Professor Dr. Abdul Momin Chowdhury email: [email protected]
Present Position: Fellow Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
Project Director History of Bangladesh: Ancient and Medieval Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
Fulbright Senior Research Fellow Department of History Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee USA
Adjunct Faculty, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Independent University, Bangladesh
Current Research Projects: 1. History of Bangladesh: Ancient and Medieval 2. Identity/Alterity: Bangladesh Perspective
Academic Awards: State Overseas Scholarship, 1962-1965
Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship, 1975-1976, for post-Doctoral Research at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Commonwealth Senior Visiting Fellowship, 1988, visited several universities in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia to make on the spot study of Academic administration.
British Council Short Term Fellowship, 1985, visited several universities in the U.K. to see the administration of the Libraries.
U.S. IVP, 1985, visited several universities in the U.S.A. to observe the academic administration of Universities.
Visiting Lecturer, Heidelberg University, Germany, 1985.
South Asia Dialogue Fellowship, 1992, for research in the field of Democratisation in South Asia.
Short Term Fellowship, Indian Council of Historical Research, 1996.
Represented Bangladesh at the Inter-Governmental meeting on the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO, Paris in September, 2002 and February, 2003.
Fullbright Senior Research Fellowship 2013, USA
Teaching Experience:
Teaching Fellow, Dept. of History, University of Dhaka 1960-1961 Lecturer, Dept. of History, University of Dhaka 1961-1962 (Went to London for Ph.D, 1962-1965) Senior Lecturer/Asst. Professor, Dhaka University 1965-1970 Associate Professor of History, Dhaka University 1970-1978 Professor of History, Dhaka University 1978-2005 Professor (Supernumerary), Dhaka University 2006-2011 Honorary Professor, Dhaka University 2011-2013
Administrative Experience:
House Tutor 1966-1968 Chairman, Department of History, D.U. 1979-1982 Librarian (in addition to teaching) 1982-1986 Dean of the Faculty of Arts, D.U. 1985-1989 (two terms) Member of the Syndicate, D.U. (2 terms) 1987-1990, 1998-2001 Member, Dhaka University Senate 1993-1996, 1996-1999, 1999-2002 Vice-Chancellor, National University September, 2001 - July, 2003 Vice-Chancellor, Primeasia University October 2003 - March 2005
Elective Positions Held:
President, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, (two terms) 2000-2001, 2002-2003
Dean of the Faculty of Arts, D.U., two consecutive terms, 1985-1987, 1987-1989
Member of the Syndicate, D.U., two terms, 1987-1989, 1998-2001
Member of the Executive Committee of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, several terms.
Member of the Senate, D.U., 1993-1996, 1996-1999, 1999-2002
Vice-President, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1995-1996.
President, Bangladesh Itihas Samiti, 1990-1993.
General Secretary, Bangladesh Itihash Samiti, 1973-1975
Involvement in Academic Bodies and Institutions:
President, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2000-2001, 2002-2003
Vice-President, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1995-1996
Member of the Council of Asiatic Society, for several terms.
Chairman, Editorial Board, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1995-1996.
President, Bangladesh Itihas Samiti, 1990-1993
General Secretary, Bangladesh Itihas Samiti, 1972-1975
Member of the Council, A.S.B., 2012 ---
Co-Curricular Activities:
Member, Dhaka University Sports Board, 1975-1989 Chairman, Dhaka University Cricket Committee, 1976-1989 Member, Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, 1985-1989 Manager of the Bangladesh Cricket Team on its tour of Pakistan in 1986 Regular Presentation of Educational and Topical Programmes on the BTV and other channels
Seminar & Symposium attended: Attended International Seminars and Symposiums in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Germany, Myanmar and U.S.A.
Languages Conversant: Bangla, English, Hindi, Sanskrit and Urdu.
Courses Taught at the Dhaka University: History of South Asia (ancient and medieval) History and Culture of Bengal Muslim Art and Architecture History of Primitive Religion Bengal Epigraphy (ancient) History of Ancient Civilization
Publications: Books : Dynastic History of Bengal (750-1200 A.D.), Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca, 1967
Bangladesher Itihas, (in Bengali) Nowroje Kitabistan, 1979 and several subsequent editions, co-author
Prachin Banglar Itihas O Sangskriti, (in Bangla) [History and Culture of Ancient Bengal], Dhaka, 2004, Enlarged edition, 2009
Nalini Kanta Bhattasali: A Versatile Scholar, Bangladesh National Museum. (Waiting for publication)
Editorial Activities:
Editor, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1983-1984.
