Today is the 49th anniversary of death of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Born on Jyaishtha 11 in Bengali year 1306 at Churulia of Burdwan in the then British-ruled India, Kazi Nazrul Islam, a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and philosopher, is famous for his fiery poem 鈥楤idrohi鈥� (The Rebel) and many of his poems and melodious songs.
The nation got inspirations from Nazrul鈥檚 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 鈥楴azrul giti鈥�. 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 Comet).
The magazine had a fiery tone and was critical of the British rule in India. He soon found himself in prison for publishing a poem written by him, 鈥楢nandamayeer Agomone鈥�.
In prison, Nazrul did not stop writing. He wrote, 鈥楻ajbandir Jabanbandi鈥� 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 firm 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 Bengali poetry also opened up new literary horizons. In the 1930s, the leading gramophone company of India, HMV, employed him full-time as a lyricist.
Later, the 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 consent of the Indian government, Bangladesh鈥檚 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 of Bangladesh and on February 21 awarded him the Ekushey Padak.
The poet died on Bhadra 12 in 1383 and was buried beside the central mosque of Dhaka University.
