Choudhury, Abdul Quayyum
Choudhury, Abdul Quayyum (1915-1983) educationist, linguist and writer. He was born in 1915 at village Asharkandi in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district. His father was Abu Sultan Choudhury and mother Jebunnesa Choudhury. After studying at Zakir Muhammad Madhyabanga Primary School of his own village, he got admitted to the Normal School at Shilchar in Assam and completed his Normal Course there in 1940. Later he did his graduation from the University of Dhaka. After completion of Normal Course he joined the Government Jubilee High School at Sunamganj as a vernacular teacher. There he also performed the additional duty as the school librarian.
Abdul Quayyum Choudhury was in favour of reforming Bangla language. He wrote in 1938 a book titled Babgla Paila Boi. It contained suggestions on simplifying the reading and writing of Bangla, on how to introduce Bangla typewriter and speed up composition of alphabets and on how easily non-Bengali learners can learn Bangla. In this book he proposed to keep only 25 alphabets as part of his reform plan for Bengali. He also suggested simplification of Bengali numericals.
Abdul Quayyum Choudhury wrote a book Islam Ki (What is Islam) in 1955. He also contributed many essays to the journals. He was one of the collectors of vocabulary from Sylhet area for Bangla Academy's Anchalik Bhasar Abhidhan (1965). After retiring from government service he served as Headmaster of a high school of his own locality. He was the founding president of Sunamganj Sahitya Majlish floated in 1966. He died on 26 April 1983 at Sunamganj. [MKI Quayyum Choudhury]
