Today is the second death anniversary of Prof S N Q Zulfaqar Ali

Professor All was born on October 1.1901 at Bhanga in the district of Faridpur. He was a distinguished student of Bhanga High English School. He passed his B A with Honours in English from Calcutta University. He passed the B C S examination and became a Sub-Deputy Magistrate but he did not like the job, as he was more interested in the study of literature than In the judicial functions. He gave up the job after two years of Joining and got himself admitted to the Training College, Dhaka and passed the B T. with proficiency in English and obtained first class. At first he was not interested In teaching. He, however, started liking the teaching profession after he joined the Training College, Dhaka as a lecturer of English and Bengali and soon became deeply involved In the profession and later earned for himself the reputation ‘of being one of the most eminent educationists of the country.

Dr Sayed All .Ahsan has written about the beginning of Professor Zulfaqar All's career as a teacher in the following words :

"A young teacher joined the Training College. He was a lively and a brilliant young man. A good talker and always smiling, he used to enquire about the welfare of all students. He brought about a wave of cultural activities In the Armanitola School and the Training College. We became deeply absorbed in drama, recitation of poems and round up of world affairs. When he came 1 was probably a students of Class V or Class VI. Sometimes he would take our entire class to the gallery of the Training College for practice leaching. Sitting in the gallery the students of the College used to learn his method of teaching. I have ^carnt a lot from him in thcsc

practice teaching classes. He opened the doors of literature to us. We heard him explain Rabindranath's Shonar Tarf and a lot more which I can't remember now. He built in an endless exuberance a heaven of joy for us. In my early age I heard about Keats and Whitman and others from him

whose names 1 can't remember now. The influence of Whitman and Keats on me is profound. In many of my poems, their vibrations may be felt. His Influence on my young mind was tremendous.' Elsewhere he said, "I got Zulfaqar Alt as a man with a precious heart. In my memory as a youth, he Is a unique brilliance."

Professor All went up the ladder and became Range Inspector of Schools, Barisal ; Principal, Teachers Training College, Mymensingh and retired from the then East Pakistan Senior Education Service as ADPI. Later, he became Inspector of Colleges of the Dhaka University. Provost of Dhaka Hall and worked as Professor of English in the Dhaka University. He was CoDirector of Institute of Education and Research. Dhaka University. After retirement from the University, he Joined the Bangla Academy as special officer In the Department of Translation.

Professor All's study of both English and Bengali literatures was wide. It is said that it was he who made Prof Mohitlal Majumdar interested in modern English literature, as Prof Majumdar had the notion that there had not been any progress worthy of mention after the Victorian Era.

Professor All in his early age wrote some poems which drew the attention of Shajant Kanta Das, Editor of "Shonibarer Chitht" and many others, but he did not continue writing poem? in his later life. He, however, wrote a book of short stories in Bangla by the title of Monidcep'. His valuable book, 'The Modern Teacher', had earned wide appreciation of Dr Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, the then Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University. He has also written a number of text books In Bangla for schools.

As a member of the National Commission on Education, he wrote the syllabuses of English and Bengali for school children. He served as a member of the Educational Reconstruction Committee, set up in the then East Pakistan, and later helped In devising and drafting the syllabuses in. English and Bangla as a member of the Syllabuses Committee at the centre which are being followed still now. He was a member of the Writers' Guild and other organisations. He presided over several district teachers associations.

During his retired life, the work he used to do religiously was to write for the Bangladesh Observer a weekly column, "As I see it", under the pen name Astryx' — and write reviews of books on various topics in the same paper and the Wave every week. He was also a literary critic, broadcaster and telecaster.

An educationist of the stature of Prof All Is no more with us. He breathed his last on January 01. 1991. May his soul rest in eternal peace.