Was poet Nazrul Islam a Communist?

[Naeem Mohaiemen]

Was Nazrul a Communist?
By Mansoor Mamoon
DS 6/1

Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, as he is endearingly called by his
admirers, had a
genuine proletarian background being forced to work as a hotel boy and
do other
errand jobs for his sustenance in his juvenile days. He also identified
himself with
the causes of the toiling masses - the peasants, workers and the
underdogs in the
society - boldly using his mighty pen against the colonial rulers as
well as against
all social discrimination, exploitation, oppression, communalism,
fundamentalism
and other vices that afflict humanity. Nazrul was essentially a
trend-setter in
Bangla literature. He had the singular credit of placing for the first
time in the
annals of Bangla literature the sorrows and sufferings and the trials
and
tribulations of the have-nots. He was a rebel to the marrow and used his
pen as a
weapon against all sorts of exploiters and steadfastly upheld the
interest of the
working class, the lowest of the low in the society. He was not only a
poet, a
composer, a novelist and short story writer but also a journalist and a
political
activist fearlessly marching in the street undergoing imprisonment and
resorting
to hunger strike for furthering the cause of the people under bondage
around him.

The Bholshevik Revolution in 1917 and the socialist state left a deep
and lasting
imprint in his mind and greatly imbued him to write for the working
class. Through
his writings he waged a relentless craving in a bid to help promote a
similar
revolution in his motherland. In his novel "Byathar Daan" (Gift of Pain)
he openly
eulogised the heroic resistance of the Soviet Red Army against the
imperialist
aggression in the early days of the October Revolution. At that time he
was
working in the British Army as a 'Habildar' (JCO) but was not least
scared to do so
despite the fear of incurring the possible wrath of the British rulers.
Despite the
fact that political discussions were strictly prohibited in the barracks
of the
British Army, Nazrul one night organised a discussion meeting on the
merit of
Soviet revolution followed by night long session of Revolutionary songs
sung and
composed by the poet himself.

In Calcutta, Nazrul came in close contact with Muzaffar Ahmed, a
founding member
and leader of the Indian Communist Party, who greatly influenced him.
Muzaffar
Ahmed acted as his guide, friend and philosopher and moulded his thought
process
inspiring him to write for the commonmen and to uphold their interest.
Nazrul
first edited a weekly titled 'Langal' (the plough) which was
subsequently
transformed into 'Ganabaani' or the message for the masses. In the
Ganabaani the
Manifesto of the Communist Party by Marx and Engels was serialised into
Bangla
and fiery poems written by Nazrul himself were published, one of which
was
proscribed by the British government and brought for the poet a jail
sentence after
being charged with sedition.

In the later part of 1921 Nazrul was very much with Muzaffar Ahmed when
they
were contemplating to form the Indian Communist Party and together with
their
friends they purchased a number of Marxist literature for the purpose.
Though he
had little knowledge of Maxims he was although associated with the party
in one
way or the other. In 1924 he had a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi which
resulted in
his musing of "Charkhar Gaan (Song of the looms). But he opposed
Gandhi's way of
bringing 'Swaraj' (self-rule) rebuffing it as a political gimmick and
wrote "the
hungry child does not want Swaraj, what he needs direly is a morsel of
rice with
salt." Along with his associates in the Communist Party Nazrul thought
that
Gandhi's politics was out of tune with the real requirement of the
masses and had
been stalled at what he described as "the stony environment of the
leaders led by
the Mahatmas." Like his friends in the Communist Party he also opined
that the
Gandhian doctrine is grotesque and sterile. According to Nazrul these
might have
appeals to affluent intelligentia but to the hungry people these would
not have any
lasting charm.

Nazrul used to work among those living in slums. He was also frequently
invited by
factory workers for entertaining and inspiring them with his fiery
songs.

Thus in all his works and deeds Nazrul stood for the suffering humanity.
He was
like the noted Chinese poet Lu Tsun who though directly not a member of
the
Chinese Communist Party promoted the cause of his country's revolution.
Like
Maxim Gorky he played a catalytic role in inspiring the people and
arousing their
consciousness. Through his life-style Nazrul proved beyond any shadow of
doubt
that he was more than a true communist. A revolutionary, all through his
creative
life Nazrul truly proved that he, in fact, had a flute in one hand and a
war trumpet
in the other.' His life, writings and ideals would forever inspire and
imbibe the
people and guide them towards their total emancipation.

