A.K. Nazmul Karim

A. K. Nazmul Karim
Born 1 August 1922
Comilla District, East Bengal, British Raj (now Bangladesh)
Died November 18, 1982(1982-11-18)
Other names Ibn Rashid
Education PhD (sociology)
Alma mater
Spouse(s) Syeda Jahanara Begum
Children Shehernaz Yasmin, Shahnaz Nasreen and Lamia Nazneen
Parent(s)
  • Abu Rashid Nizamuddin Mahmood
  • Mossammat Shamsun Neda Khatun
Awards Ekushey Padak (2012)

Abul Khair Nazmul Karim (1 August 1922 – 18 November 1982) was a sociologist from Bangladesh. He is the founding father of Sociology in Bangladesh.

Personal life

Karim was born in Lakshmipur (Noakhali District during the Pakistani regime and later Lakshmipur District in independent Bangladesh), Comilla District, East Bengal. His parental residence was at Falgoonkora village in Comilla District. He was the seventh of eight children of Abu Rashid Nizamuddin Mahmood Ahmed and Mossammat Shamsun Neda Khatun. He came from an educated family of school inspectors, private tutors, diwans, and magistrates. His mother came from a zamindari family.

He was married to Syeda Jahanara Begum (Retired), the Principal of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College. They had three daughters - Shehernaz Yasmin, Shahnaz Nasreen and Lamia Nazneen.

He died on 18 November 1982 from complications brought on by diabetes.

Education

Karim passed his Entrance examination in 1939 with a First Division from Thakurgaon High English School. Later in 1941, he passed the IA (Intermediate in Arts) Examination with a First Division from Dhaka College. He graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1944 with a B.A. (Hons), and an M.A. in 1946 with distinction in Political Science. He won the East Pakistan State Scholarship, which enabled him to go to the United States for higher studies. He studied simultaneously "Government" & "Sociology", and earned master's degree separately in both disciplines from Columbia University in 1953. For his brilliant performances, he won a Rockefeller Scholarship to go to the London School of Economics & Political Science where he was awarded a doctorate in Sociology under the supervision of Professor T. B. Bottomore in 1964. His thesis' title was, "The Modern Muslim Political Elite in Bengal" which was later published in extended version under the title, "The Dynamics of Bangladesh Society" by Vikas Publishing House Private Ltd. in 1980.

Career

His earliest teaching experience was as a lecturer at Feni College and Dhaka College. Later, he became professor of both the Political Science and Sociology Departments at Dhaka University. He was the founder and chairman of the Sociology Department at University of Dhaka. He authored articles, books, and short stories, sometimes under the pen name Ibn Rashid.

Legacy

He was nominated for the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1983. The Nazmul Karim Study Centre at the University of Dhaka is named after him. In February 2012 he was posthumously awarded Ekushey Padak. His family has set up two scholarship funds at Dhaka University. Since 1983, Dr. Nazmul Karim Memorial Gold Medal has been awarded to the student who stood First Class, First, in M.A. in Sociology. From 2014, two scholarships were set up in his wife's name, Principal Mrs. Syeda Jahanara Karim Scholarships for Disadvantaged Female Students, one in Economics and one in Anthropology, at Dhaka University.

Publications

References


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