Aroj Ali Matubbar

Aroj Ali Matubbar ( _bn. আরজ আলী মাতুব্বর) (1900-1985) a self taught homegrown Philosopher and apostate from Bangladesh, was born on 17 December, 1900 in the village of Lamchari in Charbaria union, about 11 km from Barisal town, [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ] currently in Bangladesh. He was born to a poor farming family. He studied for only a few months at the village Maktab. This brief dabble in instituional education only centered only on the Quran and other Islam studies. He gathered most of his knowledge on varied subjects, including science and philosophy, through his own efforts. [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ]

Matubbar was a rationalist and humanist who fought against ignorance, superstition, and religious fundamentalism. [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ] He was considered an iconoclast for writing against religious doctrines. He wrote several books despite his lack of formal schooling. Aroj Ali's writings reflect his philosophy about life and the world in simple language.

Matubbar befriended a number of scholars and academics of Barisal town including Professor Kazi Golam Kadir and Professor Muhammad Shamsul Haque. His books were always in danger of being banned by an over-sensitive government. Matubbar was arrested and taken into police custody for his book, Shotter Shondhaney (The Quest for Truth). [http://humanists.net/avijit/aroj_ali/quest_for_truth_1.html/ The Quest for Truth] ] He was subjected to harassment and threat for his writings through out his life, as many of them challenged religious institutions and religious fanatics. [http:http://humanists.net/avijit/aroj_ali/quest_for_truth_1.html/ The Quest for Truth] ]

He died on 15 March, 1985 in Barisal, Bangladesh. He donated his eyes for transplantation after his death. [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ] After his death in 1985, Araz Ali Matubbar came to be regarded as one of the most brilliant rationalists the country has ever produced, and an iconoclast who was not afraid to speak out against entrenched belief and superstitions which easily lead to religious fanaticism [* [http://humanists.net/avijit/aroj_ali/ The Quest for Truth] ] .

Early life

He lost his father in his early age. When he was 12 years old, his inherited property of two acres of land was auctioned off as the minor boy was unable to pay land tax. The landless boy that faced even more critical crisis when a local usurer called him out of his ancestral homestead. Destitute Araz Ali grew up somehow on charity of others and by working as a farm labourer. He could not attend in any school due to his poorness. A kind herted man helped him finish the Bangla Primers. Preserving as he was, he kept on reading more and more. To satisfy the thirst for knowledge he studied all the Bangla books in Barisal Public Library like a serious student. Philosophy as a subject interested him most, but there were not enough collection there. A teacher of philosophy at the B M College, Kazi Ghulam Quadir, was impressed by his depth of knowledge and understanding. So he helped him borrow books from the college library. THis is how his mind was shaped.

Working life

Due to financial constraints he could not completed any academic degree. He learned the survey techniques and began his life a private land surveyer in his locality.

Founder

He founded Araz Monjil Pulic Librayat a cost of 60 thousand Taka in a remote village of Barisal District under the funding of Aroj Ali Matubbar trust fund.

Books

Matubbar was a different type of wrtiter. In Bangladesh, the censorship was imposed on writings of Araz Ali Matubbar [ * [http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/11/26/d41126110379.htm Freedom of speech] ] . Followings are his writings:
*Shotter Shondhaney (The Quest for Truth)(1973)
*Sristir Rahasya (The Mystery of Creation) (1977)
*Anuman (Estimation)(1983)
*Muktaman (Free Mind)(1988)
*Several of his unpublished manuscripts were published posthumously under the title of Aroj Ali Matubbar Rachanabali.

Recognition and awards

*Life Member of Bangla Academy, given a reception by it in 1985 [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ]
*Awarded Humayun Kabir Smriti Puraskar (Humayun Kabir Memorial Prize) in 1978 by the Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ]
*Award of Honour by the Barisal branch of Udichi Shilpigoshti in 1982 [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0186.htm/ Matubbar, Aroj Ali] ]

References

External links

* [http://humanists.net/avijit/aroj_ali/profile.htm/ Aroj Ali Matubbar (A Profile)]
* [http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/rationalist_day/rationalism_ajoy.htm Aroj Ali Matubbar: Rationalist Philosopher of Rural Bangladesh]
* [http://www.islam-watch.org/MahfuzurRahman/Aroj-ali-rustic-rebel.htm The Rustic Rebel: A Tribute to a Great Humanist Thinker of Rural Bangladesh]