Laila Afroze is well known for poetry reading/recitation. She, like many others, believes that the Bangladeshi culture revolves around a few of the greatest names in the areas of music, dance and literature- one of them being Kazi Nazrul Islam. “When Bangladeshi culture is discussed, whether the past, present, or the future, Nazrul's name will always be one of the first to come up,” says Afroze.
Nazrul saw things and recognised things differently. “One of the first things that I would like to say is how Nazrul saw and appreciated women, for example, in his poem 'Nari',” says Afroze. She elaborates, “In the poem he talks about a woman being just as, if not more, important to the world as a man is. Yet, she is a victim of time and situation. Still, she holds her head high as she protects her dignity and struggles through life in this biased and discriminatory world. The strength of a woman is beautifully portrayed in the poem. ”
Nazrul did not have much time on his hands for writing—he spent a lot of time working and fighting wars. But the amount of time that he had was enough for him to recognise Bangladesh for what it is. “A lot of Nazrul's poems influence me. But the one that touched my heart the most is the poem 'Bangladesh',” says Afroze. “When Nazrul had seen how a Bangladeshi was different from all those who he had met around the world, he recognised the beauty and uniqueness in a Bangali's way of life. He knew just then that this country needed its own identity. Nazrul knew the importance of Bangladesh long before Bangladesh had happened. And being a Bangladeshi, this poem always lifts my soul and makes me proud to be one,” she elaborates.
Nazrul gave the world a lot more than the world could give him. And even though he is gone, he has left us with his mind, heart and soul through his writing, which makes him immortal.