Kazi Nazrul Islam is Bidrohi Kobi

Kazi Nazrul Islam is Bidrohi Kobi

Kazi Nazrul Islam (25 May 1899-29August 1976),known popularly as Nazrul,was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of “Bidrohi Kobi”.Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognized as the national poet of Bangladesh.

 Born into a Bengali Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a Muezzin at a local mosque.He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British India Army, Nazrul establishes himself as a journalist in Calcutta.

He assailed the British Raj in India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as “Bidrohi” and “Bhanger Gaan”, as well as his publication “Dhumketu”.His impassioned activism in the India independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the “Rajbandir Jabanbandi”.Exploring the life of the downtrodden masses of India, Nazrul worked for their emancipation.  Nazrul writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals, Nazrul, wrote and composed music for his nearly 4000 songs, collectively known as Nazrul Geeti.

 At the age of 43, he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. It caused Nazrul’s health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died in 1976.