by BADRUL AHSAN
Khan Sarwar Murshid’s has consistently been a voice of reason in our part of the world. And, of course, reason has underpinned the many layers of intellect in this country, to a point where those who have exercised the intellectual throughout their lives have ended up giving shape to a national ethos. Murshid has, therefore, been part of an era where the identity of a people, the definition of a society, has at more than one crossroads come from him and those who have been part of his proud generation.
And the background to that story is to be had in this excellent and comprehensive examination of the life and career of an individual who has been a teacher, a diplomat, a cultural activist and, in a sublime way, a complete Bengali nationalist. That last bit about nationalism needs to be underscored by a caveat, though, in any assessment of Murshid’s transformational role in the shaping of Bengali politico-historical perspectives. His patriotism, as Serajul Islam Choudhury would have us know, was not limited to an expression of sentiments but broadened out into an arena where he made himself a leading player on a canvas that was destined to get wider with the passage of time. Choudhury cites a poignant example of the strong and sophisticated views Murshid held dear in defence of his nationalistic principles.
When an editorial condemning the proponents of university autonomy appeared in the Pakistan Observer, Murshid was quick to inform Choudhury that the write-up had been written by none other than his English department colleague Syed Sajjad Hossain. And, of course, a rebuttal was necessary. Choudhury was asked to write the rebuttal to the editorial, not as a letter but as an editorial in itself. For his part, Murshid would make the necessary arrangements for the item to appear in print. The writing done, Murshid and Choudhury set off with it to a spot which Choudhury discovered was the home of the young lawyer Kamal Hossain. It was an interesting assemblage of individuals present there as the two men made their way in. Kamal Hossain, Hameeda Hossain, Dr. Nurul Islam, Rehman Sobhan and Salma Sobhan were there. The most prominent presence, however, was that of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Presently the group was joined by Tajuddin Ahmed.
The Daily Star for more
(Thanks to Robin Khundkar. His note: “Dr. Sarwar Murshid is my schoolmate Kumar Murshid’s father. A great raconteur and scholar who was an important personality along with his wife Nurjahan Murshid during the long Bengali nationalist struggle (1948 – 1971) for an independent Bangladesh.”)