Portal:West Bengal/Selected articles/5
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Kazi Nazrul Islam (May 25, 1899 – August 29, 1976) was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, revolutionary and philosopher who is best known for pioneering works in Bengali expressing fierce rebellion against society, tradition, politics, injustice, intolerance and oppression. Popularly known as the Bidrohi Kobi — Rebel Poet — he is officially recognised as the national poet of Bangladesh and commemorated in India.
Born in a poor Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He later joined the Indian Army and served in World War I. Whilst stationed in Karachi, Nazrul learnt Persian and the art of writing, and was exposed to Hindu religion, music and literature. Working as a journalist, Nazrul assailed the British Raj and emphatically preached revolution with his poetic works the "Vidrohi" ("Rebel") and "Bhangar Gan" ("The Song of Destruction") and his publication the "Dhumketu" ("Comet"). Imprisoned by police, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner"), intensifying his criticism of imperialism. Nazrul also condemned Muslim religious fundamentalism and explore the lives of downtrodden masses in India. He remained active in political organisations and literary, art and music societies.
