National Poet Nazrul Islam's 125th birth anniversary today

The 125th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being celebrated across the country today (May 25) in a befitting manner.

Ministry of Cultural Affairs has taken elaborate programmes to mark the day at the national level. Different organizations and cultural bodies, including Dhaka University, have also taken programmes to celebrate the day amid various functions.

President Mohammed Shahbuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying rich tributes to the memory of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The birth anniversary of the national poet will be celebrated in the poet's memorable place Trishal in Mymensingh, Doulatpur in Cumilla, Tewta in Manikganj and Karpasdanga in Chuadanga and in Chattogram.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has organized a three-day programme from May 25 to 27 at 4:00pm at National Museum in city's Shahbagh area.

Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Begum Matia Chowdhury will be present as the chief guest on the opening day of the program.
Led by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Naheed Ezaher Khan, the cultural ministry will place wreaths at the grave of the poet on DU premises around 6.30am.

The birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being celebrated with due dignity under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the management of the local administration at various places including Mymensingh, Daulatpur of Cumilla as those places have the memories of the poet.

In continuation of that, the local administration has taken various programmes including discussions and cultural events.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will live telecast the inaugural ceremony and air special programmes and print media will bring out special supplements highlighting the birth anniversary of the national poet.

Bangla Academy will paid respect to the national poet by placing wreaths at his grave near Dhaka University mosque at 8:00am today.

Besides, it also paid homage to Nazrul at his portrait at Nazrul Mancha on the academy premises today.

Dhaka University has alos taken programmes to mark the birth anniversary of the national poet.

As part of the programmes, teachers-students and officials-employees of the university gathered at the Aparajeo Bangla at 6.15am and then placed wreaths at the grave of Nazrul Islam near the university mosque lead by DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal.

A discussion and a cultural programme was also held there with the VC in the chair.

Awami League (AL) will paid rich tribute to Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam by placing wreaths at his grave marking his birthday at central mosque premises of Dhaka University at 7.30am.

Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on the 11th Joishtha in Bengali calendar year 1306 in Churulia, near Asansol in the Burdwan district of West Bengal.
He was famous for his fiery poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) and his many melodious songs. He was a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and philosopher.

The nation got inspirations from Nazrul's poems and songs during the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.
There are 2,400 Nazrul songs, and together, they are known as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangeet. He composed the songs, which he liked to tune himself.

Considering his impressive talent, Rabindranath Tagore dubbed him as Saraswati's bor-putra (the gifted son of the Goddess of learning).
Kazi Nazrul Islam was the poet of rebellion against injustice and taboos. His nickname was Dhukhu Miah (Mr. Sorrow). True to his name, Nazrul suffered a lot in his life.

His father died in 1910 while he was still at school and he became the breadwinner of the family working for a bakery company, Wahid's, the most well known in north Bengal at that time.

Later, he resumed studies at Darirampur, Trishal, Mymensingh. But he left his studies to join the British Indian Army as a non-commissioned officer and was posted to Karachi. He left the army and settled in Kolkata, where he started publishing a fortnightly, Dhumketu (The Comet).

The magazine had a fiery tone and was critical of the British rule in India. He soon found himself in prison for publishing a poem written by him, "Anandomoir Agomone" (Advent of Goddess Durga-the Goddess of destruction of all evil).

In prison, he did not stop writing. He wrote, "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" (Deposition of a political prisoner).

After a prolonged hunger strike, Nazrul was released from the prison. But throughout the 1920s, he found most of his work banned. After the death of his second son- Kazi Bulbul- the poet was sad. He wrote, "My nightingale sleeps forever."

Although known for his rabid criticism of imperialism, social and religious taboos, Nazrul also explored the themes of love, romance and devotion.

He also introduced a robust style that was very bold and innovative. His use of Persian and Arabic words in Bengali poetry also opened up new literary horizons. In the 1930s, the leading gramophone company of India, HMV, as a lyricist, employed him full-time.

Later, All-India Broadcasting Authority employed him. But his luck once again ran out and in 1942, he developed a rare neurological disorder that led to the loss of his voice and memory. Doctors in Vienna diagnosed it as Pick's disease.

After independence, Nazrul was declared the national poet and he was brought to Dhaka from Kolkata by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and given a house at Dhanmondi.

He died here in 1976 and was buried beside the central mosque of Dhaka University.