Professor Syed Hasan Askari
Distinguished Historian & Eminent Scholar
(1901-1990)
News & Events
This section is comprised of important news releases and historical events.
Dr. Mahendra Pal, Director Bihar State Archives, officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the inauguration event of “Professor Syed Hasan Askari Research Hall” on the auspicious occasion of India’s 72nd Republic Day (January 26th 2021) earlier today. Bihar State Archives named the Research Hall to the memory of Professor Syed Hasan Askari on November 28th, 2019.
***Location: Bihar State Archives Directorate, (Archive Building), Abhilekh Bhawan,
15, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Bailey Road, Patna – 800001, Bihar, India
***Special thanks to Mr. Mohammad Aslam, Archivist at Bihar State Archives, for sharing these historic photographs with Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA.
Official Instagram Page of Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project (https://www.instagram.com/profaskarihistoriogrphyproject/) is launched to assist young historians and scholars to locate Prof. Askari's literary works etc.
***Event: Professor Syed Hasan Askari Memorial Lecture, 2021
***Organized by: Bihar State Archives Directorate, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Govt. of Bihar, India
***Date and Time: December 28th, 2021 & 11:30am (Indian Standard Time) ***Location: Online BSA Website: https://archives.bihar.gov.in
***YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/nR5JOibTfzM
An honor to be invited for the second time to deliver the “Introductory Lecture” at Prof Askari’s annual memorial function on December 28th, 2021.
Syed Ahmer Raza
***Event: Professor Syed Hasan Askari Memorial Lecture, 2021
***Organized by: Bihar State Archives Directorate, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Govt. of Bihar, India
***Date and Time: December 28th, 2021 & 11:30am (Indian Standard Time) ***Location: Online BSA Website: https://archives.bihar.gov.in
***YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/nR5JOibTfzM
Article Name: No Dying Before Death
Newspaper Name : The Indian Nation
Dated : 29th May 1978 (Monday)
It is a series in which reporter talked to six eminent scholars of Patna including Dr. S. H. Askari.
Credits: Special thanks to Mrs. Samina Fatima, Mr. Syed Mohammad Ali and Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Hussain for locating, scanning and emailing the newspaper clipping to Prof. Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA..
Article: Prof. S. H. Askari: A Legend in his Lifetime
Newspaper: The Times of India
Dated: Sunday, July 2nd 1989
Credits: Special thanks to Dr. Syed Shamim Haider, and Mr. Ali Shaan Haider for locating, scanning and emailing the clipping to Prof. Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA.
Article: Resurrecting a silent, Sufi Historian
Newspaper: The Times of India
Date: Sunday, November 27, 1992
Credits: Special thanks to Dr. Syed Shamim Haider, and Mr. Ali Shaan Haider for locating, scanning and emailing the clipping to Prof. Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA.
Undying memories!
B K Mishra / TNN / Aug 4, 2019, 04:00 IST
Excerpt:
“The library has nearly three lakh books. Eminent teachers like R S Sharma, S H Askari and D N Jha (history), R K Sinha (English), R Shukla (mathematics), K N Prasad (economics), and R C Sinha (geology) used to visit this place almost daily.”
Recalling an anecdote, Ghosh pointed out that Askari, who used to visit the library in late evening hours, was looking for some books in the midst of stacks and the security guard closed the main gate without noticing him. “He remained locked in the library for several hours before he was taken out,” he said.
*********************************************************
Complete Article:
Undying memories!
B K Mishra / TNN / Aug 4, 2019, 04:00 IST
PATNA: The stage is set for the centenary celebrations of
(PU) Library at Patna Science College
ground on Sunday. Vice-President (VP) Venkaiah Naidu will
inaugurate the event at 12pm.
The VP will reach the library straight from the airport and
inaugurate the library centenary inscription plate at 11.50am.
He will also take a round of the manuscript section located
on the first floor of the library building and address the main
function at Patna Science College ground later. Governor
Fagu Chauhan, chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy
Sushil Kumar Modi will also address the gathering. After the function, Naidu will rest for a while and eat lunch at the PU guesthouse till 2.45pm. Engineers and artisans were busy finalizing the construction of stage and pandals at all the venues till late Saturday evening. Police personnel along with magistrates were posted at all the sensitive points. PU library was established on September 24, 1919. It shifted to its new building in 1965, which was inaugurated by the then UGC chairman C D Deshmukh.
PU’s former librarian Angiras Kumar Ghosh, who served this institution from 1966 to 2006, told this newspaper,
“The library has nearly three lakh books. Eminent teachers like R S Sharma, S H Askari and D N Jha (history), R K Sinha (English), R Shukla (mathematics), K N Prasad (economics), and R C Sinha (geology) used to visit this place almost daily.”
Recalling an anecdote, Ghosh pointed out that Askari, who used to visit the library in late evening hours, was looking for some books in the midst of stacks and the security guard closed the main gate without noticing him. “He remained locked in the library for several hours before he was taken out,” he said.
According to PU vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh, he started visiting the library in 1967 when he was admitted to the pre-university class at Patna College. He used to prepare his notes in the library and never purchased textbooks from the market. “I still love spending quality time in this library,” he said
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../arti.../70515496.cms
PU: Once a hub of academics
B K Mishra / TNN / Sep 5, 2017,
Excerpt:
Several other teachers who received accolades for their outstanding contributions at national and international level include A S Altekar (ancient Indian history and archaeology), S H Askari and Ram Sharan Sharma (history) Arun Haldar (philosophy), Harimohan Jha (philosophy), D N Lal (statistics), B B Majumdar (history), N L Nadda (commerce), V K N Menon and V P Verma (political science), J N Chatterjee (chemistry), R C Sinha (geology) and R P Roy (botany).
