Rahman, Mohammad Lutfar

Rahman, Mohammad Lutfar (1889-1936) social worker, litterateur, editor was born in 1897 at village Parnanduali in magura district. He was more well-known as Doctor Muhammad Lutfar Rahman. His parental home was in village Hajipur of the same district. His father's name was Sardar Mainuddin Ahmed and mother's name was Shamsun Nahar.

Lutfar Rahman passed his entrance examination in 1915 from Magura High English School. While studying FA he became a teacher of Anglo-Persian first at Sirajganj Victoria School (1916) and later at Jorarganj High School in Chittagong (1918). In 1920 he gave up teaching and left for Calcutta and obtained HMB (1921) degree from Krishnanagar Homeopathic College. Thereafter he began practicing homeopathy to lead an independent life.

Meanwhile, two of his books were published. These were Prokash (1916) and Unnata Jiban (1919). Quite a few of his essays were published in the newspapers and periodicals. This facilitated his access to the society of the intellectuals and he became the editor of the Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Patrika. At that time four issues of the monthly Sahachar (6th to 9th) were published under his editorship.

Lutfar Rahman established an organization in Calcutta called 'Naritirtha' (1922) with the objective of socially rehabilitating women sex workers. begum rokeya (1880-1936) was the chairperson of the organization's executive committee. Lutfar Rahman was its Secretary. In 1329 BS a monthly journal Narishokti appeared under his editorship to serve as mouthpiece of 'Naritirtha'. Six of its issues were published.

Mohammad Lutfar Rahman's dream was to awaken the inner force in human beings. With this objective he wrote such books as Mahot Jiban (1926), Manob Jiban (1927), Satyo Jiban (1940), Uchcha Jiban (1962), Dharma Jiban (1971), Mohajiban (1975) and Jubakjiban (1985). The titles of the books reveal Lutfar Rahman's outlook towards life and the world. It was his belief that by building the life of individuals it is possible to build the desired society and the nation. This is why he emphasized the need to build individuals as persons of honesty and character. In his view men and women complimented each other in the society. He believed each and every individual contained in himself or herself great human qualities which needed to be awakened to create a better society and higher life. Through his writings he intended to disseminate this awareness as source of inspiration. He in fact acted as a people's teacher.

Lutfar Rahman also wrote quite a few novels. These include Sarala (1918), Path-hara (1919), Raihan (1919), Priti-Upahar (1927), and Bashar-Upahar (1936). The last two novels were quite popular. Mention should also be made of his writings for the juvenile readers such as Chheleder Mahatvokatha (1928), Chheleder Karbala (1931), and Rani Helen (1934). He died on 31 March 1936. [Khondokar Sirajul Haque]