Siddiqui, Abdul Gafur

Siddiqui, Abdul Gafur (1872-1959) scholar, writer, and journalist, was born at Khaspur in Bashirhat, 24-Parganas, west bengal. His father, Munshi Golam Mawla, was a publisher and bookseller in Kolkata and the owner of Habibi Press. After passing the Entrance examination from Calcutta Collegiate School, Abdul Gafur studied at calcutta madrasa and Calcutta Campbell Medical School for some time. He then went to Calcutta Homeopathy College and set up a homeopathic practice.

Abdul Gafur was a collector of old manuscripts, many of which he edited and published. He wrote many essays on ancient and medieval literature and on history and islam. He was also a journalist and worked in various posts at the Babgabasi, Hitabadi, Basumati, Nabashakti, Mihir O Sudhakar, mohammadi, Dainik Hablul Matin. He was against the partition of bengal(1905-1911).

Abdul Gafur was the member of the vangiya sahitya prishad, which awarded him the title of 'Anusandhan Visharad' (skilled researcher; 1910). He was also given a DLit (1940) by Usmania University, Hyderbad. In 1950, he came to East Pakistan and started living permanently in Damodar, a village in khulna. His major writings include Shaheed Titumir, Mussulman O Babgasahitya, Laily Majnu, Shiri Farhad, Hazrat Gorachand Gazi. [Tasiqul Islam]