Patna College: An Eventful Journey Of 150 Years
Excerpt:
Among its faculty included history stalwarts like R S Sharma, K K Datta, S. H. Askari, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, and Y J Taraporewala (History), M T Gulrajani (English), Gyanchand (Economics). European teachers V H Jackson, J L Hill, and principal J S Armour, among others are still remembered.
Source: https://odishatv.in/news/patna-college-an-eventful-journey-of-150-years-31451
2022 Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture, Bihar State Archives, Patna, India.
November 28th marks the 32nd death anniversary of Nana Abba. To honor Nana Abba, Bihar State Archives Directorate, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Govt. of Bihar, India, organized Professor Syed Hasan Askari Memorial Lecture (Web Based) on November 27th, 2022, as an annual academic tradition only reserved for few eminent scholars and historians. It was attended remotely by family, friends, relatives, scholars, researchers, historians and academia from different parts of the world. (Bihar State Archives has been organizing it every hear for more than 5 years).
Special thanks to Mr. Suman Kumar (Director, Bihar State Archives Directorate), Dr. S. Siddharth (IAS, Additional Chief Secretary), Dr. Sanjay Garg (Deputy Director, National Archives, New Delhi), Prof. Dr. Bharti S. Kumar (Former Head and Dean, Patna University, Patna), Prof. Dr. Syed Ejaz Hussain (Prof. of History, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal), Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate), Dr. Bharti Sharma (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate), Md. Aslam (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate), Mr. Pankaj Kumar (IT, Bihar State Archives Directorate) and others for making it a successful event. .........................................................................
*** Topic: Contribution of Syed Hasan Askari in History Writing of Bihar
** Event: Web Based Professor Syed Hasan Askari Memorial Function, November 27th, 2022 @ 11:30am India Standard Time - Online Event
* Welcome Address: Mr. Suman Kumar (Director, Bihar State Archives Directorate)
* Inaugural Address: Dr. S. Siddharth (IAS, Additional Chief Secretary)
* Introductory Lecture: Mr. Syed Ahmer Raza, (Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project: Los Angeles, CA, USA)
* Chief Guest: Dr. Sanjay Garg (Deputy Director, National Archives, New Delhi)
* Keynote Address: Prof. Dr. Bharti S. Kumar (Former Head and Dean, Patna University, Patna)
* Presidential Address: Prof. Dr. Syed Ejaz Hussain (Prof. of History, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal)
* Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate)
* Vote of Thanks: Dr. Bharti Sharma (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate)
***Organized by: Mr. Suman Kumar, Director, Bihar State Archives Directorate, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Govt. of Bihar, India
**Date and Time: November 27th, 2022 @ 11:30am India Standard Time
.........................................................................
Here is the recorded video of 2022 Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Function. You may want to skip my 50-minute portion after Dr. Sanjay Garg and listen to Dr. Bharti S. Kumar, Dr. Ejaz Hussain, and Dr. Bharti Sharma first.
Zoom Based Recorded Event on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6dps7HXjgAA
****Schedule:
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 11 mins: 30 secs
*** Welcome Address: Mr. Suman Kumar (Director, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 14 mins: 54 secs
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 19 mins: 06 secs
*** Chief Guest: Dr. Sanjay Garg (Deputy Director, National Archives, New Delhi) 20 mins: 10 secs
*** Introductory Lecture: Mr. Syed Ahmer Raza, (Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project: Los Angeles, CA, USA) 25 mins: 40 secs (Start 27 mins: 10 secs)
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 1 hr: 11 mins 37 secs
*** Keynote Address: Prof. Dr. Bharti S. Kumar (Former Head and Dean, Patna University, Patna) 1 hr: 12 mins: 19 secs
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 1 hr: 19 mins : 06 secs
*** Presidential Address: Prof. Dr. Syed Ejaz Hussain (Prof. of History, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal) 1 hr: 19 mins: 48 secs
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 1 hr: 34 mins: 35 secs
*** Vote of Thanks: Dr. Bharti Sharma (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 1 hr: 35 mins: 16secs
*** Moderator: Dr. Ashok Kumar Ranjan (Archivist, Bihar State Archives Directorate) 1 hr: 39 mins 20 secs
***Prof. Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project - Official YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYEtQ62M-_UR3bLTQs5cUEA
*Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Function, Bihar State Archives, Patna, India.
1. 2020 Event: https://youtu.be/8dmI0KDhDyE
2. 2021 Event: https://youtu.be/nR5JOibTfzM
3. 2022 Event: https://youtu.be/6dps7HXjgAA
...............................................................................................................................................................
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
On November 30th 2022, Department of History, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, announced Professor Syed Hasan Askari Post Graduate Research Fellowship for MPhil and PhD students and scholars. The main objective is to encourage academic reengagement by having the dissertations based upon Prof. Askari’s scholarly works so further research can be done on his published articles in collaboration with “Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA”. (Quaid-i-Azam University is ranked as # 1 public research university in Islamabad, Pakistan).
Additional universities and institutes in India, USA and other countries are also being considered to launch similar research fellowship initiatives to honor the life and legacy of Prof. Askari.
Links:
*Department of History, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
1. http://hist.qau.edu.pk/2022/11/30/prof-syed-askari-post-graduate-research-fellowship/
2. http://hist.qau.edu.pk/fellowship/
*Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Heartfelt gratitude and special thanks to the officials and staff of Bihar State Archives Directorate, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Govt. of Bihar, India for organizing Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture in the honor of Prof. Askari every year since 2013.
