Literature Desk :
Kazi Nazrul Islam is the National Poet of Bangladesh and one of the greatest poets of the world, who championed the cause of upholding the welfare of humanity, specially the emancipation of the subjugated, oppressed and depressed section of mankind. He brought about revolutionary changes in the spirit and style of Bangla literature and music.
A twentieth-century great poet and musician who became the National Poet of Bangladesh and who revolutionized the style of bangla music and literature, was imprisoned for his anti-British anti-colonial writing and he continued to flourish until 1942 when he was seriously disabled by illness.
Nazrul was born on 24 May 1899 at village Churulia in district Burdwan of West Bengal, India. Nazrul’s family was poor and his father died when he was only nine. Therefore, he had not even completed his primary education when he had to go through a lot of struggle for existence.
Later he worked as teacher of the village maktab, the custodian of the shrine of a saint and as the Muazzin in the village mosque before he joined a Leto group. Leto was a mobile musical troupe which roamed around singing and action in the countryside. He soon became the main poet of the group and made his place there by composing a number of folk plays.
Between 1910 and 1917, Nazrul was able to return to school and studied until class X, However, he could not pursue his education further because he did not like the strict rules and regulations and he had financial difficulties.
During this time, he worked as a cook at the house of a railway guard and later at a tea stall at Asansol. Thus the young Nazrul, aptly nicknamed ‘Dukhu Mia’, experienced the harsh ralities of life in the very early days of his life.
During the World War I, in 1917, Nazrul joined the Bengal Regiment of the British Indian Army. He was in the army for two and a half years and rose from an ordinary soldier to a Havildar (Battalion Quartermaster). His literary activities began when he was posted in Karachi Cantonment.
During his stay in the army, Nazrul learnt Persian from the Regiment’s Punjabi Moulvi, practiced music with other musical-minded soldiers to the accompaniment of local and foreign instruments.
At the same time he pursued literary activities in both prose and poetry which were published in different literary magazines. Baunduler Atmokahini (Autobiography of a Vagabond), his first prose work, was published in Saogat, a reputed literary magazine in Kolkata. His first poem published was Mukti (Freedom).
While Nazrul worked as a journalist, he wrote numerous poems in different literary magazines and secured his place in the literary world of Kolkata. At the same time, he met with prominent writers, poets and other literary figures of the time, including Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore and Nazrul maintained a close contact till the former died in 1941.
During this time, the political situation was very volatile in India. Everywhere, the Indians were involved in the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement against the British Raj led by Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shawkat Ali. He wrote many poems and articles in support of the struggle against the British.
He wrote against the injustice, the oppression, the exploitation and the violence that was carried out all over India. He was concerned about the landless farmers and workers and fought against social injustice through his writings. In this he was influenced by the Socialist Revolution in Soviet Russia that took place in 1917.
He wrote his famous revolutionary poem, ‘Bidrohi’ (The Rebel) in 1921. He also wrote Bhangar Gaan, Proloyollash and Kamal Pasha. Some of these poems were published in his famous book of poems, ‘Agnibina’ (The Fiery Lute).
Agnibina created a stir in Bangla literature and proved to be a turning point in Bangla poetry, in terms of both content and style. Its first edition was sold out soon after publication, and several editions in quick succession had to be printed.
Nazrul was arrested in 1922 for his anti-colonial writings. He was sentenced to a year of rigorous imprisonment. While in jail, he went into a 40 day hunger strike to protest against the mistreatment of political prisoners.
During this time, Rabindranath Tagore sent his famous telegram to Nazrul that said: “Give up hunger strike, our literature claims you.” So he stopped and continued to write while he was in jail.
Nazrul married Nargis. Their conjugal life could not continue from the very beginning because of unavoidable circumstances. Then he married. Pramila, a girl from a Brahmo family in 1924, despite a lot of disapproval form society, some of his love songs and poems, in his first book of poetry. Dolon Champa, were inspired by his relationship with Pramila.
Towards the end of 1925, Nazrul attended political meetings all over Bengal. Apart from co-operation with the Bengal Provincial Congress, he played an active role in organizing with the Sramik-Praja-Swaraj Dal.
On 16 December 1925, Nazrul started publishing the Weekly Langal, with himself as Chief Editor. The Langal was the mouthpiece of the Sramik-Praja-Swaraj Dal, which aimed to end class differences in society. The manifesto of the party, which was published in the paper, demanded full Independence for India.
