‘Nazrul initiated our awakening’

Professor Rafiqul Islam was a writer, linguist, researcher and an educationist. He was the first Nazrul professor and director of Nazrul Research Institute at the Bangla department of Dhaka University (DU). His glorious contributions towards society and the nation have been recognised with the Independence Day Award, Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award and Nazrul Academy Award. He was announced as the National Professor on June 19, 2018. Professor Islam was working as the chairman of Bangla Academy until he breathed his last on Tuesday, November 30. To honour his memory, we reprint an interview of the revered national professor, where he spoke to Emran Mahfuz of The Daily Star on the occasion of Kazi Nazrul Islam's birthday on May 24 this year. 

You have been conducting research on Nazrul for a long time. What introduced you to Nazrul's world? Did anyone else conduct academic practice in this regard before you?

Poet Abdul Quadir did a lot of independent research regarding Nazrul, but I started the academic work from 1957. Professor Muhammad Abdul Hye was my teacher and he instructed me in this regard. After I completed my masters, he mentioned to me that no one had done any academic research regarding Nazrul but that it needed to be done. "You can do your PhD on this topic," he had advised me. That is how I started researching our national poet. First, I went to Kolkata. There, I started looking for his acquaintances in every nook and cranny. I talked to comrade Muzaffar Ahmad, poet Abdul Quadir and many others. Eventually, I went to Nazrul's village home, Churulia. I interviewed his family members, neighbours and other seniors in Asansol. I cross-checked all the information I obtained and highlighted new evidence.

Meanwhile, I was awarded with the Fulbright scholarship. I got leave on the condition of resuming my PhD work after my return. Then, I did research work at the University of Minnesota, Michigan Ann Arbor Campus and the East-West Center. I returned and earned my PhD degree on the work I had done on Nazrul's life and poetry. Afterwards, based on the chronological and descriptive order of Nazrul's work, I authored the Nazrul Nirdeshika, an instructional text which was published by the Bangla Academy.

Have you ever met Nazrul? If yes, then where was it and what did you talk to him about?

In 1958, I met Nazrul for the first time in Kolkata. As far as I can remember, his home was close to Shyambazar. The poet stayed lying down and was unable to talk. He kept on giving me blank stares. I interviewed his wife. She complained to me about how the publishers were cheating them of his money and how the gramophone company was not sharing the proper calculations, among other things. Nazrul wanted to come to Dhaka due to different reasons, but the Pakistan government did not allow him to do so. While I was conducting the interview, Nazrul sat upright with calmness. He looked helpless, which made me feel uneasy. I did not expect to see the rebel poet in such a state, because he was the one who had initiated our awakening.

Afterwards, I also talked to Nazrul's sons, Kazi Sabyasachi and Kazi Aniruddha. At that time, I stayed in Kolkata for almost a whole month and tried visiting Nazrul's house almost every day. Whenever I went there, I would get some new information, which helped my research immensely.

What is the state of academic practices regarding Nazrul in Bangladesh? Can we acquire quality knowledge about him using the current resources?

In 1958, when I was acting as the first Nazrul professor and the director of Dhaka University's Nazrul research institute, four researchers obtained their PhD degrees studying different aspects of Nazrul's life. They worked under my supervision. Apart from this, a lecture series was also available. Writers and researchers from different nations used to join us and together, we would discuss various aspects of the rebel poet's life. Along with research, publications came out too. However, the overall quality of these activities started declining over time. Now, I am no longer a part of the proceedings, so I don't have a clear idea on how things are being run.

Along with the University of Dhaka, positions for Nazrul professors were created in other universities, too. Research centres were also inaugurated in some universities. Besides these, research activities about Nazrul took place in other departments, too. Soon the Nazrul Institute, Bangla Academy and the Nazrul Research Center were inaugurated, and the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University was also founded in Trishal. In all of these institutes, different kinds of research activities are being conducted. I supervised a lot of research work at the Bangla Academy and the Nazrul Institute. Based on the variety of the research, I have published many high-quality books. Kazi Nazrul Islam's Geeti Sahitto, Nazruler Jibon o Sristi, and Kazi Nazrul Islam: Jibon O Srijan (Life and Creations) are ones worth mentioning.

I have noticed that your book Kazi Nazrul Islam: Life and Creations has been published under the supervision of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. However, it contains many spelling mistakes. How did this come about?

That book was published long ago, and it's a huge book. You have likely seen the fourth edition. Whenever a new edition comes out or it is reprinted, I am supposed to review the draft. However, this didn't always happen. Currently, I have no idea about how the book is being printed. Someone else has already informed me about this issue. As a result, the book was withdrawn from the market and a three-member probe committee was formed. I have asked them to be more vigilant and have specifically asked them to ensure that no writing of Nazrul is deformed similarly.

Abdul Quadir is treated as an expert in the different dimensions of Nazrul-related research. How would you evaluate his work regarding Nazrul?

You can't find too many researchers like Abdul Quadir. His practices and research related to Nazrul go quite deep. His name inevitably comes up in any related discussion. Without Abdul Quadir, the carefree lifestyle of Nazrul would have meant that the Nazrul Rochonaboli would not exist. This book was published when Pakistan was ruling over us, by the central Bangla Development Board (which is currently Bangla Academy). The articles Quadir wrote were also of very high quality. Even before Partition, he searched for and collected a lot of information on Nazrul's life and literary work. Those who knew him, myself included, remember him with deep respect.

You actively participated in the Language Movement. However, we don't often see your name associated with the term Bhasha Shoinik (language warrior). Is there a specific reason behind this?

"Language warrior" is not really an appropriate term! We can call them language workers or language activists. A certain group of people have coined this term for their own benefit. They mostly wanted to take some credit for the movement. No one should use the term "language warrior". At that point of time, our population was between four to five crore people. Young and old, everyone was a part of the Language Movement. Everyone was anxious and restless about the outcome. After Partition, the Language Movement gained momentum. However, after the shooting incidents of February 21, people became so emotionally charged that, from February 22, almost everyone went out to the roads. No one cared about the curfews. Everyone fought for the language. So, how come only a few of us became language warriors by merit of being physically present there? I don't agree with this way of thinking.

You clicked many rare photographs of the Language Movement. Did you take any special preparation beforehand? What kind of emotions went behind taking those photos?

I did not take any special preparation. My father was a doctor. Thanks to his job, we were living in the Railway Colony of Dhaka. Since 1948, I have seen activists, most of whom were students, taking part in processions. I was a Class 10 student back then. In 1951, I got admitted to DU. Then, as a student, I became directly involved with Bangla language, literature and cultural activism. At that time, I owned a Voigtlander camera, which conveniently came in handy for taking those photos.

Nazrul's poem, Bidrohi, is now 100-years-old. It is a milestone creation. What is your opinion on this poem?

Bidrohi was first published on January 6, 1922 in the magazine Bijli. In the last 100 years, this poem has inspired Bangalees during many movements and struggles. We will remember Nazrul for years to come, even if it is just for this one creation.

Translated from Bangla by Mohammed Ishtiaque Khan