The 127th anniversary of birth of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated today.
On the eve of the day, president Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday paid rich tributes to the national poet, saying that the poet’s ideals of equality, humanity, rebellion and love would continue to inspire people through generations, reports state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
The president described Nazrul as one of the brightest stars of Bangla literature and culture.
Nazrul made outstanding contributions to Bangla language and literature through his multifaceted creative works as a poet, musician, novelist, playwright, essayist and journalist as well, mentioned the president, adding ‘Nazrul was the herald of national awakening and a bold voice against exploitation, deprivation and injustice.’
His fiery poems and inspirational songs inspired different democratic movements and struggles of the country, including the anti-British movement, the mass uprising of 1969, the War of Independence and the July mass uprising, he added.
Prime minister Tarique Rahman also paid rich tribute to the poet’s ever-glorious memory and remembered him with endless gratitude and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul.
He has said that Kazi Nazrul Islam is an unforgettable name in the national history as his advent in the dark age of a subjugated and oppressed nation was like a beacon of light- like a guiding lighthouse.
‘At a time when the dying nation desperately needed an overwhelming talent to awaken, inspire and empower it toward self-reliance, national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was that long-awaited and much-desired genius,’ the prime minister said in a message.
The entire life of Kazi Nazrul Islam seemed like a declaration of war— a unique and extraordinary rebellion. This rebellion was against colonial rule, subjugation, oppression, exploitation, inequality, discrimination, superstition, religious fanaticism, and sectarianism and indeed against all forms of injustice, tyranny and ugliness, noted the prime minister.
‘Nazrul was our first poet, journalist and political figure to demand complete independence of the subcontinent from colonial rule. His compassion and radiant commitment towards humanity, regardless of nation, religion, race, or tribe, remain unparalleled,’ mentioned Tarique.
‘On the anniversary of birth of the national poet, let’s take pledge to erase the shame of injustice, hunger, poverty and division; to place Bangladesh above all else; to make our independence meaningful; and to dedicate ourselves to building a happy, prosperous and democratic motherland,’ he urged.
Different government, autonomous and socio-cultural organisations, television channels and radio stations have taken elaborate programmes to mark the day.
Dhaka University has taken programmes to mark the birth anniversary of the national poet. As part of the programmes, teachers, students and staff of the university will assemble at the Aparajeya Bangla at 6:15am and then, led by DU vice-chancellor Professor ABM Obaidul Islam, will place wreaths at the mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul near the university mosque. A discussion will also be held there with the VC in the chair.
Born at Churulia of Burdwan in the then British India on Jyaishtha 11 in Bengali year 1306, Kazi Nazrul Islam, a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and philosopher, is famous for his fiery poem ‘Bidrohi’ (The Rebel) and many of his poems and melodious songs.
The nation got inspirations from Nazrul’s poems and songs during the War of Independence and all democratic movements and struggles.
There are 2,400 Nazrul songs, and together, they are known as Nazrulgeeti. He composed the songs, which he liked to tune himself.
Kazi Nazrul, the poet of rebellion against injustice and taboos, left studies to join the British Indian Army as a non-commissioned officer and was posted to Karachi.
After he left the army, he settled in Kolkata and started publishing a fortnightly named Dhumketu. The magazine had a fiery tone and was critical of the British rule in India. He soon found himself in prison for writing a poem titled ‘Anandamayeer Agamane’.
In prison, Nazrul did not stop writing. He wrote ‘Rajbandir Jabanbandi’ and after a prolonged hunger strike, he was released from the prison. But throughout the 1920s, he found most of his work banned.
Although known for his criticism of imperialism, social and religious taboos, Nazrul also explored the themes of love, romance and devotion in his literary works.
He also introduced a robust style that was very bold and innovative. His use of Persian and Arabic words in Bangla poems also opened up new literary horizons. In the 1930s, the leading gramophone company of India, HMV, employed him full-time as a lyricist.
Later, All-India Broadcasting Authority employed him.
In 1942, he developed a rare neurological disorder that led to the loss of his voice and memory.
After the War of Independence, with the consent of the Indian government, the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, brought Nazrul and his family to Bangladesh on May 24, 1972, and the poet was given a house at Dhanmondi in the capital Dhaka.
In recognition of his contribution to Bangla literature and culture, Dhaka University awarded the poet the honorary degree of D Lit at a special convocation on December 9, 1974. In January 1976, the Bangladesh government granted him citizenship and awarded him the Ekushey Padak on February 21.
The poet died on Bhadra 12 in 1383 and was buried beside the Dhaka University’s central mosque.
