Freedom of Intellect Movement

{{Short description|Bengal Renaissance movement}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox organization | name = Freedom of Intellect Movement | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Curzon hall front.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | abbreviation = | pronunciation = | named_after = | formation = {{start date|df=yes|1926|01|19}} | founder = | founding_location = Dhaka University | type = | tax_id =  | registration_id =  | status = | purpose = | headquarters = | location = | coordinates =  | region_served = | services = | language = Bengali | owner =  | secretary_general = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = }}

The '''Freedom of Intellect Movement'''<ref>{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Shahadat H.|title=The Freedom of Intellect Movement (Buddhir Mukti Andolan) in Bengali Muslim Thought, 1926–1938|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFGgAAAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Edwin Mellen Press|isbn=978-0-7734-5423-1}}</ref> was a Bengal Renaissance movement advocating rationality against religious and social dogma in Bengali Muslim society. It was spearheaded by intellectuals in the University of Dhaka during the British Raj.The movement also established the prestigious Muslim Literary Society in Dhaka.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Wakil |date=2013 |title=Buddhir Mukti Andolan |url=http://www.ebanglapedia.com/en/article.php?id=1025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303084019/http://www.ebanglapedia.com/en/article.php?id=1025 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2019-10-03 |website=BanglaPedia : National Pedia of Bangladesh}}</ref>

Freedom of Intellect Movement<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFGgAAAAMAAJ|title=The Freedom of Intellect Movement (Buddhir Mukti Andolan) in Bengali Muslim Thought, 1926–1938|last=Khan|first=Shahadat H.|year=2007|publisher=Edwin Mellen Press|isbn=978-0-7734-5423-1}}</ref> was a Bengal Renaissance movement that promoted rationalism and spoke against religious and social ideologies within the Bengali Muslim community. This movement was led by intellectuals from Dhaka University during the time of the British Raj. The movement's primary publication was called ‘Shikha.’<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Mahfuz|first=Imran|date=2021-01-11|language=en|title=The First Movement of Freethinking in Dhaka|url=https://bangla.thedailystar.net/node/198025|access-date=2024-10-03|website=The Daily Star Bangla}}</ref> On the first page of ‘Shikha’, it stated, "Where knowledge is limited, intellect is bound, and freedom is impossible."<ref>[https://www.jugantor.com/todays-paper/jugantar-20-years/274592/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA Movement for the Freedom of Intellect and Debate Artistry | Daily Jugantor]</ref> One of the major successes of this movement was the establishment of the prestigious Muslim Sahitya Samaj in Dhaka.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahmed|first=Wakil|date=2013|title=Buddhir Mukti Andolan|url=http://www.ebanglapedia.com/en/article.php?id=1025|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303084019/http://www.ebanglapedia.com/en/article.php?id=1025|archive-date=2016-03-03|access-date=2019-10-03|website=BanglaPedia: National Pedia of Bangladesh}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Latif|first=Mamtaz|date=2023-02-01|language=bn|title=Freedom of Intellect Movement|url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/opinion/news/676746|access-date=2024-10-03|website=Daily Janakantha}}</ref> Notable members included Kazi Abdul Wadud, Abul Fazal, Muhammad Shahidullah, Qazi Motahar Hossain, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Abdul Quadir.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Khan |first=Shahadat H. |title=The freedom of intellect movement (Buddhir Mukt Andolan) in Bengali Muslim thought, 1926-1938 |date=1997 |degree=Thesis |url=https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/10809 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Priyam Pritim |date=2024-07-29 |title=A forgotten chapter in the intellectual movement of Bengali Muslims |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/focus/news/forgotten-chapter-the-intellectual-movement-bengali-muslims-3664336 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

== History == The '''Freedom of Intellect Movement''' began with the formation of the ‘Muslim Sahitya Samaj’ (Muslim Literary Society) in 1926. Its primary goal was to eliminate religious dogma, ignorance, and superstitions from society and promote rational and secular thinking. Notable members of the movement included Kazi Abdul Wadud, Abul Fazl, Muhammad Shahidullah, Qazi Motahar Hossain, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Abdul Quadir.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Abul Kashem|first=Fazlul Haq|date=2024-10-03|title=Freedom of Intellect Movement Still Relevant Today|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/miscellaneous/2024/10/01/1430705|access-date=2024-10-03|website=Kaler Kantho}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Azadi|first=Dainik|date=2021-05-18|language=en-US|title=Kazi Abdul Wadud: Pioneer of Free Thinking and Cultural Liberation|url=https://dainikazadi.net/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6-4/|access-date=2024-10-03|website=Dainik Azadi}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Bengali Muslim community harbored resentment toward British rule and distanced itself from modern knowledge and science. Due to this antagonism, the Muslim society fell behind in education, economics, and social progress. On the contrary, the Hindu community accepted British rule and progressed through modern education. The Freedom of Intellect Movement aimed to change this situation in society.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The movement was spearheaded by the Muslim Sahitya Samaj, founded on 19 January 1926 at Muslim Hall in Dhaka University, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah of the Bengali and Cultural Department. Other key leaders included Abul Hussain, Kazi Abdul Wadud, Qazi Motahar Hossain, Motaher Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Quadir, and several other intellectuals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/295098/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%81-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2|title=How Much Did the Light of the Freedom of Intellect Movement Spread?|last=Abdul Alim|first=Dr. M.|date=3 October 2023|work=Ajker Patrika|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003090038/https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/web/20241003090038/https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/295098/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%81-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2|archive-date=3 October 2024|url-status=live|language=Bangla}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

== Objectives and programs == The Freedom of Intellect Movement was founded on the principles of rationalism, secularism, and humanism. The movement's primary goal was to lead an intellectual and literary drive that opposed blind superstition, religious dogma, and backwardness in Bengali Muslim society, while promoting rationalism, humanity, and scientific thinking.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

At the second annual conference of the ‘Muslim Sahitya Samaj,’ it was declared, "We want to open our eyes and truly experience life, and we want to burn away the superstitions." The movement aimed to address the crisis of self-identity within the Muslim community and promote scientific thinking and humanism.<ref name=":1" />

In 1929, after the publication of Abul Hussain’s article ‘Adesh-er Nigraha’ (Suppression of Commandments), there was a strong backlash from conservative circles in Dhaka. This event forced Abul Hussain to issue an apology, which became a significant episode in the movement. Though he later resigned, this event did not halt the movement's progress.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== Impact == The Freedom of Intellect Movement initiated a renaissance in the Bengali Muslim society. Although it did not directly oppose religion, it strongly voiced against the conservatism and superstitions in society. This movement inspired a new wave of thought within Bengali Muslim society.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The movement continued its activities until 1936, spreading its ideas through the ‘Shikha’ magazine. Though the movement’s influence eventually waned, its teachings and ideals remain foundational to the progressive values of Bengali society today.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== References == {{reflist|2}}

Category:University of Dhaka Category:Bengal Renaissance Category:Organisations based in Dhaka Category:1926 establishments in India