User:Yasmin Karim



A.K. Nazmul Karim/ Prof. A.K. Nazmul Karim, PhD (1922- 1982) was a pre-eminent sociologist from Bangladesh. He was born in Luxmipur, Comilla, during the British Raj. He was the seventh of eight children of Abu Rashid Nizamuddin Mahmood and Mossammat Shamsun Neda Khatun. He came from a family steeped in education -- a family of school inspectors, private tutors, diwans and majistrates. His mother came from a zamindari family, Above all else, his parents and grandparents valued education for their children.

Academic Achievement

Prof. Nazmul Karim was an outstanding student throughout his life. He graduated from Dhaka University with a B.A. (Hons) and an M.A. with distinction in Political Science. He won the very competitive "East Pakistan State Scholar" award to go to the US for higher studies. He went to Columbia University, a very prestigious university in New York, USA, and earned another Masters degree in Government and Sociology. His formal education was not yet over. He won the Rockefeller Scholarship to go to the prestigious London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) in UK to earn his doctorate in Sociology! He was widely traveled.

Career

Throughout his life he valued education, teaching and the dissemination of knowledge as the highest ideals of his life! His earliest experience in teaching was as a lecturer at Feni College and Dhaka College. Later, he would become Professor of both the Political Science and the Sociology Department at Dhaka University. He would go on to found Sociology as a discipline and create a new department at Dhaka University, His association with Dhaka University was over 50 years, first as a student and then later as a Professor! In this long association, he earned the respect and admiration of his students, colleagues, visiting foreign scholars and the public at large. He brought great depth of knowledge and a profound philosophical understanding to his work. He was respected and admired throughout the country!

He was the founder and chairman of the Sociology Department at Dhaka University. He belonged to many professional and civic organizations to name a few: Pakistan Sociology Asso; Work Camp Asso; Faridpur Manpower & Agro-Industrial Development Academy: Modern Music Academy; Bangladesh Anthropological & Ethnological Society; Dhaka Museum etc. He is mentioned in Who's Who (US publication 1980) and Who's Who in the British Commonwealth (UK publication, 1982). He was nominated for the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1983. There is a Facebook Page on him.

He was the author of many publications, articles, books, short stories, etc. To mention a few: "Changing Society in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh." "The Dynamics of Bangladesh Society," "Falgoonkora," "Somak Somikkhon," "Changing Patterns of an East Pakistani Family (an UNESCO published article). He sometimes wrote under the penname of Ibn Rashid.

There is a center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, named after him for advanced study of society, culture and sociology which arranges for lectures.

He was married to Syeda Jahanara Begum, Principal of Intermediate Girls' College (now known as Badrunnessa College) and had three daughters: Shehernaz Yasmin, Shahnaz Nasreen and Lamia Nazneen.

On 18 November 1982 he passed away from complications brought on by diabetes. He was mourned by many!

References

Ibn Rashid (1958) Falgoonkora Published: Seasame Book Corner, 4 Abul Hasnat Road, Dhaka (erstwhile East Pakistan) A.K. Nazmul Karim Commemorative Volume (2000) Dhaka University Press, Bangladesh A.K. Nazmul Karim Memorial Lectures, Vol. I (2005) Published by Karim Memorial Lecture Management Committee, Dep of Sociology, Dhaka Unv., Bangladesh Marquis Who's Who In The World, 5th edition( 1980 -1981) Who's Who in the British Commonwealth (UK publication 1982) Various newspaper articles (The Pakistan Observer, Azad, Ittefaq, Morning News, Sangbad, Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Pakistan, Purbadesh,) from the 1960s,1970s, and 1980s (from erstwhile East Pakistan) Bangladesh http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25519363893&U=wall&viewas=0