Brief Biography of Kazi Nazrul
Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national and rebel poet of Bangladesh, is the name of a reverend personality in Bengali literature whose contribution to Bengali literature is unprecedented. He enriched different wings of literature with his profound creations. He didn’t leave any genre of literature untouched. In addition, he was an exemplary political figure during his time and yet today. He perceived our pathos, observed the irregularities existing in our society and tried to dispel all ominous exercise out of our society. He also tried to reshape our so-called autocratic system and dreamt a utopian world. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to establish a world free from all evils through his exploding writings and subsequently he became an ideal person in the political arena. Because of his very insurgent movement he was bestowed with a title ‘BIDROHI KOBI (The Rebel Poet). He composed a good number of poems, songs, essays, short stories, novels in his life. Most of his compositions are subjected to establish and retain due rights of proletariats, and reform the society. Through his compositions, he encouraged destitute people to take active part in sweeping out misrules of then autocratic authority and that’s why some of his poems, essays were banned by the then British authority. Right then he was also sentenced to one year imprisonment. He created a record number of songs and it’s said that only did Nazrul pioneer to add Ghazal (Love songs), a new genre of music, to Bengali music. He was credited for creating a large number of love songs, patriotic songs, religious songs, etc.
Born into a very poor family, Kazi Nazrul passed his early life through utter hardship. He was born on 24 May, 1988 (11 Jaishtha, 1306 Bengali year) at the village of Churulia in Asansul Sub-division under the district of Bardwan, in West Bengal of India. His father was Kazi Fakir Ahmed and mother Zaheda Khatun. It’s known that his forefathers were come from Patna, capital of Bihar, a province of India and settled in Churulia. The title ‘Kazi’ means ‘judge of the Muslim’ and the Kazis used rule several parts of Muslim dwelled area in India. When Kazi Nazul was born the title ‘Kazi’ was retained but the remnant material properties were lost. On March, 1908 Nazrul’s father passed away and the next year Nazrul accomplished his lower primary education from a Moktab, a lower Islamic primary school. After his father’s passing away, the plight of his family turned into more aggravated and to maintain his family Nazrul couldn’t continue his study and got involved in serving as a teacher and Muazzin, who calls for prayer, in the same Moktab wherein he used to read.
Born into a very poor family, Kazi Nazrul passed his early life through utter hardship. He was born on 24 May, 1988 (11 Jaishtha, 1306 Bengali year) at the village of Churulia in Asansul Sub-division under the district of Bardwan, in West Bengal of India. His father was Kazi Fakir Ahmed and mother Zaheda Khatun. It’s known that his forefathers were come from Patna, capital of Bihar, a province of India and settled in Churulia. The title ‘Kazi’ means ‘judge of the Muslim’ and the Kazis used rule several parts of Muslim dwelled area in India. When Kazi Nazul was born the title ‘Kazi’ was retained but the remnant material properties were lost. On March, 1908 Nazrul’s father passed away and the next year Nazrul accomplished his lower primary education from a Moktab, a lower Islamic primary school. After his father’s passing away, the plight of his family turned into more aggravated and to maintain his family Nazrul couldn’t continue his study and got involved in serving as a teacher and Muazzin, who calls for prayer, in the same Moktab wherein he used to read.
In 1911, joining the LETO group was a turning point of Nazrul’s life. LETO is stage performance based on a poetic debate on a particular subject matter by two poets before an audience. It’s a folk musical group. Kazi Bazle Karim, Nazrul’s uncle, was a leader of a Leto group. He composed songs in Bengali as well as Urdu and set them into tune. Young Nazrul followed his uncle with keen attention and soon knew how to compose songs, and setting them into tunes. Observing his poetic talent, many a person at that time encouraged him to compose songs for various contemporary Leto groups. It was very inspiring for Nazrul to devote to composing songs because it coincided with the very nature of his creative power which was poetic and musical at the same time. Nazrul had the power of impromptu composition on the topic of dissimilar subject matters. Thus the career of a great ever poet commenced with folk musical group, Leto. Nazrul didn’t work with Leto for a very long time because then too he encountered financial crisis.
In 1911, he took admission in class six, in Nabinchandra Institute at the village of Mathrun in Bardwan district. For the poverty-stricken fate, again he discontinued his study and next year he worked in a bakery shop, then in the house of a railway guard to accompany him. During the year 1912-13, a police Sub-Inspector Kazi Rafizullah arranged free study for him at DarirampurHigh School in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. After completing class VII he went back to Churulia. Nazrul stayed at Mymensingh less than a year.
After returning from Mymensingh, a distant relative of Nazrul Kazi Manjoor Hossain took Nazrul to Searsol, a place near Raniganj in Bardwan. There he got admitted himself into class VIII in SearsolRajHigh School in 1915. Studying at Searsol put a significant impact on shaping the future course of Nazrul’s life. Satishchandra Kanjilal, a teacher of SearsolSchool, excelled in classical music, imparted Nazrul some lessons on classical music. That was inspiring for Nazrul because he could then refurbish his musical talent and collect newer ones. Apart from musical aspects of things, the influence on Nazrul during the time of reading at Searsol was more significant and far reaching because the first seed of politics was sown in the unblemished mind of young Nazrul there. It was that time when he was newly acquainted with politics and came close to revolutionary secret organizations, and was highly impressed with their concept of armed struggle against the British colonial rulers. Nabinchandra Ghatak, a teacher of SearsolSchool, was an active member of such a revolutionary group, YUGANTAR. The objectives of this group were to compel the British rulers to leave India through a violent way. Observing the spirit of Nazrul, Nibaranchandra drew Nazrul close to himself and inculcated in him a patriotic feeling. The proximity to this political figure left a deep mark in entire life of Nazrul. He wrote a novel, KHUELIKA (The Misty), based on the backdrop of anti-movement against the British rulers and portrayed a character of a school teacher in his novel which shadowed Nibaranchandra, the person Nazrul loved best.
In 1911, he took admission in class six, in Nabinchandra Institute at the village of Mathrun in Bardwan district. For the poverty-stricken fate, again he discontinued his study and next year he worked in a bakery shop, then in the house of a railway guard to accompany him. During the year 1912-13, a police Sub-Inspector Kazi Rafizullah arranged free study for him at DarirampurHigh School in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. After completing class VII he went back to Churulia. Nazrul stayed at Mymensingh less than a year.
After returning from Mymensingh, a distant relative of Nazrul Kazi Manjoor Hossain took Nazrul to Searsol, a place near Raniganj in Bardwan. There he got admitted himself into class VIII in SearsolRajHigh School in 1915. Studying at Searsol put a significant impact on shaping the future course of Nazrul’s life. Satishchandra Kanjilal, a teacher of SearsolSchool, excelled in classical music, imparted Nazrul some lessons on classical music. That was inspiring for Nazrul because he could then refurbish his musical talent and collect newer ones. Apart from musical aspects of things, the influence on Nazrul during the time of reading at Searsol was more significant and far reaching because the first seed of politics was sown in the unblemished mind of young Nazrul there. It was that time when he was newly acquainted with politics and came close to revolutionary secret organizations, and was highly impressed with their concept of armed struggle against the British colonial rulers. Nabinchandra Ghatak, a teacher of SearsolSchool, was an active member of such a revolutionary group, YUGANTAR. The objectives of this group were to compel the British rulers to leave India through a violent way. Observing the spirit of Nazrul, Nibaranchandra drew Nazrul close to himself and inculcated in him a patriotic feeling. The proximity to this political figure left a deep mark in entire life of Nazrul. He wrote a novel, KHUELIKA (The Misty), based on the backdrop of anti-movement against the British rulers and portrayed a character of a school teacher in his novel which shadowed Nibaranchandra, the person Nazrul loved best.
