Kazi Nurul Islam - Biography
Kazi Nazrul Islam (Bengali: কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম Kazī Nazrul Islām (24 May 1899 – 29 August 1976), sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet), known popularly as Nazrul, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of "বিদ্রোহী কবি" Bidrohī Kobi (Rebel Poet). Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognised as the national poet of Bangladesh and highly commemorated in India. He also composed the Bangladesh military march "The Song of Youth", now known as "Chal Chal Chal".
Born into a Bengali Muslim Quazi (Kazi) family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Calcutta. He assailed the British Raj in India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" ("The Rebel") and "Bhangar Gaan" ("The Song of Destruction"), as well as his publication "Dhumketu" ("The Comet"). His impassioned activism in the Indian independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" "রাজবন্দীর জবানবন্দী" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner"). Exploring the life and conditions of the downtrodden masses of India, Nazrul worked for their emancipation.
Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 4,000 songs (including gramophone records), collectively known as Nazrul geeti (Nazrul songs), which are widely popular today. In 1942 at the age of 43 he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. It is often said, the reason was slow poisoning by British Government but later a medical team in Vienna diagnosed the disease as Morbus Pick, a rare incurable neurodegenerative disease. It caused Nazrul's health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the Government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later.
Nazrul in the Army
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born in the village of Churulia near Asansol in the Burdwan District of Bengal Presidency (now in West Bengal). He was born in a powerful Muslim Taluqdar family and was the second of three sons and a daughter, Nazrul's father Kazi Faqeer Ahmed was the imam
and caretaker of the local mosque and mausoleum. Nazrul's mother was
Zahida Khatun. Nazrul had two brothers, Kazi Saahibjaan and Kazi Ali
Hussain, and a sister, Umme Kulsum. Nicknamed Dukhu Miañ (দুখু মিঞা literally "Mr Sad Man" the One with Grief), Nazrul began attending the maktab and madrassa run by the mosque & dargah where he studied the Qur'an
and other scriptures, Islamic philosophy and theology. His family was
devastated with the death of his father in 1908. At the young age of
ten, Nazrul began working in his father's place as a caretaker to
support his family, as well as assisting teachers in school. He later
became the muezzin at the mosque.
Attracted to folk theatre, Nazrul joined a leto (travelling theatrical group) run by his uncle Fazl e Karim, working and travelling with them, learning acting, as well as writing songs and poems for the plays and musicals. Through his work and experiences, Nazrul began learning Bengali and Sanskrit literature, as well as Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas. The young poet composed many folk plays for his group, which included Chāshār Shōng ("the drama of a peasant"), Shokunībōdh ("the Killing of Shakuni," a character from the epic Mahabharata), Rājā Jodhisthirer Shōng ("the drama of King Yudhisthira" again from the Mahabharata), Dātā Kōrno ("the philanthropic Karna" from the Mahabharata), Ākbōr Bādshāh ("Akbar the emperor"), Kobi Kālidās ("poet Kalidas"), Bidyan Hutum ("the learned owl"), and Rājputrer Shōng ("the drama of a prince"),
Nazrul in 1927
In 1910, Nazrul left the troupe and enrolled at the Searsole Raj High School in Raniganj (where he came under influence of teacher, revolutionary and Jugantar
activist Nibaran Chandra Ghatak, and initiated lifelong friendship with
fellow author Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay, who was his classmate), and
later transferred to the Mathrun High English School, studying under the
headmaster and poet Kumudranjan Mallik. Unable to continue paying his school fees, Nazrul left the school and joined a group of kaviyals. Later he took jobs as a cook and at the most famous bakery of the region Wahid's/Abdul Wahid and tea stall in the town of Asansol. In 1914, Nazrul studied in the Darirampur School (now Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University) in Trishal, Mymensingh District. Amongst other subjects, Nazrul studied Bengali, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian literature and Hindustani classical music under teachers who were impressed by his dedication and skill.
