The 48th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being observed today. Nazrul, revered as Bidrohi Kobi for his activism for political and social justice, breathed his last in Dhaka on this day in 1976 at the age of 77.
Nazrul reached the peak of his fame in 1922 with Bidrohi, The Rebel, which remains his most famous work among many others, winning the admiration of India's literary society for his description of a rebel.
Nazrul started a bi-weekly magazine, Dhumketu or 'Comet' on 12 August 1922 that was critical of the British Empire.
All his life Nazrul fought against fundamentalism, superstition and ritualistic social behaviour, especially among Muslims.
Among Nazrul's literary works ---the most notable were Byathar Dan, Agni-vina, Yugavani, 'Pralayollas', 'Agamani', 'Kheya-parer Tarani', 'Shat-il-Arab', 'Vidrohi' and 'Kamal Pasha', created a stir in Bangla literature and proved to be a turning point in Bangla poetry.
Nazrul composed more than 2,600 songs, many of which have been lost. In total, he wrote and composed about 4,000 songs, known collectively as Nazrul Geeti.
In 1976 Nazrul was given Bangladesh's citizenship, along with the recognition of Poet Laureate and DLit from Dhaka University, the Oxford of the East. He was brought to Dhaka in 1972.