These lectures were attended initially in person at Bihar State Archives (2013-2019 before Covid) and now remotely through Microsoft Teams / Zoom based Webinars (2020-2022) by family, friends, relatives, scholars, researchers, historians and academia from different parts of the world.
Recording of these lectures (2020-2022) are available on Bihar State Archives’ website @ https://archives.bihar.gov.in/. You can click on “Other Activities” and then selecting “Seminar / Conference / Memorial Lecture” from the dropdown menu. Scroll down on this page for Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture 2019 and Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture 2021. You can also click on “Video Gallery” for Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture 2020 and Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture 2022.
The Microsoft Teams and Zoom Based recordings of Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lectures (2020 – 2022) are also available on Official YouTube Channel of Prof. Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project - : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYEtQ62M-_UR3bLTQs5cUEA
1. Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture, November 28th, 2020: https://youtu.be/8dmI0KDhDyE
2. Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture, December 28th, 2021: https://youtu.be/nR5JOibTfzM
3. Prof. S. H. Askari Memorial Lecture, November 27th, 2022: https://youtu.be/6dps7HXjgAA
Sharing the digital outline of rare set of scholarly papers penned in the honor of Prof. Askari, received in an email from Director of Khuda Bakhsh Library earlier this month.
As the title shows, Prof. Askari was named as the “Khuda Bakhsh Annual Lecturer for the year 1975-1976”. Looks like that these three papers were read/published in his honor by late Prof. A. L. Srivastava, Department of History, Agra University (a friend of Prof. Askari) and late Prof. Qeyamuddin Ahmad (a close student of Prof. Askari and father of Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad).
Prof. A. L. Srivastava (September 16, 1899 - July 12, 1973) first met Prof. Askari at Khuda Bakhsh Library in May 1934 per the first paragraph of his scholarly paper. His 6-page scholarship “Professor S.H. Askari As I know Him” is a treat to read….
The papers by late Prof. Qeyamuddin Ahmad were first published in "Professor Syed Hasan Askari Felicitation Volume by Śrīdhara Vāsudeva Sohonī, The Journal of The Bihar Research Society, Special Issue“, in 1968, and then published in "Readings in Indian History, Syed Hasan Askari Centenary Volume", in 2001. These papers are the cornerstone of the Historiography Project.
A rare find of Prof. Askari’s interview, both in audio and book formats!
*Audio clipping of Professor Syed Hasan Askari’s interview by Raza Ali Abidi sahib in Patna, India, for his “Kutub Khana” documentary program, sponsored by BBC London Urdu Service (October 1982 – March 1983).
1st link to Kutub Khana Audio YouTube Video # 17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFjaLA82iNQ
In this second audio clip, Nana Abba (Professor Syed Hasan Askari) briefly shared with the listeners, as how he discovered Maulana Daud's Sufi romance Chandaayan from dargah of Maner Sharif. This particular manuscript was later known as Maner Sharif manuscript.
2nd link to Kutub Khana Audio YouTube Video # 21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhAjQXYcZnc
Prof. Askari’s scholarly articles on this topic both in English and Urdu languages are listed below;
Mulla Daud's Chandain and Sadhan's Maina Sat I, II, III by Professor Syed Hasan Askari, Published in Patna University Journal, Vol. xv, 1960.
Chandain az Mulla Daud aur Mainasat az Miyan Sadhan (qadeem hindi prem kathaian) (I) by Professor Syed Hasan Askari, Published in Maasir, Urdu Magazine, Vol. pt. 16, April, 1960
Chandain az Mulla Daud aur Mainasat az Miyan Sadhan (qadeem hindi prem kathaian) (II) by Professor Syed Hasan Askari, Published in Maasir, Urdu Magazine, Vol. pt. 17, July, 1960
............................................................................................................................................
***About Kutub Khana, BBC London Urdu Service (October 1982 – March 1983):
“Kutub Khana”: A documentary project for hunt for the treasure of knowledge and wisdom.
Raza Ali Abidi sahib traveled all over the subcontinent in search of books and libraries and discovered some well preserved and some ignored collections. Here he narrates many amazing stories about the books left by our fore-fathers. Here you will hear several foremost scholars talking about this valuable treasure.
Source: From Raza Ali Abidi’s YouTube Channel (2012)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL32F0EB6CE3742143
https://www.bbc.com/urdu/bbc_urdu_radio/p0567jgs
............................................................................................................................................
This interview of Professor Syed Hasan Askari was also later documented by Raza Ali Abidi in his book, “Kutub Khana” (1985). Please review the chapter, “Aik teer meray seenay per”, Page #s 117,118,119,120 by clicking on the link below.
https://www.rekhta.org/.../kutub-khana-raza-ali-abidi...
Additional pages for review; “In sey milay”, page #s 3, 4, 5, 6 & “Unhein Khuda Bakhshey”, page # 55
............................................................................................................................................
***About Raza Ali Abidi sahib:
Raza Ali Abidi is a Pakistani journalist and broadcaster who is best known for his radio documentaries on the Grand Trunk Road in Pakistan (called Sher Shah Suri Marg in India) and his travelogue along the banks of Indus River. His published works include several collections of cultural essays and short stories. He has worked with the BBC Urdu Service and retired in 1996.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raza_Ali_Abidi
............................................................................................................................................