Studying up to Class X, Nazrul did not appear for the matriculation pre-test examination, enlisting instead in the Indian Army in 1917 at the age of eighteen. He joined the British army mainly for two reasons: first, his youthful romantic inclination to respond to the unknown and, secondly, the call of politics. Attached to the 49th Bengal Regiment, he was posted to the cantonment in Karachi, where he wrote his first prose and poetry. Although he never saw active fighting, he rose in rank from corporal to havildar, and served as quartermaster for his battalion. During this period, Nazrul read extensively, and was deeply influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, as well as the Persian poets Hafez, Rumi and Omar Khayyam. He learnt Persian poetry from the regiment's Punjabi moulvi, practiced music and pursued his literary interests. His first prose work, "Baunduler Atmakahini" ("Life of a Vagabond") was published in May, 1919. His poem "Mukti" "মুক্তি" ("Freedom") was published by the "Bangla Mussalman Sahitya Patrika" "বাংলা মুসলিম সাহিত্য পত্রিকা" ("Bengali Muslim Literary Journal") in July 1919.
In 1933, Nazrul published a collection of essays titled "Modern World
Literature", in which he analyses different styles and themes of
literature. Between 1928 and 1935 he published 10 volumes containing 800
songs of which more than 600 were based on classical ragas. Almost 100 were folk tunes after kirtans
and some 30 were patriotic songs. From the time of his return to
Kolkata until he fell ill in 1941, Nazrul composed more than 2,600
songs, many of which have been lost. His songs based on baul, jhumur, Santhali folksongs, jhanpan or the folk songs of snake charmers, bhatiali and bhaoaia
consist of tunes of folk-songs on the one hand and a refined lyric with
poetic beauty on the other. Nazrul also wrote and published poems for
children.
Nazrul at Kolkata in 1940
Nazrul's success soon brought him into Indian theatre and the then-nascent film industry. The film "Vidyapati" ("Master of Knowledge") was produced based on his
recorded play in 1936, and Nazrul served as the music director for the
film adaptation of Tagore's novel Gora. Nazrul wrote songs and directed music for Sachin Sengupta's bioepic play "Siraj-ud-Daula".
In 1939, Nazrul began working for Calcutta Radio, supervising the
production and broadcasting of the station's musical programmes. He
produced critical and analytic documentaries on music, such as
"Haramoni" and "Navaraga-malika". Nazrul also wrote a large variety of
songs inspired by the raga Bhairav.
Nazrul sought to preserve his artistic integrity by condemning the
adaptation of his songs to music composed by others and insisting on the
use of tunes he composed himself.
Nazrul's wife Pramila Devi fell seriously ill in 1939 and was paralysed from waist down. To provide for his wife's medical treatment, he resorted to mortgaging the royalties of his gramophone records and literary works for 400 rupees. He returned to journalism in 1940 by working as chief editor for the daily newspaper "Nabayug" ("New Age"), founded by the eminent Bengali politician A. K. Fazlul Huq.
Nazrul also was shaken by the death of Rabindranath Tagore on 8 August 1941. He spontaneously composed two poems in Tagore's memory, one of which, "Rabihara" (loss of Rabi or without Rabi) was broadcast on the All India Radio. Within months, Nazrul himself fell seriously ill and gradually began losing his power of speech. His behaviour became erratic, and spending recklessly, he fell into financial difficulties. In spite of her own illness, his wife constantly cared for her husband. However, Nazrul's health seriously deteriorated and he grew increasingly depressed. He underwent medical treatment under homeopathy as well as Ayurveda, but little progress was achieved before mental dysfunction intensified and he was admitted to a mental asylum in 1942. Spending four months there without making progress, Nazrul and his family began living a silent life in India. In 1952, he was transferred to a mental hospital in Ranchi. With the efforts of a large group of admirers who called themselves the "Nazrul Treatment Society" as well as prominent supporters such as the Indian politician Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the treatment society sent Nazrul and Promila to London, then to Vienna for treatment. Examining doctors said he had received poor care, and Dr. Hans Hoff, a leading neurosurgeon in Vienna, diagnosed that Nazrul was suffering from Pick's disease. His condition judged to be incurable, Nazrul returned to Calcutta on 15 December 1953. On 30 June 1962 his wife Pramila died and Nazrul remained in intensive medical care.
On 24 May 1972, the newly independent nation of Bangladesh brought Nazrul to live in Dhaka with consent of the Government of India. In January 1976, he was accorded the citizenship of Bangladesh. Despite receiving treatment and attention, Nazrul's physical and mental health did not improve. In 1974, his youngest son, Kazi Aniruddha, an eminent guitarist died, and Nazrul soon succumbed to his long-standing ailments on 29 August 1976. In accordance with a wish he had expressed in one of his poems, he was buried beside a mosque on the campus of the University of Dhaka. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral; Bangladesh observed two days of national mourning and the Indian Parliament observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Kazi Nazrul's mazar (tomb) near the Central Mosque, Dhaka University campus.
