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| Kazi Nazrul Islam |
Kazi Nazrul Islam is the National Poet of Bangladesh. He considered as the 'rebel poet' for his brave resistance to all form his repression. He was born on 24 May 1899 at Churulia, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1960, Ekushey Padak in 1976 and Independence Day Award in 1977. He was a Bengali poet, writer, musician and revolutionary. He produced a large body of poetry and music with themes that included religious devotion and spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. Nazrul's activism for political and social justice earned him the title of "Rebel Poet" (Bidrohi Kobi in Bengali). His compositions form the avant-grade genre of Nazrul Sangeet (Music of Nazrul). In addition to being revered in Bangladesh, he is equally commemorated and revered in India, especially in the Bengali speaking states of West Bengal and Tripura. Born in a Bengali Muslim Kazi family, Nazrul Islam received religious education and as young man worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned about poetry, drama and literature while working with the rural theatrical group Letor Dal. He joined the British Indian Army in 1917. After serving in the British Indian Army in the Middle East during World War I, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Calcutta. He criticised the British Raj and called for revolution through his poetic works, such as
Bidrohi (The Rebel) and
Bhagar Gaan (The Song of Destruction), as well as in his publication
Dhumketu (The Comet). His nationalist activism in Indian Independence movement led to his frequent imprisonment by the colonial British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the
Rajbandir Jabanbandi (Deposition of Political Prisoner). His writings greatly inspired Bengalis of East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladeshi literary critic Azfar Hussain characterized Kazi Nazrul Islam as one of the greatest revolutionary poets in the world. Nazrul's writings explored themes such as love, freedom, humanity and revolution.
