Kazi Nazrul Islam Bengali poet, musician, revolutionary and philosopher Date of Birth: 24.05.1989 Country: Bangladesh

1. Early Life
2. Attraction to Folk Theatre
3. Joining the British Indian Army
4. Revolutionary and Literary Activism
5. Success as a Poet and Musician
6. Late Life and Illness

Early Life

Nazrul Islam was born on Wednesday, May 24, 1899, in the village of Churulia, Asansol Sadar, Paschim Bardhaman district of the Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal, India). He was born into a Bengali Muslim Talukdar family in Churulia and was the second of three sons and a daughter. Nazrul Islam's father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed, was the Imam and caretaker of the local Pirpukur mosque and Hajji Pahlawan's mausoleum. Nazrul Islam's mother was Zahida Khatun. Nazrul Islam had two brothers, Kazi Saahibjaan and Kazi Ali Hussain, and a sister, Umme Kulsum. He was nicknamed Duhu Mian (literally "the grieving one").

Nazrul Islam studied at the maktab and madrasa attached to the mosque and dargah respectively, where he studied the Quran, hadith, Islamic philosophy, and theology. His father died in 1908, and at the age of ten, Nazrul Islam took his father's place as caretaker of the mosque to support his family. He also assisted teachers at the school. Later, he worked as a muezzin at the mosque.

Attraction to Folk Theatre

Drawn to folk theatre, Nazrul Islam joined a leto (traveling theatrical troupe) led by his uncle, Fazle Karim. He worked and traveled with them, learning acting skills and also writing songs and poems for plays and musicals. Through his work and experience, Nazrul Islam began to study Bengali and Sanskrit literature, as well as Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas.

Nazrul Islam composed folk plays for the group, including "Chashar Shong" ("The Peasant's Drama"), as well as plays based on the characters of the Mahabharata, including Shakunibohdh ("Shakuni's Killing"), Raja Judhishthir Shong ("Drama of King Yudhisthir"), Datta Korno ("The Philanthropist Karna"), Akbar Badshah ("Akbar the Emperor"), Kobi Kalidas ("Poet Kalidas"), Bidyan Hutum ("The Learned Owl"), and Rajputreter Shong ("The Prince's Grief").

In 1910, Nazrul Islam left the troupe and enrolled in the Sersol Raj High School in Raniganj. In school, he was influenced by his teacher and Jugantar activist, Nibaran Chandra Ghatak, and formed a lifelong friendship with fellow writer Sailjananda Mukhopadhyay, who was his classmate. He later transferred to the Matruna English High School, where he studied under the principal and poet Kumud Ranjan Mullick.

Unable to continue to pay for his education, Nazrul Islam dropped out of school and joined a group of kabials. Later, he found employment as a cook at Wahid's Confectionery, a well-known bakery in the region, and at a tea stall in the Asansol town. In 1914, Nazrul Islam studied at the Darirampur School (now Nazrul Government Academy) in Trishal, Mymensingh district.

Joining the British Indian Army

Nazrul Islam studied up to the 10th grade but did not appear for the matriculation examination; instead, he joined the British Indian Army in 1917 at the age of eighteen. He had two main motivations for joining the British Indian Army: firstly, a youthful desire for adventure and, secondly, an interest in the politics of the time.

Attached to the 49th Bengal Regiment, he was posted to the Karachi Cantonment, where he wrote his first prose and poems. Though he never participated in active combat, he rose in rank from lance corporal to havildar (sergeant) and served as quartermaster of his battalion.

During this period, Nazrul Islam read extensively the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, as well as Persian poets Hafez, Omar Khayyam, and Rumi. He studied Persian poetry from a Punjabi regiment Maulvi, practiced music, and pursued his literary interests.

Revolutionary and Literary Activism

After returning to Calcutta, Nazrul Islam became involved in revolutionary activities. He joined the Jugantar group, a secret revolutionary organization, and became a prominent figure in the Non-Cooperation Movement against British rule. His writings and speeches, which promoted Indian independence and criticized British rule, earned him the title of "Bidrohi Kobi" (Rebel Poet).

In 1921, he founded the weekly literary magazine "Langal" (The Plough), which published works by many leading Bengali writers of the time. In 1922, he published his first collection of poems, "Dhumketu" (The Comet), which became an instant success.

Due to his revolutionary activities, Nazrul Islam was arrested several times by the British authorities. In 1922, he was imprisoned for six months for writing the poem "Bhangar Gaan" (Song of Destruction), which had inspired the Chittagong Armory Raid. In 1924, he was imprisoned for a year for his involvement in the Kakori Conspiracy Case.

Success as a Poet and Musician

While in prison, Nazrul Islam wrote some of his most famous poems, including "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" (The Political Prisoner's Deposition). His works greatly inspired Bengalis of East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Nazrul Islam's works explored themes of freedom, humanity, love, and revolution. He opposed all forms of bigotry and fundamentalism, including religious, caste, and gender-based.

Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays, but he is best known for his songs and poems. He introduced the ghazal into Bengali and is also known for his extensive use of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words in his works. Nazrul Islam composed and wrote music for nearly 4,000 songs (many of which were recorded on HMV gramophone records), known collectively as "Nazrul Geeti".

Late Life and Illness

In 1942, at the age of 43, he fell ill with an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. A medical team in Vienna diagnosed the illness as Pick's disease, a rare and incurable neurodegenerative disorder. It led to the gradual deterioration of Nazrul Islam's health and forced him to live in seclusion. He also spent many years in the Ranchi (Jharkhand) Mental Hospital.

At the invitation of the Bangladesh government, Nazrul Islam's family took him to Bangladesh and moved to Dhaka in 1972. He died on August 29, 1976.