Nazrul's poetry is characterised by an abundant use of rhetorical
devices, which he employed to convey conviction and sensuousness. He
often wrote without care for organisation or polish. His works have
often been criticized for egotism,
but his admirers counter that they carry more a sense of
self-confidence than ego. They cite his ability to defy God yet maintain
an inner, humble devotion to Him. Nazrul's poetry is regarded as rugged but unique in comparison to Tagore's sophisticated style. Nazrul's use of Persian vocabulary was controversial but it widened the scope of his work.
Nazrul's works for children have won acclaim for his use of rich
language, imagination, enthusiasm and an ability to fascinate young
readers. British government banned the magazine of Nazrul named Dhumketu because of publishing a political poem "Anondomoyeer Agomone" on September 26, 1922. Nazrul is regarded for his secularism. He was the first person to cite of Christians of Bengal in his novel Mrityukhudha. He was also the first user of folk terms in Bengali literature.
Nazrul pioneered new styles and expressed radical ideas and emotions in
a large body of work. Scholars credit him for spearheading a cultural
renaissance in Muslim-majority Bengal, "liberating" poetry and
literature in Bengali from its medieval mould. Nazrul was awarded the
Jagattarini Gold Medal in 1945 — the highest honour for work in Bengali
literature by the University of Calcutta — and awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours in 1960. The Government of Bangladesh conferred upon him the status of being the "national poet". He was awarded the Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh. He was awarded Honorary D.Litt. by the University of Dhaka. Many centres of learning and culture in India and Bangladesh have been founded and dedicated to his memory. The Nazrul Endowment
is one of several scholarly institutions established to preserve and
expound upon his thoughts and philosophy, as well as the preservation
and analysis of the large and diverse collection of his works. The Bangladesh Nazrul Sena is a large public organization working for the education of children throughout the country. Nazrul Sanskriti Parishad is working with Nazrul 's life and works since 2000 in India.
Nazrul's direct students who recorded for HMV were Juthika Roy, Girin Chakraborty, Binapani Devi, Dhiren Das, Suprava Sarkar, Harimoti, K. Mullick, Nitai Ghatak, Abbasuddin Ahmed, Angurbala, Kanan Devi, Dipali Nag, S. D. Burman, Mrinalkanti Ghosh, Geeta Basu, Kamal Dasgupta, Dhirendra Chandra Mitra, Jaganyay Mitra, Satya Chowdhury, Jnanendra Prasad Goswami, Kamala Jharia, Santosh Sengupta, Siddheswar Mukhopadhyay, Indubala, Chittaranjan Das and Shailo Devi.
Kazi Nazrul Islam (Bengali: কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম Kazī Nazrul Islām (24 May 1899 – 29 August 1976), sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet), known popularly as Nazrul, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of "বিদ্রোহী কবি" Bidrohī Kobi (Rebel Poet). Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognised as the national poet of Bangladesh and highly commemorated in India. He also composed the Bangladesh military march "The Song of Youth", now known as "Chal Chal Chal".
Born into a Bengali Muslim Quazi (Kazi) family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Calcutta. He assailed the British Raj in India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" ("The Rebel") and "Bhangar Gaan" ("The Song of Destruction"), as well as his publication "Dhumketu" ("The Comet"). His impassioned activism in the Indian independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" "রাজবন্দীর জবানবন্দী" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner"). Exploring the life and conditions of the downtrodden masses of India, Nazrul worked for their emancipation.
Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 4,000 songs (including gramophone records), collectively known as Nazrul geeti (Nazrul songs), which are widely popular today. In 1942 at the age of 43 he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. It is often said, the reason was slow poisoning by British Government but later a medical team in Vienna diagnosed the disease as Morbus Pick, a rare incurable neurodegenerative disease. It caused Nazrul's health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the Government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later.
