Nawabzadi's Painting Inspires Poet

Nawabzadi’s painting inspires the Poet Edited 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 Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah and her brother was Nawab Khwaja Salimullah. According to the custom of the Nawab family, Meherbanu was educated at home. She was a self-taught artist. She was married to Khwaja Mohammad Azam in 1902. To promote women's education, Meherbanu, in association with her two sisters Paribanu and Akhtarbanu, established Kamrunnessa Girls' High School in Dhaka, naming it after their mother. She also patronized the monthly Urdu literary magazine Jadu. Meherbanu died in Dhaka on 3 October 1925. Meherbanu sent two of her paintings to the monthly Moslem Bharat. This monthly literary journal began publication from Kolkata in AprilMay, 1920. Bengali Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was inspired by one of the paintings and wrote the poem 'Kheya Parer Toroni' (The Ferry Boat) on it. Nazrul's poem and Meherbanu's painting were published on the 4th issue of the journal in the Shravan of Bengali year 1327 (July-August 1920).This was the first painting by a Bengali Muslim woman to be published. (1) Meherbanu while painting

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 measured rhythm of the oarsman (3). In a letter published in Moslem Bharat, the poet-critic Mohitlal Majumdar profusely praised Nazrul's poems 'Kheya-parer Toroni' and welcomed him to the learned society of Bengal. 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 which is the ornament of a wordy expression of poetry, which is the companion and the heartbeat of poetry." The most important fact about his rhythm is its balance and moderation. It has created the exact tune in accordance with the idea of the verse. His rhythm has never deprived him of the easiness of his style, his independent expression and unrestricted emotion. Astonishment, fright, regard, courage, firmness and, above all, an unrealistic land of fantasy — all these have been presented through his unique choice of words and rhythm. Tagore once said the art of words is in its rhythm, that of sound is in its music and that of messages is in its arrangements and selection. Nothing could be a better illustration of these remarks than the lines from this poem.

“Abu Bakr, 'Usmart, 'Umar, 'All-Haidar, Darin ey je toronir nai orae nai dor Kandari ey tarir paka majhi malla Darin 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 and They are always singing the song ' God has no sharer '." The unusual introduction of a complete Arabic sentence in the body of a Bengali poem has been so wonderfully assimilated that it has become part and parcel of the Bengali language. Nazrul was the first poet to introduce effectively Arabic, Persian and Urdu words into the Bengali language, and instead of being an obstacle to the movement of his poem and song these new introductions have helped to enhance the movement. But this was not all. He even introduced the Motakarib rhythm of the Arabic language and wrote 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 heritage and an attempt to inspire the nation into action with the remembrance of the brilliant past. Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899–1976) was a Bengali poet, musician, revolutionary, and philosopher who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against orthodoxy and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet). Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognized as the national poet of Bangladesh and commemorated 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