Huq, Kazi Imdadul

Huq, Kazi Imdadul (1882-1926) educationist and writer, was born in the village of Godaipur in khulna district on 4 November 1882. His father, Kazi Ataul Huq, worked in the Survey Division in Assam, and subsequently became a mukhtar in the Khulna Criminal Court. Imdadul Huq passed BA in 1900 from Presidency College, Kolkata. In 1914, he passed the BT Examination.

Imdadul Huq joined the calcutta madrasa as a temporary teacher in 1904. In 1906 he worked briefly in the Education Department in Shillong, Assam. The next year he joined the Dhaka Madrasa as a teacher. In 1911, he became professor of Geography at the Dhaka Teachers' Training College, in 1914, Assistant School Inspector of Muslim Education for the Dhaka Division, and headmaster of the Calcutta Training School in 1917. In 1921 he became superintendent of the newly founded Dhaka Education Board and continued there till his death.

In May 1920, Imdadul Huq became editor of Shiksak, an educational monthly magazine and worked with it for three years. He got great reputation as a literary man. He wrote poems, novels, essays, and children’s literature. His works include Ankhijal (1900), Moslem Jagater Bijvan Charcha (1904), Bhugol Shiksa Pranali (1st and 2nd part, 1913 &1916), Nabikahini (1917), Prabandhamala (1918), Kamarer Kanda (1919) and Abdullah (1932). Imdadul Huq is best known for his novel, Abdullah, which depicts early 20th century Muslim society.

Imdadul Huq was president of the Publication Committee of the bangiya mussalman sahitya patrika. In recognition of his services, the British Government awarded him the titles 'Khan Sahib' in 1919 and 'Khan Bahadur' in 1926. Imdadul Huq died on 20 March 1926 in Kolkata. [Khandker Muzammil Huq]