The 35th anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s death was observed with due respect across the country on Saturday. The revolutionary Bengali poet and lyricist died at the age of 77 on August 27, 1976 (Bhadra 12, 1383). Various socio-cultural and political organisations chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the rebel poet’s death recalling his outstanding contribution to the Bengali literature. Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels broadcast programmes portraying the life and works of the poet.
The day began with Nazrul’s family placing wreaths at his grave on the Dhaka University campus in the morning. Students, teachers, and staff of Dhaka University, led by vice-chancellor Prof. AAMS Arefin Siddique, placed wreaths at the grave at 8:00 am to pay their homage. They also offered prayers on the occasion.
Earlier, at about 7:30 am Nazrul Institute laid a wreath at the poet’s grave.
Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Nazrul Institute held several programmes to mark the occasion.
Nazrul Institute held a seminar on “90 Years of Rebel Poet” on its premises, which was followed by a cultural programme. Prof. Rafiqul Islam, chairman of the institute trust, presided over the programme. Members of the trustee board Prof. Mohammad Abdul Quiyum and Begum Khilkhil Kazi and executive director Rashid Haider, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Rafiqul Islam said the 90 years of Nazrul’s poems constituted a glorious period of the Bengali literature. “Nazrul’s poems have much bearing and influence on all aspects of life and society,” he observed. Nazrul Islam was born on May 25, 1899 at Churulia in Bardwan of West Bengal. He was popularly known as Dukhu Mia. The government of the newly born Bangladesh invited Nazrul to become the national poet. In January 1976, the government granted him citizenship of Bangladesh.
The large body of Nazrul’s works, which also includes about 3,000 songs, transcends sectarian boundaries by synthesizing various religious thoughts and philosophies.
His poems, which essentially rebel against anything that bars the free flow of human thoughts and expressions, also explored love and beauty and freedom and revolution. Through his poems and writings, Nazrul, who earned the nick name of rebel poet after he wrote Bidrohi (The Rebel), stirred people to raised their voice against oppression and injustice during the British rule.
Nazrul‘s songs and poems were also a major source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971.
Nazrul – a writer, musician, journalist and philosopher — was sent to jail for his literary works against the then British rule. He had suffered from dementia and aphasia since 1942 till his death.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Bengali literature and culture, Dhaka University awarded the poet honorary Doctor of Literature (DLit) at a special convocation in 1974.
-With The Independent input