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Nawabzadis painting inspires the PoetEdited by Anas Khwaja

Kazi Nazrul Islam Moslem Bharat Nawabzadi Meher Banu

Meherbanu Khanam (1885-1925) was an artist and patron of education and culture.She was born at Ahsan Manzil in the Nawab family of Dhaka. Her father was NawabKhwaja Ahsanullah and her brother was Nawab Khwaja Salimullah. According to thecustom of the Nawab family, Meherbanu was educated at home. She was a self-taughtartist. She was married to Khwaja Mohammad Azam in 1902.

To promote women's education, Meherbanu, in association with her two sisters Paribanuand Akhtarbanu, established Kamrunnessa Girls' High School in Dhaka, naming it aftertheir mother. She also patronized the monthly Urdu literary magazine Jadu. Meherbanudied in Dhaka on 3 October 1925.

Meherbanu sent two of her paintingsto the monthly Moslem Bharat. Thismonthly literary journal beganpublication from Kolkata in April-May, 1920. Bengali Poet Kazi NazrulIslam was inspired by one of thepaintings and wrote the poem'Kheya Parer Toroni' (The FerryBoat) on it. Nazrul's poem andMeherbanu's painting werepublished on the 4th issue of the

journal in the Shravan of Bengaliyear 1327 (July-August 1920).Thiswas the first painting by a BengaliMuslim woman to be published. (1)

Meherbanu while painting

http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/K_0202.htmhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0327.htmhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/K_0202.htmhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0327.htm

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Kheya-Parer-Toroni is a wonderful combination of sublimity with resonant rhyme (2).Here the captains of the ferry are four caliphs -Abu Bakar (ra), Umar (ra), Uthman (ra)and Ali (ra). Nazrul symbolized salvation through the cardinal tenets of the Islamic faith.

This piece is remarkable for his mastery of words and rhymes evocative of the measuredrhythm of the oarsman (3).

In a letter published in Moslem Bharat, the poet-critic Mohitlal Majumdar profuselypraised Nazrul's poems 'Kheya-parer Toroni'and welcomed him to the learned society ofBengal. This was the first ovation that the poet received. This poem and the journal

played an important role in establishing Nazrul Islam as a poet. (3)

Verses of this poem raised wild applause in the literary world of Bengal. Mohitlal wrote:"Shall I say what I saw in the poem of Nazrul? I have found that rhyme and rhythm whichis the ornament of a wordy expression of poetry, which is the companion and theheartbeat of poetry."

The most important fact about his rhythm is its balance and moderation. It has createdthe exact tune in accordance with the idea of the verse. His rhythm has never deprivedhim of the easiness of his style, his independent expression and unrestricted emotion.Astonishment, fright, regard, courage, firmness and, above all, an unrealistic land offantasy all these have been presented through his unique choice of wordsand rhythm. Tagore once said the art of words is in its rhythm, that of sound is in itsmusic and that of messages is in its arrangements and selection. Nothing could be abetter illustration of these remarks than the lines from this poem.

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Abu Bakr, 'Usmart, 'Umar, 'All-Haidar,Darin ey je toronir nai orae nai dorKandari ey tarir paka majhi mallaDarin mukhe shari gun La-sharik Allah ".

Fear no more! Fear no more!For this boat has boatman like Abu Bakr, 'Usman, 'Umar and 'Ali.They are efficient boatmen andThey are always singing the song ' God has no sharer '."

The unusual introduction of a complete Arabic sentence in the body of a Bengali poemhas been so wonderfully assimilated that it has become part and parcel of the Bengalilanguage. Nazrul was the first poet to introduce effectively Arabic, Persian and Urduwords into the Bengali language, and instead of being an obstacle to the movement ofhis poem and song these new introductions have helped to enhance the movement. Butthis was not all. He even introduced the Motakarib rhythm of the Arabic language andwrote some poems in Hindustani, but all these are part of Bengali literature today. In the

realm of ideas this poem was the first of many poems dealing with the Muslim heritageand an attempt to inspire the nation into action with the remembrance of the brilliantpast.

Kazi Nazrul Islam (18991976) was a Bengali poet, musician, revolutionary, andphilosopher who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion againstorthodoxy and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the populartitle of Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet). Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed worksthrough his life, Nazrul is officially recognized as the national poet of Bangladesh andcommemorated in India. (5)

(1) Banglapedia: Khanam, Meherbanu By Anupam Hayat(2)http://www.bangalinet.com/greatmen_kazinazrul_islam.html(3) http://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/28/lit.html

(4) Islamic Review (July August September 1963 page 14-16)

Other Sources

(5) Banglapedia: Islam, Kazi Nazrul By Rafiqul Islam(6) Banglapedia: Moslem Bharat By Mohammad Abdul Qayyum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazi_Nazrul_Islamhttp://banglapedia.net/HT/K_0202.HTMhttp://www.bangalinet.com/greatmen_kazinazrul_islam.htmlhttp://www.bangalinet.com/greatmen_kazinazrul_islam.htmlhttp://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/28/lit.htmlhttp://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1963/07_08_09_julaugsep/islamicreview_julaugsep1963.pdfhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/I_0109.htmhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0327.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazi_Nazrul_Islamhttp://banglapedia.net/HT/K_0202.HTMhttp://www.bangalinet.com/greatmen_kazinazrul_islam.htmlhttp://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/28/lit.htmlhttp://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1963/07_08_09_julaugsep/islamicreview_julaugsep1963.pdfhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/I_0109.htmhttp://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0327.htm