In 1917, when the First World War was running, the then British authority created a Double Company with the men from Bengal in its armed forces, requiring more men to fight fronts. Later this Double Company was renamed and became 49th Bengalee Regiment. To get armed training and with the great patriotic urge, Nazrul left his studies in final year of school course in 1917 and enlisted himself in the Double Company. At first he was posted in Naushera and then Karachi, the capital city of Pakistan. Staying with the 49th Bengali Regiment as a Havilder, a British-Indian commissioned officer, he spent most his barrack-life in Karachi. His stay there with Bengali Regiment is quite significant from the point of his literary as well as musical perception. By the time he was enable to gather experiences on music and literature, which had gone a long way in shaping his life as a great builder of Bengali literature and music.
Nazrul’s first story entitled BAUNDELER ATMA KAHINI (An Autobiography of a Vagabond) was published in SAOGAT (The Gift) edited by Mohammad Nasiruddin in its May-June issue, 1919. His first poem MUKTI (Emancipation) was also published in the same year in BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA (Bengali Muslim Literary Magazine) in July-August issue. Nazrul considered BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA as a strong platform for his writings. Two of his short stories entitled HENA (a name) and BYATHAR DAN (Offerings out of pain) came out in the successive issue of it in the year 1919.
The First World War came to a close by the middle of 1919. Nazrul’s regiment was abolished early in March 1920. After the regiment being demobilized, he returned to Calcutta without further delay with the hope of an opportunity to settle there. At first he stayed with Shailajananda and then with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmad, who inculcated in him the doctrine of equality of man in respect of rights and duties as a born-free human being. In the beginning of 1920 when Nazrul came back to Calcutta from Karachi, he stood determined to stay on the side of masses, struggle for freedom and shape a literary career. During those days in Calcutta, he used to sing the songs of Rabindranath Tagore and it was really a matter of immense wonder that a good number of Tagor’s songs he got by heart. Though his musical voice was not so-called melodious but it was lively and with this voice he was able to establish a popular image of a singer by the time. He was invited to sing in various family functions and functions arranged by students. This is how, it may be said here, his real active life began by then in Calcutta at the age of 21. Nazrul could not earn his bread by writing alone. It was difficult in those days even today to survive by writing. Nazrul was looking for job and later he took profession as a journalist and was appointed joint-editor with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed of Daily NABAYUG (The Daily New Age) founded by Sher-E-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Haque, a veteran political leader of Bangladesh.
Nazrul’s first story entitled BAUNDELER ATMA KAHINI (An Autobiography of a Vagabond) was published in SAOGAT (The Gift) edited by Mohammad Nasiruddin in its May-June issue, 1919. His first poem MUKTI (Emancipation) was also published in the same year in BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA (Bengali Muslim Literary Magazine) in July-August issue. Nazrul considered BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA as a strong platform for his writings. Two of his short stories entitled HENA (a name) and BYATHAR DAN (Offerings out of pain) came out in the successive issue of it in the year 1919.
The First World War came to a close by the middle of 1919. Nazrul’s regiment was abolished early in March 1920. After the regiment being demobilized, he returned to Calcutta without further delay with the hope of an opportunity to settle there. At first he stayed with Shailajananda and then with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmad, who inculcated in him the doctrine of equality of man in respect of rights and duties as a born-free human being. In the beginning of 1920 when Nazrul came back to Calcutta from Karachi, he stood determined to stay on the side of masses, struggle for freedom and shape a literary career. During those days in Calcutta, he used to sing the songs of Rabindranath Tagore and it was really a matter of immense wonder that a good number of Tagor’s songs he got by heart. Though his musical voice was not so-called melodious but it was lively and with this voice he was able to establish a popular image of a singer by the time. He was invited to sing in various family functions and functions arranged by students. This is how, it may be said here, his real active life began by then in Calcutta at the age of 21. Nazrul could not earn his bread by writing alone. It was difficult in those days even today to survive by writing. Nazrul was looking for job and later he took profession as a journalist and was appointed joint-editor with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed of Daily NABAYUG (The Daily New Age) founded by Sher-E-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Haque, a veteran political leader of Bangladesh.
In the office of Muslem Bharat (Muslim India) Nazrul met one Ali Akber Khan, a writer and publisher of children’s text books, and author of some other books. Gradually the intimate relation between Nazrul and Mr. Khan grew deeper and responding to an invitation of Mr. Khan he paid a visit to the village home of Mr. Khan at Daulatpur in Comilla. He stayed there at about two months. During that time he fell in love with Sayeda Khatun, Mr. Khan’s niece. Sayeda Khatun was also known as Nargis Asar Khanam in eloquent language. He got married to Nargis in the middle of June 1921. For some unknown reason, not yet know clearly, Nazrul left Nargis in the very night of marriage. After then he never kept in touch with Nargis and didn’t accept her as his wife. Later on in several times Nargis tried to reinstate their lost relation through writing letters but Nazrul, on his part, showed reluctance to respond to the letters. Rather in 1937 only once he composed a song and urged the lady to forget him once for all. The song reads as follows:
Why remember him
Whom you couldn't give the garland of your love?
Forget me, forget me once for all.
I sing out of my sorrow
Why do you come to stand before me?
Don't invite me like an apparition
Into the darkness of night
Take pity on me, do take pity on me
Don't play with me the cruel game.
The auspicious hour will not return
Over limited lamentation.
I fare along the way not to grieve any one
Why do you stand with eyes of tearful request?
I have never stood at your door even by mistake.
Forget me, forget me once for all.
Whom you couldn't give the garland of your love?
Forget me, forget me once for all.
I sing out of my sorrow
Why do you come to stand before me?
Don't invite me like an apparition
Into the darkness of night
Take pity on me, do take pity on me
Don't play with me the cruel game.
The auspicious hour will not return
Over limited lamentation.
I fare along the way not to grieve any one
Why do you stand with eyes of tearful request?
I have never stood at your door even by mistake.
Forget me, forget me once for all.
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} The year 1921 was tumultuous in point of political agitations under the impact of KHILAFAT ANDOLAN (Non Co-operation Movement). That time the political unrest touched the peak and became stronger day by day. The then British Government took stern measures to quell the agitations, issuing arrest warrant against a large number of political leaders. It was that political situations which Kazi Nazrul Islam had to face after returning to Calcutta from Comilla. On December 10, 1921, Deshbandu Chittaranjan Das was arrested and put into jail, and his wife Basanti Debi sent a request to Nazrul to contribute to the weekly BANGLAR KATHA (The Voice of Bengal) run by Basanti Devi herself. Nazrul himself was an admirer of Deshbandhu and that’s why he accepted the request, and instantly, after having the message, he composed a historical songs for the weekly titled BANGAR GAAN (The song of destruction), which has immortalized him in the history of Bengali patriotic poetry. Few lines of the songs are as follows:
Break down the iron gate of prison
And break down into pieces
The blood-bathed
Stone-alter of the goddess of fetters.
O! Young God of Destruction
Play on your doomsday drum
Let the flag of destruction
Flutter on the wall of the East.
It was the first patriotic song of Nazrul which stood for the spirit of the violent age.
Composing a long grand poem titled 'The Rebel", Nazrul brought about a wonder in the history of Bengali Poetry. In the last week of December 1921 he wrote a poem. He was then living with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed. Mr. Ahmed was maiden person who listened to the recitation of the poem "The Rebel" by the poet himself. Muzaffar Ahmed narrated the background of the creation of the poem. In the last week of December, 1921, Nazrul wrote down the poem whole night till it was morning. In the morning of the next day, as soon as Muzaffar Ahmed woke up, Nazrul read the poem out to him. 'The Rebel' is long grand poem written in a kind of exploding language. It seldom happens in the history of literature that only one poem raises its composer to the pinnacle of glory and the poem 'The rebel' made it happened. With the publication of this poem Nazrul became the Rebel Poet of Bengal. The time when the poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) was composed was the age of rebellion. By the end of 1921, he was with the working people devoid of their basic rights. He responded to the rebellion tendencies most sensitively and the poem Bidrohi for which he is known as the Rebel Poet was his patriotic response to the call of the age. Through the poem “The Rebel” he became the voice of Bengali people of those tumultuous days. If Rabindranath Tagore was the poet of Swadeshi Movement, Nazrul Islam was the poet of Bengal under the Khilafat Andolan (Non-cooperation Movement).