Editor, Dhaka University Studies, Part. A, 1985-1990.
Editor, Bangladesh Historical Studies and Itihas Samiti Patrika, 1973-75
Co-Editor, Devaparvata, Gawr-Lakhnauti, Sonargaon (three volumes, published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1997)
Bangladesh Co-ordinator, ABIA Project, Leiden and Sri Lanka
Editor, Bangladesh on the Threshold of the Twenty-First Century, published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2002
Subject Editor, History & Heritage Section, Banglapedia, published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2002
Partner-Member of a Research Project under EC’s financial support and conducted by the J.N.U., New Delhi, India, on Europe – South Asia Link, 2007-2010, and produced a documentary course material entitled ‘Bengal’s Colonial Entanglement: Architecture’.
Edited with annotations A.H.Dani’s Dacca: A Record of its Changing Fortunes, published by Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2009
Editor, 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond , Vol. 1. Politics Society Administration, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2011.
Research Articles:
1. ‘New Light on Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq’s Invasion of Bengal’, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Vol. 8, No. 1. (June 1963). 47-54.
2. ‘Bengal at the Rise of the Palas, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan’, Vol. 10, No. I0 (June 1965), 35-53.
3. ‘The Pala Empire at the time of Mahipala I (c. 995 -1043 A D)’, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Vol. 11. No. I (April 1966), 17-31.
4. ‘Mahipala II and the Revolt of the Samantas’, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan. Vol. 11, No. 2. (August 1966), 153-161.
5. ‘Devaparvata (A Stronghold in Southern Bengal)’, Journal of the Varendra Research Museum, Vol. 1, 1972, 60- 67.
6. ‘Remarks on Concept of Indology’, in Ramlal Parikh and Rajesh Jamindar (ed.), Concept of Indology, Amadavad, 1973, 143 -146.
7. ‘Prachin Banglar Bhumi Byabastha’(in Bangla) in Muntassir Mamoon (ed.) Chirasthayi Bandobostho O Bangali Samaj, Itihas Charcha Kendra, Dhaka University, 1975, 3-15.
8. ‘Pundra/Paundra-vardhana Bhukti in Early Bengal Epigraphs’, in Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya (ed.), History and Society: Essays in Honor of Professor Niharranjan Ray, Calcutta, 1976, 295 – 310.
9. ‘Geography of Ancient Bengal: The Pundravardhana Bhukti’, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. 22, No.3 (December 1977), 175-186.
10. ‘Geography of Ancient Bengal: An Approach to its Study’, Bangladesh Historical Studies, Vol. 2, Dhaka, 1977, 31-53.
11. ‘Vanga-Kamrupa Relationship during the Rule of the Chandras’, Bangladesh Historical Studies, Vol. 3, 1978, 33-39.
12. ‘Aspects of Ancient Bengal Society and Socio-religious Attitudes: Tradition and Continuity’, Dhaka University Studies, Vol. XXX, December, 1982, 148 - 160.
13. ‘Oitihasiker Mulyayan: Abdul Karim’, in Samaj Niriksan, Dhaka University, May 1982.
14. ‘Conversion to Islam in Bengal: An Exploration’, in S R Chakravarty and Virendra Narain (ed.), Bangladesh: History and Culture, Vol. 1., 1986, Jaipur, 1-16 .
15. ‘Banglar Bhougolik Parichay’ in Anisuzzaman(ed), Bangla Sahityer Itihasa, Pratham Khanda, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, 1987, 1-38, Reprint, 2008.
16. ‘Physical Growth of Dhaka’, (Co-author S Faruqui) in Sarif uddin Ahmed (ed.), Dhaka Past Present Future, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1988,
17. ‘Islamisation in Bengal: Some Aspects of the Socio-religious Background’, The Dhaka University Studies, Part – A, Vol. 47, June, 1990.
18. ‘Remarks on Bangalir Atmaparichya: Ekti Puravrittik O Nritattvik Alochana’, in Safar Ali Akand (ed.), Bangalir Atmaparichay, Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi University, 1991, 89-91.
19. ‘Bengal and South East Asia: Trade and Cultural Contact in the Ancient Period’, Chittagong University Studies, Arts, Vol. XI, June 1993, 68-85.
