LOOKING FOR NAZRUL

Photo: Wikimedia

Kazi Nazrul Islam.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you read/hear the name? “Chol, chol, chol” or “Kathbirali, kathbirali”? National Poet or Rebel Poet? Or is it Dukhu Miah you're thinking of?
Ahead of the Bidrohi Kobi's 115th birth anniversary on May 24, I have been asking people this question. The reason? I am looking for Nazrul. I am searching for the revolution he inspired in young hearts, the love he wrote about, and the stand he took against all kinds of oppression.
It would be wrong to say we don't know Nazrul at all. Our textbooks are records that throughout our school and college years we have learned his rhymes, poems and stories by heart. Almost every child has had the rhyme “Lichu Chor” memorised at the early ages of four or five and most have performed it in front of family and relatives on special occasions. We've read his “Jhinge Phool”, written its summary in class tests and filled our lungs with air to recite “Bidrohi” with passion, as much as we could.
We learned about his life. How a young boy, nicknamed 'Dukhu Miah', spent his days studying in a madrassa and became a muezzin at the tender age of ten; joined a performing troupe and learned Bengali and Sanskrit. Later we met the young man who joined the British Army and saw his rise as the Rebel Poet -- and through this all he wrote the words that have influenced generations of Bengalis. Even today, no Eid-ul-Fitr is complete without the radios and television networks blaring the popular song “O mon Ramzan-er oi roza'r sheshe elo khushir Eid”. Artcell's adaptation of the classic “Kandari Hushiar” into a rock song made us headbang too, didn't it?
Yet I search for Nazrul. I search for the National Poet of Bangladesh. How often do we remember him? A-Level candidate Ehsan Alam is one of many whose instant reaction to the name 'Nazrul' was “Moha bidrohi rono-klanto, ami sheidin hobo shanto.”
He says, “For me, the reference picture of a rebel has always been Nazrul's 'jhakra chul' and moustache. It's sad but I have to agree that his works aren't read as much. This generation believes in following trends and so reading Nazrul -- his life and works -- has to become a trend.”
Nazrul's work is for all ages. Whether it's a little kid in a garden or a firebrand protestor in a community or the man wondering about his muse, or even a person exploring his own religion, Nazrul has written for them all. His poems, novels, plays, essays, songs made him a writer of all genres.
Pragyna Mahpara, studying at a private university and member of its cultural club, admits that she has heard Nazrul's songs performed only a handful of times over the years at her institute. “I think 'Karar oi louho kopat” is the most stirring song about revolution. Also in 'Masjid-eri paashe amaye kobor diyo, bhai', the concept of the call for prayer reaching the grave is just overwhelming.”
After talking to my parents, friends and even my grandmother who began humming “Noyon bhora jol go tomar” at being asked the same question, I realised that we know about Nazrul only as much as we are open to his works. A few poems and stories in school, a number of popular Nazrul Sangeet courtesy of the media and twice a year -- during his birth and death anniversaries -- reading special newspaper supplements, this is our exposure to the works of our National Poet.
Stating her opinion, a friend, Mustabeen Qazi tells me she likes Nazrul's work more than Tagore's. Now this debate has been going on for years but you cannot choose between two creative titans whose contributions to Bangla literature and culture are immense. Yet my friend argues, “Nazrul was a rebel before it was cool. He started from nothing, had no formal education, had no assistance in the form of steady formative years, or an influential family. He was a self-made man in every sense.”
I search for the child at heart who delighted us with his imagination. I search for the young man who was imprisoned, yet voiced his thoughts from behind bars. I search for the person who delved into multiple languages to convey his messages in an unparalleled way. I search for the National Poet.

And my search for Nazrul continues.