He published his first story book BYATHAR DAN (Offerings of Pain) in 1922. On October 1922, his poetry book AGNIBEENA (The Fiery Lute) was published. In this year his first collection of essays titled YUGABANI (The Message of the Age) was published and proscribed immediately after publication. For this book an arrest warrant was issued against him on the charge of sedition. He started publishing his first Bi-Weekly magazine DHUMKETU (The Comet). AGNIBEENA is one of the most notable collections of verses by Nazrul and certainly a significant poetry book in Bengali language because it’s the first book of poems of the rebel poet including the historical poem BIDROHI itself. No less a man than Abanindranath Tagore, a renowned painter of India and a member of Tagore’s family, was the designer of the cover page of this book.
On November 1922 Nazrul was arrested from Comilla and put into Jail. A sentence of one year rigorous imprisonment on the charge of sedition was passed against Nazrul. Prior to That Nazrul read out a statement from the dock in the form of deposition that is said to be written in the Presidency Jail, Calcutta on January 7, 1923. He termed that statement as RAJBANDIR JABANDBANDI (Deposition of a Political Prisoner). This statement was entirely inspiring and it has no parallel in the history of Bengali literature. After the announcement of verdict against Nazrul the whole nation protested it. Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his song-play BASANTA (The Spring) to Nazrul. Inside the Jail he went on 40-day long hunger strike in protest against the oppression with the political prisoners by the jail authority. Rabindranath Tagore sent a telegram from Shilong to Nazrul to give up the strike. Sharathchandra Chattapadhyay himself met Nazrul in the jail and requested him to leave the strike. So he gave it up at the request of the literary and political personalities of his time. The same year on December he was released from jail.
Nazrul Islam settled in Hoogly after being released from Jail. On April 25, 1924, he got married to Ashalata Sengupta, daughter of Giribala Devi in Comilla. Ashalata was popularly known as Pramila. Their first son Azad Kamal (also named Krishna Mohammad) was born but no longer had he survived.
Two books of poems named BANGAR GAAN (The song of Destruction) and BISHER BANSHI (The Poisonous Flute) were published but proscribed instantly by the British authority. The year 1925 is more political than poetical to Nazrul. This year he met Mahatma Gandhi, wrote and announced the pamphlet of THE LABOUR SWARAJ PARTY OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRES. His poem SAMYABADI (The Communist) on the theme of equality was published in the party magazine named LANGAL (The Plough). In 1926 LANGAL was renamed and became GANABANI (The Voice of Masses). His second son Arindam Khalid (Bulbul) was born. That time he composed a famous song titled KANDARI HUNSHIAR (Beware My Captain) marking the inauguration ceremony of Krishnanagar Congress and the first Ghazal of Bengali Language “Bulbuli Tui Phool Shakhate Disne Aaji Dool (O nightingale, don’t swinging on the flower-laden branches today)”. His family was moved to Krishnanagar from Calcutta.
During the year 1927, his family encountered serious financial problem, since he was being continually deprived by the publishers who made huge money by selling his books. That time he emerged as the best seller among the Bengali speaking people and amazingly enough, he still retains his position among the poets. However, he attended the annual conference of MUSLIM SAHITYA SAMAJ (Muslim Literary Society) in Dhaka. His friends around Saogat tried to help him financially considering his acute poverty and growing illness. He agreed to work with Saogat on salaried basis. In 1928, two separate editions of SANCHITA (Selected poems) were published. His friends and associates tried to make a trust fund. That year he lost his mother, too. Contrary to it, Nazrul was honoured form Rangpur, Rajshahi and other parts of the country. He wrote and sang two inaugural songs for NIKHIL BHARAT KRISHAK O SRAMIK DAL (All India Farmers and Workers Party) and All India Youth Congress, presided over by Pandit Jawharlal Nehru, at Calcutta. In 1929 Nazrul was honoured by several organizations at Chittagong during his journey visit to attend the inaugural session of MUSLIM SHIKSHMA SAMITI (Muslim Education Association). He was also honoured by BOGRA AKKELPUR YOUNGMEN’S SOCEITY.
On December 1929, he was accorded a Grand National Civic Reception at Calcutta Albert Hall under the chairmanship of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray. He was declared THE POET OF BENGALI NATION by Netajee Subash Chandra Bose, the Chief Guest. His son Kazi Sabyasachi was born this year and Kazi Aniruddha the next year. In 1930, his two books titled PRALAYSHIKHA (The Doomsday Flame) and CHANDRABINDU (The last character of Bengali alphabet symbolizing a nasal mark), collection of songs and poems, were published and also proscribed.
The year 1930 was one of the most tragic years of his life. His son Bulbul died of small pox on May 7, and he was shattered violently. He did never get rid of the trauma he conceded for his son’s death. This year was also significant for various aspects. He entered into various roles including music composer, music director, film director, actor in film and play, radio programmer and above all a regular artist of Garmophone Companies. Nazrul's success soon brought him into Indian theater and the then-nascent film industry. The first picture with which he worked was based on Girish Chandra Ghosh's story "Bhakta Dhruva" in 1934. Nazrul acted in the role of ‘Narada’ and directed the film also. He also composed songs for it, directed the music and served as a playback singer. The film "Vidyapati" ("Master of Knowledge") was produced based on his recorded play in 1936, and Nazrul served as the music director for the film adaptation of Tagore's novel Gora. Nazrul wrote songs and directed music for Sachin Sengupta's bioepic play "Siraj-ud-Daula". He also gained profusely from the Companies that gave him money, fame and immense popularity. Completely devoted to music, this time he developed close association with a host of noted musicians like Ustad Jamiruddin Khan, Kader Bukhs, Dabir Khan, Manju Shahib, Mastan Gama, Pandit Jnanendraprashad Goswami, Pandit Sursh Chakrawarty and many others. Dilip Kumar Ray played key role to shape Nazrul’s musical career. In 1931 he met Rabindranath Tagore and accompanied by Jahanara Chowdhury, editor of BARSHABANI (Message of year) he traveled to Darjiling. He wrote a series of poems eulogizing the lady. Those poems would soon come out from Nazrul Institute placing original manuscript side by side with its printed text. The next few years he presided over several conferences at various parts of Bengal. Some of them were SIRAJGANJ BANGIYA MUSLIM TARUN SOMMELAN (Sirajganj Bengali Muslim Youth Conference, 1932), Faridpur Muslim Students Conference (1936), BANGIYA MUSALMAN SAHITYA SAMMELAN (Bengali Muslim Literary Conference in Calcutta, 1938), etc.
In 1938 a family disaster occurred and the lower part of Pramila’s body got paralyzed and Nazrul fell in acute financial crisis again. NABAYUG (The New Age) was published in 1940 and he was Chief Editor. This year he also attended the year-end ceremony of Dhaka Radio. In 1941, the BANGAON LITERARY SOCIETY started its annual conference under his chairmanship and he delivered the final address of his life on April 5-6, while presiding over the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the BANGIYA MUSLIM SMAITI. The speech is known as ‘JADI AAR BANSHI NA BAJE (If the flute plays no more)”. On May 25, Nazurl’s birthday was celebrated in Calcutta, presided over by poet Jatindra Mohan Bagchi. On August 7, Rabindranath Tagore passed away and he wrote a poem instantly titled “RABIHARA (Rabi is no more) on Tagore’s forever departure.
