A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed

A.F. Salahuddin Ahmed is considered to be an eminent historian from the Indian subcontinent. Dr. Ahmed was born in 1924 at Faridpur, Bangladesh. He was educated at Presidency College, Kolkata, the premier college in India, where his paternal grandfather Moulvi Ahmed, maternal grandfather Azizul Haque, and his father, Abu Ahmed Faizul Mohi also studied. He received B.A. (Hons.) from Presidency College and M.A. from Calcutta University, M.A.from University of Pennsylvania, and Ph.D. from the University of London. He started his teaching career in 1948 as a Lecturer at Jagannath College, Dhaka. Subsequently, he served as Lecturer, Reader, and Professor of History at Rajshahi University, as Professor of History at Jahangir Nagar University, and as Professor of History at Dhaka University from where he retired in 1984. In 1963, Dr. Ahmed was invited by the American Historical Association as a Visiting Lecturer in South Asian History at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago. He was also UNESCO Cultural Fellow at Kyoto University, Japan (1956) Dr. Ahmed was also associated with Independent University of Bangladesh as Professor of National Culture and Heritage, and he has served in many organizations in various capacities (e.g., President of the National Association of Social Sciences of Bangladesh, Chairman of the United Nations Association of Bangladesh), and participated in a number of international conferences and seminars, and received awards in Bangladesh and India.

The following quote from the review of one of Professor Salahuddin Ahmed's book: Perspectives on History, Society and Politics/A.F. Salahuddin Ahmed. Kolkata, Readers Service, 2001, vii,140 p., ISBN 81-87891-01-7, aptly captures his views and reputation.

"This is a compilation of articles written over last two decades by a renowned historian of Bangladesh, Professor A.F. Salahuddin Ahmed on topics relating to history, society, and politics of the Indo-Pakistan-Bangladesh subcontinent, which is now known as South Asia. The main contention of the author is this that despite political divisions which took place in 1947 the people of this vast region belong to "one indivisible civilization which is the product of over thousand years of historical development." It was due to the machinations of "certain vested interests, both indigenous and foreign" the common people had to pass through untold misery and suffering: and, these 'vested interests, even threatened their 'civilized existence'.

Professor Ahmed is of opinion that the destinies of the common people inhabiting this sub-continent 'are closely interlinked'. "They must", therefore, "learn to live together in peace which is essential for their development and progress." He made sincere efforts through these articles to promote greater awareness about the problems raised and to provoke "new thoughts concerning peace and understanding among the people of the three countries."

In 2004, he published a comprehensive editorial volume on the history of Bangladesh (Bangladesh:National Culture and Heritage) in collaboration with Dr. Bazlul Momin Choudhury, which gives an overview of the land, society, culture and religions, and history of the peoples of Bangladesh. Other notable books in English and Bengali by Professor Salahuddin Ahmed are: Social studies and social change in Bengal 1818-18-35; Bangladesh Tradition and Transformation,Bengali Nationalism and the Emergence of Bangladesh,Itihash O oitijjo Bangalir Sadhana O Bhangalir Muktijuddha, Bangladesh Jatiyabad, Swadhinata, Gonotantro. He has also contributed many articles in professional journals. His caring and involvement in social service is reflected by his work for the Red Cross during the turbulent pre-partition period of India, and his association with Radical Humanist Movement[1] founded by M.N.Roy.

Professor Salahuddin Ahmed is married to his loving wife, Hamida Khanom, a pioneer of female education from the subcontinent, a graduate of Bethune College Kolkata, Calcutta University. and University College London, and a retired Principal of Home Economics College, Dhaka. Hamida provided inspiration and support to Salahuddin's successful work and career.