Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam (
Bangla: কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম) (b.
May 25,
1899 – d.
August 29,
1976) was a
Bengali poet,
writer,
musician,
journalist and
philosopher who is best known for pioneering works in
Bengali expressing fierce rebellion against society, tradition, politics, injustice, intolerance and oppression. Popularly known as the
Bidrohi Kobi –
Rebel Poet – he is widely popular and revered in
Bangladesh and
India, and is commemorated as the "
national poet" of
Bangladesh.
Born in a poor
Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a
muazzin at a local
mosque. He later joined the
Indian Army and served in
World War I. Whilst stationed in
Karachi, Nazrul learnt
Persian and the art of writing, and was exposed to
Hindu religion, music and literature. Working as a journalist, Nazrul strongly attacked
British rule in India and emphatically preached revolution with his famous poetic works,
Vidrohi (
Rebel) and
Bhangar Gan, and his publication, the
Dhumketu (
Comet). Imprisoned by police, Nazrul would write the
Rajbandir Jabanbandi (
Deposition of a political prisoner), intensifying his criticism of
imperialism. Nazrul would also condemn religious fundamentalism in Muslim and Hindu society and explore the lives of downtrodden masses in India. He would remain active in political organizations, literary, art and music societies.
Nazrul wrote poetic and literary works in Bengali, Persian,
Sanskrit and
Hindi, exploring the themes and philosophy of love, hardship, freedom, poverty, revolution, music and religion. He would write collections and anthologies of songs, short stories, novels, essays, poems and commentaries, as well as pioneer
ghazals in Bengali. Nazrul also sang and composed music for his songs, which were broadcast by recording and radio companies and used in motion pictures. Following the death of his mentor
Rabindranath Tagore in 1941, Nazrul began losing his voice and memory. For the remainder of his life, he would be taken to undergo medical treatment in India and abroad, but never regained his health and faculties. He was taken to Bangladesh in 1972 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born in the village of
Churulia in the
Burdwan District in the province of
Bengal (now located in the Indian state of
West Bengal). Second of three sons and a daughter, Nazrul's father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed was the
imam and caretaker of the local mosque and mausoleum. Nicknamed
Dukhu Mia (
Sad Man), Nazrul began attending the
maktab – the local religious school run by the mosque – where he studied the
Qur'an and other scripture, Islamic philosophy and theology. His family was devastated with the death of his father in 1908. At the young age of ten, Nazrul would begin working in his father's place as a caretaker to support his family, as well as assisting teachers in school. He would later become the
muezzin at the mosque, leading the community prayers and ceremonies.
*Complete Works of Kazi Nazrul Islam
*Rabindranath Tagore
*Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
*Bengal
*Bengali literature
*Indian independence movement
*Khilafat
*Bengali poetry
*Music of Bengal
*Persian literature
*Hinduism
*Islam
*Mustafa Kamal
*Bangladesh Nazrul Sena*Kazi Nazrul Islam Page
*Nazrul Geeti - Songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam
*BanglaMusic.com page on Nazrul's Music and his life
*Books by the Author
*Nazrul on Banglapedia
*Kazi Nazrul Islam
