Syed Ali Ahsan (26 March 1922 – 25 June 2002) was a Bangladeshi poet, writer and university academic. He was awarded Ekushey Padak (1982) and Independence Day Award (1987) by the Government of Bangladesh.[1][2] In 1987, he was selected as the National Professor of Bangladesh. He was credited as the official English translator of the National Anthem of Bangladesh.[3]
Early life
Ahsan was born in the village of Alokdia of Magura district on 26 March 1922. His father, Syed Ali Hamed, was a school inspector. His mother, Syeda Kamrunnegar Khatun, was the daughter of Syed Mokarram Ali, the zamindar and pir of Agla village in Nawabganj thana, Dhaka. He grew up in an atmosphere steeped in Sufi traditions inherited from both his paternal and maternal ancestors.[4] While studying at Armanitola School in 1937, Ahsan published a poem called The Rose in his school magazine. Subsequently, stories, essays and poems written by him in Bengali were published in magazines such as Azad, Mohammadi and Saogat. When he was a student of the department of English in Dhaka University his essay titled 'Kavi Satyendranath Dutta' was published in the quarterly Parichay, a magazine edited by Sudhindranath Dutta.[4]
Career
Ahsan worked in All India Radio. He was a professor of department of Bengali in University of Dhaka and later, head of the department of Bengali of University of Karachi.
He was a director of Bangla Academy and was the Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, University of Rajshahi[5] and Darul Ihsan University. In addition, he was a National Professor(Jatio Addhapok) of Bangladesh. He was also an adviser of the Nobel prize committee for literature.[citation needed]
He was an editor of the antique book "Bangladesh; a souvenir on the first anniversary of Victory Day, December 16, 1972.", as well.
Death
Ahsan died on 25 July 2002. He was buried next to the Jahangirnagar University Mosque with national honour.[4]
