Aroj Ali Matubbar (Bengali: আরজ আলী মাতুব্বর; 17 December 1900 – 15 March 1985) was a Bangladeshi self-taught philosopher and rationalist. He was known for his critical perspectives on religion, superstition and traditional beliefs in his writings.^[1]

Early life and education

Matubbar was born in the village of Charbaria Lamchari, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the city of Barisal in British India, now Bangladesh,^[1] to a poor peasant family. His original name was Aroj Ali; he later adopted the name Matubbar (meaning "local landowner"). He studied for only a few months at the village maqtab, where he focused on the Qur'an and Islamic studies.

Matubbar lost his father at a young age. When he was 12 years old, his inherited plot of 2 acres (8,100 m²) of land was auctioned off because he could not pay land taxes as a minor. He was later evicted from his ancestral homestead by a local usurper. Matubbar survived through charity and by working as a farm laborer.

He could not afford to attend school and relied on free maqtab religious instruction at a local mosque. He did not accept the rigid learning methods, and therefore left the mosque. A benefactor helped him finish the Bengali primers. Matubbar continued to read extensively after that. Philosophy was the subject that interested him the most. A philosophy teacher at B M College, Kazi Ghulam Quadir helped him borrow books from the college library.

Philosophy

Matubbar is known for his critical and freethinking views on religion, superstition, and traditional beliefs. His works challenged many established norms and religious dogmas, particularly within the context of Islam, which is the predominant religion in Bangladesh.

Matubbar's most famous work is "Tariqat Shikkha" ("Teachings of the Way"). In this book, he questioned various religious practices, rituals, and superstitions and advocated for a more rational and scientific approach to understanding the world. His writings often provoked controversy and debate in Bangladesh, as they challenged deeply held religious beliefs and traditions.

His book "Satyer Sandhane" (The Quest for Truth) led to his arrest and detention by the authorities. Throughout his life, he experienced persistent harassment and threats due to his writings, many of which critically engaged with religious tenets and claims.^[2]

Death

Matubbar died on 15 March 1985 (1st Chaitra of the Bengali year 1392) in Barisal, Bangladesh. After his death, he donated his eyes for transplantation.^[1] He donated his body which was received by the Anatomy Department of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and used by medical students for dissection. After his death in 1985, Aroj Ali Matubbar came to be regarded as one of the most prolific thinkers that rural Bangladesh ever produced, and an iconoclast who was not afraid of speaking out against entrenched beliefs and superstitions.^[3]

Satyer Sandhan

Matubbar drew the cover of his first book, written in 1952 and published twenty-one years later, in 1973, under the title Satyer Sandhan. In the preface he wrote:

“I was thinking of many things, my mind was full of questions, but haphazardly. I then started jotting down questions, not for writing a book, but only to remember these questions later. Those questions were driving my mind towards an endless ocean and I was gradually drifting away from the fold of religion.”

He made six propositions in this book, which reflected the nature of his philosophical questions. These are:

Proposition 1 : dealt with the soul, containing 8 questions
Proposition 2 : dealt with God, containing as many as 11 questions
Proposition 3 : dealt with the after-world, containing as many as 7 questions
Proposition 4 : dealt with religious matters, containing as many as 22 questions
Proposition 5 : dealt with Nature, containing as many as 10 questions
Proposition 6 : dealt with remaining matters, containing as many as 9 questions

The eight questions he posed in the first proposition exemplify his approach. These are (a) Who am I (self)?, (b) Is Life incorporeal or corporal ? (c) Is mind and his/soul one, and the same? (d) What is the relationship of life with the body and the mind? (e) Can we recognize or identify life? (f) Am I free? (g) Will the soul without body continue to have "knowledge" even after it leaves the body at death? and finally (h) How does life can come into and go out of the body?

Books

Matubbar was considered an unusual type of writer.^[4] In Bangladesh, his writings were censored because they allegedly led to social corruption and disharmony in the community.^[5] The following are his writings:^[6]

• Satyer Sandhan (The Quest for Truth) (1973)
• Sristirahasya (The Mystery of Creation) (1977)
• Anuman (Estimation) (1983)
• Muktaman (Free Mind) (1988)

Several of his unpublished manuscripts were later published posthumously under the title Aroj Ali Matubbar Rachanabali. Some of his writings were translated into English and compiled in a volume published by Pathak Samabesh.^[6]

Recognition and awards

Matubbar was not well known among the educated elite of the country during his lifetime. It was only in the last years of his life that he became known among the academics of the country. His writings were collected and published. The general public began to take an interest in his books, which, although not validated by formal education, raised a number of new philosophical questions. After his death in 1985, he soon became widely known.

• Life Member of Bangla Academy, inducted in 1985;
• Awarded Humayun Kabir Smriti Puraskar (Humayun Kabir Memorial Prize) in 1978 by the Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir;
• Award of Honour by the Barisal branch of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi in 1982.^[1]

Matubbar inspired numerous articles, reviews, novels and stage dramas based on his life and his writings.^[2]

References