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THE DISSENT OF
NAZRUL ISLAM
POETRY AND HISTORY
Priti Kumar Mitra
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
~
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
YMCA Library Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi 110001
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the
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Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto
my mother
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late Shrimati Amiya Bala Mitra
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Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press·
in the UK and in certain other countries
Published in India by Oxford University Press, New Delhi
© Oxford University Press 2007
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
Database right Oxford University Press (maker)
First published 2007
Second impression 2008
Oxford India Paperbacks 2009
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press,
or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate
reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction
outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department,
Oxford University Press, at the address above
You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-806324-7
ISBN-I0: 0-19-806324-5
Typeset in Dante MT 11/13 by Eleven Arts, Keshav Puram, Delhi 110 035
Printed in India by De Unique, New Delhi 110 018
published by Oxford University Press
YMCA Library Building. Jai Singh Road, New Delhi 110 001
Contents
List of Plates x
Acknowledgements xi
Preface xiii
Transliteration Scheme xx
Chapter 1 DIALECTICS OF DISSENT 1
Study of Dissent in South Asia' The Dissenting
Tradition· Historical Milieu· The 'Rebel Poet'
• Dimensions of the. Great Dissent· Exploring a
Virgin Territory
Chapter 2 RECONSTRUCTING THE 'REBEL POET' 20
Major Phases: Experiences and Influences
• The Formative Phase· The World of
'Dukhu Mian' • The Uncertain Teens· In the
Army. Back Home· Second Phase: 1920-30
• Making of the 'Rebel Poet' • Dhumketu, Jail,
and Marriage • Politics and Leftism • Ghazals,
'National' Reception, Personal Tragedy
• Third Phase: 1930-42' In the World of Music
and Spirituality. Last Phase: 1942-76
• The Silent Mummy
viII Contents Contents
ix
:har>Lcr ACAINST BRITISH COLONIAL ESTABLISHMENT :hapter 6 THE TRUE PREMISE OF THE REBEL POET 297
AND ITS GANDHIAN REMEDY: DISSENT OF THE Roots in the Past· Permanent Preoccupations.
REBEL POET 1 110 The Nazrul Phenomenon: Some Observations
Against a Plurality of Orthodoxies· Nazrul Islam • True HistOricity
versus the British Administration· British
Imperialism. First Encounter: The Nabojug Phase· Appendix
305
Rebellion in the Dhumketu • Post-Dhumketu Phase
;Iossary
• British Reaction: Chased, Caught, and Sentenced· 308
Nazrul and the Gandhian Movement Gandhism 1/ i bliography
317
and the Gandhian Politics· Response of the
Rebel Poet to Gandhism
Chapter 4 ACAINST M USLIM AND HINDU ORTHODOXIES:
DISSENT OF THE REBEL POET 2 186
Kazi N azrul Islam and the Islamic Orthodoxy •
Islam in Bengal in the Nineteenth Century
• Pan-Islamism and the Khilafat • Movement·
The Different Path of Nazrul Islam· Response
of the Islamic Orthodoxy to the Rebel Poet's
Disobedience· Nazrul and Hinduism in Bengal
• The Hindu Orthodoxy. Nazrul and the Caste
System. Attacks on Idolatry. Corruption:
Nazrul and the Tarakeshwar Satyagraha (1924)
• Rebellion against the Communal Social System
Chapter 5 AGAINST THE HEGEMONY OF RABINDRANATH
TAGORE: DISSENT OF THE REBEL POET 3 249
Rise of Rabindranath Tagore and Development
of the Literary Orthodoxy Influence:
Worshippers and Detractors' Formation of
Two Rival Groups. Nazrul Islam versus the
Tagore Clan· Preliminaries: Rebellion and
Cordiality. Emergence of Shonibiirer Chithi
• Conflict Broadens: Shonibiirer Chithi versus the
Kallal Group' Tagore Drawn into the Controversy
• Marxist Phase of the Controversy. The Final
Phase· Aftermath
Plates*
Acknowledgements
between pages 152 and 153 T his study was made possible by supports from the following
institutions and organizations:
Nazrul the village lad (c. 1915)
I. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka: A twelve-month National
Nazrul the soldier (c. 1919-20)
Fellowship for Advanced Studies at the Society (1995-6).
Nazrul as a young man (c. 1923)
Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi: A grant for
Pramila Sengupta: Nazrul's lover and wife (1908-62)
collection of material in India (1997).