Early life
Attracted to folk theatre, Nazrul joined a leto (travelling theatrical group) run by his uncle Fazl e Karim, working and travelling with them, learning acting, as well as writing songs and poems for the plays and musicals. Through his work and experiences, Nazrul began learning Bengali and Sanskrit literature, as well as Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas. The young poet composed many folk plays for his group, which included Chāshār Shōng ("the drama of a peasant"), Shokunībōdh ("the Killing of Shakuni," a character from the epic Mahabharata), Rājā Jodhisthirer Shōng ("the drama of King Yudhisthira" again from the Mahabharata), Dātā Kōrno ("the philanthropic Karna" from the Mahabharata), Ākbōr Bādshāh ("Akbar the emperor"), Kobi Kālidās ("poet Kalidas"), Bidyan Hutum ("the learned owl"), and Rājputrer Shōng ("the drama of a prince"),
In 1910, Nazrul left the troupe and enrolled at the Searsole Raj High School in Raniganj (where he came under influence of teacher, revolutionary and Jugantar
activist Nibaran Chandra Ghatak, and initiated lifelong friendship with
fellow author Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay, who was his classmate), and
later transferred to the Mathrun High English School, studying under the
headmaster and poet Kumudranjan Mallik. Unable to continue paying his school fees, Nazrul left the school and joined a group of kaviyals. Later he took jobs as a cook and at the most famous bakery of the region Wahid's/Abdul Wahid and tea stall in the town of Asansol. In 1914, Nazrul studied in the Darirampur School (now Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University) in Trishal, Mymensingh District. Amongst other subjects, Nazrul studied Bengali, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian literature and Hindustani classical music under teachers who were impressed by his dedication and skill.Studying up to Class X, Nazrul did not appear for the matriculation pre-test examination, enlisting instead in the Indian Army in 1917 at the age of eighteen. He joined the British army mainly for two reasons: first, his youthful romantic inclination to respond to the unknown and, secondly, the call of politics. Attached to the 49th Bengal Regiment, he was posted to the cantonment in Karachi, where he wrote his first prose and poetry. Although he never saw active fighting, he rose in rank from corporal to havildar, and served as quartermaster for his battalion. During this period, Nazrul read extensively, and was deeply influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, as well as the Persian poets Hafez, Rumi and Omar Khayyam. He learnt Persian poetry from the regiment's Punjabi moulvi, practiced music and pursued his literary interests. His first prose work, "Baunduler Atmakahini" ("Life of a Vagabond") was published in May, 1919. His poem "Mukti" "মুক্তি" ("Freedom") was published by the "Bangla Mussalman Sahitya Patrika" "বাংলা মুসলিম সাহিত্য পত্রিকা" ("Bengali Muslim Literary Journal") in July 1919.
Later life and illness
In 1933, Nazrul published a collection of essays titled "Modern World
Literature", in which he analyses different styles and themes of
literature. Between 1928 and 1935 he published 10 volumes containing 800
songs of which more than 600 were based on classical ragas. Almost 100 were folk tunes after kirtans
and some 30 were patriotic songs. From the time of his return to
Kolkata until he fell ill in 1941, Nazrul composed more than 2,600
songs, many of which have been lost. His songs based on baul, jhumur, Santhali folksongs, jhanpan or the folk songs of snake charmers, bhatiali and bhaoaia
consist of tunes of folk-songs on the one hand and a refined lyric with
poetic beauty on the other. Nazrul also wrote and published poems for
children.Nazrul's wife Pramila Devi fell seriously ill in 1939 and was paralysed from waist down. To provide for his wife's medical treatment, he resorted to mortgaging the royalties of his gramophone records and literary works for 400 rupees. He returned to journalism in 1940 by working as chief editor for the daily newspaper "Nabayug" ("New Age"), founded by the eminent Bengali politician A. K. Fazlul Huq.
Nazrul also was shaken by the death of Rabindranath Tagore on 8 August 1941. He spontaneously composed two poems in Tagore's memory, one of which, "Rabihara" (loss of Rabi or without Rabi) was broadcast on the All India Radio. Within months, Nazrul himself fell seriously ill and gradually began losing his power of speech. His behaviour became erratic, and spending recklessly, he fell into financial difficulties. In spite of her own illness, his wife constantly cared for her husband. However, Nazrul's health seriously deteriorated and he grew increasingly depressed. He underwent medical treatment under homeopathy as well as Ayurveda, but little progress was achieved before mental dysfunction intensified and he was admitted to a mental asylum in 1942. Spending four months there without making progress, Nazrul and his family began living a silent life in India. In 1952, he was transferred to a mental hospital in Ranchi. With the efforts of a large group of admirers who called themselves the "Nazrul Treatment Society" as well as prominent supporters such as the Indian politician Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the treatment society sent Nazrul and Promila to London, then to Vienna for treatment. Examining doctors said he had received poor care, and Dr. Hans Hoff, a leading neurosurgeon in Vienna, diagnosed that Nazrul was suffering from Pick's disease. His condition judged to be incurable, Nazrul returned to Calcutta on 15 December 1953. On 30 June 1962 his wife Pramila died and Nazrul remained in intensive medical care.
