We will discuss Early Life and Education of Kazi Nazrul Islam today. Kazi Nazrul Islam, widely recognized as “Bidrohi Kobi” or the “Rebel Poet,” is a legendary figure in the Bengali literary landscape and the national poet of Bangladesh. Born on May 24, 1899, in the village of Churulia, in the Paschimbanga state of British India (now West Bengal, India), Nazrul’s life journey and his rise as a prominent literary figure was marked by a series of challenges and transformations.
Early Life and Education of Kazi Nazrul Islam
Nazrul was born into a humble family. His father, Kazi Faqeer Ahmed, was an Imam and caretaker of the local mosque and a mausoleum. His mother, Zaheda Khatun, was a homemaker who instilled in Nazrul a deep sense of religiosity and love for music and literature. Unfortunately, the early death of Nazrul’s father when he was only ten brought severe financial hardship to the family and marked the end of his formal schooling.
Despite these challenging circumstances, Nazrul continued his education informally. He was introduced to the world of poetry, music, and spiritual philosophy through the Sufi lodges (khanka) and places of folk theater in his village. He took lessons in Persian from a local Maulvi and learned about Arabic literature and Islamic history. He also acquired knowledge of Sanskrit scriptures and Hindu philosophy, laying the foundation for his secular outlook and broad perspective that would later infuse his literary work.
At the age of twelve, to support his family financially, Nazrul joined a theatrical group, “Letor Dal,” where he worked in various capacities, including actor, musician, and composer. His exposure to folk theater had a significant impact on him, exposing him to a wide range of Bengali folk music, dance forms, and dramatic traditions.
By the age of sixteen, he was serving as a muezzin at a mosque in the district of Burdwan. It was during this period that he started writing poetry seriously, inspired by the patriotic fervor that was sweeping across the country due to the ongoing Indian independence movement.
In 1917, Nazrul left his village life to join the British Indian Army, where he served in the 49th Bengal Regiment during World War I. His experiences in the army and exposure to the harsh realities of war were instrumental in shaping his rebellious spirit and became a powerful source of inspiration for his subsequent literary work. It was during this period that he started publishing his writings, which included the fiery “Mukti” (“Freedom”) and “Badhon Hara” (“Chain-Breaker”), foreshadowing his emergence as the “Rebel Poet.”
After the war, Nazrul settled in Calcutta (now Kolkata), the hub of intellectual and political activities, and pursued his education at the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. He studied Bengali literature, philosophy, and English literature, expanding his intellectual horizons.
Nazrul’s early life was steeped in a rich cultural milieu that significantly influenced his literature and music. He was exposed to the folk and traditional music of Bengal, including mystical Baul melodies, from an early age. His mother’s lullabies were his first introduction to music. He learned to play the flute while tending cows, and this early exposure to musical rhythms deeply influenced his poetic and musical style.
He had a diverse religious and philosophical education. Though he studied Islamic teachings in the traditional maktab (religious school), he was also well-versed in Hindu scriptures, thanks to the teachings of his Hindu friends. This broad religious perspective contributed significantly to the secular and harmonizing spirit that permeates Nazrul’s literary and musical works.
Working as a muezzin, he mastered Arabic and Persian languages, which he later used in his poems and songs. His deep love for Persian poetry, particularly that of Hafiz, Rumi, and Omar Khayyam, had a profound influence on his own poetic style.
Nazrul’s stint in the British Indian Army during World War I not only exposed him to the horrors of war but also to different cultures and languages. He developed a keen interest in learning and mastered the harmonium and the flute. He also learned a significant amount of English, which enabled him to read the works of Western authors and philosophers, enhancing his understanding of global literature and philosophy.
His life in Kolkata marked a significant phase in his literary career. Kolkata was a center of literary and political activities, and it offered him an environment in which he could hone his literary talents. He was introduced to the works of Rabindranath Tagore and other eminent Bengali writers. Despite the limited formal education he received, Nazrul managed to acquire a broad knowledge base, which is reflected in the vast range of themes and styles present in his works.
Kazi Nazrul Islam’s early life and education played a fundamental role in shaping his artistic journey. His humble beginnings, his diverse experiences, and his insatiable thirst for knowledge endowed him with a unique artistic voice that combined the folksy charm of rural Bengal, the philosophical depth of Eastern and Western thought, and the fiery spirit of rebellion. The pain of early hardship, the agony of war, and the fervor for independence were all transmuted into powerful poetry and songs that continue to resonate with people across generations.
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