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Bangla Utsab 2012

Bangla Utsab 2012

Saskatoon, Canada 24 June, 2012

Celebrating the 113th Birth Anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam

Edited by Ranjan Datta

Edited by Ranjan Datta

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Celebrating the 113th Birth Anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam

The Bengali literature, music and culture have produced many great minds. Kazi

Nazrul Islam is one of them.

This year, we celebrated the 113th birth anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam here in

Saskatoon on Sunday, June 24, 2012 with great passion and respect to pay

tribute to him and his works.

We celebrated his birth anniversary at a time when the world is deeply wounded

by hatred, wars and natural disasters. In such times of turmoil, we are trying to

make people aware that the visions and values of Nazrul and other great minds

offer sanctuaries, hope and strength for a better world.

We hope this type of event will create interests in the minds of the young

generations and also help promote his visions and values in the minds of the

people of the West where Nazrul and his works are largely unknown.

One way to promote his works to our children and to the people of the West is to

translate his works.

Thank you

Shankar Das

On behalf of the Coordinators of Bangla Utsab 2012

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News letter Committee-2012

Arati Chattopadhyay

Ezajul Chowdhury

Jebunnessa Chapola

Rodala Aranya

Edited by

Ranjan Datta

Photo Credit

Jebunnessa Chapola and Ranjan Datta

Inside

Biography of Kazi Nazrul Islam-Arati Chattopadhyay -3

Knowing Kazi Nazrul Islam- Arup Ukil -10

Inspiration- Rodala Aranya -11

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- -15

- -17

- -18

bRiji Mvbi myi- -19

""- -20

-21

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BIOGRAPHY OF KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM Arati Chattopadhyay

Kazi Nazrul Islam was born in a poor Muslim family in the village of

Churulia, in Bardwan District, West Bengal, India on May 25th, 1899 to his father

Faqueer Ahmad and mother Zahida Khatoon. He died in 1976 in Dhaka Bangladesh.

Kazi Nazruls nick name was Dukhu Mian (poor man) and suitably so.

Nazrul at his early age started attending Madrasa School run by the local mosque;

where his father worked as a care taker and Imam. There Nazrul studied Quaran,

Islamic philosophy and Theology. In 1908 when Nazrul was only nine years old, his

father died. This was devastating to the family. Nazrul at the age of ten took up his

dads job as the care taker at the same Mosque and eventually became the Muezzin

calling prayers and also assisted in school to support his family. He worked there

only for a short time and then joined a travelling theatre group run by his uncle,

where he used to sing Pala Gaan and do Leto Naach where they sang and danced

and moved from one village to other village spreading their messages by taking

turns. Their messages were very similar to that of the Baaul. Among the Baaul there

is no such thing as happiness. Absence of sadness is actually happiness, so sadness

is more permanent. This is where Nazrul started writing stories and songs for the

group. While working with the theatre company, he started learning Sanskrit and

also started studying Hindu Scriptures. He composed many short plays such as

Shakuni Badh, (killing of Shakuni, a character from Hindu Epic Ramayan), Vidyan

Hutum (learned Owl) Chassar Shong (Story of a farmer).Nazrul also came in contact

with the Sufis at that time and that had huge impact shaping Nazruls later life.

In 1910 he quit the theatre group and enrolled at a High School in Raniganz

where he came under a very influential teacher, revolutionist, activist Nibaran

Chandra Ghatak and also initiated a life long friendship with great author Sailoja

nanda Mukhopadhya who was his class mate in school. Later he changed his school

and enrolled in Mathrun English High School and studied under influential teacher

and head master Kumud Ranjan Mallick. Kazi Nazrul Islam studied up to grade 10

but never appeared for his matriculation exam unable to pay his fees.

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Nazrul was much younger than Rabindra Nath. During the Bango Bhango

Andolan Rabindra Nath Thakur hung the harmonium on his neck and stepped out

on the road for the procession against the British Regime Nazrul witnessed that

ANDOLAN and this had huge impact on Nazrul,s later life.

Although he knew this was not the just cause, but out of sheer necessity, in

1917 at the age of 18 he joined the British Army to the Bengal regiment. He was

then transferred to Karachi and then later to Mesopotamia (Egypt). Although he

was never involved in the active fighting but managed to rise in Rank and served as

the Havildar and then became a Quarter Master for his battalion. During this time of

his life that he read extensively and was deeply influenced by Rabindra Nath Tagore

and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Omar Khaiam and a so many others.

Nazrul only served 3 years in the army and left the Army in 1920 and went

to settle in Calcutta which was the Cultural hub of India at that time. There he joined

the Musalman Bangiya Parishad and started publishing some of his literary works.

He started publishing news magazines such as Dhumketu, Langaletc. In 1922 he

published his most famous work Bidrohi. The impact of his writing was fierce and

rebellious. After he had published a political poem in Dhumketu magazine, he was

arrested and imprisoned by the British. During this Period when he was serving

time in jail that he composed a huge number of poems and songs. He was released

from jail in 1923. After his release from jail He formed a political group for the

farmers called Shramik Praja Swaraj Dal. They made Nazrul, the president for that

organization. This was an amazing turn around-from a prisoner to the President. He

was greatly admired and revered by Shramiks as Nazrul was fiercely opposing and

writing against the British for their oppressive regime. At that time he was writing

poems; to name a few such as Agni Beena, Bisher Banshi, Chayanot, Bandhan, Aleya,

Dekhar Daan, Rikter Bedan, Abosheshe.

