National poet 39th death anniversary today

The 39th death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed today.

Composer and lyricist of about 4000 songs, which are collectively known as Nazrul Geeti, Nazrul's literary talent was also evident in his poems, essays and novels.

Known as the Rebel Poet, Nazrul was born on May 24, 1899 or 11th Jaishthya, 1306 in Churulia village under Asansol of Burdwan in India's West Bengal. He breathed his last in Dhaka on August 29, 1976 or 12th Bhadro, 1383.

In his childhood, Nazrul joined a folk opera group and began composing poems and songs. When he was in class 10, he joined the Indian Army in 1917. Even as a soldier, he continued his literary activities, publishing his first piece "The Autobiography of a Delinquent" in the May 1919 issue of Saogat and his first poem "Freedom" in Bangiya Musalman Sahitya Patrika in July 1919.

When the 49th Bengal Regiment was disbanded after World War I in 1920, Nazrul returned to Calcutta to begin his journalistic and literary life. His fiery editorials in the daily Nabayug made him suspect in the eyes of the British administration.

His most celebrated poem "Bidrohi" (The rebel) was published in 1922, which shook the very foundation of British colonial rule, putting his literary career on a strong footing.

One of his political poems, "Anondomoyeer Agomone", published in Dhumketu in September 1922, led to a police raid on the magazine's office and sentenced him to one year's rigorous imprisonment. He was released from prison in December 1923.

On April 1924, Nazrul married Pramila Devi. From 1928 to 1932, he became directly involved with His Master's Voice Gramophone Company as a lyricist, composer and trainer. A good number of records of his songs, sung by some of the most well-known singers of the time, were produced during this time.

From July 1942, Nazrul fell seriously ill and was incapacitated. He gradually lost his power of speech and remained silent till his death.

After the liberation of Bangladesh, Nazrul, at the request of the Bangladesh government, came to Bangladesh on 24 May, 1972 with his family to permanently reside here. The then president and prime minister of the new country paid their homage to him. In 1974 the Dhaka University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (D.Litt). In 1976 the Bangladesh government awarded him the Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian award of the country.

After his demise, Kazi Nazrul Islam was buried with full state honour beside the Dhaka University central mosque.

Different government institutions and cultural organisations will hold discussions, seminars and cultural programmes today to commemorate the rebel poet's death anniversary. Television channels will also broadcast special programmes.

Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's residence at 330-B Dhanmondi, where he lived since his repatriation from West Bengal on May 20, 1972, was a major attraction for me. I can never forget the joyful celebration of the poet's 73rd birthday on May 25 that year. As a student of Dhaka University, whenever I could snatch time between classes, I went to see Nazrul at his two-storied house at Dhanmondi, where he spent his last years.

At one point, I used to visit him five days a week and frequently found him slowly moving about his house, and looking around with his expressive big eyes. He looked helpless. I cannot figure out exactly what it was about him that attracted me so profoundly. I tried to sing for him with the harmonium, often joined by Rashedul Hasan Matin, grandson of Mawlana Bhasani.

It wasn't an ordinary day. I had no idea about the strength of his senses then. While I was singing, he was walking in the veranda. Then he started walking back and forth from the veranda to the room and sometimes sitting on the bed. Then, he approached the open railing in the veranda and was trying to throw a stone out, but failed because he was too weak to do so. I wondered how a once strong man who shook the foundations of British rule had turned so feeble.

Joseph Kamal Rodrigues

As I continued singing, he picked up a notebook from above the harmonium, quickly flipped through some of the pages and again began pacing around. He did this several times. I sensed his dislike for the songs. Once, he rushed to the harmonium, picked the notebook, turned over some pages and left it on the harmonium. I tried singing passionately a song opened by the poet. He sat on the bed and listened attentively until I completed the song – “Ami Daar Khule Aar Rakhbona Paliye Jabe go”. He suddenly became calm.

A few days later I was watching the television channel -- DD-7 (Doordarshan, broadcast from India). All of a sudden, on the screen I saw the poet's ailing wife Promila Devi lying on her bed while Nazrul kept a watch on her. Singer Renu Bhoumik was singing -- “Ami Daar Khule Aar Rakhbona Paliye Jabe Go”.

The loss of his son on one hand and Promila Devi's illness on the other, made his life painful. Agony turns people emotional. That possibly prompted the poet to write the lyrics of his last song:

I will never forget the day of his demise. The whole of Dhaka was in mourning. People from all walks, including Dhaka University students, rushed to the then PG Hospital to get a last glimpse of the poet. Could I be an exception? I recalled Dadu, as we called him, accompanied by Rashedul Hasan Matin, the house caretaker Khaleq and Keshada.

We often shared happy moments in Nazrul's Dhanmondi house. We used to hold him close. Touched, he would laugh loudly, a scene that would make us happy.

Dadu is no more in that beloved house, which is now the Nazrul Institute. Why can't I today go to that house – is a question that haunts me now and then.

The writer is a prominent Nazrul singer.