Kazi Nazrul Islam
The two leading names in any discourse on Bengali poetry are Rabindranath and Nazrul. Kazi Nazrul Islam is popularly known as rebel poet (Vidrohi Kabi). An exceptional voice in bangla literature, Nazrul's influence in Bengal is no less than that of Tagore, though his work lacks the international fame. Both his poetry and songs remain immensely popular in both West Bengal and Bangladesh.When still a school student in his teens Nazrul joined the newly recruited Bengali regiment (1916) and was sent to Mesopotamia some months before the armistice. The regiment never got to face battle but Nazrul got his fill of the fighting gusto which later found expression in his poetry. His first two significant poems, Pralayollas (Exhilaration at the Final Dissolution) and Vidrohi (Rebellion)appared early in 1922 and his first book of poem Agnibina (The lute of fire) was out before the year was over. The book was received with an enthusiasm never experienced in India before or since. After this he was part of the Kollol group and wrote mostly deft and pungent verse and many songs.
Nazrul Islam wrote a good numbers of valuable poems, songs, novels, dramas. He had a good command on classic indian song. He could sing, recite and act with considerable proficiency.
Nazrul was an emotional soul, but his emotion was unstable and volatile. Those who came in personal contact with him were moved by his irresistible enthuasiasm and sincerity. But his literary output falls far short of his merit, except the early poems in Agnibina. After Agnibina his best known books of poems and songs are Dolonchampa(1923), Biser Bansi (The poisonous flute, 1924), Bhangar Gan (Songs of break-up, 1924), Puber Haoya (The east wind 1925) and Bulbul(1928).
For a bibliography of Kazi Nazrul's works:
Published Books (all of his works are in Bengali)
POETRY
Agni Bina (The Fiery Lute), poems, 1992 Phanimanasa (The Cactus), poems, 1927 Sanchita (Collected poems), 1925 Satbhai Champa (The Seven Brothers of Champa), juvenile poems, 1933 Nirjhar (Fountain), poems, 1939 Natun Chand (The New Moon), poems, 1939 Marubhaskar (The Sun in the Desert), poems, 1951 Sanchayan (Collected Poems), 1955 Chakrabak (The Flamingo), poems, 1929 Nazrul Islam: Islami Kobita [A Collection of Islamic Poems; Dhaka, Bangladesh: Islamic Foundation, 1982)
SONGS
Bulbul (The Nightingle), songs, 1928 Sandya (Evening), songs, 1929 Chokher Chatak (Thirsty of Sight), songs, 1929 Nazrul Geetika, (Collected Nazrul Songs), 1930 Nazrul Swaralipi (The Notation of Nazrul Songs), 1931 Chandrabindu (Nasal Mark), songs, 1931 Sursaki (The Serving maid of Melodies), songs, 1932 Banageeti (Wilderness Songs), 1931 Zulfiquar (The Sword of Ali), songs, 1931 Gul Bagicha (Flower Garden), songs, 1933 Geeti Satadal (One Hundred Songs), 1934 Surmukur (Notations), 1934 Ganer Mala (Garland of Songs), 1934 Swaralipi (Notations), 1949 Bulbul Dwitiya Bhag (Bulbul, part Two), songs, 1952 Ranga Jaba (Red China Rose), songs on the goddess Kali, 1966
POEMS AND SONGS
Dolan Champa (name of a faintly fragrant monsoon flower), poems and songs, 1923 Bisher Banshi (The Poison Flute), poems and songs, 1924 Bhangar Gan (The Song of Destruction), songs and poems, 1924 proscribe in 1924 Chhayanat (The Raga of Chhayanat), poems and songs, 1925 Chittanama (On Chittaranjan), poems and songs, 1925 Samyabadi (The Proclaimer of Equality), poems and songs, 1926 Puber Hawa (The Eastern Wind), poems and songs, 1926 Sarbahara (The Proletariat), poems and songs, 1926 Sindhu Hindol (The Undulation of the Sea), poems and songs, 1927 Jinjir (Chain), poems and songs, 1928 Pralaya Shikha (Doomsday Flame), poems and songs, 1930 proscribed in 1930 Shesh Saogat (The Last Offerings), poems and songs, 1958
SHORT STORIES
Byathar Dan (Offering of Pain), short stories, 1992 Rikter Bedan (The Sorrows of Destitute), short stories, 1925 Shiulimala (Garland of Shiuli), stories, 1931
NOVELS
Bandhan Hara (Free from Bonds), novel, 1927 Mrityukshuda (Hunger for Death), novel, 1930 Kuhelika (Mystery), novel, 1931
PLAY AND DRAMA
Jhilimili (Window Shutters), plays, 1930 Aleya (Mirage), song drama, 1931 Putuler Biye (Doll's Marriage), children's play, 1933 Madhumala (Garland of Honeysuckle) a musical play, 1960 Jhar (Storm), juvenile poems and play, 1960 Pile Patka Putuler Biye (Doll's Marriage), juvenile poems and play, 1964
ESSAYS
Jooga Bani (The Message of the Age), essays, 1926 Jhinge Phul (The Cucurbitaccus Flower), essays, 1926 Durdiner Jatri (The Traveller through Rough Times), essays, 1926 Rudra Mangal (The Violent Good), essays, 1927 Dhumketu (The Comet), essays, 1961
MISCELLANEOUS
"Rajbondir Jabanbandi" (Deposition of a political prisoner), an address, 1923 Rubaiyat-e-Hafiz (Rubaiyat-e-Hafiz), translation, 1930 Kabye Ampara (Verse Translation of the Ampara), 1933 Maktab Shahitya (A Textbook for maktab), 1935 Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, translation, 1958 Nazrul Rachanabali (Works of Nazrul), vols. 1-4, edited by Abdul Quadir, published by Bangla Academy, Bangladesh, 1993, (New Edition, edited by Board of Editors : Chairman, Anisuzzaman; Members, Muhammad Abdul Qayyum, Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Mahfuzullah, Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Abdul Mannan Syed, Karunamay Goswami; Member-Secretary : Selina Hossain).
Courtesy: Nazrul Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh