Kazi Nazrul Islam, the National Poet of Bangladesh, has written on myriad themes including love, freedom and revolution. He opposed bigotry in the name of religion and gender. His impassioned patriotic stance against the British rule earned him prison at times.
Nazrul's poems “Agnibeena” and “Bisher Banshi” zoom in on revolution whereas his “Dolon Chapa,” “Chhayanaut,” “Shindhu Hindol” and “Chakrobaak” articulate love in its every form.
Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poetry and songs; he pioneered new forms such as Bengali Ghazal. Nazrul wrote and composed music for nearly 3000 songs, which are collectively known as Nazrul Sangeet that are widely popular to date.
On December 10 in 1929, a grand National Civic Reception for Nazrul was held at Albert Hall, Calcutta (now Kolkata), organised by the Saogat Sahitya Majlis (Saogat Literary Society). Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, an eminent Bengali scientist, presided over the reception, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the celebrated political leader and freedom fighter, was the chief guest. Nazrul was 30 at that time.
At the reception, Nazrul delivered a moving speech that was later regarded as a literary piece. In the speech, titled “Jodi Aar Banshi Na Bajey”, the poet bared his soul.
“Friends, the Saogat that you handed me, I'm receiving it with humility. ...You've pulled me closer the day you appreciated my words. I was born in the 20th century, an era of innumerable possibilities. I am the trumpet blower of a revolution. Let this be my greatest identity. I am not only the son of this soil, just because I was born here. I am a poet of all people and all countries.” the poet began.
“A poet wants no award; rather he craves adoration, love. Poetry and divinity are expressions of beauty. Beauty is to be recognised with what is beautiful. Appreciating beauty and singing of its psalm is my creed. I have seen not only the lute and lotus in the hands of beauty, but I have also seen its [beauty's] eyes full of tears, headed towards the grave. I have seen its starving face fading away. I have also seen it at the battlefield, at a solitary confinement and on the way to the gallows,” Nazrul further said.
Towards the latter part of his address, Nazrul said that his poetry and songs come from experiences that he went through. Even when his heart was shattered with the unimaginable grief of the untimely demise of his beloved son Bulbul, he savoured the scent of hasnahena abloom at his yard that evening.
“Rabindranath told me, 'Your life has witnessed a major tragedy like Shelley or Keats. You need to embracing that!'” Nazrul recalled in his speech.
Harsh poverty made Nazrul write the poem “Daridra.” Excerpt:
O poverty, thou hast made me great.
Thou hast made me honoured like Christ…
Thou hast given me courage to reveal all.
To thee I owe my insolent, naked eyes and sharp tongue…
Narzul was equally knowledgeable in both Hinduism and Islam. His poetry and songs explored the philosophies of Islam and Hinduism and he wanted to establish the age-old harmony that prevailed between Hindus and Muslims. Excerpt from his poem “Udar Bharat”:
Mora ek brintey du'ti kushum Hindu Musalman.
Muslim taar nayanmoni Hindu taar pran…
In the last part of his speech, the poet said, “If the flute never sings again...forgive and forget me. I'm not saying this as a poet. I came to spread the word of love.”
At the age of 43 (in 1942) he began showing the signs of an unknown disease, losing his speech and memory. Suffering from Pick's Disease, as later diagnosed by Dr. Hans Hoff in Vienna, Nazrul gradually yielded to incurable mental illness, which forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the then President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later.
Source: thedailystar.net
