Muhammad Enamul Haq

Haq, Muhammad Enamul (1902-1982) researcher, litterateur and educationist. Muhammad Enamul Haq was born on 20 September 1902, in a respectable family in Bakhtpur under Fatikchhari upazila of Chittagong district.

While studying in Rauzan High School, he came into contact with Ismail Hossain shiraji and was imbued with the spirit of nationalism. He passed the Entrance Examination obtaining first division in 1923 and was awarded a Mohsin scholarship. He passed the FA Examination in 1925 from Chittagong College; BA with Honours in Arabic in 1927 and MA in 1929 securing first position in the first class in Oriental languages from the Calcutta University. He was awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal for the result.

Receiving a scholarship from the Calcutta University, Enamul Haq conducted research on the History of Sufism in Bengal under the supervision of Professor Suniti Kumar Chatterji from 1929 to 1934. He got Ph D degree in 1935.

Enamul Haq started his career as a translator in the Writers Building, Calcutta and soon after he left the job and joined teaching. He taught at Jorwarganj High School in Meersarai in 1936, Barasat High School in 1937, Howrah Zilla School in 1941 and Maldah Zilla School in 1942. He became the Headmaster of Dhaka Zilla School in 1945.

Haq joined the Rajshahi College as a Professor in 1948. He was appointed the Principal of Daulatpur College (non-Government) on deputation in 1952. He joined the Rajshahi Government College as a professor of Bengali in 1954. After a few months he joined Jagannath College as Principal.

Enamul Haq was appointed the Chairman of the East Bengal School Text Book Board in 1955 and that of the East Bengal Secondary Education Board in 1956. He was appointed the first Director of the newly established Bangla Academy in 1956. He joined university of rajshahi as a Professor of Bengali in 1961. During 1964-68, he was the Founder-Director of the Kendriyo Bangla Unnayan Board (Central Board for the Development of Bangla). He served in the Department of Bengali, university of dhaka, as a Supernumerary Professor from 1969 to 1973. Muhammad Enamul Haq adorned the post of Chairman of the Bangladesh Itihas Parisad in 1973.

After the independence of Bangladesh, he was made a full-time member of the University grants Commission in 1973. He became the vice-chancellor of jahangirnagar university in 1975. He joined Dhaka Museum as a Senior Research Fellow in 1981, a position which he held till his death.

Notable writings

• Arakan Rajsabhaya Bangla Sahitya (Bangla Literature in the Court of Araken, research work written jointly with Abdul Karim Shahityavisharad), 1935;

• Bange Sufiprabhab (The Influence of Sufism in Bengal, research work), 1935;

• Bangla Bhasar Sangskar (Reform of Bangla language, linguistic), 1944;

• Muslim Bangla Sahitya (Muslim Bangla Literature, research work), 1957;

• A History of Sufism in Bengal, 1976;

• Perso-Arabic Elements in Bengali (with GM Hilali), 1967.

Awards

Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque received many Awards in his life.

• Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 1962;

• Bangla Academy Award in 1964;

• Ekushey Padak in 1979;

• President Award in 1966;

• Sher-e-Bangla Literary Award in 1980;

• Muktadhara and Abdul Hye Literary Awards in 1981

• Independence Day Award / Independence Award in 1983

Death

He died on 16 February 1982.

References

• Banglapedia [1]
• Boi Mela [2]