***Acknowledgments
Heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Shubhneet Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Satish Chandra College, (affiliated to Jananayak Chandrashekhar University), Ballia, UP, India for sharing the link of the audio clipping with me earlier today which was later validated by our family members in Switzerland, USA, India and Pakistan. Special thanks to Danish Akhtar Balkhi for sharing the soft pdf copy of Raza Ali Abidi sahib’s book, “Kutub Khana” (April 1985) upon my request for ongoing research activities related to Professor Syed Hasan Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA.
............................................................................................................................................
Itihasvid (Historian) Poem from 1984 and now posted online in 2020 per the text received from Biduyat Kumar on Jan 26th, 2023.
I adored him (Prof. Askari) so much. My poem 'Itihasvid' (in Bengali) collected in a book in 1984, was about him. I take this opportunity to show my respects to him, again. Much later I knew, that for Medieval Bihar, his works are the only reference point for historians all over the world.
Bidyut Kumar Pal, Editor of Behar Herald, Patna, Bihar, India, Saturday, April 6th 2019
ইতিহাসবিদ
এক গ্রীষ্মের দুপুরে তাঁকে দেখলাম ।
ধুলো আর আবর্জনা ভরা রাস্তাটার একধার দিয়ে তিনি বাড়ি ফিরছিলেন ; বগলে কিছু জার্নাল আর হাতে একটা সদ্যোজাত জামচারা যার পল্লবিত শীর্ষ তাঁর মাথার খানিক ওপরে উঠে দুলছিলো ।
আমি দেখলাম তাঁর হাতের সেই শিশুটিকে – অতীতের কোনো মাটিতে তিনি যার শিকড় প্রসারিত করতে পারবেন না কখনো ।
যাকে দিতে হবে আজকেরই পৃথিবী । ফলের কালোগুচ্ছ যেদিন অন্য এক জৈষ্ঠের হাওয়ায় দুলবে সেদিন হতে পারে তিনি থাকবেন হতে পারে তিনি থাকবেন না ।
১ ধ্বংসের নুন আর ক্ষয়ের রসায়নের সাথে তাঁর করতল কথা বলে ।
নিজের ভিতরে তিনি পাখীদের তৈরি করেছেন যারা মাঝে মাঝে সময়ের বিলুপ্ত ঢেউয়ের দিকে উড়ে যায় ।
ডুব দেয় অনুভব করে জলের স্তর মাত্রা ক্ষীণ অন্তঃস্রোত দিক ঝড়ের সম্ভাবনা সমাজের কোনো একটি মুহুর্তের রক্তচাপ ।
একটি মুহুর্ত ।
স্থির ! পৃথিবী, আকাশ, সূর্য্য ও মেঘের ছায়া স্থির ! চারদিকে জনপদের পর জনপদ ! স্থির ! অসংখ্য মানুষ যে যার নিজের কাজের তৎকালিক ভঙ্গিমায় স্থির ! শাসকের উদ্যত হাত স্থির ! বাঁচতে চাওয়া বন্দীর চিৎকার করে ওঠা মুখ স্থির ! পাহাড়ের কোলে একলা মা তার সন্তানকে ডাকতে গিয়ে স্থির ! বাদ্যযন্ত্রের ওপরে একটি হাত স্থির ! তিনটি স্বরের ওপরে আঙুল স্থির ! সমস্ত কিছু স্থির ! প্রবাহের এক প্রস্থচ্ছেদ ফলকে যন্ত্রণা, স্বপ্ন, কন্ঠস্বর – জীবনের সেই একটি মুহুর্তের স্থির বিশিষ্ট নিশ্চিতি ! ... পাখীরা সেই লুপ্ত মুহুর্তের স্থির, স্তব্ধতার ভিতরে কলরব করে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে ।
অসংখ্য অসম্বদ্ধ ঘটনার মাঝে পারম্পর্য্য আর কারণের গোপন সূত্রের খড় আর গভীর শিকড়গুলো খুঁজে খুঁজে তুলে উঠে আসে ঢেউয়ের ওপরে আবার !
ডানার কার্বন আর কালের জল ঝেড়ে কয়েক যুগ নিমেষে পার হয়ে এসে ঢুকে পড়ে তাঁর বুকের ভিতরে ।
পাখীরা অদৃশ্য তবু তারা যে ফিরে এসেছে তা গ্রন্থাগারের এক কোণে হঠাৎ উজ্জ্বল হয়ে ওঠা তাঁর দুই চোখের দিকে তাকিয়ে জানা যায় । ...
তখন কাগজের ওপর বাক্যেরা বেরিয়ে আসে ধোঁয়ার ভিতর থেকে যুক্তির ধারালো গ্রানাইটের মতো । একদা বিলুপ্ত ধুলো আর কোলাহলে ভরে যায়, গোধুলির খেলাশেষের গ্যালারীর মতো তাঁর টেবিল কলম আর চশমার রঙচটা খাপ । ...
একদিন ছাপাখানার যন্ত্র ঘর্ঘর করে ওঠে ।
আর এক আর্দ্র সকালে, শহরের বইয়ের দোকানগুলোর কাঁচের ভিতরে এসে রাস্তার দিকে তাকায় পথচলতি ব্যস্ত আমাদের হারানো বয়স অপরিচিত পরিচয় । ... ...... https://bidyutpal.blogspot.com/2020/10/blog-post_15.html
*******************
Here is the translation by Kumar sahib in English.
*******************
The Historian.
On a summer noon I saw him.
By one side of the dusty street strewn with garbage he was returning home; with some journals under his arm.
And a new-born sapling of Jamun, whose leafy crest was swinging a bit above his head.
I saw that child in his hands Whom he will never be able to root in any soil of the past, who will have to be given today’s earth – When in the wind of some other Jaishtha, the black bunches of fruits will swing he may remain that day or may not.