Nazrul has been idolised as Bangladesh's National Poet. But had Nazrul
been living
today he would have readily revolted against the sorry state of affairs
in
Bangladesh, against poverty, degradation, and fanaticism, against the
prevalence
of Fatwa, repression on women, the ruthless exploitation of the peasants
and
workers, communalism, corruption, greed and lust of the affluent elite
class and
perpetuation of their hegemony, degeneration and decadence of moral
values and
prevalence of other vices. Nazrul must be turning in his grave in agony
and anguish
at the hullabaloo centering the celebration of his birth centenary,
particularly by
those who are least acquainted with what the poet really stood for - the
total
emancipation of the masses.

[ba...@lsem.com]

Nazrul is "more than a true communist."

Nazrul is "our greatest 'weapon' to fight against all kinds of
intolerance, inequality, autocracy and exigencies."

[The Daily Star, June 3, 1998]

Speakers at discussion
Nazrul our greatest 'weapon' to fight communalsm

By Staff Correspondent

Speakers at a discussion yesterday called upon the people to be
united against conspiracies by vested quarters who are trying to
distort and bifurcate Nazrul Islam to gain political interest.

Terming Nazrul Islam as one of the foremost crusaders against
communalism, fundamentalism and orthodoxy in religion the speakers
said that poet is the ceaseless inspiration of our struggle for
building a progressive and secular nation conceived in the writings
of the 'rebel poet.'

Pointing to fundamentalism, the speakers said that Nazrul is our
greatest 'weapon' to fight against all kinds of intolerance,
inequality, autocracy and exigencies.

Organised by Sammilito Sangskritik Jote (SSJ), the discussion was
held at the Public Library auditorium as part of the year-long
Nazrul birth centenary celebrations in the city yesterday.

Former Chief Adviser of caretaker government in 1996, Justice
Habibur Rahman inaugurated the three-day programme as chief guest.
SSJ president Ramendu Mojumder was in the chair.

Noted actor Khaled Khan conducted the programme while Kamal Lohani
and poet Shamsur Rahman took part in the discussion.

SSJ general secretary Golam Quddus delivered the address of welcome.

A reception was also accorded to Nazrul singers Sheikh Lutfor Rahman
(posthumous), Sudhin Das, Firoza Begum and Sohrab Hossain for their
life-long contribution in this field.

Convenor of the year-long Nazrul birth centenary celebrations Kamal
Lohani said that a vested quarters has been using Nazrul Islam to
gain political interest since the Pakistan regime and urged all to
be active against the conspiracies.

[The Daily Star, June 3, 1998]

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[nkd...@my-dejanews.com]

In some sense, Tagore and Nazrul in Bengali literature
are like Tolstoy and Gorky in Russian literature.
Bengali literature wouldn't have been what it is today
without either Tagore or Nazrul.

Tagore had responded to leftist criticism in his poem
"oikatan." by musing that his class background may have
come in the way of his creative efforts inspite of his attempt
to sing on every note in the symphony of our life. In my opinion,
Tagore was being unduly harsh on himself. And Nazrul more
than made up for any omission on Tagore's part.

Was Nazrul a Communist? Muzaffar Ahmed was certainly a
major influence in his life. Words like Sarbohara and Samyabad
occur more frequency in his works than in the works of any other
Bengali poet of his time. But Nazrul himself may not have cared
much for a label to characterize his political beliefs. He was a
humanist, first and last. Chandidas had written many centuries ago:

"Shonorey manush bhai
Sabar uporey manush satya
tahar uporey nai."

Nazrul echoed exactly the same sentiment as he sang the song of
samya.

In article <35742B...@hbo.nospam.com>,

[M. Harun uz Zaman]

Nazrul was not a Communist in the doctrinaire sense. He, however,
identified strongly with the working class, and made himself a militant
voice against class exploitation. He articulated the religious values
and aspirations of Bengalis (both Muslims and Hindus) with an
inimitable artistry, and yet attacked religious prejudice with an
extraordinary ferocity. His romantic poems and songs have a depth of
passion and a heart-rending ("redoy ningrano") quality rarely matched
by anyone before, during, and after his time.