At this time Nazrul demanded full independence for India. He published his book Samyabadi and Sarbahara containing songs for workers and peasants. Among Nazrul’s other publicaitons at this time were an anthology of short stories, Rikter Bedon, and four anthologies of poems and songs Chittanama, Chhayanat, Samyabadi and Puber Hawa.
Chittanama was a collection of songs and poems. The poem on the death of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on 16 June 1925, pioneer of the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity, was included in the book.
Nazrul’s career continued to flourish, and he was involved in a variety of activities ranging from a recording Artist, a Composer, a Music Director, a Singer, a Poet and a Story Writer. He also acted in Films, Plays and performed on the Radio.
Nazrul was particularly keen on composing various forms of songs and he is said to have written even more songs than Rabindranath Tagore.
In 1942, Nazrul became ill and this led to the loss of his voice and memory. He was treated at home and abroad, but his condition became worse. Financially, Nazrul’s family went through a lot of hardship as he was the only earning member.
Nazrul was awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal by Kolkata University. He was awarded the Padmabhushan title by the Government of India in 1960. Nazrul’s famous and rhythmic song Chal Chal Chal ws declared as the ‘Battle Song’ of Bangladesh.
In the year 1972 after the Liberation of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family were brought to Dhaka, by an agreement between the governments of Bangladesh and India.
During the War of Liberation, the Freedom Fighters were inspired by the rebellious and patriotic songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam which were aired by the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Independent Bangla Radio Station), a Radio station that was set up in India to inspire the freedom fighters.
He was conferred honorary DLitt degree by the University of Dhaka in 1972. The government gave him the honour of ‘National Poet of Bangladesh.’ He was granted citizenship of Bangladesh in January 1976. In February the same year, he was awarded the Ekushe Padak, one of the most prestigious Literary Awards in Bangladesh.
Nazrul died on 29 August 1976, (12 Bhadra) but in reality he had remained completely silent and inactive for 34 years since his illness in 1942.
He was buried near Dhaka University Mosque as he had wished in one of his ghazals to be laid by the side of a mosque (Moshjideri pashe aamar kobor dio bhai). n
Kazi Nazrul Islam is the National Poet of Bangladesh and one of the greatest poets of the world, who championed the cause of upholding the welfare of humanity, specially the emancipation of the subjugated, oppressed and depressed section of mankind. He brought about revolutionary changes in the spirit and style of Bangla literature and music.
A twentieth-century great poet and musician who became the National Poet of Bangladesh and who revolutionized the style of bangla music and literature, was imprisoned for his anti-British anti-colonial writing and he continued to flourish until 1942 when he was seriously disabled by illness.
Nazrul was born on 24 May 1899 at village Churulia in district Burdwan of West Bengal, India. Nazrul’s family was poor and his father died when he was only nine. Therefore, he had not even completed his primary education when he had to go through a lot of struggle for existence.
Later he worked as teacher of the village maktab, the custodian of the shrine of a saint and as the Muazzin in the village mosque before he joined a Leto group. Leto was a mobile musical troupe which roamed around singing and action in the countryside. He soon became the main poet of the group and made his place there by composing a number of folk plays.
Between 1910 and 1917, Nazrul was able to return to school and studied until class X, However, he could not pursue his education further because he did not like the strict rules and regulations and he had financial difficulties.
During this time, he worked as a cook at the house of a railway guard and later at a tea stall at Asansol. Thus the young Nazrul, aptly nicknamed ‘Dukhu Mia’, experienced the harsh ralities of life in the very early days of his life.
During the World War I, in 1917, Nazrul joined the Bengal Regiment of the British Indian Army. He was in the army for two and a half years and rose from an ordinary soldier to a Havildar (Battalion Quartermaster). His literary activities began when he was posted in Karachi Cantonment.
During his stay in the army, Nazrul learnt Persian from the Regiment’s Punjabi Moulvi, practiced music with other musical-minded soldiers to the accompaniment of local and foreign instruments.
At the same time he pursued literary activities in both prose and poetry which were published in different literary magazines. Baunduler Atmokahini (Autobiography of a Vagabond), his first prose work, was published in Saogat, a reputed literary magazine in Kolkata. His first poem published was Mukti (Freedom).
