Ismail Hossain Siraji

Early life

As a young boy, Ismail Hossain Siraji learnt Persian in school and studied Sanskrit at home and was well versed Sanskrit grammar and literature, studied Sanskrit dictionaries as well as Hindu scriptures like Vedas, Manusmriti and Upanishads.

Career

He earned his living by writing and making public speeches. He acquired a great reputation as an orator. He was an advocate of Muslim interests, but was not a communalist. Hindu-Muslim amity based on equal sharing of resources was his belief. He was active in many parties and organisations, such as, Indian National Congress, Muslim League, Anjuman-i-Ulamah-i-Bangala, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Swarajya Party and Krishak Samiti.

He went to Turkey in 1912 with a medical team during the Balkan War.

Shibli Nomani and Allama Iqbal influenced Siraji. Like them, he felt that it was necessary to harmonise religious and secular thought to awaken the Indian Muslim community.

Muslim Enlightenment of Bengalis

Siraji is one of the most prominent figures in the Bengali Muslim Reawakening during the British occupation. He encouraged Muslims to get a good education (especially women whose place in society was merely in the house) and the learning of the English language (many didn't learn the language because they thought that it was the language of the British). He believed in religious tolerance. He also thought that Hindu-Muslim unity would be needed to create a strong Bengali society that would be able to fight against tyranny. His writings often handled these sort of issues. His views were unpopular at first, and during his speeches, he would at times have objects thrown at him.

Poems

Novels

Travelogue

Essays