This book brings together in a comparative framework the contributions of the four legendary professors – Nurul Islam, Mosharaff Hossain, Md. Anisur Rahman, and Rehman Sobhan – to the struggle for autonomy and independence and nation building in the early years of Bangladesh. This book brings together in a comparative framework the contributions of the four legendary professors – Nurul Islam, Mosharaff Hossain, Md. Anisur Rahman, and Rehman Sobhan – to the struggle for autonomy and independence and nation building in early years of Bangladesh. It makes a special effort to explain the context in which the professors played their role. It shows that, despite the commonality of their views, the professors differed in many concrete respects. The identification of these differences helps to have a deeper understanding of the complex issues that Bangladesh faced, particularly in its early years. The four professors’ readiness to accept material sacrifice and physical risks for the sake of the country can serve as a source of inspiration for new generations of Bangladesh’s intellectuals.