His palms talk with the salt of destruction and the chemistry of decay, Within him he has created the birds who often fly towards the lost waves of time, Dive in, Feel the level of water, Dimensions, Faint inner-currents, Direction, Possibilities of storm, The blood pressure of a moment of the society.
A moment.
Still! The shadows of earth, sky, sun, and the clouds!
Still! The human settlements all over!
Still! The countless human beings, In the instant postures of their daily chores!
Still! The raised hand of the ruler!
Still! The screaming face of the prisoner who wanted to live!
Still! The lone mother on the hill calling her child!
Still! An arm on the musical instrument! Still! The fingers on three notes!
Still! Everything! On the cross-sectional panel of a flow Sufferings, dreams, voices –
Still, definite certainty of that one moment of life! …….
Birds spread out trilling inside that still silence of a lost moment.
They search and pick up the straws and deep roots of secret cues of consequentiality and causes amidst numerous scattered happenings, and come out again above the wave.
Shaking off the carbon and water of time from their wings in a wink they cross several ages and enter in his chest.
The birds are invisible.
Yet one understands their return by looking at the appearance of sudden brightness of his eyes in corner of the library. …
Then sentences come out on paper
Like the sharp granite of logic, from smoke.
His table like the twilight gallery after the end of a game,
His pen and the discoloured case of his spectacles get filled up with once lost dust and noise. …
One day the machines of printing press rattle.
And on a humid morning coming in the glass cases of the book shops of the city,
Ours lost age,
Ours unknown identity
Look at us – busy, rushing on the streets.
Professor Syed Hasan Askari, an article in Hindi, authored and posted online by Dr. Shubhneet Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Satish Chandra College, (affiliated to Jananayak Chandrashekhar University), Ballia, UP, India on November 27th, 2022. (English translation is also posted after each paragraph).
मध्यकालीन भारत और सूफ़ी मत के अध्येता प्रसिद्ध इतिहासकार सैयद हसन अस्करी (1901-1990) को मध्यकालीन भारत से जुड़े फ़ारसी के दस्तावेज़ों और फ़ारसी पाण्डुलिपियों का उन्हें चलता-फिरता विश्वकोश माना जाता था। गंभीर व शोधपरक लेखन के साथ ही उन्होंने बिहार के प्रांतीय इतिहास पर भी उत्कृष्ट कार्य किया।
Renowned historian Syed Hasan Askari (1901–1990), a scholar of medieval India and Sufism, was considered a walking encyclopedia of Persian documents and Persian manuscripts related to medieval India. Along with serious and research writing, he also did excellent work on the provincial history of Bihar.
राजनीतिक इतिहास,सामाजिक इतिहास, धार्मिक-सांस्कृतिक इतिहास और स्थानीय इतिहास के साथ ही उन्होंने मध्यकालीन भारत से जुड़े ऐतिहासिक स्रोतों के विवेचन-विश्लेषण की राह भी दिखाई। अमीर खुसरो, इख्तिसान देहलवी, करम अली,मुहम्मद कबीर की पुस्तकों पर विचारोत्तेजक ढंग से लिखने के साथ ही उन्होंने ‘ताज-उल मासिर’ के लेखक हसन निजामी की इतिहासदृष्टि को भी रेखांकित किया।
Along with political history, social history, religious-cultural history and local history, he also showed the way for interpretation and analysis of historical sources related to medieval India. Along with writing suggestively on the books of Amir Khusro, Ikhtisan Dehlvi, Karam Ali, Muhammad Kabir, he also outlined the historical vision of Hasan Nizami, the author of 'Taj-ul Masir'.
उन्होंने मध्यकालीन इतिहास से जुड़े ऐतिहासिक ग्रन्थों का सम्पादन और अनुवाद भी किया। इस क्रम में उन्होंने ‘शाहनामा मुनव्वर कलाम’, ‘इक़बालनामा’, ‘तुज़ुक-ए बाबरी’, ‘सीरत-ए-फिरोज़शाही’का सम्पादन-अनुवाद किया।
He also edited and translated historical texts related to medieval history. In this sequence, he edited and translated 'Shahnama Munawar Kalam', 'Iqbalnama', 'Tuzuk-e Babri', 'Seerat-e-Firozshahi'.
उन्होंने उर्दू की पत्र-पत्रिकाओं में भी ऐतिहासिक विषयों पर, भाषाई इतिहास पर लेख लिखे। ‘मलफूजात’और ‘मकतूबात’ का उपयोग करते हुए उन्होंने सूफ़ी संतों के जीवन,उनके विचार और सूफ़ी संप्रदायों के बारे में लिखा। साथ ही,सैयद हसन अस्करी ने मलिक मुहम्मद जायसी, कुतुबन, मुल्ला दाऊद, मंझन, साधन द्वारा रचित सूफ़ी प्रेमाख्यानों पर भी काम किया।
He also wrote articles on historical subjects and linguistic history in Urdu magazines. Using 'Malfujat' and 'Maqtubat', he wrote about the lives of Sufi saints, their thoughts and Sufi sects. Along with this, Syed Hasan Askari also worked on Sufi love stories composed by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, Qutuban, Mulla Dawood, Manjhan, Sadhan.
