প্রকাশ: 25/05/2022
Today is the 123rd birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi
Nazrul Islam. The day is being celebrated across the country today (Wednesday)
in a befitting manner.
Kazi Nazrul was born on the 11th Joishtha in Bengali
calendar year 1306 in Churulia, near Asansol in the Burdwan district of West
Bengal.
He was famous for his fiery poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) and his
many melodious songs. He was a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and
philosopher.
The nation got inspirations from Nazrul's poems and songs
during the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.
There are 2,400 of his songs, and together, they are known
as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangeet. He composed the songs, which he liked to
tune himself.
Considering his impressive talent, Rabindranath Tagore dubbed
him as Saraswati's bor-putra (the gifted son of the Goddess of learning).
Nazrul was the poet of rebellion against injustice and taboos. His nickname was
Dhukhu Miah (Mr. Sorrow). True to his name, Nazrul suffered a lot in his life.
His father died in 1910 while he was still at school and he
became the breadwinner of the family working for a bakery company, Wahid's, the
most well known in north Bengal at that time.
Later, he resumed studies at Darirampur, Trishal,
Mymensingh. But he left his studies to join the British Indian Army as a
non-commissioned officer and was posted to Karachi. He left the army and
settled in Kolkata, where he started publishing a fortnightly, 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, "Anandomoir Agomone" (Advent of Goddess Durga-the
Goddess of destruction of all evil).
In prison, he did not stop writing. He wrote,
"Rajbandir Jabanbandi" (Deposition of a political prisoner).
After a prolonged hunger strike, Nazrul was released from
the prison. But throughout the 1920s, he found most of his work banned. After
the death of his second son- Kazi Bulbul- the poet was sad. He wrote, "My
nightingale sleeps forever."
Although known for his rabid criticism of imperialism,
social and religious taboos, Nazrul also explored the themes of love, romance
and devotion.
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, as a lyricist, employed him full-time.
Later All-India Broadcasting Authority employed him. But his
luck once again ran out and in 1942, he developed a rare neurological disorder
that led to the loss of his voice and memory. Doctors in Vienna diagnosed it as
Pick's disease.
After independence, Nazrul was declared the national poet
and he was brought to Dhaka from Kolkata. He died here in 1976 and was buried
beside the central mosque at Dhaka University.
In his short articulate years, he also wrote and directed a
play, Byathar Dan (The gift of pain). An elaborate programme has been taken at
the national level to mark the day. Different organizations and cultural bodies
in the capital and in districts are also celebrating the day amid various
functions.
The main programme of the birth anniversary is being
organized on the Bir Chandra Public Library and Nagar Auditorium (town hall)
premises in Cumilla with the theme "Bidrohir Shotoborsha", where the
poet had a lot of memoires and which is the home town of his wife Pramila Devi
as well.
Besides, the birth anniversary of the national poet is being
celebrated in the poet's memorable place Trishal in Mymensingh, Doulatpur in
Cumilla, Tewta in Manikganj and Karpasdanga in Chuadanga and Chattogram.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private
television channels are living telecast the inaugural ceremony and air special
programmes and print media have brought out special supplements highlighting
the birth anniversary of the national poet.
প্রধান সম্পাদকঃ সৈয়দ বোরহান কবীর
ক্রিয়েটিভ মিডিয়া লিমিটেডের অঙ্গ প্রতিষ্ঠান
বার্তা এবং বাণিজ্যিক কার্যালয়ঃ ২/৩ , ব্লক - ডি , লালমাটিয়া , ঢাকা -১২০৭
নিবন্ধিত ঠিকানাঃ বাড়ি# ৪৩ (লেভেল-৫) , রোড#১৬ নতুন (পুরাতন ২৭) , ধানমন্ডি , ঢাকা- ১২০৯
ফোনঃ +৮৮-০২৯১২৩৬৭৭