Nazrul’s 42nd death anniversary today

M Humayun Kabir: The 42nd death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed today with due respect across the country.
Nazrul, revered as Bidrohi Kobi (a rebel poet) for his activism for political and social justice, breathed his last in Dhaka on 12th Bhadro of Bangla calendar year 1383 (August 29, 1976) at the age of 77. He was laid to eternal rest with full state honours beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Different socio-cultural and political organizations have already chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the occasion while television channels will air special programmes on his works and life to observe the day, reports UNB.
The programmes will start with Qurankhwani after Fajr prayers at Dhaka University (DU) Central Mosque by different organizations while a discussion will also be held at the campus.
Later, teachers and students of the Dhaka University and other political and socio-cultural organisations will place wreaths at the grave of the national poet in the morning.
Bangla Academy will organise a lecture session followed by a cultural show at its Poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium at 4 pm on August 30.
Professor Vishmo Deb Chowdhury will deliver the key speech while National Professor Dr Rafiqul Islam will preside over the session.
Many other organizations will also arrange special programmes featuring discussion and musical events across the country.
Nazrul produced a large body of poetry and music with themes that included religious devotion and spiritual rebellion against all sorts of oppression.
Nazrul’s powerful poems inspired people to fight against all kinds of odds and injustice and repression during the colonial rule while his songs and poems were also a great source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.
‘Nazrul Padak 2017’ conferred by Nazrul Institute will be given on the day at a programme to be held at National Museum with Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu scheduled to attend as chief guest.
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on May 24 in 1899 at Churulia village in Asansol subdivision of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.