बिहार के सीवान के एक जमींदार परिवार में जन्मे सैयद हसन की आरंभिक पढ़ाई मदरसे से हुई। उनकी उच्च शिक्षा मुजफ्फरपुर के जी.बी.बी. कॉलेज और पटना विश्वविद्यालय से हुई। पटना कॉलेज से इतिहास के शिक्षक के रूप में उनके अकादमिक जीवन की शुरुआत हुई।
Born in a zamindar family of Siwan, Bihar, Syed Hasan did his early education from a madrasa. His higher education was done at Muzaffarpur's G.B.B. College and from Patna University. His academic career began as a history teacher at Patna College.
वो औपनिवेशिक भारत में ऐतिहासिक दस्तावेज़ों के संकलन और अभिलेखागारों के संगठन के उद्देश्य से गठित ‘इंडियन हिस्टॉरिकल रेकॉर्ड्स कमीशन’के सदस्य रहे। ‘रेकॉर्ड्स कमीशन’ के सदस्य के रूप में उन्होंने दिल्ली, उदयपुर, कलकत्ता, पूना, मैसूर और बड़ौदा में हुई कमीशन की वार्षिक बैठकों में हिस्सा लिया।
He was a member of the 'Indian Historical Records Commission' formed for the purpose of compilation of historical documents and organization of archives in colonial India. As a member of the Records Commission, he attended the annual meetings of the Commission held at Delhi, Udaipur, Calcutta, Poona, Mysore and Baroda.
बिहार में 1945 में गठित ‘रीजनल रेकॉर्ड्स सर्वे कमीशन’ का सदस्य रहते हुए उन्होंने ऐतिहासिक अभिलेखों के संकलन और उनके संरक्षण में महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया। रेकॉर्ड्स कमीशन को सौंपी गई उनकी रपटें इतिहासलेखन में उनके योगदान को रेखांकित करती हैं। साथ ही,वे भारतीय इतिहास कांग्रेस के वर्ष 1947 के अधिवेशन के मध्यकालीन भारत सत्र के सभापति रहे। उन्हें वर्ष 1985 में पद्म श्री से सम्मानित किया गया। 28 नवंबर 1990 को प्रसिद्ध इतिहासकार सैयद हसन अस्करी का निधन हो गया।
While being a member of the 'Regional Records Survey Commission' formed in Bihar in 1945, he made significant contribution in the compilation and preservation of historical records. His reports submitted to the Records Commission underline his contribution to historiography. Also, he was the President of the Medieval India session of the 1947 session of the Indian History Congress. He was awarded the Padma Shri in the year 1985. Noted historian Syed Hasan Askari passed away on 28 November 1990.
सैयद हसन अस्करी के इतिहासलेखन, सैयद हसन अस्करी की रचनाओं और जीवन-यात्रा के बारे में विस्तार से जानने के लिए देखें, उनके समग्र कृतित्व पर केंद्रित बेहतरीन वेबसाइट :
https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com
Shubhneet Kaushik #Bihar #Siwan #History
To know in detail about Syed Hasan Askari's historiography, works and life-journey of Syed Hasan Askari, visit the best website focused on his overall work:
https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com
Shubhneet Kaushik #Bihar #Siwan #History
Lost Muslim Heritage Of Bihar
https://www.facebook.com/LMHOBOfficial/photos/2117742931742957
“इतिहासकार की स्मृतियाँ : सैयद हसन अस्करी” (Memories of historian: Syed Hasan Askari) authored and posted online by Dr. Shubhneet Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Satish Chandra College, (affiliated to Jananayak Chandrashekhar University), Ballia, UP, India. (February 4th, 2023)
इतिहासकार की स्मृतियाँ : सैयद हसन अस्करी
इतिहासकार जो समाज की स्मृतियाँ को संजोता है, उन्हें आने वाली पीढ़ियों के लिए सहेजता है। कई मर्तबा ख़ुद वह इतिहासकार ही समाज द्वारा विस्मृत कर दिया जाता है। कुछ भाग्यशाली इतिहासकार ही होते हैं, जिनके जाने के बाद भी उनकी स्मृतियाँ, विचार और उनका लेखन जीवंत बना रहता है। कुछ चुनिंदा इतिहासकारों को उनका समाज याद रखता है। तो कुछ की स्मृतियों और विचारों को ज़िंदा रखने में साथी इतिहासकारों की भूमिका होती है। इतिहासकार की यादों को ज़िंदा रखने में ख़ुद उसके परिवार की भूमिका को भी कम करके नहीं आंका जा सकता।
मुझे असम के अप्रतिम इतिहासकार सूर्य कुमार भूयाँ याद आते हैं, जिन्होंने असम की स्थानीय इतिहासलेखन की परम्परा से जुड़े दस्तावेज़ों (‘बुरंजी’) के संकलन, संपादन और प्रकाशन कार्य किया था। सूर्य कुमार भूयाँ के निधन के बाद उनके परिवार के लोगों ने उनकी स्मृतियों को सहेजा ही नहीं, उनके काम को बख़ूबी आगे भी बढ़ाया। उनका परिवार हर साल सूर्य कुमार भूयाँ की याद में आज भी अकादमिक आयोजन करता है, जिसमें विद्वानों के साथ-साथ असम के आम लोग भी अपने इतिहासकार को याद करने को जुटते हैं।
एक ऐसा ही उदाहरण बिहार के प्रसिद्ध इतिहासकार सैयद हसन अस्करी का है। उनके परिवार के लोगों ने उनकी स्मृतियों को सँजोने का ऐसा ही दिलचस्प और अनुकरणीय उदाहरण पेश किया है। सैयद हसन अस्करी के जीवन और समग्र कृतित्व पर केंद्रित एक वेबसाइट के निर्माण के ज़रिए। इस कमाल की वेबसाइट पर अस्करी साहब की सारी पुस्तकों के साथ ही अंग्रेज़ी और उर्दू में उनके लिखे लेखों और उनके सारांश को पढ़ा जा सकता है।
अस्करी साहब की कृतियों को ऑनलाइन उपलब्ध कराने का श्रेय उनके नाती सैयद अहमर रज़ा को जाता है। वे परिवार में अपने नाना की तमाम उपलब्धियों के बारे में सुनते थे, उनसे जुड़े क़िस्से सुनकर हर्षित होते थे। मगर उन्हें तब निराशा होती, जब कोई उन्हें ठीक-ठीक अस्करी साहब के योगदान और उनकी ऐतिहासिक कृतियों की महत्ता के बारे में न बता पाता। इसलिए उन्होंने अपने नाना यानी अस्करी साहब के समग्र लेखन को जमा करने का बीड़ा उठाया। अस्करी साहब की कुछ किताबें तो ख़ुदा बख़्श ओरिएंटल लाइब्रेरी से मिलीं, मगर तमाम किताबें अप्राप्य थीं। चालीस के दशक से लेकर विभिन्न पत्र-पत्रिकाओं में छपे उनके लेखों को जमा करना भी एक बड़ी चुनौती थी। संसाधनों की कमी भी थी। यह भी ध्यान रखें कि सैयद अहमर रज़ा पेशेवर इतिहासकार भी नहीं हैं। बल्कि इतिहास से उनका दूर-दूर तक कोई लेना-देना नहीं था।
