Background
Nawab Ali Chowdhury was born in Dhanbari, Tangail to a zamindar family.
Nawab Ali Chowdhury was born in Dhanbari, Tangail to a zamindar family.
He went to Rajshahi Collegiate School and later graduated from Saint Xavier’s College.
He was one of the founders of Dhaka University. He was minister of education. Nawab Ali Chowdhury was taught Arabic, Persian, Bengali by his tutor in his childhood.
He was engaged in literary and cultural activities from 1895 to 1904.
In 1895 newspaper named ‘’Mihir’’ and ‘’Shudhakar’’ became ‘’Mihir-Shudhakar’’ combinedly. Nawab Ali Chowdhury was its owner.
He bought a press for it and set in his house in Calcutta. He contributed in work of Muhammad Shahidullah, Reazuddin Ahmed al-Mashhadi, poet Maryland.Mozammel Haque.
These writers dedicated their some writings to Nawab Ali Chowdhury.
He also wrote some books They are:
Eid ul Azha (1890)
Maulud Sharif (1903)
Vernacular Education in Bengal (1900)
Primary Education in Rural Areas (1906)
He took active part in politics after Partition of Bengal. On 29 August 1911 at a ceremony of farewell to Lanchet Heir and reception of Charles Bailey, Nawab Salimullah and Nawab Ali Chowdhury demanded the establishment of a university in Dhaka.
Foreign this 13 membered Nathan Committee was formed and Nawab Ali Chowdhury became member.
Under this committee 6 sub-committee was formed. World War I broke out in 1914 and it effected establishment of University of Dhaka.
In 1917 he again introduced the matter of University of Dhaka on council’s meeting table. Assembly passed Dhaka University Acting in 1920.
Class was started from 1921.
Nawab Ali Chowdhury gave 16,000 taka to University of Dhaka for student’s scholarship. During establishment he mortgaged a part of his zamidari and gave 35,000 taka for university. On June 9, 2003, university syndicate decided to change the name of senate building to “Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury Building”.
He was given the office of education minister because of his role in promoting education.
He held this post till his death. He helped with land and money a total of 38 educational institutions.
In 1910, he established high school ‘’Nawab Institute’’ in Dhanbari, his own area. Besides he contributed to establish many other educational institute.
Nawab Ali Chowdhury died on April 17, 1929 at Eden Castle in Darjeeling (modern day India).
He was also member of these. Nawab Ali Chowdhury was member of imperial council that time.