It would indeed be difficult to pigeonhole the complex man and his
unique genius. He was a combination of the militant socialist,
the devout Sufi, and the passionate lover. One can perhaps most
closely characterize Nazrul's intellectual orientation as
"post-modernist."

Best wishes.

M. Harun uz Zaman, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University

Here are some of my favorite samples from Nazrul.

* "Khudatur shishu chaina Swaraj, chai duto bhat ektu noon."

* "Miththa shunini bhai, ai ridoyer cheye boro kono Mandir Kaba nai."

* "Mora ar janame hangsha mithun chilam."

[Sohel Q. Khan]

On Tue, 2 Jun 1998, Naeem Mohaiemen wrote:

> Was Nazrul a Communist?
> By Mansoor Mamoon
> DS 6/1

"Poet Nazrul was a Communist!"
"Poet Rabindranath Tagore was a Capitalists!"
Now, my dear WBengali friends, whom will you love more?
In the display of the last Durga Puja at Kansas City, the number of
Rabindra cassettes were more than 20 times than the Nazrul's
cassettes. A Rabindra Sangeet was sung along with a Vupen
Hazarika's song "Dola hey dola..." During dinner, someone was
singing a few Bangladeshi Palli Gitis. Unfortunately, nobody
had courage to sing a Nazrul's song. Now that Naeem disclosed the
fact of Nazrul's communist connection, will the WBenglis start singing
Nazrul's song?
( Perhaps answer will be, "Sohel is a Pagol")

##
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[nda...@aol.com]

In article <Pine.OSF.3.95q.98060...@falcon.cc.ukans.edu>,

"Sohel Q. Khan" <sk...@falcon.cc.ukans.edu> wrote:
>
> On Tue, 2 Jun 1998, Naeem Mohaiemen wrote:
>
> > Was Nazrul a Communist?
> > By Mansoor Mamoon
> > DS 6/1
>
> "Poet Nazrul was a Communist!"
> "Poet Rabindranath Tagore was a Capitalists!"
> Now, my dear WBengali friends, whom will you love more?
> In the display of the last Durga Puja at Kansas City, the number of
> Rabindra cassettes were more than 20 times than the Nazrul's
> cassettes. A Rabindra Sangeet was sung along with a Vupen
> Hazarika's song "Dola hey dola..." During dinner, someone was
> singing a few Bangladeshi Palli Gitis. Unfortunately, nobody
> had courage to sing a Nazrul's song.

Was Mr. Sohel Q. Khan aware of any edict against the singing of Nazrul
Geeti at the Durga Puja in Kansas City? Why does he think it would have
been an act of courage to sing Nazrul Geeti at that Durga Puja?
Is Mr. Khan implying that it was a capitalist plot having something to
do with anti-Communist sentiments? But, then again, Bhupen Hazarika's
"Dola hey dola.." was sung at the said Puja. Surely the Hazarika song
is just as subversive as a song can be if it were by a hardened
"Communist."

> Now that Naeem disclosed the
> fact of Nazrul's communist connection, will the WBenglis start singing
> Nazrul's song?
>

Why do they have to "start" singing Nazrul's songs? Had they ever stopped?

> ( Perhaps answer will be, "Sohel is a Pagol")

That is certainly not my answer. But I am indeed intrigued because I am not
quite sure what Mr. Sohel Q. Khan is trying to say? Is he trying to say that
it is frowned upon to sing Nazrul Geeti at a Durga Puja? Is it fair to come
to this conclusion on the basis of a single sample, namely, the 1997 Durga
Puja at Kansas City?

Is Mr. Sohel Q. Khan suggesting that Communists should sing Nazrul Geeti to
the exclusion of Rabindra Sabgeet? Would Nazrul Islam have approved of Mr.
Khan's suggestion if he were alive?

