Life is all about enjoying work, says Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury

At 80, Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury would like to go on working because that, he says, is how he has enjoyed life.

The academic, writer, essayist and political-cultural activist turned 80 on Thursday.

The professor emeritus is fondly referred to as “Sic” by his students at Dhaka University, since his initials are indeed SIC.

Even as he was keen on avoiding birthday formalities, his well-wishers showed up on Thursday at his Dhanmondi residence with a multiplicity of birthday greetings.

Amidst the chit-chat that followed, someone asked him, “What is the meaning of life?”

The man who has just completed four score years since his birth had a simple response, “To work and enjoy that work.”

Since his wife Professor Najma Jesmin Choudhury passed away in 1989, Professor Choudhury has led his life in the company of his two daughters at his Dhanmondi residence.

Serajul Islam Choudhury was born on June 23, 1936 in Srinagar of Munshiganj district. After passing his Matriculation exams from St Gregory’s in old Dhaka and later his IA from Notre Dame College, he took admission in English literature at Dhaka University.

On obtaining a degree in English Literature, he joined Haraganga College, Munshiganj, as a teacher. He was simultaneously a part-time teacher at Dhaka’s Jagannath College.

Joining the English department of Dhaka University as a lecturer in 1957, Choudhury subsequently proceeded to the UK for post-graduate studies at Leeds University. He stayed on in the UK and earned a PhD from Leicester University before returning home.

The professor spoke to bdnews24.com in Bangla.

Asked about his lack of enthusiasm regarding his birthday celebrations, Professor Choudhury said, “I like to keep a low profile.”

That also explains why, in the 1980s, his popular column ‘Gachhpathor’ appeared under a pseudonym in the influential Bengali newspaper Sangbad.

Besides teaching, the academic has had a passion for writing. To date, he has produced 92 books on a wide range of subjects, among which have been literature, politics, society and global affairs.

When asked about his involvement with teaching as well as writing, he replied, “I have always enjoyed writing more.”

As a teenager Choudhury used to produce hand-written journals, do translations and write for the children’s pages of newspapers.

As a university student, he was treasurer of the Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) for nine years. He was a leading figure at the Dhaka University teachers association. He has served as a dean. It is a matter of record that the DU senate nominated him for the office of vice-chancellor on two occasions.

“I never wanted power. We only fought for autonomy and we got it,” he recalled.

The professor feels that things began to go wrong when teachers linked up with those who held power in the times of democratically elected governments.

Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury

“Teaching now ranks second as teachers run after their own selfish interests. They only want to occupy positions. I had thought we would simply preserve the autonomy we had acquired.

“We cannot let the government occupy seats here,” Professor Choudhury went on to say, “We can give advice to the government, but we cannot become a part of it.”

Reflecting on the current ‘uncertain’ situation in the country, he said, “We seem to be decaying rather than developing. Whether it’s law and order, human rights or security, I don’t see development anywhere.”

Addressing the young, he said it would be frustrating if everybody simply accepted the current system as a fait accompli.

Recalling the period of the War of Liberation in 1971, he said, “We did not surrender to their (Pakistani) attack. If we surrender to the current system, it will destroy us.”

Serajul Islam Choudhury was one of six Dhaka University teachers who were served an official warning by the Pakistani forces in 1971.

A believer in the ideology of the masses forging unity in order to change the socio-political system, the professor said, “Those who understand, and those who are conscientious and democratic need to join the common, working classes of the country; only then will things change.”

The common masses, and not the so-called middle class, have always served as the basic strength of the country, he added.

While teaching at Dhaka University, Serajul Islam Choudhury served as editor of three literary journals – the monthly “Porikroma” (1960-62), the Dhaka University Journal (1972) and the trimestral “Shahittopatro” (1984).

Currently he edits a literary journal called “Notun Diganta” and is also connected with the Center for Implementation of Social Studies. 

The widely loved and deeply respected academic has received several national and international awards and honours in his lifetime. Among them are the Bangla Academy Gold Medal, the Justice Ibrahim Award, the Alokto Shahitto Award, and the Begum Zebunnesa and Kazi Mahbubullah Foundation Award.