Study on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam neglected in BD

Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury, former VC of Dhaka University speaking at a discussion organised on his death anniversary on Wednesday.

Former VC of Dhaka University, Prof. Anwarullah Chowdhury said on Wednesday that study of Nazrul is being neglected in Bangladesh. Few universities have organised programme to observe the death anniversary of the National Poet on the day, but they should have done so.

Speaking at a discussiin meeting on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his 59th death anniversary, Prof Chowdhury said education as a whole is neglected in the country as there is no education policy to introduce the physical and natural environment and eminent sons of the soil to students. 

The discussion meeting organised by the Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dad was also addressed by Prof Sukomol Barua of DU, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor, GreenWatch Dhaka, Rezabuddaulah Chowdhury, former president of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha, Babul Ahmed, cultural personality and member of BNP national executive committee, Mahmudul Hasan Nizami, editor, Daily Destiny, Manirizzaman Manir of Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, writer Kalam Fayezi, Md Hashem Chowdhury, President BD Union Parishad Kalyan Samity, Anwar Chowdhury with Sangskritik Dal president Humayun Kabir Bepari in the chair.

There is no policy to impart pro-people education and imbue pupils with patriotism. Education policy is the factory to introduce our 

students of our country to its environment, but students do not get this. The education system does not introduce students to our great people.

Prof Chodhury said the Interim government has formed many commissions, but not one on education, nor even one to write a white paper or the corruption done in the universities during the last 16 years.

Speakers at the function described Poet Nazrul as a humanist who wrote for the welfare of man, their freedom and inspired anti-colonial movement, the 1971 War of Liberation of Bangladesh and finally the anti-fascist movement of 2024.

Rebel Poet Nazrul wrote for people of all religious faiths, stood by the oppresed, and yet was a poet of love and nature. His multi-fasceted qualities as a National Poet of Bengal was recognised as early as 1929.

Prof. Sukomal Barua highlighted the humanistic appeals of Nazrul and said he would won a Nobel Prize in literature had his case been placed before the Swedish Nobel Committee in time.

Mostafa Kamal Majunder said that Nazrul's poems and songs have tremendous influence on the life of the people of Bangladesh. He is a powerful poet, yet his expressions are so lucid and simple that he is understood by even by people who cannot read or write. He is a people's poet.

He said that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose did praise Poet Nazrul by saying that he was man live-man and wrote on all situations and circumstances that he came across. Thus one finds nazrul relevant to all aspects of life, Subhas Bose said at a reception accorded to the poet at the Albert Hall Kolkata when the poet was only 30. 

Rezabuddaulah Chowdhury recalled how much attachment Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had to Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and laid him to rest beside the Dhaka University Central.Mosque with state honour. Zia himself was of the carriers of the body of Poet Nazrul to the grave. President Zia also took the initiative to name the avenue from his Mazar to the Bijoy Sarani crossing after the poet by himself joining a procession.

Mahmudul Hasan Nizami eulogised Poet Nazrul by reciting from his poems and songs and said those covered all aspects of life as well as future thoughts. Nazrul wanted to see the planet by bringing its to grips of his hand. He was first to coin the word Bangladesh in 1922. 

Nizami lamented that some unscrupulous people have inscribed an poem of Poet Rabindranath Tagore at the Mazar of Nazrul. This is not proper and should be replaced with a poem of Nazrul's own, he added.

Bulbul Ahmed depicted Nazrul as a poet who shaped the national thoughts of Bangldesh. 

Rendering of Nazrul Music and recitation from his poem increased the attractions of the function. - GreenWatch News Desk