[nkd...@my-dejanews.com]

In article <6l40vh$qm9$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,

nkd...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> In some sense, Tagore and Nazrul in Bengali literature
> are like Tolstoy and Gorky in Russian literature.
> Bengali literature wouldn't have been what it is today
> without either Tagore or Nazrul.
>
> Tagore had responded to leftist criticism in his poem
> "oikatan." by musing that his class background may have
> come in the way of his creative efforts inspite of his attempt
> to sing on every note in the symphony of our life. In my opinion,
> Tagore was being unduly harsh on himself. And Nazrul more
> than made up for any omission on Tagore's part.
>
> Was Nazrul a Communist? Muzaffar Ahmed was certainly a
> major influence in his life. Words like Sarbohara and Samyabad
> occur more frequency in his works than in the works of any other
> Bengali poet of his time. But Nazrul himself may not have cared
> much for a label to characterize his political beliefs. He was a
> humanist, first and last. Chandidas had written many centuries ago:
>
> "Shonorey manush bhai
> Sabar uporey manush satya
> tahar uporey nai."
>
> Nazrul echoed exactly the same sentiment as he sang the song of
> samya.
>

Gahi Samyer gan-
Manusher cheye boro kichhu nai,
nohey kichhu mohiyan!
- Kazi Nazrul Islam

[Abhijit Mitra]

nda...@aol.com writes:

>Is Mr. Sohel Q. Khan suggesting that Communists should sing Nazrul Geeti to
>the exclusion of Rabindra Sabgeet?

No, Sohel is suggesting that WBengalis dont like Nazrul coz hes Muslim. Sohels
also suggesting - by calling Tagore a capitalist - that this whole ideology
thing is hypocritical, since we would rather listen to a capitalistic hindu
rather than a communist mussalmaan.

Btw, why does Mr Sohel Ji think Tagore was a capitalist?

[nkd...@my-dejanews.com]

In article <6lhr2m$i3t$1...@romulus.rutgers.edu>,
mi...@romulus.rutgers.edu (Abhijit Mitra) wrote:

>
> nda...@aol.com writes:
>
> >Is Mr. Sohel Q. Khan suggesting that Communists should sing Nazrul Geeti to
> >the exclusion of Rabindra Sabgeet?
>

> No, Sohel is suggesting that WBengalis dont like Nazrul coz hes Muslim. Sohels
> also suggesting - by calling Tagore a capitalist - that this whole ideology
> thing is hypocritical, since we would rather listen to a capitalistic hindu
> rather than a communist mussalmaan.
>
> Btw, why does Mr Sohel Ji think Tagore was a capitalist?
>
>

Mr. Abhijit Mitra's interpretation sounds plausible.
But it might not be the right one.
Mr. Khan might be quite ambivalent about Tagore.
For example, in another posting (see below) Mr. Khan
had volunteered his belief that "Gahi Samyer Gan" was
by Tagore. In fact Mr. Khan very explicitly stated that Tagore's
"Gahi Samyer gan" was his favorite poem. Would he have
said that if he believed that Tagore was a spokesman of the
capitalists? Of course, it is another matter that
"Gahi Samyer Gan" is really by Nazrul.

==================================================================
Subject: Re: POETIC RESPONSE TO GENOCIDEof 1971
From: nda...@aol.com
Date: 1998/04/25
Message-ID: <6hs8it$p3v$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.bengali

In article <Pine.OSF.3.95q.98042...@falcon.cc.ukans.edu>,

"Sohel Q. Khan" <sk...@falcon.cc.ukans.edu> wrote:
>

[deleted]
>
> He pointed out to me the two
> sentences of Rabi Tagore.

I could have quoted Kazi Nazrul Islam as well.

"Jara kerey khay tetrish koti mukher grash
Jeno lekha hoy amar rakta-lekhay tader sarnbonash."

In fact bidrohi kobi Nazrul was usually far more explicit than
Robi Thakur in denouncing the oppressors.

[deleted]

> Those who are
> thinking I don't like Bangla poets, I just want to let you know that
> my favourite poem is "Gahi Shammer Gan" by Rabi Tagore.
>

There are more than one poem by Kazi Nazrul Islam starting with the words,
"Gahi samyer gan." But I am not aware of any by Rabi Thakur beginning with
the same words.