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Habibullah, ABM (1911-1984) historian and writer. Abu
Mohamed Habibullah was born in Burdwan district of West Bengal.
His father Abdul Latif was an Inspector of Schools of Burdwan
Division, while his grand father was a teacher of Arabic and Persian
languages. Habibullah passed High Madrasa Examination from the
Hughli Madrasa (1926), IA from the Dhaka Islamic Intermediate
College (1928), BA Honours in History from hughli
mohsin college (1931) and MA in History from the
university of calcutta (1933). He obtained Lytton scholarship
and did his PhD from the School of Oriental Studies, University
of London. He had a Diploma in Library Science.
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ABM Habibullah |
Habibullah started his career as the Librarian of the
Calcutta University in 1938 and the following year joined as lecturer
in History Department of the Calcutta University. In 1940 he joined the
newly created Department of Islamic History and Culture of the university.
Professor Habibullah joined Dhaka University in 1950 and became the Head
of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, and continued to serve
the department till his retirement in 1973. He was Dean of the Faculty
of Arts (1961-63), President of Dhaka University Teachers' Association
(1968-72), chairman, University Grants Commission (1976-77) and Curator,
Dhaka Museum. He was one of the founders of the asiatic
society of Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Habibullah made very significant contribution to the
medieval historiography of India. His Foundation of Muslim Rule in
India is still a standard study for the early medieval history of
the subcontinent. Among his other works the Descriptive Catalogue
of the Persian, Urdu and Arabic Manuscripts in the Dhaka
University Library (2 vols), Bilayet Nama, Tarikh-i-Assam
and a translations of Alberuni's work are best known. [Ratan
Lal Chakraborty] |
