Anjuman-i-Ulama-i-Bangala

Anjuman-i-Ulama-i-Bangala 'an association established in Calcutta (1913), aimed at (a) preaching Islam and spreading Islamic education; (b) writing books and pamphlets countering the hostile views propagated by Christian Missionaries and other religionists; (c) reforming Muslim society in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Among the founding members of the Anjuman were maulana abul kalam azad, Maulana maniruzzaman islamabadi, Maulana mohammad akram khan, Maulana muhammad abdullahil baqi and Dr muhammad sHahidullah. For publicity and information dissemination, the organisation published a paper entitled Al-Eslam (1915-1921).

The Anjuman continued its activities under its own banner up to 1921 when it merged with the Jamiyat-ul-Ulama-i-Bangala. During this period it organised three conferences; the first was held in Bogra (1913) and the other two in Calcutta (1917) and Chittagong (1918). The activists of the Anjuman tried to educate the unlettered Muslims of Bengal and Assam about shirk and bidat which, under the influence of other cultures, permeated Muslim ways of life of the time. They founded many Maktabs, Madrasas, Bait-ul-mal funds, and social arbitration boards for strengthening Muslim morale and solidarity. One of their dreams was to establish an Arabic University in Chittagong. But necessary funds could not be raised.

The Anjuman actively participated in the khilafat and non-cooperation movement. The Anjuman-i- Ulama-i-Bangala, though primarily a Muslim reformist association, never showed any animosity towards other religions. Rather its members were vocal about Hindu-Muslim unity. As a mark of Hindu-Muslim amity they established a Swadeshi Khilafat store in Calcutta for the purpose of marketing swadeshi or native goods. Under the changed political environment the Anjuman stopped its activities from 1921 and merged with the Jamiyat-ul-Ulama-i-Bangala, the Bengal branch of the Jamiyat-ul-Ulama-i-Hind. [Sunil Kanti Dey]