Khilkhil Kazi remembers her grandfather, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam

Noted singer and organiser Khilkhil Kazi is the granddaughter of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. She was the recipient of the Nazrul Award 2013, awarded by the Nazrul Institute, and currently serves as a trustee of the organisation. On the occasion of Nazrul Jayanti, Khilkhil Kazi reminisces her memories of love and adoration with her grandfather in a candid chat with The Daily Star.

Today marks the birth anniversary of your grandfather, our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Do you remember how you used to spend this day while he was still with us?

Though I was very young at that time, I still remember how our house in Kolkata used to become filled with flowers and letters on his birthday. Artistes from all across India used to visit him on this day. We had to set up big pandals and organise musical performances. Dadu used to be very excited and happy, especially when the singer performed his compositions. According to the Bangla calendar, he was born in the month of Jyaistha. We all got new clothes, especially for Dadu. The day was always joyous, as all our relatives from Churulia also visited him to wish him happiness and peace.

How much do you miss your grandfather?

It has been years since we have lost him and, not a day passes by when I don't think of him at least once. We all try and work with his songs, literary pieces, and songs but I had spent a significant part of my childhood with him. He had lost his ability to speak during that time. We used to play hide-and-seek and I remember how he always loved having my mother Uma Kazi around. My mother used to take care of him, even giving him a shave or haircut when needed.

This year also marks the 100th year of the poem "Bidrohi", the epic rebel poem. How do you feel in this regard?

Dadu had written this poem in December 1921 within a night's time with a mere pencil. He used to reside at Taltola with Comrade Mozaffar Ahmed. This poem had played a very strong role in the revolution against the British Raj, especially when it comes to inspiring the youth. My father, celebrated elocutionist Kazi Sabyasachi first recorded the poem in 1956.  In 2016, I introduced the Kazi Sabyasachi Smriti Award in the name of my father. Soumitra Chatterjee and Kazi Arif have already received this award but he had to put a hold on things for the pandemic. Nevertheless, this poem marks a milestone in my father's career as well.

What life lesson has the great poet left for you?

Kazi Nazrul Islam taught me the essence of freedom, the strength in rebellion, and the peacefulness in the beauty of love. Rabindranath Tagore had given him the title "Basantar Kobi". While he was known as the rebel poet to all, but his love poems, patriotic compositions, and religious numbers be it Shyama Shongeet or Islamic songs, also made way to his readers and listeners. Like a meteor, he landed on this planet and left behind the legacy of a lifetime.