Rahman, Sheikh Habibur

Rahman, Sheikh Habibur (1891-1962) journalist, was born at Goshgati in jessore in 1891. He passed the Entrance examination (1910) from Jessore Zilla School and the IA (1912) from the City College, Kolkata. He studied for the BA (1914) but did not graduate. Subsequently he passed LT (1923) from David Hare College.

Habibur Rahman worked as assistant editor on the weekly Mohammadi (1914) and later edited the monthly Babganur (The Light of Bengal, 1919) and Usa (Dawn). He taught at Jessore Zilla School (1914), Barasat Government High School (1924), Hughli Branch School (1927) and Barrackpur High School (1930). He also worked as sub-inspector of maktab (junior schools for religious instruction) in khulna. After his retirement in 1944, he taught at the Khulna Coronation Girls'; School from 1951 to 1960.

Habibur Rahman wrote in a variety of genres: poetry, satire, juvenile literature etc. He also wrote a number of history books and travelogues. Among his well-known books are Parijat (Coral Trees, 1912), Abe Hayat (The Water of life, 1914), Chetana (Awareness, 1915), Parir Kahini (Fairy Tales, 1916), Hasir Galpa (Humorous Tales, 1917), Banshari (Flute, 1917), Niyamat (Divine Grace, 1917), Kohinur (Kohinoor, 1919), Malabare Islam Prachar (Preaching of Islam in Malabar, 1919), Alamgir (1919), Sundarbane Bhraman Kahini (Travel to the Sundarbans, 1927), Chhotader Galpa (Stories for the juvenile, 1935), Bharat Samrat Babar (Babur, the Emperor of India, 1936), Maraner Pare (The Life Beyond, 1950), etc. He wrote a literary autobiography Amar Sahityajiban (My Literary Life, 1927). He also translated two books from the Persian: Mahakabi Sheikh Sadir Gulistaner Babganubad (The Bangla translation of Gulistan by the poet Sheikh Sadi, 1933), Bustanr Banganubad (Bangla translation of Bustan, 1934), His writings are replete with his liberal thoughts and characterised by his love for humanity, nature, and society. He was awarded the title Sahityaratna (literary gem) by Nadia Sahitya Sabha. Habibur Rahman died in Khulna on 7 May 1962. [Badiuzzaman]