Kazi Nazrul Islam: In the world of music (c. 1932)
3. The British Council: A Fellowship at the School of Oriental and
The Rebel Poet: Ailing and advanced in years (c. 1960)
African Studies (SOAS), University of London (1991).
The present study of Nazrul Islam is partly based on the
i I1vestigator's doctoral research on dissent in modern South Asia done
at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA (1977-81) which was
supported by a forty-eight-month grant, a field trip allowance, residence,
and some physical facilities provided by the East-West Center,
Honolulu, the John F. Kennedy Fellowship of the Department of
History, University of Hawaii (1980), and a Graduate Fellowship of
the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Hawaii (1'983).
Amongst other authorities whose valuable cooperation significantly
aided this investigator in his research at different times, the following
deserve special mention: Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii,
Honolulu, USA;Joseph Regenstein Library, University of Chicago, USA;
India Office Library, London; SOAS Library, University of London;
British Museum Library, London; Nehru Memorial Museum and
Library, New Delhi; Library of the Indian Council of Historical
Research, New Delhi; Tej Bahadur Sapru Library, New Delhi; Bangiya
Sahitya Parishad, Kolkata; West Bengal Archives, Writers' Building,
Kolkata; Indian Council of Social Science Research, Eastern Regional
Centre, Kolkata; Bose Institute, Kolkata; Socio-economic Research
* All photographs courtesy the author
Institute, 39 College Street Market, Kolkata;Jaikrishna Public Library,
xii Acknowledgements
Uttarpara, West Bengal; Chandannagar Pustakagar, West Bengal;
BangIa Academy Library, Dhaka; Dhaka University Library; Asiatic
Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka; and Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Preface
Rajshahi University, Rajshahi.
A number of institutions generously provided this investigator
with the opportunity to present his ideas in learned seminars. These
include: The East-West Center, Honolulu (OG Seminar, Culture and
Communication, Spring 1981); Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS),
Rajshahi University, Special Seminar, April 1985; University of Oxford,
r
Centre for Indian Studies, St Antony's College, South Asian History
dcas lie behind events and events make history. Intellectual history,
Seminar, 15 October 1991; University of London, SOAS, Centre of South
which examines the role of ideas in man's march through time, is
Asian Studies Seminar, 24 October 1991; BangIa Academy, Dhaka,
IlwnJore a crucial discipline to get at the roots of historical processes.
Nazrul Birth Anniversary Seminar, 23 May 1995; and Asiatic Society of
Intb:d, ideas mean a lot to researchers who seek to understand the
Bangladesh Seminar, 25 August 1995. Feedback from these symposia
phenomenon of change in human past. All significant changes that gave
greatly facilitated interpretation of the Nazrul phenomenon and
It 1st ory a guality of drama invariably presuppose dissent from the status
preparation of a coherent account of it.
(It! in their background. Dissent occurs in the realm of ideas and could
(I
The author expresses his deep gratitude to all these institutions and
Ilfh'n lead to great transformations in the world of concrete events.
organizations for their support and cooperation.
'I' he nineteenth century, one of the most extensively studied
pt'l'iods in South Asian history, has been attributed with many reform
ll10vements and a veritable renaissance. However, the accounts of the
'l'l'llaissance' and 'reforms' found in so many studies by Western and
Soulh Asian scholars have rather failed to explain what, of all things,
hilppcned in the period which was otherwise marked by brutal colonial
Nubjllgation and pervasive economic misery. With only sporadic
lit telTlpts at socio-religious reforms and no revolution at all, the
nlnelcenth century hardly witnessed any great transformation in
,~( lcidy and material condition of the people. Those studies, however,
I( 'Ildcr it clear that the truly significant change the nineteenth century
I'l'gislcred in Bengal had taken place in the realm of ideas. The structure
()I the intellectual change involved dissent and the ensuing dialectics
(hill look place between dissent and the orthodoxies it challenged.
I )issent actually remained the dynamics of the volatile nineteenth
l'l'i1lllry in South Asia. All the stalwarts of the 'Bengal Renaissance'
,d,med as rebels in thought, and they diligently sought to undo the
tUlus guo in society and epistemology, undermining its theoretical
Ii 1LI nda tions altogether. But their success in achieving this goal in the
1,(. . 1i world in their own time was by no means exciting for them.
