Syed Mujtaba Ali was born on this day in 1904. He was a Bengali author, journalist, scholar, polyglot and global citizen.
He was born in Assam to a family of intellectuals. His brother Murtaza Ali also was a writer of great stature. Mujtaba Ali studied at Shantiniketan. His work in education and religious studies took him across the world.
His travel narrative Deshe Bideshe captured a snapshot of the upheavals in South Asia and it’s a good idea to read the book right now if you are interested in the goings-on in Afghanistan.
He was awarded the Narsinghadas Prize, the Ananda Puraskar and the Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh.
The works of the pen have transformed the lives of men and can indeed be forever, and have an everlasting impact. “Oh that my words were now written!……..that they were graven with an iron pen and lead on a rock forever,” Job said (Job19:23-24). It’s indeed a marvellous work of God that my works by the pen and yours that are carefully and studiously written can be forever and change lives.