Staff Correspondent

The nation is observing the 45th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam today.

A poet, revolutionary, journalist, lyricist, composer, playwright, and novelist, Nazrul is one of the most celebrated cultural icons of the nation.

His fiery poems had made him a rebel poet and encouraged the subjugated mass people to fight against repression and injustice of the colonial rule. And his raga based songs had developed their taste and inspired them to experience the eternal beauty of love.
The nation got inspirations from his poems and songs during the Liberation War in 1971 and all democratic movements and struggles.

To mark the day, different organisations are holding programmes on a limited scale this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Dhaka University teachers, students and officials led by Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, delegations of different political parties, family members of the poet, different social and cultural organisations and the mass people brought out processions and placed wreaths on the grave of the national poet in the morning.

Dhaka University, Bangla Academy, Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Chayanaut and many other socio-cultural organisations arrange special programmes to observe the death anniversary of Nazrul Islam.

Most of these programmes are being observed virtually to maintain social distancing and follow other Covid-19 health guidelines.

Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and Bangladesh Betar and FM radio stations are airing special programmes and newspapers published special contents highlighting the life and works of the national poet.
Born on May 24, 1899 or Jaishthya 11, 1306 at Churulia village in Burdwan district of West Bengal in undivided India, Nazrul had to leave his study at an early age for earning his living as his father died when he was 11.

Initially, he had joined a professional leto troupe where he was introduced to the richness of Bangla and Sanskrit literature.

A year later, he resumed education and got enrolled in Matharun English School but dropped out from Class VI for poverty. This time, he worked with a Kabi Gaan troupe and subsequently took up a job at a bakery.

While working there Nazrul started writing poems and his talent soon grabbed the attention of a police officer named Kazi Rafizullah, who gave him shelter at his house in Mymensingh’s Trishal in 1914, and enrolled him in Class VII at Darirampur School.

He joined the British Army in 1917. During his two and a half years of service, the young poet was introduced to Persian literature and learned to play different instruments following notation.

Nazrul’s literary practice got a formal shape at that time. His first poem Mukti, first novella ‘Bounduler Atmakahini’, novel ‘Badhon Hara’ and a number of other writings were published in that period.

From 1920, he concentrated in creating his literary masterpieces. Many of his famous poems appeared during that time.

Nazrul came to Cumilla in April 1921 and met Promila Devi, a young Hindu girl whom he loved and married subsequently.

In 1922, he began editing a fortnightly named Dhumketu which literally stormed the British rulers in India.

On October 13, 1922, Nazrul Islam, as the first person in the sub continent, placed the demand of independence in an article published in Dhumketu.

For his political poem Anondomoyir Agomone, he was sentenced to a one-year jail term.

While staying in prison, the poet began a hunger strike protesting the mistreatment by the British jail superintendent. He was released consequently but the British government banned most of his books throughout the 1920s.

In his short creative life, Nazrul also worked as a lyricist and music composer for popular music brand HMV (His Master’s Voice). He developed 17 new ragas and created 6 new taals (rhythms).

He acted in a film and directed music as well. He joined the All India Radio Kolkata in October 1939.

But, Nazrul suddenly fell sick in 1942 and was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder named Pick’s disease that led to the loss of his voice and memory. He was sent abroad for treatment but couldn’t recover.

In his short artistic career of just over 20 years, he penned 3,174 songs, 600 poems, three novels and 43 essays.

After the independence in 1972, Nazrul was declared as the national poet, and Bangabandhu brought the ailing poet with due honour to Bangladesh.

Nazrul was awarded an Honorary D Litt by the University of Dhaka in 1974 and Ekushey Padak in 1976 by the Bangladesh government.

Nazrul died in Dhaka on August 29, 1976 (Bhadra 12, 1383) and was buried beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.