On July 10, 1942, Nazrul lost his voice at a time when he was conducting a Children’s programme in All India Radio. He was hospitalized within a week. Later he was admitted to Lumbini Park Mental Hospital Calcutta, on October 7 and stayed there for six months. The doctors had earlier detected symptoms of mental insanity in him. 1n 1943, NAZRUL NIRAMAY SAMAITI (Nazrul Healing Committee) was formed. But there was no sign of recovery in him by any effort. Two year later, JAGATTARINI GOLD MEDAL was awarded to Nazrul in 1945 by the CalcuttaUniversity. Nazrul stayed back in Calcutta despite the fact that India became independent in 1947 and the Easter part of Bengal (the Muslim dominated zone) joined the then Pakistan as one of its provinces. On July 1952, both Nazrul and Pramila were sent to Ranchi asylum for four months with no improvements. Afterwards, the Niramay Samiti sent them first to London and then to Vienna in 1953 for medical treatment but there was also no improvement.
The year 1960 was one of the most coveted for Nazrul since he was decorated with PADMABHUSHAN, the highest literary award conferred by the Indian government. Two years later, Pramila died on June 30, 1962 and was buried at Churulia, the place where the poet himself was supposed to be buried after his demise. On may 24, 1972, Kazi Nazrul Islam was brought to the Independent Bangladesh that wrested its freedom in a blood-smeared fight against the non-colonial Pakistani forces. The struggle of freedom was conducted under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the nation. It’s also because of Bangladeshi’s personal initiative that Nazrul came to Bangladesh. The poet was allotted a suitable house in Dhanmandi, Road 28 Old (House 330B), now converted into Nazrul Museum under the guidance of the Nazrul Institute, the official organization established by the government of Bangladesh to study and conduct research on the life, works and related issues of the poet. In 1974, he was made Guest of Honour at the International Conference of Writers held in BanglaAcademy. He was then only a silent walker. This year Kazi Aniruddha died. In 1975, DhakaUniversity conferred an Honourary D. Lit. on him. In 1976, he was conferred Citizenship of Bangladesh. He was also awarded Ekushey Padak by the government of Bangladesh.
The same year (1976) on August 29, Sunday, 10 A.M. Nazrul breathed his last in the PG Hospital at Dhaka. According to his desire [He expressed his intention through one of his most popular Islami Song “Masjider-e Pashe Amay Kabar Dio Bhai (Bury me beside a mosque)] he was finally placed in eternal rest beside Dhaka University Mosque.
Break down the iron gate of prison
And break down into pieces
The blood-bathed
Stone-alter of the goddess of fetters.
O! Young God of Destruction
Play on your doomsday drum
Let the flag of destruction
Flutter on the wall of the East.
It was the first patriotic song of Nazrul which stood for the spirit of the violent age.
Composing a long grand poem titled 'The Rebel", Nazrul brought about a wonder in the history of Bengali Poetry. In the last week of December 1921 he wrote a poem. He was then living with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed. Mr. Ahmed was maiden person who listened to the recitation of the poem "The Rebel" by the poet himself. Muzaffar Ahmed narrated the background of the creation of the poem. In the last week of December, 1921, Nazrul wrote down the poem whole night till it was morning. In the morning of the next day, as soon as Muzaffar Ahmed woke up, Nazrul read the poem out to him. 'The Rebel' is long grand poem written in a kind of exploding language. It seldom happens in the history of literature that only one poem raises its composer to the pinnacle of glory and the poem 'The rebel' made it happened. With the publication of this poem Nazrul became the Rebel Poet of Bengal. The time when the poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) was composed was the age of rebellion. By the end of 1921, he was with the working people devoid of their basic rights. He responded to the rebellion tendencies most sensitively and the poem Bidrohi for which he is known as the Rebel Poet was his patriotic response to the call of the age. Through the poem “The Rebel” he became the voice of Bengali people of those tumultuous days. If Rabindranath Tagore was the poet of Swadeshi Movement, Nazrul Islam was the poet of Bengal under the Khilafat Andolan (Non-cooperation Movement).
He published his first story book BYATHAR DAN (Offerings of Pain) in 1922. On October 1922, his poetry book AGNIBEENA (The Fiery Lute) was published. In this year his first collection of essays titled YUGABANI (The Message of the Age) was published and proscribed immediately after publication. For this book an arrest warrant was issued against him on the charge of sedition. He started publishing his first Bi-Weekly magazine DHUMKETU (The Comet). AGNIBEENA is one of the most notable collections of verses by Nazrul and certainly a significant poetry book in Bengali language because it’s the first book of poems of the rebel poet including the historical poem BIDROHI itself. No less a man than Abanindranath Tagore, a renowned painter of India and a member of Tagore’s family, was the designer of the cover page of this book.
On November 1922 Nazrul was arrested from Comilla and put into Jail. A sentence of one year rigorous imprisonment on the charge of sedition was passed against Nazrul. Prior to That Nazrul read out a statement from the dock in the form of deposition that is said to be written in the Presidency Jail, Calcutta on January 7, 1923. He termed that statement as RAJBANDIR JABANDBANDI (Deposition of a Political Prisoner). This statement was entirely inspiring and it has no parallel in the history of Bengali literature. After the announcement of verdict against Nazrul the whole nation protested it. Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his song-play BASANTA (The Spring) to Nazrul. Inside the Jail he went on 40-day long hunger strike in protest against the oppression with the political prisoners by the jail authority. Rabindranath Tagore sent a telegram from Shilong to Nazrul to give up the strike. Sharathchandra Chattapadhyay himself met Nazrul in the jail and requested him to leave the strike. So he gave it up at the request of the literary and political personalities of his time. The same year on December he was released from jail.
Nazrul Islam settled in Hoogly after being released from Jail. On April 25, 1924, he got married to Ashalata Sengupta, daughter of Giribala Devi in Comilla. Ashalata was popularly known as Pramila. Their first son Azad Kamal (also named Krishna Mohammad) was born but no longer had he survived.
Two books of poems named BANGAR GAAN (The song of Destruction) and BISHER BANSHI (The Poisonous Flute) were published but proscribed instantly by the British authority. The year 1925 is more political than poetical to Nazrul. This year he met Mahatma Gandhi, wrote and announced the pamphlet of THE LABOUR SWARAJ PARTY OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRES. His poem SAMYABADI (The Communist) on the theme of equality was published in the party magazine named LANGAL (The Plough). In 1926 LANGAL was renamed and became GANABANI (The Voice of Masses). His second son Arindam Khalid (Bulbul) was born. That time he composed a famous song titled KANDARI HUNSHIAR (Beware My Captain) marking the inauguration ceremony of Krishnanagar Congress and the first Ghazal of Bengali Language “Bulbuli Tui Phool Shakhate Disne Aaji Dool (O nightingale, don’t swinging on the flower-laden branches today)”. His family was moved to Krishnanagar from Calcutta.
During the year 1927, his family encountered serious financial problem, since he was being continually deprived by the publishers who made huge money by selling his books. That time he emerged as the best seller among the Bengali speaking people and amazingly enough, he still retains his position among the poets. However, he attended the annual conference of MUSLIM SAHITYA SAMAJ (Muslim Literary Society) in Dhaka. His friends around Saogat tried to help him financially considering his acute poverty and growing illness. He agreed to work with Saogat on salaried basis. In 1928, two separate editions of SANCHITA (Selected poems) were published. His friends and associates tried to make a trust fund. That year he lost his mother, too. Contrary to it, Nazrul was honoured form Rangpur, Rajshahi and other parts of the country. He wrote and sang two inaugural songs for NIKHIL BHARAT KRISHAK O SRAMIK DAL (All India Farmers and Workers Party) and All India Youth Congress, presided over by Pandit Jawharlal Nehru, at Calcutta. In 1929 Nazrul was honoured by several organizations at Chittagong during his journey visit to attend the inaugural session of MUSLIM SHIKSHMA SAMITI (Muslim Education Association). He was also honoured by BOGRA AKKELPUR YOUNGMEN’S SOCEITY.
On December 1929, he was accorded a Grand National Civic Reception at Calcutta Albert Hall under the chairmanship of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray. He was declared THE POET OF BENGALI NATION by Netajee Subash Chandra Bose, the Chief Guest. His son Kazi Sabyasachi was born this year and Kazi Aniruddha the next year. In 1930, his two books titled PRALAYSHIKHA (The Doomsday Flame) and CHANDRABINDU (The last character of Bengali alphabet symbolizing a nasal mark), collection of songs and poems, were published and also proscribed.
