Mazharul Islam (1 July 1929 – 14 November 2003) was a Bangladeshi poet, folklorist, and academic. He served as the

vice-chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...

of the

University of Rajshahi The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a public co-educational research university in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi cit ...

. In 1972, he was appointed as the first Director General of

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy ( bn, বাংলা একাডেমি, ) is an autonomous institution funded by the Bangladesh government to foster the Bengali language, literature and culture, to develop and implement national language policy and to d ...

Education and career

Islam obtained his PhD in Bengali literature in 1958 and another PhD in folklore studies from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

in 1963.

Personal life and legacy

Islam was married to Nurjahan Mazhar. Together they had two sons and two daughters. His four children are Merina Jahan Kabita, a member of the Bangladesh Awami League Central Committee and imcumbent member of

Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad ( bn, জাতীয় সংসদ, lit=National Parliament, translit=Jatiyô Sôngsôd), often referred to simply as the ''Sangsad'' or JS and also known as the House of the Nation, is the supreme legislative body of ...

(2021-present), Choyon Islam, a prominent industrialist and former Member of Parliament (2008–2014), Dr Chanda Islam, professor of

Murray State University Murray State University (MSU) is a public university in Murray, Kentucky. In addition to the main campus in Calloway County in southwestern Kentucky, Murray State operates extended campuses offering upper level and graduate courses in Paducah, H ...

and Shovon Islam, a prominent computer scientist and one of the leading industrialists of Bangladesh. In 2009, "Mazharul Islam Kabita Puruskar", an annual award to inspiring poets, was introduced by Islam's family.

References

1929 births 2003 deaths Vice-Chancellors of the University of Rajshahi 20th-century Bangladeshi poets Bangladeshi folklorists University of Rajshahi faculty Indiana University alumni Place of birth missing Bangladeshi male poets 20th-century male writers Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League central committee members {{Bangladesh-academic-bio-stub