saskatoon, canada24 june , 2012 bangla utsab 2012...
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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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bRiji Mvbi myi- -19
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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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