Nazrul wrote extensively against fundamentalism, religious orthodoxy,

oppression of women in society and societal injustices to the poor and the

oppressed. The orthodox Hindus and the Fundamental Muslims criticized Nazrul for

his works as his writing attacked and threatened their authority. Soon the British

banned all his publications. It is important to note that the era Kazi Nazrul was born

was known as Rabindra Yug (Rabindra Era).

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This period was the true renaissance time for Bengal and Bengali

literature. There was a huge conglomeration of several scholars, Novelists,

poets, activists, journalists and musicians at that time but the influence of that

shining Rabindra Rashmi was so great that many of them simply didnt get a

chance to shine at their fullest extent and so many of their writing were greatly

influenced by Rabindra Naths style. But Nazrul and a few other famous writers

such as Dijendra Lal Rai, Mohit Lal Mazumdar, Sarat Chandra chattopadhyay

and others who took exception to that and wrote in their own style and versions

and their message was of rebellious in nature against any bigotry,

fundamentalism, oppressions and questioned social justice system as oppose to

Rabindranaths sophisticated style of writing. This ignited an awakening in the

mind of general population.

It is also important to note that there was a movement against Rabindra

Nath at that time. Particularly Dijendra Lal Rai and some others who started a

magazine called Kallol and started writing against RabindraNath Thakur trying

to prove that Rabindra Nath was wrong and was not as great as it was being

perceived. Nazrul also joined this group initially and was opposed to

Rabindranath. This era was called Kallol Yug. But when Rabindra Nath. Received

the Nobel Prize, the same people wanted to give him a reception but Rabindra

Nath declined the invitation and in response to that he created his genius

romantic novel Shesher Kabita which was a huge success. He wrote this novel

to silence his critics who said that Rabindra Nath was too old to write romantic

novel and he was out of date and context. Thus RabindraNath was able to prove

that the poets mind is ageless and it can easily transcend the barriers of

Time and Space. The following excerpt is from the poem written at the end of

the novel:

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In later life Nazrul and RabindraNath became friends in fact Rabindra Nath

became the mentor for Nazrul in spite of the many differences in ideology between

them. Rabindra Nath liked Nazrul. To cite an example when Nazrul was in jail and

decided to go on Fast, Rabindra Nath sent a telegram to Nazrul. In this telegram he

wrote Nazrul please do not fast. Your Mother, India needs you. The British did

not deliver this telegram to Nazrul. This was returned back to Rabindra Nath.

Nazrul was in Bengali we say Mon Khola loke meaning he was a simple

man who kept no secret. He was an open book. He laughed a lot and sang loudly

and spoke his mind. He was restless, he was exciting and electrifying. He was down

to earth person yet strong like a thunder and powerful like the lightening. In 1921

Nazrul was engaged to Nargis a beautiful girl from Kumillah, niece of a very

famous publisher but the day of the wedding Nazrul walked away from the

wedding over a contract dispute that Nazrul must live in Daulatpur, in Kumillah

after his marriage. Later in 1924, Nazrul married Promila Devi, a Hindu girl from

Brambho samaj. They had four children together. Their first child Krishna

Mohammad died prematurely and second son Arindam Khaled (Bulbul) died in

1929 with small pox. The grief stricken poet wrote his song Shunno a booke

pakhi more phire aye referring to Bulbul.Later they had two other sons namely

Kazi Sabyasachi who was born in 1928 and Kazi Anirudha in 1931.

Kazi Nazrul Islams direction of writing changed from rebellious to

religious after Bulbuls death. The grief stricken poet started writing Islamic

religious songs which for the first time made its way into Indian mainstream

music. Also equally if not more he had written extensively Hindu religious and

spiritual songs, Bhajans, Kirtans and Shyama Sangeet. Nazruls poetry imbibed the

passion of Sakti and Creator, the Paro-Brambhan the primordial energy. He had

written extensively on the love of Radha and Krishna, Laxmi and Saraswati, the

Shiva, the Shrishti (creator), Sthiti (sustainer) and Proloy(Destroyer). At this stage

of life he became more spiritual. He took Diksha (teachings) from a Hindu Guru.

His greatest effort was to tie the Hindus and the Muslims together in one thread

like no one else had done before. He was truly the Apostle of Hindu Muslim unity.

He even named all his children with a mix of Hindu and Muslim names.

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He wanted to break the barriers and wanted to create a brotherhood between

the Muslims and the Hindus for the greater benefit to the society. He believed in

religion but did not believe in smallness, selfishness and division caused by religion.

