Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury

Early life

Nawab Ali Chowdhury was born in Dhanbari, Tangail to a zamindar family. 250 years prior to his birth his great grandfather Shah Syed Khuda Bokhs settled in Dhanbari. Nawab Ali Chowdhury studied Arabic, Persian, and Bengali. He went to Rajshahi Collegiate School and later graduated from St. Xavier's College.

Career

He was one of the founders of Dhaka University. He was the first Muslim minister of united Bengal. He served as minister of education. His grandson Muhammad Ali Bogra became the third prime minister of Pakistan. His son, and Bogra's uncle, Syed Hasan Ali Chowdhury, was a minister of East Pakistan government and MP of the second Bangladesh Jatiyo Sangshad.

Author

He engaged in literary and cultural activities from 1895 to 1904. In 1895 the newspapers Mihir and Shudhakar became Mihir-Shudhakar. Chowdhury was its owner. He bought a press and installed it at his house in Calcutta. He contributed in the work of Muhammad Shahidullah, Reazuddin Ahmed al-Mashhadi, and the poet Md. Mozammel Haque. These writers dedicated some of their writings to Chowdhury.

He also wrote books. They are:

Eid ul Azha (1890)

Maulud Sharif (1903)

Vernacular Education in Bengal (1900)

Primary Education in Rural Areas (1906)

Some Moral and Religious Teachings of Imam Al-Ghazzali (1920)

Politics

He took part in politics after the Partition of Bengal. Despite opposition from Hindu Nationalists, a new province named Bengal and Assam was created. Chowdhury joined an all-Indian Muslim political organization. He condemned illiteracy as the cause of Muslim backwardness.

University of Dhaka

On 29 August 1911 at a ceremony of farewell to Lanchet Heir and reception of Charles Bailey, Nawab Sir Salimullah and Chowdhury demanded the establishment of a university in Dhaka. On 31 January 1912, at the time of Lord Hardinge's visit to Dhaka a committee of 19 members including Salimullah and Chowdhury met him and explained to him that Muslims have suffered because of the reunification of Bengal. For this a 13 member Nathan Committee was formed and Chowdhury became a member. Under this committee 6 sub-committee were formed that Chowdhury joined. World War I broke out in 1914 and derailed the establishment of University of Dhaka. Chowdhury was a member of the imperial council. In 1917 he renewed his proposal for the University of Dhaka. The Assembly passed Dhaka University Act in 1920. Class started in 1921. Chowdhury gave 16,000 taka to the University for scholarships. He mortgaged a part of his zamidari and gave another 35,000 taka to the university.

On 9 June 2003, university syndicate decided to name the senate building Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury Building.

Work for education

Chowdhury was the first Muslim minister of united Bengal. He was given the office of education minister because of his role in promoting education. He held this post until his death. He helped 38 educational institutions. In 1910, he established high school Nawab Institute in Dhanbari. He contributed to establish many other educational institutes.

Death

Nawab Ali Chowdhury died on 17 April 1929 at Eden Castle in Darjeeling.