On 24 May 1972, the newly independent nation of Bangladesh brought Nazrul to live in Dhaka with consent of the Government of India. In January 1976, he was accorded the citizenship of Bangladesh. Despite receiving treatment and attention, Nazrul's physical and mental health did not improve. In 1974, his youngest son, Kazi Aniruddha, an eminent guitarist died, and Nazrul soon succumbed to his long-standing ailments on 29 August 1976. In accordance with a wish he had expressed in one of his poems, he was buried beside a mosque on the campus of the University of Dhaka. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral; Bangladesh observed two days of national mourning and the Indian Parliament observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Criticism and legacy
Nazrul's poetry is characterised by an abundant use of rhetorical
devices, which he employed to convey conviction and sensuousness. He
often wrote without care for organisation or polish. His works have
often been criticized for egotism,
but his admirers counter that they carry more a sense of
self-confidence than ego. They cite his ability to defy God yet maintain
an inner, humble devotion to Him. Nazrul's poetry is regarded as rugged but unique in comparison to Tagore's sophisticated style. Nazrul's use of Persian vocabulary was controversial but it widened the scope of his work.
Nazrul's works for children have won acclaim for his use of rich
language, imagination, enthusiasm and an ability to fascinate young
readers. British government banned the magazine of Nazrul named Dhumketu because of publishing a political poem "Anondomoyeer Agomone" on September 26, 1922. Nazrul is regarded for his secularism. He was the first person to cite of Christians of Bengal in his novel Mrityukhudha. He was also the first user of folk terms in Bengali literature.
Nazrul pioneered new styles and expressed radical ideas and emotions in
a large body of work. Scholars credit him for spearheading a cultural
renaissance in Muslim-majority Bengal, "liberating" poetry and
literature in Bengali from its medieval mould. Nazrul was awarded the
Jagattarini Gold Medal in 1945 — the highest honour for work in Bengali
literature by the University of Calcutta — and awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours in 1960. The Government of Bangladesh conferred upon him the status of being the "national poet". He was awarded the Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh. He was awarded Honorary D.Litt. by the University of Dhaka. Many centres of learning and culture in India and Bangladesh have been founded and dedicated to his memory. The Nazrul Endowment
is one of several scholarly institutions established to preserve and
expound upon his thoughts and philosophy, as well as the preservation
and analysis of the large and diverse collection of his works. The Bangladesh Nazrul Sena is a large public organization working for the education of children throughout the country. Nazrul Sanskriti Parishad is working with Nazrul 's life and works since 2000 in India.Renowned Nazrul Sangeet singers
Renowned Nazrul Sangeet/Geeti singers include Firoza Begum, Suprava Sarkar, Angurbala, Indubala, Anjali Mukherjee, Jnanendra Prasad Goswami, Nilufar Yasmin (deceased), Manabendra Mukherjee,Kanika Majumder, Dipali Nag, Sukumar Mitra, Dhirendra Chandra Mitra, Dhiren Basu, Purabi Dutta, Nashid Kamal,Ferdous Ara, Fatema-tuz Zohra, Shahin Samad, Ramanuj Dasgupta and Susmita Goswami.Nazrul's direct students who recorded for HMV were Juthika Roy, Girin Chakraborty, Binapani Devi, Dhiren Das, Suprava Sarkar, Harimoti, K. Mullick, Nitai Ghatak, Abbasuddin Ahmed, Angurbala, Kanan Devi, Dipali Nag, S. D. Burman, Mrinalkanti Ghosh, Geeta Basu, Kamal Dasgupta, Dhirendra Chandra Mitra, Jaganyay Mitra, Satya Chowdhury, Jnanendra Prasad Goswami, Kamala Jharia, Santosh Sengupta, Siddheswar Mukhopadhyay, Indubala, Chittaranjan Das and Shailo Devi.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন