Mafizuddin Ahmed Hazarika

Mafizuddin Ahmed Hazarika (, ; 30 August 1870 – 29 October 1958) was an Indian poet belonging to the Jonaki era of Assamese literature. He was popularly known as the Jñān-Mālinīr Kabi and is regarded as one of the prominent contributors to early modern Assamese poetry. He played a significant role in the literary development of Assam during the early twentieth century.

Apart from his literary activities, Hazarika was actively involved in public, educational, and social institutions in colonial Assam. He served as the 12th President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1930, was one of the organisers of the Dibrugarh Sahitya Sabha and served as its secretary from 1904 to 1934, and presided over the Assam Chhatra Sanmilan held at Sivasagar in 1930. He was also associated with the Directorate of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Assam, as a corresponding member, and was a member of the Assamese Spelling Committee.

Early life and education Mafizuddin Ahmed Hazarika was born into an Assamese Muslim family to Himmatuddin Ahmed Hazarika and Rahnuri at Jorhatpatty in Dibrugarh, Assam, Bengal Presidency, British Raj on 30 August 1870. He was the second of six sons. According to family tradition, the Hazarika family traced its ancestry to Bagh Hazarika, a military commander associated with the Ahom resistance, who fought alongside Lachit Borphukan during the Battle of Saraighat in 1671. Hazarika received his early education at Dibrugarh Government High School. He appeared for the entrance examination in 1892 but was unsuccessful and subsequently discontinued his formal studies. Later reflections by the poet suggested that this setback inspired him to pursue literature and poetry.

In addition to his government service, he held numerous public and civic positions. He served as Religious Instructor and Visitor of Dibrugarh Jail, was a member of the District Committee of the Prisoners Aid Society, and participated in various educational and municipal bodies. He was also a member of the Dibrugarh Municipal Board, the Berry White Medical School Selection Committee, the Assam Central Text Book Committee, and the committee advocating the establishment of a university in Assam in 1944. He also presided over the Assam Chhatra Sanmilan in 1930 and was associated with the Assamese Spelling Committee.

His most celebrated work, Jñān-Mālinī, was published in 1896 when he was twenty-six years old. The collection included poems such as Biswokhonikor, Morixali Khoni, and Munisuni Beli. It received widespread acclaim from contemporary literary figures. Tattva Pārijāt (তত্ত্ব পাৰিজাত, ; 1970)

Awards and honours Literary Pension from the Government of Assam (1926) Presidency of the Asam Sahitya Sabha (1930)