The 113th anniversary of the birth of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, who wrote against fascism and oppression, will be observed today.
Nazrul, a poet, lyricist, composer, dramatist, short-story writer, revolutionary thinker, journalist and political activist, was born this day in 1899 in a poor Muslim family at Churulia of Burdwan in West Bengal. He died in Dhaka on August 29, 1976.
His poems, especially ‘Bidrohi,’ and secular-nationalist activism earned him the epithet of Bidrohi Kabi, or the rebel poet.
Nazrul’s songs and poems were a great source of inspiration for freedom fighters during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.
The president, Zillur Rahman, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the leader of the opposition in the parliament, Khaleda Zia, paid tributes to Nazrul and gave messages on the occasion.
The president said that Nazrul had been vocal against prejudice, oppression and social injustice all his life. He said that Nazrul’s poems and songs had inspired and motivated the freedom-loving people of the country during the independence war.
The prime minister said, ‘Nazrul, a poet of humanity, youth and rebellion, enriched the Bangla language and literature through his literary works.’
She said that Nazrul’s poems and songs had touched the deepest feelings of the humankind and shook the world’s conscience for the emancipation of the oppressed.
Khaleda Zia said, ‘Nazrul is one of the undisputed central figures in the Bangla literature. He gave the Bangla literature a new dimension through his razor-sharp pen and wrote against all kinds of oppression and injustice.’
The government, socio-political and cultural organisations and educational institutions have planned programmes such as discussions, cultural events, fairs and drawing and music competitions marking the occasion.
Newspapers have published special supplements and television and radio channels are airing special programmes.
The day’s programmes begin with the placing of flowers on the poet’s grave on the Dhaka University campus at 6:30am today.
The government has drawn elaborate programme in Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh and Comilla to celebrate the birth anniversary of Nazrul Islam.
The Awami League will place a wreath on the poet’s grave at 8:00am.
Nazrul faced the wrath of the British rulers who jailed him several times. He composed more than 3,000 songs which created a new genre of Bangla music.
-With New Age input