The year 1930 was one of the most tragic years of his life. His son Bulbul died of small pox on May 7, and he was shattered violently. He did never get rid of the trauma he conceded for his son’s death. This year was also significant for various aspects. He entered into various roles including music composer, music director, film director, actor in film and play, radio programmer and above all a regular artist of Garmophone Companies. Nazrul's success soon brought him into Indian theater and the then-nascent film industry. The first picture with which he worked was based on Girish Chandra Ghosh's story "Bhakta Dhruva" in 1934. Nazrul acted in the role of ‘Narada’ and directed the film also. He also composed songs for it, directed the music and served as a playback singer. The film "Vidyapati" ("Master of Knowledge") was produced based on his recorded play in 1936, and Nazrul served as the music director for the film adaptation of Tagore's novel Gora. Nazrul wrote songs and directed music for Sachin Sengupta's bioepic play "Siraj-ud-Daula". He also gained profusely from the Companies that gave him money, fame and immense popularity. Completely devoted to music, this time he developed close association with a host of noted musicians like Ustad Jamiruddin Khan, Kader Bukhs, Dabir Khan, Manju Shahib, Mastan Gama, Pandit Jnanendraprashad Goswami, Pandit Sursh Chakrawarty and many others. Dilip Kumar Ray played key role to shape Nazrul’s musical career. In 1931 he met Rabindranath Tagore and accompanied by Jahanara Chowdhury, editor of BARSHABANI (Message of year) he traveled to Darjiling. He wrote a series of poems eulogizing the lady. Those poems would soon come out from Nazrul Institute placing original manuscript side by side with its printed text. The next few years he presided over several conferences at various parts of Bengal. Some of them were SIRAJGANJ BANGIYA MUSLIM TARUN SOMMELAN (Sirajganj Bengali Muslim Youth Conference, 1932), Faridpur Muslim Students Conference (1936), BANGIYA MUSALMAN SAHITYA SAMMELAN (Bengali Muslim Literary Conference in Calcutta, 1938), etc.
In 1938 a family disaster occurred and the lower part of Pramila’s body got paralyzed and Nazrul fell in acute financial crisis again. NABAYUG (The New Age) was published in 1940 and he was Chief Editor. This year he also attended the year-end ceremony of Dhaka Radio. In 1941, the BANGAON LITERARY SOCIETY started its annual conference under his chairmanship and he delivered the final address of his life on April 5-6, while presiding over the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the BANGIYA MUSLIM SMAITI. The speech is known as ‘JADI AAR BANSHI NA BAJE (If the flute plays no more)”. On May 25, Nazurl’s birthday was celebrated in Calcutta, presided over by poet Jatindra Mohan Bagchi. On August 7, Rabindranath Tagore passed away and he wrote a poem instantly titled “RABIHARA (Rabi is no more) on Tagore’s forever departure.
On July 10, 1942, Nazrul lost his voice at a time when he was conducting a Children’s programme in All India Radio. He was hospitalized within a week. Later he was admitted to Lumbini Park Mental Hospital Calcutta, on October 7 and stayed there for six months. The doctors had earlier detected symptoms of mental insanity in him. 1n 1943, NAZRUL NIRAMAY SAMAITI (Nazrul Healing Committee) was formed. But there was no sign of recovery in him by any effort. Two year later, JAGATTARINI GOLD MEDAL was awarded to Nazrul in 1945 by the CalcuttaUniversity. Nazrul stayed back in Calcutta despite the fact that India became independent in 1947 and the Easter part of Bengal (the Muslim dominated zone) joined the then Pakistan as one of its provinces. On July 1952, both Nazrul and Pramila were sent to Ranchi asylum for four months with no improvements. Afterwards, the Niramay Samiti sent them first to London and then to Vienna in 1953 for medical treatment but there was also no improvement.
The year 1960 was one of the most coveted for Nazrul since he was decorated with PADMABHUSHAN, the highest literary award conferred by the Indian government. Two years later, Pramila died on June 30, 1962 and was buried at Churulia, the place where the poet himself was supposed to be buried after his demise. On may 24, 1972, Kazi Nazrul Islam was brought to the Independent Bangladesh that wrested its freedom in a blood-smeared fight against the non-colonial Pakistani forces. The struggle of freedom was conducted under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the nation. It’s also because of Bangladeshi’s personal initiative that Nazrul came to Bangladesh. The poet was allotted a suitable house in Dhanmandi, Road 28 Old (House 330B), now converted into Nazrul Museum under the guidance of the Nazrul Institute, the official organization established by the government of Bangladesh to study and conduct research on the life, works and related issues of the poet. In 1974, he was made Guest of Honour at the International Conference of Writers held in BanglaAcademy. He was then only a silent walker. This year Kazi Aniruddha died. In 1975, DhakaUniversity conferred an Honourary D. Lit. on him. In 1976, he was conferred Citizenship of Bangladesh. He was also awarded Ekushey Padak by the government of Bangladesh.
The same year (1976) on August 29, Sunday, 10 A.M. Nazrul breathed his last in the PG Hospital at Dhaka. According to his desire [He expressed his intention through one of his most popular Islami Song “Masjider-e Pashe Amay Kabar Dio Bhai (Bury me beside a mosque)] he was finally placed in eternal rest beside Dhaka University Mosque.
Curtsy: 1. Nurul Huda, Mohammad; “Poetry of Kazi Nazrul Islam’; 1st Edition, June 1997;
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2. Goswami, Karunamaya; ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam: A Biography’; 2nd Edition, May 2006,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2. Goswami, Karunamaya; ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam: A Biography’; 2nd Edition, May 2006,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Life Chronology
1899
May 24, Kazi Nazrul Islam was bron at the village of Churulia in the district of Bardwan, West Bengal, India. Father: Kazi Fakir Ahmed, mother: Zaheda Khatun. Brothers: Kazi Shahebjan and Kazi Ali Hossain, sister: Umme Kulsum.
1908
March 20, Nazrul's father died at the age of 60 when Nazrul was at the age of 8.
1909
Completed his lower primary eduction from a Maktab (AMuslim Primary School).
1910
Discontinued his study due to financial crisis and got involved in a profession as a Muazzin (A caller for prayer) in a Maktab.
1911
Jointed a folk musical group LETO. His uncle Kazi Bazle Karim, he himself a leader of a LETO group and excelled in composing songs in Urdu and Farsi language apart from Bengali, encouraged him to join LETO group. Later Nazrul succeeded him as a leader of a LETO group.
Studied at Mathrun Nabinchandra Institution in class VI
1912
Worked in the household of a railway guard, in a bakery shop, etc.
1913-14
Got opportunities of studying at free of cost at Darirampur High School in Mymensingh with help of Kazi Rafizullah, a police Sub-Inspector. Completed class VII and returned to Churulia.
1914-15
Took admission in class VIII at Seasol Raj High Schoo, Raniganj, Bardwan. A distant relative of Nazrul, Kazi Rafijullah arranged free schooling and accommodation for him and he studied up to X.
Met Satish Kanjilal, a teacher of Searsol School, having some mastery over classical music. He was encouraged and influenced by this teacher and developed his musical talent.
Meeting with Nabinchandra Ghatak, another teacher of Searsol School, was notable in Nazrul's life. Apart from being a teacher, Nabinchandra was an active member of a secret revolutionary group aiming at carrying on armed struggle against the British Colonial Government. Led by the thought of utilizing training later for the movement of freedom, Nazrul and his schoolmate Shailajananda Mukhopadhyaya (The latter day renowned litterateur) decided to join Army. Nazrul passed the recruitment examination and joined the Army in the 49th Bengali Regiment. He was trained in Nawshera and later stationed in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan.