मगर इंडियन हिस्टॉरिकल रेकर्ड्स कमीशन, प्रोसिडिंग्स ऑफ़ इंडियन हिस्ट्री कांग्रेस, बंगाल पास्ट एण्ड प्रेजेंट, एनसाइक्लोपिडिया ईरानिका जैसी तमाम पत्रिकाओं से, उर्दू की पत्र-पत्रिकाओं से धीरे-धीरे उन्होंने अस्करी साहब के लेखों को जिस मेहनत से संकलित किया, वह इतिहासकारों को भी मात देने वाला है।
अस्करी साहब के लेखों को मैंने इधर थोड़ा-सा पढ़ना शुरू किया है। राजनीतिक इतिहास, सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक इतिहास, स्थानीय इतिहास, आर्थिक इतिहास, साहित्येतिहास, खान-पान का इतिहास – यक़ीन मानिए इनमें से कोई दायरा ऐसा न होगा, जो अस्करी साहब की पारखी नज़र से छूटा हो।
समय मिले तो सैयद हसन अस्करी साहब पर केंद्रित वेबसाइट ज़रूर देखिए। यह मेहनत और लगन को सराहने का काम होगा।
लिंक : https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com/
(Auto generated Google translation below).
Memories of a historian: Syed Hasan Askari
The historian who cherishes the memories of the society, saves them for the generations to come. Many times the historian himself is forgotten by the society. There are few lucky historians, even after whose death their memories, thoughts and their writings remain alive.
Some selected historians are remembered by their society. So fellow historians have a role in keeping alive the memories and thoughts of some. The role of the historian's own family in keeping the memory alive cannot be underestimated.
I am reminded of Surya Kumar Bhuyan, the quintessential historian of Assam, who compiled, edited and published documents ('buranji') related to the tradition of local historiography of Assam. After Surya Kumar Bhuyan's death, his family members not only saved his memory, but also carried forward his work very well. His family organizes an academic event every year in the memory of Surya Kumar Bhuyan, in which scholars as well as the common people of Assam gather to remember their historian.
One such example is of Syed Hasan Askari, a famous historian of Bihar. His family members have set such an interesting and exemplary example of cherishing his memory. Through the creation of a website dedicated to the life and works of Syed Hasan Askari. Along with all the books of Askari Saheb, one can read his articles and their summary in English and Urdu on this wonderful website.
The credit goes to his grandson Syed Ahmar Raza for making the works of Askari Sahib available online. He used to hear about all the achievements of his maternal grandfather in the family, used to be happy to hear stories related to him. But he would be disappointed when no one could tell him exactly about the contribution of Askari Sahab and the importance of his historical works. So he took it upon himself to collect the entire writings of his maternal grandfather i.e. Askari Sahib.
Some books of Askari Saheb were found from Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library, but all the books were inaccessible. It was also a big challenge to collect his articles published in various newspapers and magazines since the forties. There was also a paucity of resources. Also note that Syed Ahmar Raza is not even a professional historian. Rather, he had nothing to do with history at all.
But the hard work with which he gradually compiled the articles of Askari Saheb from various magazines like Indian Historical Records Commission, Proceedings of Indian History Congress, Bengal Past and Present, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Urdu newspapers and magazines, he beat even historians. He is the giver.
I have started reading a little bit of Askari Sahab's writings. Political history, socio-cultural history, local history, economic history, literary history, history of food and drink – believe me, none of these areas will be left out from the connoisseur's eye of Askari Saheb.
If you get time, do visit the website dedicated to Syed Hasan Askari. This will be a work of appreciating hard work and dedication.
Link : https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com/
*Announcing the Launch of Professor Syed Hasan Askari Biography & Historiography Video
Los Angeles, May 26th, 2024 — We are thrilled to announce the release of Professor Syed Hasan Askari Biography & Historiography Video, (https://youtu.be/n92wQQKzW9o) a captivating new documentary, produced by JG Productions, Detroit, MI, USA, that delves into the life and achievements of Professor Syed Hasan Askari (1901-1990), by providing an overview of the Historiography Project. The video is now available for viewing on Professor Syed Askari’s Official YouTube Channel starting May 26th, 2024.
