A poet who denounced the imperialists

M A Hossain

For many reasons, the national poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam will remain as an iconic figure to anti imperialist forces around the world. Born in a poor family, Nazrul could not pursue higher education due to acute financial hardship. But he emerged not only as a great revolutionary poet but also as a mighty writer and an extremely courageous newspaper editor.

In West Bengal in India, poet Sukanta is respected as a great revolutionarist, who too portrayed the social imbalances through his writings. Sukanta's poems Runner or Obak Prithibi are considered as epic. His poems and songs played a vital role in the anti - British movements in India, which ultimately led to the emergence of an independent India. Unfortunately, Sukanta does not enjoy appreciation from the ruling elites in today's Hindi- language dominated Indian politics.

Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore, a Nobel laureate was born in a rich and influential family. He and his ancestors  were landlords. Tagore had opportunity of writing novels,poems and song sitting in the luxurious cushions of elegance. He was an ever romantic individual, who would fall in love with anyone much younger in age and create superb novels, poems and songs expressing his infinite romance and physical desires for them.

During the British imperialist rule in India Tagore penned a poem in the honour of King Edward the 8th - which surprisingly had been selected as the national anthem of independent India by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi- the freedom fighters who fought against the British rulers.

In case of Bangladesh, we truly are blessed with a national poet who not only stood firm against social imbalances and imperialist rulers as well as brutal dictatorships,but also his songs and poems had played vital role in the 1952-language movement ;1969-mass revolt against Pakistan ;1971- war of independence of Bangladesh ;and subsequent military dictatorships and elected autocracies in Bangladesh. For these reasons, Nazrul has a special place in the heart of the people of Bangladesh. But,dictators and autocrats would never like him. Instead, they would make frantic efforts in placing Tagore at a higher position than Nazrul.

Founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not only a great patriot but also a mighty anti imperialist. He had always opposed to autocracy and dictatorship. That is why he was a great fan and admirer of Kazi Nazul Islam. It was him who recognised  Nazrul as the national poet of Bangladesh.

But everyone is not Mujib! Instead Bangladesh has unfortunately gone into the hands of corrupts,dictators and autocrats- time and again ; and to all of them Nazrul emerged as a great 'class enemy'. That is why, they had adopted a policy of promoting Tagore as the greatest poet and had always made foul attempt either of ignoring or even denouncing Nazrul.

People may argue with me saying Tagore was much bigger figure than Nazrul and had enjoyed global repute. I never said, Tagore is smaller than Nazrul. And if we have to look for great poets and writers beyond our boarder then certainly we can find legendary figures like William Shakespeare, Allama Iqbal, Mirza Ghalib,Jalal Uddin Rumy,Mark Twain and many others. In the name of appreciating this great souls and legendary figures we really can't afford to ignore our own national poet.

That is the point of my argument and dismay.