1919
First publication, BAUNDELER ATMAKAHINI (The Autobiography of a Vagabond), a short story, in SAOGAT (The Gift) magazine (Report on Nazrul's proximate relation with Nasiruddin; listen to MP3), 1st year, 2nd issue, in Calcutta, Mohammad Nasiruddin, editor.
The first article titled TURKIN NARIR GHUMTA KHULA (The unveiled face of a Turkish woman) was published in Saogat, 1st year, 12th issue.
First poem MUKTI (Emancipation) was published in the BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA (The Bengali Muslim Literary Magazine)
Raised to the rank Havilder (commissioned officer) in the Army in Karachi.
1920
Returned to Calcutta and stayed in the same Hostel with Shailajananda Mukhopadhyaya, then in a rented apartment with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed.
First song, UDBODHAN (Inauguration) was published in Saogat, 2nd year, 6th issue.
April, a novel, BANDANHARA (Free from Bonds), began its serialized publication in Muslim Bharat (Muslim India).
July, appointed a joint-editor with Muzaffar Ahmed of the Daily Navayug (The Daily New Age) founded by Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, a veteran political leader of Bangladesh.
1921
Went to Daulatpur in Comilla with Ali Akber Khan, a children text book editor and writer.
June 18, Got Married to Syeda Nargis Asar Khanam, a niece of Mr. Khan. Disagreement between Nazrul and Nargis family in the night of wedding. Nazrul left the Nargis in the very night of wedding and never met her again.
October, visited Santiniketan with Mohammad Shahidullay and met Rabindranath Tagore for the first time.
December, composed historical poem BIDRHOHI (The Rebel).
1922
January, BIDROHI was published in SAPTAHIK BIZLI (Weekly Lightening, 6th issue and also published in MUSLEM BHARAT (Muslim India).
March, his first book BYATHAR DAAN (Offerings of Pain), a collection of short stories, was published in Calcutta.
August 11, A bi-weekly DHUMKETU (The Comet) was launched; he was the editor.
September 26, a poem ANANDAMOYEER AGOMONEY (Coming of Goddess Durga) was published in Dhumketu.
October 13, AGNIBEENA (The Fiery Lute), a collection of poems, was published in Calcutta and proscribed by the government.
October 25, YUGABANI (The Message of the Age), a collection of essays, was published and also proscribed by the government.
November 8, a warrant for arrest was issued against Nazrul on the charge of sedition.
November 23, arrested in Calcutta.
1923
January 16, delivered RAJBANDIR JABANBANDI (Deposition of a political prisoner) before the court of a Chief Presidency Magistrate, Swindo, Calcutta and was sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labor.
January 27, Rajbandir Jabanbandi was published in Dhumketu, final issue, in Calcutta.
February 22, Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his song-drama BASANTA (The Spring) to Nazrul.
DOLAN CHAMPA (Name of a faintly fragrant monsoon flower), a collection of poems and songs, was published in Calcutta
April-May, protested the mistreatment with the political prisoners by the jail authority, going on hunger strike. Revolutionary, popular novelist and short story writer, Sharath Chandra Chattapadhyaya visited Nazrul in the jail and requested him to end the strike. Similar requests were sent to him from many others including the liberationist political leader Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Rabindranath Tagore sent him a telegram from Shilong, writing, "Give up hunger strike, our literature claims you". He stayed on hunger strike for 40 days.
December, Nazrul was released form jail.
1924
Got married to Pramila (Duli), the only daughter of Giribala Sengupta.
First son of Nazrul, Azad Kamal (also named Krishna Muhammad), was born and died in the same year.
BISHER BANSHI (The flute of poison) and BANGAR GAAN (The song of destruction), both collection of songs and poems, were published in Calcutta. Proscribed in the same year.
1925
May, met Mahatma Gandhi in the Faridpur Congress.
November 10, 'The Labor Swaraj Party of Indian National Congress' was formed. Nazrul announced and published the party pamphlet.
December 16, the premier issue of LANGAL (The Plough), the party magazine, contained his set of poems on equality.
1926
His family moved to Krishnanagar. The name of Langal was changed to GONOBANI (The voice of the masses).
May, wrote and sung KANDARI HUSHIAR (Helmsman Be Aware) for the inaugural song of the Krishnanagar Congress.
His second child Arindam Khalid (Bulbul) was born.
Composed his first Ghazal "Bulbuli Tui Phool Shakhate Dis Ne Aji Dol"
1927
February, came to Dhaka to attend and speak at the annual conference of the MUSLIM SAHITYA SAMAJ (Muslim Literary Society).
March, Saogat sponsored a 'Variety performances' to benefit Nazrul and his family, held at Albert Hall in Calcutta. Nazrul attended the conference.
July, Sufia N. Hossain (Later Sufia Kamal), a young poet of 16, appealed "as his (Nazrul's mother, his sister" in a letter to Saogat editor Mohammad Nasiruddin to rescue Nazrul and his family from his continual financial hardship, and harassment by the government. Nazrul accepted Nasiruddin's offer to join the salaried staff of Saogat, communicating from Krishnanagar.
1928
His mother died.
Two separate edition of SANCHITA were published.
November, got honoured by the HARAGACHA TARUN SANGHA (Haragacha Youth Organization) in Rangpur, a district of Bangladesh now.
Because of both health and financially worsened plight, his friends, well-wishers associated with Saogat helped his family moved to Calcutta. On behalf of the family, Saogat rented a apartment until the family moved to PAN BAGAN a few months later.
December, got honoured by the RAJSHAHI MUSLIM CLUB in Rajshahi, a district of Bangladesh.
Attended the NIKHIL BHARAT KRISHOK O SRAMIK DAL (All India Farmers and Labours Party and sung the inaugural song.
Sung the inaugural song at the meeting of the All India Socialist Youth Congress in Calcutta presided by Pt. Jawaherlal Nehru.
1929
Son, Kazi Sabyasach, was born.
January, attended the inaugural ceremony of the MUSLIM SHIKSHA SAMITY (Muslim Education Association) in Chittagong. He was honoured by several organizations in Chittagong the same year, including the BULBUL Society. Honoured by the BOGRA AKKELPUR YOUNGMEN'S MUSLIM ASSOCIATION at the annual conference.
December 15, a grand National Civic Reception for Nazrul was held at Albert Hall in Calcutta, arranged by the Saogat Sahitya Majlish (Saogat Literary Society). Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, an eminent Bengali Scientist, presided over the function and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the celebrated political leader and freedom fighter, was the chief guest.
1930
Son, Kazi Aniruddha, was born.
PRALAYSHIKHA (The Doomsday Flame), a collection of poems and songs, and CHANDRABINDU (The Nasal Mark), a collection of songs, were published in Calcutta and both were proscribed.
May 7, Bulbul died for smallpox.
For a period lasting several years in the 30s, Nazrul's career flourished with a variety of roles, including as a recording artist with gramophone companies, a composer, music director, singer, song and story writer, actor, etc in films, plays, and radio programme. His association with gramophone companies brought him a few years of financial success. It was difficult for Nazrul to get a recording contract because of the British authority who would not allow the recording of his songs on political grounds. Even the Admirers of Nazrul were subject to scrutiny. Harendra Dutta sand and recorded a song of Nazrul but kept Nazrul's name out of the label fearing that the British authority of the recording company [His Master's Voice (HMV)] would not permit the recording. But the recording companies finally gave into the immense popularity of Nazrul and, sensing profit in it, started offering him contracts.
Nazrul's association with recording companies possibly began during 1928, flourishing during the 30s. Over the years, the recording companies with which Nazrul associated included Megaphone, Hindustan, Senola and HMV. The chief trainer of HMV was Ustad Jamiruddin Khan, a reputed master of Hindustani classical and semi-classical music. Nazrul was trained under him, and upon Ustad Jamiruddin Khan's death in 1932 he succeeded him as the chief trainer, in addition to his current position as the chief composer. Nazrul also associated himself closely with many other eminent musicians, including Ustad Kader Bux, Manju Saheb, Dabir Khan, Mastan Gama, Pt. Jnanendraprashad Goswami and Suresh Chakrawarty.
