Nazrul memorial centres in Trishal in poor state

Two memorial centres in Mymensingh established some 14 years ago to keep alive the childhood memories of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam are yet to be enriched with necessary inputs.

The centres titled 'Nazrul Smriti Kendras' were established at Kazir Shimla and Namapara of Darirampur in Trishal in 2003, said sources.

Nazrul, born at village Churulia of Burdwan district in West Bengal in 1899, was brought to Kazir Shimla in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh in 1913 by Kazi Rafizullah, a Muslim police sub-inspector then posted at Burdwan. 

“The collections of Nazrul's memorabilia at the centres have been the same for years and so the centres do not draw attention of visitors as expected,” said Kazi Anwar Hossain, grandson of Kazi Rafizullah.

“The centres could be a cultural hub of the country if they are enriched with memorabilia and many other cultural courses and activities,” said Kazi Anwar.

No renovation work of the centers was done in last 14 years and cracks developed on a second floor's wall of Kazir Shimla Smriti Kendra three years ago but no steps have been taken yet, according to sources.

The memorabilia at the centres include rare gramophones and records released by His Masters Voice Company, handwritten scripts of the poet in Bangla, English, Hindi and Urdu, some photographs of the poet and his family members and a couch.

The libraries at the centres have not been expanded with sufficient books of Nazrul and other writers. Only three daily newspapers, including two at Namapara centre, are available, according to sources. 

“If the library facilities and Nazrul memorabilia are increased, the number of visitors will increase hopefully,” said Kazi Moyeen Uddin, an Honours student of the locality.

“There is a lot of Nazrul memorabilia stored at National Museum and the centres could be enriched through proper coordination between Nazrul Institute and National Museum authorities,” said an official. 

A photo gallery of 125 photographs of Nazrul was opened at Nazrul Library, adjacent to Kazir Shimla Centre in April this year. The three-room tin-shed house was earlier used as Nazrul Library since 1974, run by Mymensingh Zila Parishad.

“The centers could also be the place of learning classical music and Nazrul Sangeet,” said an official.

“However, a year-long training course on “Nazrul's Shudhha Sur and Bani” by Nazrul Institute introduced at Namapara centre last year is stopped now,” said Akhtaruzzaman Mondol, in-charge of the centres.

“A total of 36 students were enrolled at the centre and of them, 16 sat for examination held in February this year,” said the official adding, “They hope to restart the course in July this year.”

“To make the centres abuzz, more courses on classical music and dance, poetry recitation and fine arts should be introduced at both centres,” said veteran classical maestro Ustad Sunil Kumar Dhar.