Professor Syed Hasan Askari Biography & Historiography Video offers an intimate look at the journey of Prof. Askari, exploring his early life, academic career, major historical accomplishments, publications, presidential awards in addition to the activities of Historiography Project to locate, digitize, archive, summarize, and translate his works for academia, scholars, historians and general readership. Through rare footage, and expert commentary, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of Professor Askari’s remarkable story.
“It has been a pleasure to work on this project. The content is educational and inspiring. Professor Askari’s legacy will continue on with this video”, said Joe Gasiewicz, (Narrator, Director & Producer) of JJ Production.
“We are excited to share Professor Syed Hasan Askari Biography & Historiography Video with the world”, said Syed Ahmer Raza. “The project has been a labor of love, and we believe it will inspire and resonate with audiences everywhere.”
This video has received complimentary endorsements from distinguished and eminent academics, scholars, historians, professionals, family, relatives and friends globally.
Don’t miss this extraordinary documentary that captures the essence of s life and legacy of Prof. Askari. Watch the video on YouTube (https://youtu.be/n92wQQKzW9o) find more information at https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com (https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com)
For inquiries, please contact:
Syed Ahmer Raza
Professor Askari Historiography Project, Los Angeles, USA.
Email: Info.Prof.Askari.Hist.Project@gmail.com
Website: https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com
Follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/professorsyedhasanaskari
for the latest updates and exclusive content.
This publication “A Peep Into 70 Years of Bihar, 75th Annual Session of the Numismatic Society of India” (dated December 1987) provides a concise history of the Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute (KPJRI) and highlights Prof. Syed Hasan Askari’s tenure there as Honorary Joint Director from February 28, 1962, to May 1968.
It also mentions that The K. P. Jayaswal Chair was established by the Govt. of Bihar and Prof. Syed Hasan Askari was appointed on this post.
The publication also references and cites Prof. Syed Hasan Askari’s works (in several of the papers submitted by eminent scholars) and includes a dedicated page featuring his photograph alongside other prominent figures such as the late Rajiv Gandhi (then Prime Minister of India), P. Venkata Subramanian (then Governor of Bihar), and several other dignitaries and scholars. This significant work was published on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee Session of the Numismatic Society of India, held in Patna from December 13 to 15, 1987, under the joint auspices of the Bihar Research Society, K.P. Jayaswal Institute, and Bihar Sanskrit Academy. Heartfelt gratitude to Danish Balkhi for kindly sharing the archive link as part of his sincere and selfless collaboration with the Prof. Askari Historiography Project (Official Website- https://www.professorsyedhasanaskari.com/news). This valuable resource will be included as part of a digital image collage to commemorate Prof. Syed Hasan Askari’s legacy.
*******
A Peep Into 70 Years Of Bihar, 75Th Annual Session Of Numismatic Society Of India, December 1987
Page n34
Photograph: Padma Shri Prof. (Dr.) S. H. Askari (Former Director of the K. P. J. R. Institute) & K.P. Jayaswal Fellow.
Page n36
After the demise of Dr. Altekar late Dr. K, K. Datta become the Director of the Institute in 1960. He had been associated with the Institute since its inception in 1952 as Honorary Joint Director. He very much enriched the activities of the Institute.
On the 28th Feb. 1962 he was honoured by the Vice-Chancellorship of the newly created Magadh University and so he relinquished the post of directorship of the Institute. On the same day Professor S. H. Askari joined the Institute as its Honorary Joint Director. He continued till May 1968. Dr. B. P. Sinha, Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, Patna University succeeded Prof. S. H. Askari.
Page n37
The Institute is celebrating its annual function in the memory of Late Dr. K. P. Jayaswal as a K. P. Jayaswal Memorial Lecture, It had been started since 1981, Late Dr. D. C. Sarkar, Dr. Sayed Hasan Askari, Dr, Jata Shankar Jha, Dr. B. P. Sinha, Dr. Mahesh Tiwari have been honoured by the Institute on the occasion of K. P. Jayaswal Memorial Lecture.
Page n37
The K. P. Jayaswal Chair has been established by the Govt. of Bihar and Padmasri Prof. (Dr.) S. H. Askari was appointed on this post.
CITATIONS
Page 256
The present article is a part of a larger one, entitled The Mughals Mints in Bihar, published in S. H. Askari Ed. The Comprehensive History of Bihar, Vol. II, Part II. Patna 1987, pp-459-513
Page 269
Bihar: Past & Present (Souvenir pp. 115-n 12°28-116. The misprinted dated 760 (ibid p. 115) in the writer’s article should be read as 762. Also, the section by the writer on Firuz Shah Tughluq in Ch. VI of the Comprehensive History of Bihar (ed. S. H. Askari & Q. Ahmad) Pt I, pp201-202,
PUBLICATIONS OF THE BIHAR RESEARCH SOCIETY
Page n403
Prof. S. H. Askari Felicitation Volume
Page n411
Comprehensive History of Bihar, Volume II Part I (1983)—Dr. S. H. Askari and Dr. Q. Ahmad
Comprehensive History of Bihar, Volume II, Part II (1987)—Prof. (Dr.) S. H. Askari and Dr. Q. Ahmad Patna University, Patna
Page n412
Aspects of the Cultural History of Medieval Bihar (1984)— Padma Shri Dr. S. H. Askari
Internet Archive Link: https://archive.org/details/GyFA_a-peep-into-70-years-of-bihar-75-th-annual-session-of-numismatic-society-of-indi/page/268/mode/2up?q=askari