1931
June, accompanied by Jahanara Chowdhury, editor of Barhsabani (Messages of year), he went to Darjiling and met Rabindranath Tagore.
1932
Presided over the Shirajganj Bongiya Muslim Tarun Sammelon (Shirajganj Bengali Muslim Youth Conference).
1936
Presided over the Faridpur Muslim Students Conference.
1938
Presided over the Bangiyo Muslim Sahitya Sammelan (Bengali Muslim Literary Conference) in Calcutta.
Pramila Nazrul was afflicted with paralysis and lower half of her body was paralyzed.
His financial crisis was re-emerged, compounded by Pramila's medical expenses. Nazrul resorted to mortgaging the royalties of his gramophone records and literary works for mere sum of 4000 rupees.
1940
Assumed the chief editorship of the republished Nabayug (The New Age).
Attended the year-end celebration programme of Dhaka Radio.
1941
March, presided over the annual conference of Bangaon Sahitya Sabha (Bangaon Literary Society)
April 5 & 6, presided over the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Samiti (Bengali Muslim Literary Society), delivered his final address "Jodi Ar Bansi Na Baje (If the flute doesn't play again)
May 25, his 43 birthday was celebrated in Calcutta and poet Jatindra Mohan Bagchi presided over the celebration function.
August 7, Rabindranath Tagore died in Calcutta. Soon afterward he recited his poem Rabihara (Loss of Rabi) on All India Radio in Calcutta.
1942
July 10, while participating a children's programme ion All India Radio, Calcutta, he was struck by the loss of his power of speech. His mental capacity affected.
July 19, taken to health retreat Madhupur for a change.
1943
NAZRUL NIRAMAY SAMITI, a committee to care for Nazrul was formed; Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyaya
1945
Calcutta University awarded him "Jagattarini Gold Medel"
1947
August, British rule in India ended. India divided into India and Pakistan.
1952
July, the Nazrul Niramay Samiti sent Nazrul and Pramila to an asylum in Rachi for treatment for four months but no improvement. was president.
1953
May, the Samati sent them to London, then to Vienna for treatment. No improvements.
December 15, returned to Calcutta.
1960
awarded "Padmabhushan" title by the Government of India.
1962
June 30, Pramila died. Buried in Churulia.
1971
March 25, Liberation war of Bangladesh commenced.
December 16, Bangladesh became independent.
1972
May 27, Nazrul was brought to Bangladesh under a state arrangement, accompanied by Uma Kazi, the wife of his son Sabyasachi.
1974
Son Kazi Aniruddha died.
1975
Dhaka University conferred an Honorary D. Lit. on Nazrul.
1976
Bangladesh citizenship conferred on Nazrul.
Awarded "Ekushey Padak" By the Government of Bangladesh.
May 24, Kazi Nazrul Islam was bron at the village of Churulia in the district of Bardwan, West Bengal, India. Father: Kazi Fakir Ahmed, mother: Zaheda Khatun. Brothers: Kazi Shahebjan and Kazi Ali Hossain, sister: Umme Kulsum.
1908
March 20, Nazrul's father died at the age of 60 when Nazrul was at the age of 8.
1909
Completed his lower primary eduction from a Maktab (AMuslim Primary School).
1910
Discontinued his study due to financial crisis and got involved in a profession as a Muazzin (A caller for prayer) in a Maktab.
1911
Jointed a folk musical group LETO. His uncle Kazi Bazle Karim, he himself a leader of a LETO group and excelled in composing songs in Urdu and Farsi language apart from Bengali, encouraged him to join LETO group. Later Nazrul succeeded him as a leader of a LETO group.
Studied at Mathrun Nabinchandra Institution in class VI
1912
Worked in the household of a railway guard, in a bakery shop, etc.
1913-14
Got opportunities of studying at free of cost at Darirampur High School in Mymensingh with help of Kazi Rafizullah, a police Sub-Inspector. Completed class VII and returned to Churulia.
1914-15
Took admission in class VIII at Seasol Raj High Schoo, Raniganj, Bardwan. A distant relative of Nazrul, Kazi Rafijullah arranged free schooling and accommodation for him and he studied up to X.
Met Satish Kanjilal, a teacher of Searsol School, having some mastery over classical music. He was encouraged and influenced by this teacher and developed his musical talent.
Meeting with Nabinchandra Ghatak, another teacher of Searsol School, was notable in Nazrul's life. Apart from being a teacher, Nabinchandra was an active member of a secret revolutionary group aiming at carrying on armed struggle against the British Colonial Government. Led by the thought of utilizing training later for the movement of freedom, Nazrul and his schoolmate Shailajananda Mukhopadhyaya (The latter day renowned litterateur) decided to join Army. Nazrul passed the recruitment examination and joined the Army in the 49th Bengali Regiment. He was trained in Nawshera and later stationed in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan.
1919
First publication, BAUNDELER ATMAKAHINI (The Autobiography of a Vagabond), a short story, in SAOGAT (The Gift) magazine (Report on Nazrul's proximate relation with Nasiruddin; listen to MP3), 1st year, 2nd issue, in Calcutta, Mohammad Nasiruddin, editor.
The first article titled TURKIN NARIR GHUMTA KHULA (The unveiled face of a Turkish woman) was published in Saogat, 1st year, 12th issue.
First poem MUKTI (Emancipation) was published in the BANGIYA MUSLIM SAHITYA PATRIKA (The Bengali Muslim Literary Magazine)
Raised to the rank Havilder (commissioned officer) in the Army in Karachi.
1920
Returned to Calcutta and stayed in the same Hostel with Shailajananda Mukhopadhyaya, then in a rented apartment with Comrade Muzaffar Ahmed.
First song, UDBODHAN (Inauguration) was published in Saogat, 2nd year, 6th issue.
April, a novel, BANDANHARA (Free from Bonds), began its serialized publication in Muslim Bharat (Muslim India).
July, appointed a joint-editor with Muzaffar Ahmed of the Daily Navayug (The Daily New Age) founded by Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, a veteran political leader of Bangladesh.
1921
Went to Daulatpur in Comilla with Ali Akber Khan, a children text book editor and writer.
June 18, Got Married to Syeda Nargis Asar Khanam, a niece of Mr. Khan. Disagreement between Nazrul and Nargis family in the night of wedding. Nazrul left the Nargis in the very night of wedding and never met her again.
October, visited Santiniketan with Mohammad Shahidullay and met Rabindranath Tagore for the first time.
December, composed historical poem BIDRHOHI (The Rebel).
1922
January, BIDROHI was published in SAPTAHIK BIZLI (Weekly Lightening, 6th issue and also published in MUSLEM BHARAT (Muslim India).
March, his first book BYATHAR DAAN (Offerings of Pain), a collection of short stories, was published in Calcutta.
August 11, A bi-weekly DHUMKETU (The Comet) was launched; he was the editor.
September 26, a poem ANANDAMOYEER AGOMONEY (Coming of Goddess Durga) was published in Dhumketu.
October 13, AGNIBEENA (The Fiery Lute), a collection of poems, was published in Calcutta and proscribed by the government.
October 25, YUGABANI (The Message of the Age), a collection of essays, was published and also proscribed by the government.
November 8, a warrant for arrest was issued against Nazrul on the charge of sedition.
November 23, arrested in Calcutta.
1923
January 16, delivered RAJBANDIR JABANBANDI (Deposition of a political prisoner) before the court of a Chief Presidency Magistrate, Swindo, Calcutta and was sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labor.
January 27, Rajbandir Jabanbandi was published in Dhumketu, final issue, in Calcutta.
February 22, Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his song-drama BASANTA (The Spring) to Nazrul.
DOLAN CHAMPA (Name of a faintly fragrant monsoon flower), a collection of poems and songs, was published in Calcutta
April-May, protested the mistreatment with the political prisoners by the jail authority, going on hunger strike. Revolutionary, popular novelist and short story writer, Sharath Chandra Chattapadhyaya visited Nazrul in the jail and requested him to end the strike. Similar requests were sent to him from many others including the liberationist political leader Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Rabindranath Tagore sent him a telegram from Shilong, writing, "Give up hunger strike, our literature claims you". He stayed on hunger strike for 40 days.
