Ibrahim Suhrawardy (1896-1971) was an Indian educationist, author and linguist from Balasore, Odisha. He is credited to have written the first English grammar books in Odia for the native students.[1][2][3] He achieved high distinction in English studies in British India and taught many generations of students and scholars how western languages could be pursued to great educational advantage. He was one of the active Satyagrahis during the Inchudi Satyagraha movement in 1930.[4]
Syed Ibrahim Al-Qadri Suhrawardy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 January 1896 Sunhaat, Balasore, Bengal Presidency (present day in Odisha) |
| Died | 20 May 1971(1971-05-20) (aged 74–75) Balasore, India |
| Alma mater | St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Calcutta Madrasa |
| Occupation | Teacher, linguist |
| Organization | Mohammedan Literary Society |
| Notable work | Khabardaar vol i, Khabardaar vol ii |
| Spouse(s) | Sahibzadi Syeda Ehsana Akhtar, Nahida Begum |
| Parent | Qazi Syed Abdul Sattar |
| Relatives | Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy (uncle)
Hassan Suhrawardy (uncle), Afzal-ul Amin (son in law), Begum Badar un nissa Akhtar (cousin) |
| Family | Suhrawardy family |
Qazi Syed Ibrahim Khalil Ullah Alqadri Suhrawardy was born into the Qadi family of Balasore to Qazi Syed Abdul Sattar Alqadri and his wife Muner un nisa Akhtar. From his father's side he was a direct descendant of the Persian theologian Abdul Qadir Jilani. His father was the Mukhtar of Balasore, while his mother, Begum Muner un nisa was the first cousin of Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy and Hassan Suhrawardy. Ibrahim was brought up in his maternal home. He attended school at St. Xavier's Collegiate School in Calcutta and later finished his intermediate education from Calcutta Madrasa. He then finally earned a graduation degree in from Ravenshaw College.[3]
Ibrahim joined as a teacher in Calcutta Madrasa in the Anglo Persian department. He was then appointed as the headmaster of Beadaon Madrasa in 1919.[5] He was also the headmaster of George High School, Sambalpur from 1928 to 1934. Ibrahim later joined the nationalist movement and remained a close associate of Raja Baikuntha Nath Dey.[6]
He realised that the native Odia students faced a lot difficulties in understanding the nuances of English language as it was completely alien to them. Thus he wrote and published English grammar books in Odia in order to provide a better understanding of English language to the students. Both his books were included in the school curriculum of Puri Zilla School.[7][8]
He was also a member of Mohammedan Literary Society.[9] He had participated in the 1930 salt satyagraha at Inchudi led by Gopabandhu Choudhury and had extended a helping hand to the nationalist workers during the civil disobedience movement.[10][11]
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