xiv Preface Preface xv
This line of thinking led me to undertake a new study of the Jniversity, the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, and the BangIa
nineteenth century in order to know the meaning of the period in Academy, also at Dhaka. The cumulative result of the long enquiry is
the history of Bengal in terms of dissent and ideological dialectics. I presented here in a structured narrative through the pages of this
took care to learn about the phenomenon of dissent in the context volume. Even in the midst of writing the draft, a short trip to Delhi
of world civilizations, delving into the intellectual history of Europe, i IlU Kolkata in 1997 (with support from the Indian Council of Historical
the Islamic world, China, the United States, and, of course, South Asia. It cscarch) helped procure some new and important material that would
Then I sought to analyse the great rebellions in modern Indian thought q~llllitatively impress the fmal draft. Now an assessment of the book's
in the light of my wider acquaintance with the phenomenon of dissent worth by thoughtful readers and incisive seers is keenly awaited.
in world history. The exercise produced a dissertation entitled 'Dissent As is the case invariably with such undertakings, this study has
in Modern India (1815-1930): Concentrating on Two Rebel Poets been possible through support and cooperation from numerous
Michael Madhusudan Datta and Kazi Nazrul Islam' as part of a PhD Individuals and institutions. I received all kinds of aid from so many
programme that I pursued at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, IIfTcrent quarters and my debts to them are immeasurable. A full
USA. In this work I emphaSized ideas over events and individuals over Ill'knowledgement would require so much space as is not at my disposal.
movements. Individual dissenters and their numerous dialogues with I would therefore name only those who are more imIl1ediate in my
several orthodoxies formed the central theme of the study. Kazi Nazrul 1\ ternory and whose involvement was much crucial in what the research
Islam, the famed 'Rebel Poet' of Bengal, fitted well into my scheme, IlllS eventually produced.
thanks to the new approach I chose for the research. I a rn deeply indebted to my doctoral advisor, Professor Jagdish P.
Nazrul Islam was an entirely new addition to historical studies and ~ha !"rna of the Department of History, University of Hawaii, Honolulu,
nearly half of the voluminous dissertation was devoted to him. It was ll~/\. I-{is constant guidance and rare friendship remained a perennial
the flrst work done on the poet in the West. I also presented papers in Ntlu!"ce of inspiration and support throughout this research. It was
two seminars on N azrul's role as a dissenter at the University of Hawaii 111'( )(Cssor Sharma who flrst drew my attention to the problem of dissent
and the East-West Center, Honolulu. A long fleld trip took me to several Ilild iLS relevance for a much needed study of the poet Nazrul Islam. I
institutions in the US, the UK, India, and Bangladesh, and exchanges 111\1 highly obliged to the members of my PhD dissertation committee
of ideas with various scholars enriched my understanding of the (11'0 lessors James Connors, Truong-Buu Lam, Prithwish Neogy, and
phenomenon of dissent and helped me determine the place of N azrul Itlrhard L. Rapson-for their valuable advice and guidance. I am
Islam in the history of dissident thought. Later, the study of the 'Rebel 1)111'1 icularly indebted to Professors Connors and Neogy who enlarged
Poet' would be further pursued at the post-doctoral level at the School 11 y vision of history through special discourses and provided invaluable
of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Seminars were IIMslslance to my interpretational efforts. I am also thankful to the late
organized there as well as at St Antony's College, University of Oxford, I' 1'OIcssor Burton Stein, formerly of the University of Hawaii, who
on Nazrul's historic disobedience- the flrst such presentations on the 1111i ;lll y served on my committee and advised me extensively on modern
subject in the United Kingdom. All these years of research and exchanges ~(illih Asian history.
led to further clarification and Nazrul's historicity as a dissenter was During my field trip for the doctoral research, I was fortunate to
established beyond all ambiguities. Finally, the investigation was carried I ('('l'ivc generous guidance from many prominent scholars in the United
to a conclusion at the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, under ~lllIeS, England, India, and Bangladesh. I take this opportunity to express
a one-year National Fellowship for Advanced Research in 1995-6. liy sincerest gratitude to all of them. On the US mainland I had the
Meanwhile I presented papers in at least three seminars on Nazrul ()( III rortune to work with Professor Edward C. Dimock of the South
Islam's dissent at the Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi "lUll L.anguage and Area Center, University of Chicago. His erudite
Preface
xvi Preface xvii
,1111, who provided, apart from their enlightening discourses, copies
observations on trends in the history of Bengali literature gave me
fresh insights about my subject of study. At Chicago I also received 11/ II !lumber of important articles for use in my research.
