O Bangla Shahiṭṭo [volume I & II ]

· Vab-buđbuđ

· Laili-Mojnu [edited]

· Bichiṭo Chinṭa

· Shôđesh Ônnesha

· Mođđhojuger Shahiṭṭo Shômaj O Shôngskritir Rup

· Banglar Shufi Shahiṭṭo

· Bangaleer Chinṭa-cheṭonar Bibôrṭon Ðhara

· Banglar Biplobi Pôtovumi

· E Shôṭoke Amađer Jibonđharar Ruprekha

· Nirbachiṭo Probônđho

· Proṭṭôy O Proṭṭasha

His thoughts and philosophy composed the harmonized synthesis of Idealism, Secular Humanism and Socialism.

We pay our highly gratitude to the memory of this Bengali genius.