He advocated that religion is not a national property. In His poem Kandari Husiar he

wrote:

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He was a great proponent of Humanism, a great freedom fighter for India. In

his later life he wrote extensively hundreds of classical based songs, about love,

Bhatiali, Bhaui, folk music, Gazals and patriotic songs and created several Ragas. He

was probably the only one who was able to successfully mix Ragas creating beautiful

music. His success soon captured the Indian recording company; the His master voice

and recorded hundreds of music and eventually he became the music director and the

back ground singer for many movies for the Indian film industry. In 1945 He received

Jagat Tarini Gold medal, the highest honor for Bengali literature work from Calcutta

University. In 1962 he was awarded Padma Bhusan the highest civilian award from

Government of India. In 1939 Nazruls wife Promila Devi fell seriously ill and became

paralyzed. At this time Nazrul with his family went and settled in Krisna Nagar.

On August 8th, 1941 Rabindra nath died. This was not only shattering but also

life changing for Nazrul. He composed two poems after Rabindra Naths death, one of

which Ravi Hara which was broadcast in All India Radio as he recited the poem in

front of a huge gathering for RaviThakurs memorial. Nazrul never recovered from this

shock.

Soon after Ravi Thakurs death Nazrul himself fell seriously ill and soon started

to loose his speech and became erratic. He was receiving some homeopathic and

Aurvedic treatment but He was progressively getting worse as his mental depression

was taking a toll.

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He was eventually put into a mental Asylum and was later transferred to Ranchi

Mental Hospital. So some of his friends and well wishers formed a society called Nazrul

treatment centre and with the monitory assistance from Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhya

they sent Nazrul first to London then to Vienna for treatment, but the attending

physician there said that Nazrul was suffering from an incurable disease and severe

mental dementia and sent him back to Calcutta, India.

An interesting event which is worth mentioning here! Every year on Nazruls

birthday people celebrated widely in India. The year prior to his transfer to Bangla

Desh; in Calcutta on his birthday celebration people put flower garlands on his neck, but

Nazrul acted erratically and tore the garlands into pieces and threw on the floor. Some

scholars deduce from this behavior that Nazrul was not really mentally demented, he

actually lost his speech and the power to express and this action was sheer out of

frustration and anger not been able to express his feelings. Promila Devi died on June

30th in 1962 and Nazrul remained in intensive care in Calcutta.

In 1972 the newly Independent Bangladesh Government requested and

obtained permission from Government of India to have Nazrul transferred to Dhaka,

Bangladesh. Nazrul was awarded the Honorary Citizenship of Bangladesh. He died on

August 29th in 1976 and was buried near a mosque by Dhaka University.

Nazrul was declared the National Poet of Bangladesh after his death. If we look

analytically we see Nazruls life was some total of the series of events which followed

one after another.

The poverty in his early life and death of his father at his early years.

Close association with Rabindra Nath Thakur and the impact Rabindra Nath had

on Nazrul.

The World war, where Nazrul realized there was no difference between the

Hindu and Muslim, Christians and Jews. Every bodys blood was red.

Contact with the Sufis. Sufi philosophy impacted his life tremendously. The

direct contact with the Sufis made Nazrul an open hearted, open minded and

more accepting person.

The death of his son Bulbul: Changed him from Bidrohi (Rebel) to Sadhak

(Spiritual) poet.

End

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Knowing Kazi Nazrul Islam

Arup Ukil

When was he born?

May 25, 1899

Where was he born?

Village of Churulia near Asansol in the district of undivided Bengal Province

of India.

How many brothers and sisters he had?

Two brothers (Kazi Saahibjaan and Kazi Ali Hussain) and one sister(Umme

Kulsum).

What was his mothers and fathers name?

Father (Kazi Faqeer Ahmed) and mother (Zahida Khatun).

What were his schools name?

Maktab and Madarsa the local religious school, Searsole Raj High School,

Mathrun High English School, and Darirampur School.

How many songs did he write?

Near 4000 songs.

Who did he get marry?

Promila Devi

How many children did they have?

Four

When did he die and how old he was?

29 August, 1976. He were 77 years old.

How old would he be if he alive today?

113 years old.

What is his nick name?

Dukhu Mia (sad man)

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Inspiration!!!

Rodala Aranya

Over the last few weeks I have gotten a keen interest for learning about

Nazrul Islam. He struggled a lot in his childhood and his family was very poor. He

was born in a powerful Muslim Taluqdar family and was the second child of three

sons and a daughter. He didnt really get a good education since he didnt have

enough money to pay the school fees. He was soon taken to be joined in the

British Army. He left the British Army in 1920 and settled in Calcutta. He

continued writing spiritually rebellious poets. When I first heard of Nazrul Islam I

didnt really have any interest in learning more but, throughout the weeks I kept

getting an urge to find out more. I asked my parents about him and I also did

some research. I was very surprised to find out that he was very poor when he

was young. All I thought about was How can someone so poor with not very

much education write so many heart touching poems? His poetry is very

rebellious and inspirational. One thing I really Nazrul Islam is that he believes in

male and female having the same rights. He is an example that shows us that if

you really have a talent, you will shine, no matter who you are, or where you are.

If you truly have talent, you will not go unnoticed.

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