Pl'ofessor Barun De, then director, Centre for Studies in Social
crucial assistance from Professors Naresh Guha (visiting), C.M. Naim,
Ralph Nicholas, Wendy O'Flaherty, Fazlur Rahman, A.K Ramanujan, ~I 11'11( ('s, Kolkata, most generously guided me through the most
IIIIHII'Ianl part of my research in West Bengal. Apart from his own
Susanne H. Rudolph, Clinton B. Seely, and Edward Shils. Professors
Vilillllhll' discussions with me, Professor De also put me in touch
Thomas Metcalf and Frits Staal of the University of California, Berkeley,
willi key scholars and institutions in and around Kolkata. Professor
and Professor Charles Drekmeier of Stanford University spent their
t\IIIIIi('m.lu De of ]adavpur University, Kolkata, was kind enough to
valuable time to enlighten me on various aspects of dissent as a
phenomenon of history. I .1f 'lld academic and non-academic assistance to me. I also immensely
At London I worked most profitably under the supervision of the III IIl 'llll'd li'o 111 discussions with Professors Nihar Ranjan Ray and Sumit
distinguished scholar of the history of Islam in India, Professor Peter 1111'111' liS well as authors Chinmohan Sehanavish and Pratibha Basu
III 1'llIk;!la and Azharuddin Khan of Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
Hardy of the SOAS, UniverSity of London. Dr Hardy's learned
~ll I\lldll, a distinguished Nazrulspecialist, treated me with uncommon
discourses gave me new directions in my study of dissent and his warm
hospitality and kind encouragement enhanced my dedication to work. IllIdllIilly and hospitality. I was very lucky to see and interview (1981)
WI I 11}ll'd frcedom fighters and Nazrul associates- Narendra Narayan
At London, fortunately, I also met my former colleague, Professor
Mustafa Nurul Islam of ]ahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. As a IIIIi"'lIh" ['li (b. 1898) of Kolkata and Pranatosh Chattopadhyay (b. 1905)
III I "1~1i. West Bengal. These extraordinary men of a bygone era
foremost specialist on Kazi Nazrul Islam, Professor Islam provided
me with invaluable guidance on some crucial primary sources. On a III 1'1Vt'd l11e most cordially and answered all my queries with enthuSing
Ifl I('~I ,111<..1 alertness.
second occasion, J worked again at SOAS with Dr William Radice who
teaches Bengali there. A poet himself and a prolific translator from IIIII ,~pcciaLly grateful to my two distinguished teachers- Professor
Bengali into English, Radice helped me through the wilderness of \ I( M, II Ii rk. (1918-97) of] ahangirnagar University and Professor A.F.
IIillllllddl1l Ahmed of Dhaka University, Bangladesh, fortheguidance
dissent studies in English in the Western context. He also introduced
me to resourceful scholars at SOAS as well as at Oxford and Cambridge. Ii 1111NI,i 1';ltion they provided me with while I was doing field research
In India I was fortunate to work with a number of distinguished I 1111111, dill I 981. In fact it was Professor Ahmed who had originally
teachers and intellectuals whose guidance and cooperation made my .' I Ill!' Oil the road of research and of pursuing intellectual history
efforts a lot easier and far more fruitful than what would have been tlllV YC'lIrs ago when I was still an undergraduate student under
without them. Professor R.S. Sharma of the University of Delhi, 11111 III lile University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. At Dhaka I also
diligently spent many hours listening to me, and helped me refine It 111'111('.1 li'om conversations with Professor Rafiqul Islam of Dhaka
my raw opinions. Professor S.R. Mehrotra of Himachal Pradesh Illllvl'I'N/( y, Ll foremost biographer of and commentator on poet Nazrul
University, Shimla; Professor S.c. Malik of the Institute of Advanced .. 111111, Iliid with Shaukat Osman (1917-98), the celebrated author
III PIIIWl'ssive thinker. During my work at the Asiatic Society of
Study, Shimla; Professors Bipan Chandra, KN. Panikkar, and Shyamali
1lltlllllltle'sil, I was fortunate to receive all kinds of assistance and
Ghosh of ]awaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Professors Irfan
11
Habib and KA. Nizami of Aligarh Muslim University-all gave their '"11 1.1I Ion from Professors Sirajul Islam and Harun-or-Rashid,
precious time for me, offering valuable suggestions on various aspects 111111 (Ivdy the President and the secretary of the Society at the time.
of my study. My heart-felt thanks are also due to Professor Rajni Kothari lltil! II iii lind the inspiring personality of ProfessorIslam was a constant
and Dr Ashis Nandy of the Centre for Study of Developing Societies, Illy work. at the Society. Long and endless informal discussions
