Mohammad Nasir Ali (1910-1975)

Author of children's book and publisher, was born in Dhaida village in Vikrampur, Dhaka, on 10 January 1910. His father, Haider Ali, was a businessman. Nasir Ali passed the Entrance Examination in 1926 from Telirbagh Kalimohan-Durgamohan Institution and BCom in 1931 from Dhaka University. He then moved to Kolkata in search of work. He worked for some time at the Calcutta High Court as a translator. From 1946 to 1948 he worked in the children's section of the Daily ittefaq.

After partition, Nasir Ali returned to Dhaka and joined the Dhaka High Court, continuing to work there till his retirement in 1967. In 1949 he established a publishing house, Naoroze Kitabistan, which is still going strong. From 1952 to 1975 he was in charge of 'Mukuler Mahfil', the children's page of the Dainik azad. His pseudonym was 'Bagban'.

Though Nasir Ali is mainly known as an author of children's literature, he also wrote educational stories, essays and biographies. He also wrote a number of humorous books. Among his books are Amader Quaid-i-Azam (1948), Manikanika (1949), Shahi Diner Kahini (1949), Chhotader Omar Faruq (1951), Akash Yara Karlo Jay (1957), Ali Baba (1958), Tolstoyer Sera Galpa (1963, 2nd ed), Italyr Janak Garibaldi (1963), Birbaler Khosh Galpa (1964), Sat Panch Galpa (1965), Boka Bakai (1966), Yogayog (1968), Lebu Mamar Saptakanda (1968), Bhindeshi Ek Birbal (1970), Barasho Banarer Pallay (1976), Albert Einstein (1976), Mrtyur Sathe Panja (1976), Bobara Sab Kalo (1982, 2nd ed), etc. In recognition of his literary contributions, he was awarded the Bangla Academy Award in 1967, UNESCO Prize in 1968 and United Bank of Pakistan Prize. He died on 30 January 1975 in Dhaka.

:: Added 12082005 @ 1908 GMT