December, Nazrul was released form jail.
1924
Got married to Pramila (Duli), the only daughter of Giribala Sengupta.
First son of Nazrul, Azad Kamal (also named Krishna Muhammad), was born and died in the same year.
BISHER BANSHI (The flute of poison) and BANGAR GAAN (The song of destruction), both collection of songs and poems, were published in Calcutta. Proscribed in the same year.
1925
May, met Mahatma Gandhi in the Faridpur Congress.
November 10, 'The Labor Swaraj Party of Indian National Congress' was formed. Nazrul announced and published the party pamphlet.
December 16, the premier issue of LANGAL (The Plough), the party magazine, contained his set of poems on equality.
1926
His family moved to Krishnanagar. The name of Langal was changed to GONOBANI (The voice of the masses).
May, wrote and sung KANDARI HUSHIAR (Helmsman Be Aware) for the inaugural song of the Krishnanagar Congress.
His second child Arindam Khalid (Bulbul) was born.
Composed his first Ghazal "Bulbuli Tui Phool Shakhate Dis Ne Aji Dol"
1927
February, came to Dhaka to attend and speak at the annual conference of the MUSLIM SAHITYA SAMAJ (Muslim Literary Society).
March, Saogat sponsored a 'Variety performances' to benefit Nazrul and his family, held at Albert Hall in Calcutta. Nazrul attended the conference.
July, Sufia N. Hossain (Later Sufia Kamal), a young poet of 16, appealed "as his (Nazrul's mother, his sister" in a letter to Saogat editor Mohammad Nasiruddin to rescue Nazrul and his family from his continual financial hardship, and harassment by the government. Nazrul accepted Nasiruddin's offer to join the salaried staff of Saogat, communicating from Krishnanagar.
1928
His mother died.
Two separate edition of SANCHITA were published.
November, got honoured by the HARAGACHA TARUN SANGHA (Haragacha Youth Organization) in Rangpur, a district of Bangladesh now.
Because of both health and financially worsened plight, his friends, well-wishers associated with Saogat helped his family moved to Calcutta. On behalf of the family, Saogat rented a apartment until the family moved to PAN BAGAN a few months later.
December, got honoured by the RAJSHAHI MUSLIM CLUB in Rajshahi, a district of Bangladesh.
Attended the NIKHIL BHARAT KRISHOK O SRAMIK DAL (All India Farmers and Labours Party and sung the inaugural song.
Sung the inaugural song at the meeting of the All India Socialist Youth Congress in Calcutta presided by Pt. Jawaherlal Nehru.
1929
Son, Kazi Sabyasach, was born.
January, attended the inaugural ceremony of the MUSLIM SHIKSHA SAMITY (Muslim Education Association) in Chittagong. He was honoured by several organizations in Chittagong the same year, including the BULBUL Society. Honoured by the BOGRA AKKELPUR YOUNGMEN'S MUSLIM ASSOCIATION at the annual conference.
December 15, a grand National Civic Reception for Nazrul was held at Albert Hall in Calcutta, arranged by the Saogat Sahitya Majlish (Saogat Literary Society). Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, an eminent Bengali Scientist, presided over the function and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the celebrated political leader and freedom fighter, was the chief guest.
1930
Son, Kazi Aniruddha, was born.
PRALAYSHIKHA (The Doomsday Flame), a collection of poems and songs, and CHANDRABINDU (The Nasal Mark), a collection of songs, were published in Calcutta and both were proscribed.
May 7, Bulbul died for smallpox.
For a period lasting several years in the 30s, Nazrul's career flourished with a variety of roles, including as a recording artist with gramophone companies, a composer, music director, singer, song and story writer, actor, etc in films, plays, and radio programme. His association with gramophone companies brought him a few years of financial success. It was difficult for Nazrul to get a recording contract because of the British authority who would not allow the recording of his songs on political grounds. Even the Admirers of Nazrul were subject to scrutiny. Harendra Dutta sand and recorded a song of Nazrul but kept Nazrul's name out of the label fearing that the British authority of the recording company [His Master's Voice (HMV)] would not permit the recording. But the recording companies finally gave into the immense popularity of Nazrul and, sensing profit in it, started offering him contracts.
Nazrul's association with recording companies possibly began during 1928, flourishing during the 30s. Over the years, the recording companies with which Nazrul associated included Megaphone, Hindustan, Senola and HMV. The chief trainer of HMV was Ustad Jamiruddin Khan, a reputed master of Hindustani classical and semi-classical music. Nazrul was trained under him, and upon Ustad Jamiruddin Khan's death in 1932 he succeeded him as the chief trainer, in addition to his current position as the chief composer. Nazrul also associated himself closely with many other eminent musicians, including Ustad Kader Bux, Manju Saheb, Dabir Khan, Mastan Gama, Pt. Jnanendraprashad Goswami and Suresh Chakrawarty.
1931
June, accompanied by Jahanara Chowdhury, editor of Barhsabani (Messages of year), he went to Darjiling and met Rabindranath Tagore.
1932
Presided over the Shirajganj Bongiya Muslim Tarun Sammelon (Shirajganj Bengali Muslim Youth Conference).
1936
Presided over the Faridpur Muslim Students Conference.
1938
Presided over the Bangiyo Muslim Sahitya Sammelan (Bengali Muslim Literary Conference) in Calcutta.
Pramila Nazrul was afflicted with paralysis and lower half of her body was paralyzed.
His financial crisis was re-emerged, compounded by Pramila's medical expenses. Nazrul resorted to mortgaging the royalties of his gramophone records and literary works for mere sum of 4000 rupees.
1940
Assumed the chief editorship of the republished Nabayug (The New Age).
Attended the year-end celebration programme of Dhaka Radio.
1941
March, presided over the annual conference of Bangaon Sahitya Sabha (Bangaon Literary Society)
April 5 & 6, presided over the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Samiti (Bengali Muslim Literary Society), delivered his final address "Jodi Ar Bansi Na Baje (If the flute doesn't play again)
May 25, his 43 birthday was celebrated in Calcutta and poet Jatindra Mohan Bagchi presided over the celebration function.
August 7, Rabindranath Tagore died in Calcutta. Soon afterward he recited his poem Rabihara (Loss of Rabi) on All India Radio in Calcutta.
1942
July 10, while participating a children's programme ion All India Radio, Calcutta, he was struck by the loss of his power of speech. His mental capacity affected.
July 19, taken to health retreat Madhupur for a change.
1943
NAZRUL NIRAMAY SAMITI, a committee to care for Nazrul was formed; Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyaya
1945
Calcutta University awarded him "Jagattarini Gold Medel"
1947
August, British rule in India ended. India divided into India and Pakistan.
1952
July, the Nazrul Niramay Samiti sent Nazrul and Pramila to an asylum in Rachi for treatment for four months but no improvement. was president.
1953
May, the Samati sent them to London, then to Vienna for treatment. No improvements.
December 15, returned to Calcutta.
1960
awarded "Padmabhushan" title by the Government of India.
1962
June 30, Pramila died. Buried in Churulia.
1971
March 25, Liberation war of Bangladesh commenced.
December 16, Bangladesh became independent.
1972
May 27, Nazrul was brought to Bangladesh under a state arrangement, accompanied by Uma Kazi, the wife of his son Sabyasachi.
1974
Son Kazi Aniruddha died.
1975
Dhaka University conferred an Honorary D. Lit. on Nazrul.
1976
Bangladesh citizenship conferred on Nazrul.
Awarded "Ekushey Padak" By the Government of Bangladesh.
August 29, Sunday, 10:00 AM, Kazi Nazrul Islam died in P.G. Hospital in Dhaka and he was buried near the mosque of Dhaka University.
Rebel Poet Nazrul