From: mermmzh@engvms.unl.edu
Subject: Re: Nazrulgeeti (was Re: Rabindra Sangeet)
Organization: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Date: 7 Oct 92 21:28:09 CST

In article <1992Oct6.204347.22618@tamsun.tamu.edu>, adatta@cs.tamu.edu (Abhijit Datta) writes:
> 	However, like some of the other SCBites (e.g. Amitava Banerjee)
> the choice of Nazrul as Bangladesh's National Poet has also struck me as,
> somewhat artificial.
> Could some one please throw some light on this?
> 
> 	Abhijit


Like Sayan, I must say,

                       Ar sob kichu Bhag hoai gachey
                       Bhag hoy ni to Nazrul


Not only Nazrul, I will say the same thing about Rabindranath,
Jibonanando or Sukanto.( I think Jibanananda spent most of the
time of his life in East Bengal). So if someone writes Shamsur
Rehman of Bangladesh or Sunil of West Bengal, I feel that is
O.K. But if someone writes "Nazrul of West Bengal" or "Jibonananda
of East Bengal", I don't feel that he is right. They belong to 
Bengal.

Hence, to choose national poets of Bangladesh ( the number may be
more than one ), one should consider the above poets along with
shamsur Rehman, Jasimuddin, etc. In terms of popularity among the
Bangladeshi Bengalis and the influence on the national life, no
other poets come close to Rabindranath and Nazrul.

In the 30's Bengali Muslims were laging behind in almost
every sphere of life. Specially the condition of the Bengali Muslim
women were really bad. they were not allowed to come out of their
home, they were not allowed to go to school. The leadership of
the society were in the hands of the conservatives ( like the Nawabs
of Dhaka ). During that time few persons like Begum Rokeya, Nazrul
and Nasiruddin showed their courage to bring the light of 
progressiveness in the Muslim society. Nazrul's writings ( I am not
talking about the quality ) were most effective in propagating the
progessive ideas to stir the Muslim youths of Bengal. Actually
Nazrul through Shawgat ( a magazine used to be published from Calcutta)
created a nucleas of a noncommunal progressive force in the society
of Bengali Muslims. This force provided the leadership in the Language
and other progressive movements in the East Bengal during 50's.

Now, in he 60's people observed the growth of Bengali Nationalism.
There is no doubt in anybody's mind that the Rabindranath was the
driving force behind that. In fact that time Rabindranath became
the symbol of Bengali nationalism in the mind of the East Bengalis.
It was so powerful in the minds of the people that Pakistan govt.
once considered to ban Rabindra shangeet.

That is why the popularity of this two poets are so high in Bangladesh.
Rabindranath is the writer of our national anthem. " Rabindra Utshav"
and "Nazrul Utshav" are  celebrated officially. Anyone from outside
will be able to feel easily, how these two poets are honoured in
Bangladesh.

There were no national poet officially until 1988 (probably) when
Ershad govt. declared Nazrul as the national poet. Surprisingly
the name of rabindranath was missing ( what a shame). [ it is
interesting to note that the group which tries to portray Nazrul
as an Islamic poet, used to call him a Kafir or half-Muslim during
30,s and 40's ]

So, I don't know why a lot of our West Bengali friends think that
Nazrul is not qualified to become a national poet of Bangladesh
and it is done artificially only because he is  Muslim. I think
he deserves to be a national poet of bangladesh.

In my opinion, the question should be, why the name of Rabindranath
is not there as a national poet? Is it because he is a non-Muslim?
( considering everything, his name should come first. )

But it does'nt matter what the govt. says. Bangladeshi people
love Rabindranath and Nazrul from deep inside their heart.

---Zakir
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh