The 125th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed across the country on Saturday in a befitting manner through various programmes, reports Daily Sun.

A poet, novelist, lyricist, composer, playwright and journalist, Nazrul, is one of the most celebrated cultural icons of the nation.

And the nation got inspirations from his poems and songs during the Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles. Besides, Nazrul’s raga-based songs had developed their taste and encouraged them to experience the eternal beauty of love.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the National Poet, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, paying rich tributes to the polymath.

Like other years, the government and different cultural and socio-political organisations will arrange numerous programmes on the day to remember Kazi Nazrul Islam and celebrate his creations.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, delegation of different political parties, family members of the poet, activists of different social and cultural organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths on the grave of the poet in DU campus.

Dhaka University (DU), Bangla Academy, Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh Jatiya Jadughar, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Chhayanaut and many other organisations will arrange a series of programmes marking the day.

Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and Bangladesh Betar and FM radio stations will telecast and air special programmes to mark the occasion. Newspapers will publish special contents, highlighting the life and works of the national poet.

Born on 25 May 1899 at Churulia village in Burdwan (Bardhaman) district of West Bengal in undivided India, Nazrul had to discontinue his study at an early age to earn his living as his father died when he was only 11. Initially, he had joined a professional Leto troupe where he was introduced to the richness of Bangla and Sanskrit literature.

A year later, he resumed education and got enrolled in Matharun English School but dropped out from Class VI for poverty. This time, he worked with a Kabi Gaan troupe and subsequently took up a job at a bakery.

While working there, Nazrul started writing poems and his talent soon grabbed the attention of a police officer named Kazi Rafizullah, who gave him shelter at his house in Mymensingh’s Trishal in 1914, and enrolled him in Class VII at Darirampur School.

He joined the British Army in 1917. During his two and a half years of service, the young poet was introduced to Persian literature and learned to play different instruments following notation.

Nazrul’s literary practice got a formal shape at that time. His first poem Mukti, first novella “Baunduler Atmakahini”, novel “Badhon Hara” and a number of other writings were published in that period.

From 1920, he concentrated on creating his literary masterpieces. Many of his famous poems, including Bidrohi, appeared during the period.

Nazrul came to Cumilla in April 1921 and met Promila Devi, a young Hindu girl whom he loved and married subsequently.

In 1922, he began editing a fortnightly named Dhumketu which literally stormed the British rulers in India.

On 13 October 1922, Kazi Nazrul Islam, as the first person in the subcontinent, placed the demand for independence in an article published in Dhumketu.

For his political poem Anondomoyir Agomone, he was sentenced to one year in jail.

While staying in prison, the poet began a hunger strike, protesting the mistreatment by a British jail superintendent. He was released consequently but the British government banned most of his books throughout the 1920s.

In his short creative life, Nazrul also worked as a lyricist and music composer for popular music brand HMV (His Master’s Voice). He developed 17 new ragas and created six new talas or rhythms.

He acted in a film and directed music as well. He joined the All India Radio Kolkata in October, 1939.

Nazrul suddenly fell ill in 1942 and was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder – Pick’s disease – that led to the loss of his voice and memory. He was sent abroad for treatment but did not recover from the disease.

In his short artistic career of just 20 years, he penned at least 3,174 songs, 600 poems, three novels and 43 essays. After the country’s independence in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Nazrul the National Poet and brought the ailing poet with due honour to Bangladesh. Nazrul died in Dhaka on 29 August in 1976.

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan