Ashraf Hussain

Munshi Muhammad Ashraf Hussain (Bengali: মুনশি মোহাম্মদ আশরাফ হোসেন, Sylheti: ꠀꠡ꠆ꠞꠣꠚ ꠢꠥꠍꠦꠘ; 1892-1965), was a Bengali poet, researcher and a collector of puthis and folk literature. He was also known for his contribution in the study of the Sylheti Nagari script.

Ashraf Hussain was born in 1892 in the village of Rahimpur in Kamalganj Thana, Sylhet District, Assam Province, British India.He started his education in a local maktab. After studying in a Qawmi Madrasah for 5 years, he earnt the title of munshi. He studied in Kaliprasad Middle English School, finishing in the third grade at 1915.

In 1918, he established a primary school where he himself would teach in. In 1922, he became the headmaster of the school. He passed his teacher training examination in Silchar Normal School.

From 1918, Hussain also started writing for many magazines and newspapers about local issues. During this time, he grew an enthusiasm of folk literature. Dinesh Chandra Sen decided to include Hussain's Manipurer Ladai (or the Battle of Manipur) to his prominent work, the Eastern Bengal Ballads.

Hussain wrote 12 books. These include Ashraf Dewana, Bhumikomper Kobita and Adam Khan Dewaner Geet. He has 30 works relating to folk literature and some include Dilkush Koinnar Baromashi, Shantikoinnar Baromashi, Lilair Baromashi and Madhumalar Geet. He has also composed 17 textbooks such as Maktabi Balyashikkha, Shahitya Shudha and Nobobidhan Dharapat. The Monthly Islah featured his Sylheter Itihas work.

In recognition of his contribution to Bengali literature, the Murshidabad Banga Sahitya Mandal awarded him in 1935 as a Puratattvavid. In 1943, the Assamese government employed and funded his works. The All-Bengal Literary Club awarded him with the titles of Sahityaratna and Kavyavinod in 1952. In 1965, the Pakistani government awarded him the Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam. The Bangla Academy granted economic support to him.

Hussain died in Rahimpur on 24 January 1965.