Govt to help translate Nazrul's work

Dhaka, June 24 (bdnews24.com)?The government will help those who will take initiative to translate literary works of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam into all major languages, the prime minister has declared.

"Nazrul's writings should be translated in the world's all popular languages. And the government will assist whoever takes such an initiative," Sheikh Hasina said on Friday.

She was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day International Nazrul Conference, being organised by the Nazrul Institute and the cultural affairs ministry to mark the completion of 90 years of Bidrohee (The Rebel), one of the poet's greatest poems ? at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

The revolutionary poet, through his poem Bidrohee, had raised voice against the British colonial rule, leading the British rulers to ban the poem.

Hasina stressed the need for conducting more research on the work of Nazrul. "Nazrul's writings must be presented in an easy to understand manner to ensure that everyone can realise the depth of his work."

She asked all to stand against injustice and repression in line with the spirit of the rebel poet. "Nazrul had urged women to directly revolt against repression. I also urge women to be rebellious," she added.

The prime minister said her government had plans to establish Nazrul centres at Dharmasagar of Comilla, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Manikganj.

Hasina recalled the contribution of Nazrul in the life of independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and herself. "The slogan 'Joy Bangla' came from his writing too."

Chairman of Nazrul Institute Prof Rafiqul Islam presided over the inaugural session of the conference, where information minister Abul Kalam Azad, state minister for cultural affairs Promod Mankin, and Nazrul's grand-daughter Khilkhil Kazi were also present.

The two-day conference will be attended by Nazrul researchers from the UK, Netherlands and China. Fourteen artists from Bangladesh and India are also set to join the programme.

Nazrul's 112th birth anniversary was celebrated in a befitting manner both in Bangladesh and India on May 25.

Nazrul enriched all spheres of Bengali culture ? literature, music, plays and films. The revolutionary Bangla poet and great lyricist was born on May 25 in 1899 at Bardhaman of West Bengal.

At the age of 43 in 1942, he began suffering from an unknown disease for which he lost his voice and memory. It is often said the reason was slow poisoning by the then British government.

His songs and poems were also a major source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.

After the independence, Nazrul was brought to Dhaka. The University of Dhaka conferred the honorary D Litt on him on Dec 9, 1974 for his lifetime contribution to enriching Bengali literature.

The government in 1976 honoured him with the Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian award.

Nazrul was laid to rest beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque after his death on Aug 29, 1976.

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