The Kohinoor

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The Kohinoor
কোহিনূর
EditorRowshan Ali Chowdhury
Staff writersRowshan Ali Chowdhury
Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy
Ismail Hossain Siraji
Maniruzzaman Islamabadi
Mir Mosharraf Hossain
Yakub Ali Chowdhury
CategoriesIslamic culture, Bengali culture
FrequencyMonthly
FounderRowshan Ali Chowdhury
Founded1898
First issueJune 1898; 125 years ago (1898-06)
Final issue1912 (1912)
CountryBengal Presidency (British Raj)
Based inKushtia, Pangsha, Calcutta
LanguageBengali

The Kohinoor (Bengali: কোহিনূর, romanizedKohinūr, 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]

History[edit]

The 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[edit]

The 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[edit]

Rowshan 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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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 1 May 2024.
  3. ^ Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 2003. p. 12. ISBN 978-984-32-0578-0.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Bengali Muslim Press, p.157
  6. ^ Ahmed, Sufia (1974). Muslim Community in Bengal, 1884-1912. S. Ahmed. p. 323. ISBN 9780195760224.
  7. ^ 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 1 May 2024.
  8. ^ 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 1 May 2024.
  9. ^ 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 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ Hossain, Anowar (2003). Muslim Women's Struggle for Freedom in Colonial Bengal (1873-1940). Progressive Publishers. p. 65.