Ahmed Sharif (13 February 1921 – 24 February 1999) was an educationist, philosopher, critic, writer and scholar of medieval Bengali literature. He is recognized as one of the most outspoken atheists and radical thinkers of Bangladesh. He and Lt. Colonel Kazi Nuruzzaman led the Muktijuddha Chetana Bikash Kendra (Centre for the Development of the Spirit of the Liberation War), a group of left-leaning intellectuals who spoke out against the dictatorship of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
Career
Sharif's professional journey began in 1944 when he joined the Anti-Corruption Department as a Grievance Officer, earning a salary of 250 Taka. However, he left this position soon after due to ethical disagreements. In 1945, he shifted to academia, beginning as a lecturer at Laksam Nawab Faizunnessa College, where he worked until 1948 with a salary of just 115 Taka. He then moved to Feni Degree College, teaching there until June 1949.
Academic tenure at the University of Dhaka
In 1950, Ahmed Sharif joined the University of Dhaka as the institution's first research assistant in the Bengali Department. His appointment came with a unique condition: Sharif had to donate Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad's extensive manuscript collection to the university at no cost, in exchange for the responsibility of preserving the collection.From 1952 to 1953, served as a temporary lecturer in the Bengali Department, and in 1957, he was officially appointed as a lecturer. By 1962, he was teaching part-time in the Journalism Department and, in 1963, joined the University of Dhaka Library Section in addition to his teaching role. Sharif was elected chairman of the Bengali Department in 1969 and continued in this position until his retirement on 31 October 1983. He had a 36-year-long association with the University of Dhaka. During his career, he was elected dean of the Faculty of Arts multiple times. On February 1, 1984, he joined the University of Chittagong as the esteemed "Nazrul Professor" and served in that position until February 1985.
Literary contributions
Ahmed Sharif's upbringing amidst Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad's invaluable collection of manuscripts and periodicals shaped his literary pursuits. He devoted his life to researching and documenting the literary and social history of medieval Bengali society, producing analytical and historically grounded works that remain crucial to Bengali literary scholarship. Through his extensive research and detailed analyses, Sharif provided a comprehensive overview of medieval Bengali society and culture, making significant contributions to understanding the era.
Sharif authored and edited over a hundred books. His first edited work, "Layli Majnu", was published in 1957, based on a manuscript by Daulat Wazir Bahram Khan. In 1959, his first original work, Bichitra Chinta (Diverse Thoughts), was released, which marked the beginning of his career as a prolific writer and scholar.
Sharif taught about medieval Bengali literature and regularly gave insights into the history of Bengal, the Bangladesh Liberation War and Rabindranath Tagore.
Awards
- Bangla Academy Literary Award (1968)