Nazrul

Kazi Nazrul Islam, commonly known as Nazrul, was a Bengali poet, musician, and revolutionary figure who left a lasting mark on 20th-century Bengali literature and culture. Born in 1899 in Churulia, then part of the Bengal Presidency of British India (now in West Bengal, India), he became one of the era’s most influential writers, renowned for his fiery advocacy of freedom, justice, and humanism. He died in 1976 in Kolkata, India.

Nazrul’s prolific output spans poetry, songs, essays, and plays. His 1921 collection Bidrohi (The Rebel) established him as a powerful voice against oppression and for social change. His works address themes of rebellion, liberty, love, religion, and the dignity of all people, often challenging fanaticism and colonial rule. In addition to his poetry, he composed thousands of songs that fused classical Bengali forms with folk rhythms and other musical influences, later known as Nazrul Sangeet, which remains a central element of Bengali culture.

Throughout his life, Nazrul spent significant time in Bengal, contributing to cultural life on both sides of the partition that created modern India and Bangladesh. He was celebrated for his broad humanism, his critique of oppression, and his call for religious harmony.

Nazrul is widely regarded as the National Poet of Bangladesh, a title reflecting his enduring legacy in Bengali literature and music. His work continues to be studied, performed, and celebrated in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, where Nazrul Sangeet remains a vital artistic tradition.