Nazrul made similar statement while delivering the last speech of his life in 1941. In his speech “If the flute doesn’t play anymore”, he stated:
(Excerpt)
If, reincarnated by the cadence of your love, I ever return to this world , I will not come as Nazrul you know, this Nazrul will be long gone through the door of death. I will come not as a Muslim nor a Hindu but as someone rising above all religion, as the disciple of the one and only Lord of the Universe!”
Tragically, in 1943, Nazrul became seriously ill and he was subsequently unable to speak, write, or communicate. He would spend the next three decades incapacitated and eventually passed away in 1976. Sadly, the man whose songs, poetry, and inspiring speeches once ignied hope among his fellow Indians would stare helplessly in a room surrounded by flowers as his own poem summarizes:
O poet, surrounded by the beautiful flowers amidst the musical soiree
Why are you so quiet?
Your poignant face brings tears in the morning breeze
The Vina that is lying near your feet
Is still filled with vibrant tunes
Let your touch make it play euphoric melody
Let it resonate all around
Let the sky and air be filled with the beauty of the tune
So, who was Nazrul? Although the answer appears to be quite complex, he was in the end a simple man with extraordinary talent, indomitable conviction and intense desire to do well to the world. And his vision is even more relevant today, when we are faced with the enormity of religious conflict, human rights violation, global struggle, and racist politics. We must therefore work together to continue to make Nazrul’s dream a reality, and commit ourselves to bulding a world of peace and harmony.
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