While Nazrul worked as a journalist, he wrote numerous poems in different literary magazines and secured his place in the literary world of Kolkata. At the same time, he met with prominent writers, poets and other literary figures of the time, including Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore and Nazrul maintained a close contact till the former died in 1941.
During this time, the political situation was very volatile in India. Everywhere, the Indians were involved in the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement against the British Raj led by Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shawkat Ali. He wrote many poems and articles in support of the struggle against the British.
He wrote against the injustice, the oppression, the exploitation and the violence that was carried out all over India. He was concerned about the landless farmers and workers and fought against social injustice through his writings. In this he was influenced by the Socialist Revolution in Soviet Russia that took place in 1917.
He wrote his famous revolutionary poem, ‘Bidrohi’ (The Rebel) in 1921. He also wrote Bhangar Gaan, Proloyollash and Kamal Pasha. Some of these poems were published in his famous book of poems, ‘Agnibina’ (The Fiery Lute).
Agnibina created a stir in Bangla literature and proved to be a turning point in Bangla poetry, in terms of both content and style. Its first edition was sold out soon after publication, and several editions in quick succession had to be printed.
Nazrul was arrested in 1922 for his anti-colonial writings. He was sentenced to a year of rigorous imprisonment. While in jail, he went into a 40 day hunger strike to protest against the mistreatment of political prisoners.
During this time, Rabindranath Tagore sent his famous telegram to Nazrul that said: “Give up hunger strike, our literature claims you.” So he stopped and continued to write while he was in jail.
Nazrul married Nargis. Their conjugal life could not continue from the very beginning because of unavoidable circumstances. Then he married. Pramila, a girl from a Brahmo family in 1924, despite a lot of disapproval form society, some of his love songs and poems, in his first book of poetry. Dolon Champa, were inspired by his relationship with Pramila.
Towards the end of 1925, Nazrul attended political meetings all over Bengal. Apart from co-operation with the Bengal Provincial Congress, he played an active role in organizing with the Sramik-Praja-Swaraj Dal.
On 16 December 1925, Nazrul started publishing the Weekly Langal, with himself as Chief Editor. The Langal was the mouthpiece of the Sramik-Praja-Swaraj Dal, which aimed to end class differences in society. The manifesto of the party, which was published in the paper, demanded full Independence for India.
At this time Nazrul demanded full independence for India. He published his book Samyabadi and Sarbahara containing songs for workers and peasants. Among Nazrul’s other publicaitons at this time were an anthology of short stories, Rikter Bedon, and four anthologies of poems and songs Chittanama, Chhayanat, Samyabadi and Puber Hawa.
Chittanama was a collection of songs and poems. The poem on the death of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on 16 June 1925, pioneer of the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity, was included in the book.
Nazrul’s career continued to flourish, and he was involved in a variety of activities ranging from a recording Artist, a Composer, a Music Director, a Singer, a Poet and a Story Writer. He also acted in Films, Plays and performed on the Radio.
Nazrul was particularly keen on composing various forms of songs and he is said to have written even more songs than Rabindranath Tagore.
In 1942, Nazrul became ill and this led to the loss of his voice and memory. He was treated at home and abroad, but his condition became worse. Financially, Nazrul’s family went through a lot of hardship as he was the only earning member.
Nazrul was awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal by Kolkata University. He was awarded the Padmabhushan title by the Government of India in 1960. Nazrul’s famous and rhythmic song Chal Chal Chal ws declared as the ‘Battle Song’ of Bangladesh.
In the year 1972 after the Liberation of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family were brought to Dhaka, by an agreement between the governments of Bangladesh and India.
During the War of Liberation, the Freedom Fighters were inspired by the rebellious and patriotic songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam which were aired by the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Independent Bangla Radio Station), a Radio station that was set up in India to inspire the freedom fighters.
He was conferred honorary DLitt degree by the University of Dhaka in 1972. The government gave him the honour of ‘National Poet of Bangladesh.’ He was granted citizenship of Bangladesh in January 1976. In February the same year, he was awarded the Ekushe Padak, one of the most prestigious Literary Awards in Bangladesh.
Nazrul died on 29 August 1976, (12 Bhadra) but in reality he had remained completely silent and inactive for 34 years since his illness in 1942.
He was buried near Dhaka University Mosque as he had wished in one of his ghazals to be laid by the side of a mosque (Moshjideri pashe aamar kobor dio bhai). n