20. ‘Oytiyahyer Bilupti: Dhakar Charti Masjid’ (in Bangla) [Co-author S. Faruqi], in Pratna Tattva, Vol. 3, June, 1996, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka.
21. ‘Bengal and South east Asia: Trade and Cultural Contact in the Ancient Period’, in Amara Srisuchat ( ed.), Ancient Trades and Cultural Contacts in Southeast Asia , 1996, National Cultural Commission, Thailand , 95-114.
22. ‘Site and Surroundings’, in A B M Husain (ed.), Sonargaon-Panam, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1997, 1-32.
23. ‘Bangladesh : Democratisation in Crisis’(Co-author D C Varman ), in John M. Richardson and S W R de A Samarasinghe (ed), Crisis in Democratization in South Asia, the First Fifty Years, International Center for Ethnic Studies, Kandy, 1998, 125-162.
24. ‘Tenth Century Sylhet : Reflections on the Paschimbhag Copperplate of Srichandra’, in S U Ahmed (ed.), Sylhet : History and Heritage, Dhaka: Bangladesh History Association, 1999, 632-643.
25. ‘Itihasher Prekshapate Banglar Sanskriti’, Foundation Day Lecture, Bangladesh National Museum, Published by UPL, in Nirbachita Probhondomala, 2000.
26. ‘Shiksa O Prashonghik Bhabna’ (in Bangla) in Mansur Musa (ed.), Sushiksabarso Smarak Grantha, 2003, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, 2003, 230- 237.
27. ‘Ancient Bengal: Hindu Buddhist Dynasties’, in A F Salahuddin Ahmed and Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury (ed.), Bangladesh National Culture and Heritage, Dhaka, 2004, 9-19.
28. ‘University Education: Need for Cooperation’, in Abul Ahsan and Ahmad S. Abbasi (ed.), Education in Rapidly Changing World: Focus on Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2005, 136-140.
29. ‘Site and Surrounding’ (Co-author K Alamgir ) in K M Mohsin et.al. (ed.), Hundred Years of Bangabhaban, Dhaka, 2006, 1-18.
30. ‘Protyaksdorshir Obhignay Dhakay Naripragati’ (in Bangla), in Rokeya Dibosh 2007, Rokeya Memorial Foundation: Dhaka University, Dhaka , 2007, 12-19.
31. ‘Rajnaitik Patabhumi’ in Anisuzzaman (ed.), Bangla Sahityer Itihas, Dvitiya Khanda, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, 2008, 3-38.
32. ‘Reflection on Islamization in Bengal’, Bangladesh E-Journal of Sociology, Vol. 8, No. 1, January 2011, 45-50.
33. ‘Dhaka Under the Mughal Subadars 1608 - 1704’ in ( A M Chowdhury and S U Ahmed ed.), 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond, Vol. 1: Politics Society Administration, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2011, 31-38.
34. ‘Process of Democratization in Bangladesh (1947 - 1992): Dhaka the Central Stage’, in A M Chowdhury and S U Ahmed (ed.), 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond, Vol. 1: Politics Society Administration, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2011, 83-102.
35. ‘The Greeks in Dhaka’, in M M Islam and F. Mahmud (ed.), 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond, Vol. 2: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2011.
36. ‘Physical Growth of Dhaka’ (Co-author S Hasan), Roxana Hafiz and A K M Golam Rabbani (ed.), 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond, Vol. 3:, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2011
37. ‘Identity/Alterity: The Bangladesh Perspective’, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Humanities), Diamond Jubilee Volume, Vol.56, 2011, 11-22.
38. ‘Religious Pluralism in Bengal: An Historical Perspective”, Paper presented at the II Biennial Conference on “Other” Indias: The Richness of Indian Multiplicity’ under the auspices of the Spanish Association for Interdisciplinary India Studies, held at the University of La Laguna, Spain, Nov. 23-26, 2011 (Awaiting publication).
Personal Information:
Father’s Name: Late Dr. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury Mother’s Name: Late Shirin Begum
Date of birth : 22 January, 1940
Academic Qualification: Matriculation : Armanitola Govt. High School, Dhaka, 1954, First Division I. A. : Dhaka College, Dhaka, 1956, First Division B.A.Honours : University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1959, Second Class (First) M.A. : University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1960, First Class (First) Ph.D. : University of London, London, 1965