Annual Activities
October 2014- University of Connecticut (UCONN), Storrs, CT, staged a play “O the ever beautiful jubilant youth arise and take charge”, based on Nazrul’s drama “Jago Sunder Chiro Kishor”. It was jointly sponsored by the Theater Department, Department of English, Asian American Cultural Center and the Nazrul Endowment Committee of UCONN. The actors & actresses were a diverse group of undergraduate students of the University coming from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. The play was translated by Gulshan Ara Kazi.
April 2014– Annual Nazrul Lecture was jointly sponsored by the Nazrul Endowment Committee of California State University, Northridge (CSUN), CA, and Taranga of California (TOC), under the leadership of Mr. Shiper Chowdhury and Mr. Moazzam H. Chowdhury. Prof. Karunamoy Gwashami,an acclaimed Nazrul Scholar of Dhaka, Bangladesh, was the keynote speaker.
May 2013 –Nazrul Endowment Lecture and Cultural Event were held simultaneously at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The event was jointly sponsored by CSUN and Taranga of California. The keynote speech was delivered by Rachel Fell McDermott, Prof. and Chair, Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York. Prof. Phyllis K. Herman, Department Chair, Department of Religious Studies of CSUN made the introductory remarks on the significance of introducing Kazi Nazrul Islam’s literature in the University Curriculum. Nazrul researcher and singer Dr. Leena Taposi Khan and Nazrul singer Mrs. Ferdous Ara made exquisite presentations at the event.
April 2013–Nazrul Endowment Lecture was held at University of Connecticut (UCONN).The event was jointly sponsored by the Asian American Cultural Center, Asian American Studies Institute and Bangladesh Students Association of UCONN. Roger N. Buckley, Prof. of History at UCONN, delivered the introductory remarks on the significance of promoting Kazi Nazrul Islam’s ideology and philosophy in the global context. Nazrul’s poem Shammabadi (Equality) was recited by UCONN students Subrata Saha and Orko Momin. Keynote speech was delivered on the subject of “Human dignity and religious tolerance” by Rachel Fell McDermott, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Asian & Middle Eastern Cultures, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, followed by a panel discussion was by Dr. McDermott, Dr. Amrutur Srinivasan and Dr. Omer Bajwa.
September 2012: Nazrul Endowment program was held at CSUN. The program was jointly sponsored by CSUN and Taranga of California. Keynote speech was presented by Mustafa Ruzger, Prof. of Religious studies of CSUN. Nazrul’s granddaughter, Khil Khil Kazi, acclaimed Nazrul singer, Ferdaus Ara and the Deputy Director of Nazrul Institute, Rezauddin Stalin came from Bangladesh to make presentations at this event.
August 2011:Annual Nazrul Lecture was held at the California State University, Northridge, California (CSUN). The event was jointly sponsored by Taranga of California & the Nazrul Endowed Program at CSUN.A cultural event based on Nazrul’s music, poetry, songs and dance drama was also a part of the program. Prof. MohoshinaAkterKhanom (also known as Leena Taposhi Khan), Chairman, Department of Music, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Mr. Rashid Haider, Executive Director of Nazrul Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh were the guest speakers at this event.
October 2011: Annual Nazrul Lecture was held at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). The event was jointly sponsored by the Bangladeshi Americans of Connecticut, members of UCONN Nazrul Endowment Committee, Asian American Studies Institute and the Asian American Cultural Center of UCONN. Prof. MohoshinaAkterKhanom (also known as Leena Taposhi Khan), Chairman, Department of Music, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Mr. Rashid Haider, Executive Director of Nazrul Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh were the guest speakers at this event.
March 2010:Nazrul Endowment Lecture was held at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). Prof. June McDaniel of University of South Carolina was the keynote speaker.
June 2008: An International conference on Nazrul was held at Nazrul-BurnsCenter, Glasgow University, Scotland. Professor Winston E. Langley delivered the keynote speech. Prof. Zasheem Ahmed was the principal organizer.
Future Events
2016 –North America Nazrul Conference will be held in New York on May 28, 29
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2016 – Annual Nazrul lectures will be held at UCONN & CSUN (dates will be announced later)
October 2010:Annual Nazrul Lecture was sponsored by the Nazrul Endowed program, the Asian American Studies Program and the Asian American Cultural Center of University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (UCONN), USA. Prof. June McDaniel of the College of Charleston, South Carolina, USA, was the keynote speaker. The title of her talk was “A Voice for Progressive Islam”.
October 2010:The fifth Kazi Nazrul Islam Endowed Lectureship Program at the California State University, Northridge, California was held on October 1, 2011. The event was jointly organized by USA based organization Taranga (run by Bangladeshi immigrants) and California State University. A cultural program featuring Nazrul's songs, music, poetry, dances and drama was also held at the event.