Muhit: An inquisitive soul

Muhit Hasan. Photo: Kabir Hossain
Muhit Hasan. Photo: Kabir Hossain

Muhit is different from the other young people of his generation. While the youth of today generally dabble in poetry and fiction, Muhit takes interest in social history.

His first piece of writing that dealt with Rritendranath Tagore’s 'Mudeer Dokan' (The Grocer's Shop) was published in the Bangla Academy journal, Uttaradhikar.


From childhood, he was inquisitive about the past. He thinks both the direction of the future and the true face of the present--are hidden in the past. This drew him to the study of the past.


Muhit was born in Rajshahi. His father, Abul Hasan Chowdhury, a professor of folklore at Rajshahi University and mother, Monwara Pervin, greatly encouraged him in his pursuit. His father’s teaching career and research work contributed a lot to his studies.


As a boy, he would take up a book and read it silently sitting in a corner of the house when other children of the neighborhood would be playing outside.


At first the thrillers and mystery books attracted him a lot. Soon the focus was shifted to social history. The textbooks and classroom were monotonous and he was eventually absorbed in the 'out-books'.


Muhit's private collection comprises of 5,000 books now. He especially feels interested in how a book was written, the culture of a book, the history of science, the evolution of the impact of science on society and so on.


The life of a tree or the days of poet Mirza Ghalib spent in the alleys of old Delhi, are equally fascinating for him. With the same enthusiasm, he wants to dissect the crucial point in Indian history from British East India Company's rule to British imperialism.


For analysing history, Muhit's inspiration is Binoy Ghosh. He admires Ghosh's method for collecting historic elements is by physically walking around the relevant places. He dreams of doing the same. The works of Sumanta Banerjee, Sripantha and Muntassir Mamoon are also significant to him.


Muhit’s first book ‘Bismrito Kathokota: Sekaler Banglar Kotipoy Khandochitra’ (Kathaprakash, 2017) deals with uncommon subjects. The titles of the articles in the book including ‘Bangalir Cha Paan’ (The tea drinking habit of the Bangalees), ‘Bangalir Circus Sadhona’ (Bangalee's Circus Practice), ‘Banglay Elo Rail’ (Here comes the rail in Bengal) say this.


His other pieces on ‘Swadeshi Football’ (Local Football), ‘Sahib-Memer chokhe Banglar Jhor’ (The storms of the Bengal in the eyes of the Sahibs and Mems), ‘Sekaler Bangla Boier Biponon o Bikretara’ (Sale and sellers of the old Bangla books), ‘Sekaler Dhakar Jolaboddhota’ (The waterlogging of the then Dhaka)-have recently been published in various dailies. These topics are really important to depict the social history scenario of the country.


The fluidity of his writing draws readers of every age which is an important characteristic to spread mass education and mould the public taste.
Muhit’s second book ‘Syed Mujtaba Ali’ (Kathaprakash) was published in 2018. The book presented fresh information. His discovery, scrutiny and nuanced presentation captures a new Mujtaba Ali.


He has a privilege as a social history researcher as he takes interest in fiction and poetry too. His knack may one day open a new chapter in the realm of social history.


His favourite pastime other than reading is listening to music, the choice being eclectic-from Indian classical music to that of the west.


* This piece, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Nusrat Nowrin