RETURNING FROM KOLKATA: The famous creation 'Bidrohi’ of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will attain 100 years in 2021. The poem ‘Bidrohi’ or rebel was composed at a house 3/4 C, Taltala lane of Kolkata. In 2021 Bangladesh will celebrate its 50 years. Only few years later from now. In 1921 in the month of December young Nazrul at the age of only 22 composed his much talked about famous piece of poetry.

So Banglanews took the initiative of physically visit the house at Taltala. After going there it was found that the very important house is no more owned by the then owner. Meanwhile the house had been owned by several owners and also had been renovated and does not carry the very outlook of 1922.

The present owner of the house is Sima Saha who purchased it 6 years back from the previous owner. The present address is: Ma Bipadnashini Kuthir, 3/4 C Taltala Lane Kolkata-14.

Banglanews talked to her and came to learn that she had purchased it six years back and living at the back portion of the hose after some renovation. However, she informed that Nazrul stayed in this house for sometime as a guest. Now there is nothing to see about Nazrul. Still some Bangladeshis visit the place. Banglanews met there another resident of the house Raju Sahawho informed that front part of the house is still unchanged.

In 1999 on birth centenary committee of Nazrul in the connected point of main road and at entrance of this lane set up two inscriptions of ‘Bidrohi’ poetry. Many Bangladeshis come here as to visit a holy place.

One official at Bangladesh High Commission at Kolkata who wanted not to be identified told that this is unknown to us. However we will the matter if necessary we will recover the house and would try to preserve it.

After searching many documents it was learnt that the poem ‘Bidrohi’ was first published in Nazrul’s first collection of books ‘Agni Bina’ as the second poem. This poem was the main piece of collection as written by the writer of ‘Nazrul Charit Manash’ Shushil Kumer Sengupta who also wrote that the poem was composed in 1921 few days back of Durga Puja festival.

Muzaffar Ahmed in later times in his memoirs wrote that the poetry ‘Bidrohi’ was composed 1921 in the month of December. After many examinations and verifications it is established that it was the propitious time of composing the poem.

According to information supplied by poet’s friend Muzaffar Ahmed the poem was composed at the house of 3/4 C, Taltala Lane. In 1920 Nazrul left the army after the 49 Begali Paltan had dissolved Nazrul took shelter in the house of his class mate litterateur Shailajananda Mukherjee’s house. From there he got in other place, next he got his place at Bogio Muslim Sahittya parishad office located at 32, College Street where his friend Muzaffar Ahmed used to reside. Nazrul along with Muzaffar Ahmed had resided in many houses. At the end Nazrul got in 3/4C, Taltala Lane. In his Memoirs Muzaffar Ahmed informed that the whole house was rented by grand sons of Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdurani of Paschimgaon. Muzaffar Ahmed took rent of South-East room of the ground floor.   

‘In this room Kazi Nazrul Islam composed his famous creation ‘Bidrohi’. He composed it in the night. But at what hour I do not know because I got asleep after 10 o’clock. In the morning after I woke up after washing my face when I sat Nazrul in formed me that he has composed a poem. He read out the whole poem and probably I was the first listener of the poem ‘Bidrohi’. ‘

Muzaffar Ahmed informed,’ I think that Nazrul woke up in the small hours of the night and composed it otherwise he could not read it so early in the morning. Generally he was a late riser and he could not wake up so early like me.’

Edited by Shahjahan

BDST: 1910 HRS, APR 15, 2017
EHJ