Abdul Hakim (poet)


Abdul Hakim was a Bengali poet and translator who wrote several Bengali epics and also translated some Persian manuscripts.

Early life

Abdul Hakim was born in the village of Babupur in 1620. Babupur is generally said to be the modern-day Sudharam in the island of Sandwip. In addition to his fluency in the Bengali language, he also studied Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit.

Career

Hakim is well known for his patriotism and specially his love for the Bengali language. In Hakim's day, elite Bengali Muslims looked down upon it. Instead they favored Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Hakim criticized their disdainful attitude towards the local tongue.
Hakim's most notable work was Nur Nama, a depiction of the life of Muhammad. Other books he wrote are Shihabuddin Nama, Karbala, Lalmati Saifulmulk, Nasihat Nama, Chari Mokam Bhedh, Shahar Nama, Hanifar Ladai, and Durre Majlish. He translated the Persian romance Yusuf Wa Zulekha in Bengali.