A Biography of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam

National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam, often referred to as the 'Rebel Poet,' was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, and revolutionary. He is widely considered one of the most significant cultural icons in the history of Bangladesh and India. Nazrul was a visionary who contributed greatly to the development of Bengali literature and music. He was born on May 24, 1899, in the village of Churulia in the Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India.

Nazrul's childhood was marked by poverty and hardship. His father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed, was a moulvi (Muslim scholar) who worked as a caretaker of a local mosque, while his mother, Zahida Khatun, was a homemaker. Nazrul was the second of three sons, and his family struggled to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, Nazrul displayed a keen interest in literature and music from a young age. He taught himself to read and write, and he began composing poetry at the age of ten.

In 1910, Nazrul moved to Kolkata (then Calcutta) to pursue his studies. He attended a local school for a few years but dropped out in 1914 due to financial constraints. He then worked as a laborer, a cook, and a clerk to support himself. However, Nazrul's passion for literature and music remained undimmed, and he continued to write poetry and compose songs in his spare time.

Nazrul's breakthrough came in 1922 when he was hired as a journalist by the Bengali newspaper Dhumketu. He quickly gained a reputation as a writer and poet, and his work was widely praised for its revolutionary content and bold themes. Nazrul's poetry often dealt with topics such as love, freedom, and revolution. He was also an ardent critic of social injustice and religious fanaticism.

In 1923, Nazrul published his first collection of poems, 'Agni Bina' (The Unquenchable Fire). The book was an instant success, and it established Nazrul as one of the leading voices of Bengali literature. The poems in 'Agni Bina' dealt with themes such as nationalism, social justice, and political freedom, and they were marked by their fiery language and revolutionary spirit.

In the years that followed, Nazrul continued to write and publish poetry and songs. He wrote over 3,000 songs, including patriotic songs, devotional songs, and love songs. Nazrul's music was characterized by its fusion of traditional Indian and Western music. He also wrote several plays, including 'Vidrohi' (The Rebel) and 'Roktakto Prantor' (Bloody Meadows), which were widely acclaimed for their bold and revolutionary themes.

Nazrul's literary and musical achievements were not limited to Bengali literature alone. He was also a pioneer of modern Urdu poetry, and his contributions to Urdu literature are highly regarded. Nazrul's poems were also translated into several languages, including English, French, German, and Arabic.

In addition to his literary and musical achievements, Nazrul was also a social activist and a revolutionary. He was a vocal critic of British colonialism and the social injustices it perpetuated. He also spoke out against religious fundamentalism and sectarianism. Nazrul's activism and revolutionary spirit earned him the nickname 'Bidrohi Kobi' (The Rebel Poet).

Nazrul's life was marked by a series of personal tragedies. In 1927, he married Pramila Devi, a Brahmo woman. The marriage caused a great scandal, as inter-religious marriages were highly taboo in Indian society at the time.