The Kohinoor (Bengali: কোহিনূর, romanized: Kohinūr, lit. 'Mountain of light') was a Bengali language newspaper, first published in July 1898.[1] Initially focusing on miscellaneous topics such as Islamic culture, its third relaunch was a pivot of Hindu-Muslim harmony.[2] The paper targeted both Hindu and Muslim clientele.[3]
| Editor | Rowshan Ali Chowdhury |
|---|---|
| Staff writers | Rowshan Ali Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy Ismail Hossain Siraji Maniruzzaman Islamabadi Mir Mosharraf Hossain Yakub Ali Chowdhury |
| Categories | Islamic culture, Bengali culture |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Founder | Rowshan Ali Chowdhury |
| Founded | 1898 |
| First issue | June 1898 |
| Final issue | 1912 |
| Country | Bengal Presidency (British Raj) |
| Based in | Kushtia, Pangsha, Calcutta |
| Language | Bengali |
History
editThe Kohinoor started publication in July 1898 in Kushtia District after Rowshan Ali Chowdhury met Mir Mosharraf Hossain. During its initial years, publication was irregular and lasted for about a year. It resumed publication in April 1904 and promoted harmony between Muslims and Hindus; the two largest religious groups in Bengal. On that same year,[4] it also criticised the Urdu-speaking elite who looked down upon the Bengali language due to a superiority complex.[5] This second phase lasted up until around 1907. It made another comeback in April 1911 continuing on for another year.[2]
Location
editThe newspaper moved its headquarters from Kushtia to Pangsha (then part of Faridpur District). It was edited by Mohammad Rowshan Ali Chowdhury, a resident of Pangsha. It later relocated to Calcutta.[2]
Members
editRowshan Ali Chowdhury was the founder and chief editor of The Kohinoor. It was managed by a 35-member committee containing both Muslims and Hindus.[6] Ismail Hossain Siraji, Maniruzzaman Islamabadi and Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy regularly contributed to the magazine.[7][8][9] In early 1914, Yakub Ali Chowdhury wrote an article relating to the language and literature of Bengali Muslims.[10]
References
edit- ^ Sarkar, Mahua (2008). Visible Histories, Disappearing Women: Producing Muslim Womanhood in Late Colonial Bengal. Duke University Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-8223-8903-3.
- ^ a b c Wakil Ahmed (2012). "Kohinoor, The". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 2003. p. 12. ISBN 978-984-32-0578-0.
- ^ De, Amalendu (April–June 1995). "The Social Thoughts and Consciousness of the Bengali Muslims in the Colonial Period". Social Scientist. 23 (4/6): 16–37. doi:10.2307/3520213. JSTOR 3520213.
- ^ Bengali Muslim Press, p.157
- ^ Ahmed, Sufia (1974). Muslim Community in Bengal, 1884-1912. S. Ahmed. p. 323. ISBN 9780195760224.
- ^ Bhuiyan, Golam Kibria (2012). "Suhrawardi, Abdullah Al-Mamun". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Razzaq, Rana (2012). "Shiraji, Ismail Hossain". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Muhammad Inamul Hoque (2012). "Islamabadi, Maulana Maniruzzaman". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Hossain, Anowar (2003). Muslim Women's Struggle for Freedom in Colonial Bengal (1873-1940). Progressive Publishers. p. 65.