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Inter-religious Harmony in Nazrul’s thoughts and writings

Thus a great part of Nazrul’s poems depict his concept of Hindu-Muslim friendship, inspired by Humanism. It needs to be pointed out that Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is the only poet in modern Bengali Literature who has used with equal ease inspirations, similes, metaphors and usages from both the Hindu and Muslim tradition. On the one hand Nazrul is one of the best writers of Kalikirtan. On the other hand, Nazrul introduced Islamic songs in Bengali and translated Ampara in Bengali and wrote Marubhaskar the life of prophet Muhammad (Sm) in Bengali verse. It is interesting to note that in some cases he has drawn comparable pictures. In one of his famous Kalikirtan Nazrul wrote:

How much longer will you stay hidden behind a clay statue? Heaven today is subjugated by merciless tyrants. God’s children are getting whipped, the heroic youth– hanged. India today is a slaughter house– when will you arrive, O Destroyer? –Anandomoyeer Agamoney (Upon advent of the goddess of joy)

In a letter to Principal Ibrahim Khan Nazrul has affirmed ‘I believe in full unity of Hindus and Muslims. That is why I employ Muslim diction and cite the names of Hindu deities in order to shatter the prevailing prejudices. For this sometimes the quality of my poems was compromised but I do so deliberately.’ This confession amply reveals Nazrul’s artistic aspiration. The urge for Hindu-Muslim unity dominates Nazrul’s poetry. It should be remembered that in the history of modern Bengali poetry Nazrul Islam is the only poet who has been able to use both Hindu and Muslim tradition with equal ease. He has derived themes, imagery and similes from both the traditions. On the one hand he is the writer of the finest eulogistic poems in honour of the goddess Kali and on the other hand he authored the Islamic songs and poems like Aampara and Morubhaskar. There are instances where the imagery used in devotional poems to Kali and Islamic Na’at (Hymns of praise) are similar. For example in his famous Kalikirtan Nazrul wrote:

Come, see the dance of light Under the feet of my black daughter. Seeing the beauty of the mother Shiva offers his breast In his hand is death and living,

The child sun and moon swing in the dark lap of my mother. That big blue sky is a little spark of her beauty. – Banageety (Woodland Songs)