On 3rd November 2021, Chapra lost one of its greatest sons, Mr. Syed Raza Imam. He was born to Late Mr. Syed Ata Imam in the erstwhile Saran district of Bihar on 1st June 1938.
Since the beginning, Mr. Raza Imam was a bright student and showed his profound caliber in the Chapra Zilla School from where he passed the matriculation. Later on, he completed his Intermediate and Bachelors’ studies at the prestigious Rajendra College, Chapra. For higher education, he shifted to Patna and completed M.A. in Persian from the celebrated Patna University in 1959. His elevated genius attracted the attention of some of the literary giants of his time including among others Late Professor Syed Ijteba Hussain Rizvi, founder of the Millat College (Darbhanga); and Late Ahmad Jamal Pasha, one of the greatest Urdu humorists. His association with the latter became more pleasant when he had shifted to Chapra to continue his professional activities.
Shamsur Rahman Faruqi; T.S Eliot of Urdu Literature
After completing his formal studies, Mr. Raza Imam started his professional career as a Deputy Collector of Bhagalpur in the early 1960s. Being a man of refined tastes, he soon left a lucrative career in the provincial bureaucracy and joined the Life Insurance Corporation of India as an Officer and remained associated with the said organization until his graceful superannuation.
Mr. Syed Raza Imam was an active participant in the social and political movements of his time and made effective contributions to them. Being the President of Anjuman_E_Jafaria, Chapra, he did commendable services to fulfill the aims and objectives of the oldest Anjuman of the district. His association with Maulana Syed Muhammad Khurshid Jamal, Imam-e-Juma, Chapra; All India Muslim Personal Law Board; Syed Mahmood Memorial Educational Committee; and different literary and social entities earned him grace and reputation globally.
Anjuman-i-Islam: London and Mazharul Haque of Bihar
With folded hands, his admirers across the globe request his descendants to get his manuscript on the history of Azadari in Chapra published as soon as possible.
Sadly, the world would now long to see a gentleman like Mr. Raza Imam.
