Brief Questions in Kazi Nazrul Islam's poems

• Who is Nazrul Islam?

Ans: He is the Rebel Poet and Bangladesh’s National Poet.

• What was Nazrul’s nickname in early life?

Ans: He was called Dukhu Miah, meaning “sad man.”

• Which theatre did Nazrul join in boyhood?

Ans: He joined his uncle’s leto folk theatre group.

• Which Kaviyal group did Nazrul join?

Ans: He joined a group under Bashudev.

• Did Nazrul pass the Matriculation Examination?

Ans: No, he did not sit for it.

• Why did Nazrul join the Indian Army?

Ans: For adventure and due to political stirrings.

• What was Nazrul’s first prose work?

Ans: Baunduler Atmakahini in May 1919.

• What was Nazrul’s first poem?

Ans: “Mukti,” published in July 1919.

• On what charge was Nazrul arrested?

Ans: He was arrested for sedition.

• How did Nazrul criticise the Khilafat Movement?

Ans: He called it hollow religious fundamentalism.

• When was Nazrul brought to Dhaka?

Ans: On 24 May 1972.

• When was Nazrul given Bangladesh citizenship?

Ans: In February 1976.

• Where was Nazrul buried?

Ans: Beside a mosque at Dhaka University.

• When did India award him Padma Bhushan?

Ans: In 1960.

• Which poem of Samyabadi declares equality?

Ans: “Of Equality and That Happy Land.”

• Which scriptures are cited in that poem?

Ans: Quran, Vedas, Bible, Zend-Avesta, Granth-Sahib.

• What is the source of truth and wisdom?

Ans: One’s own self, the soul.

• Where did Jesus and Moses find truth?

Ans: In the heart, God’s inner temple.

• Where did young Krishna sing the Geeta?

Ans: From the battlefield within the heart.

• In which cave did Shakya hear mankind’s cry?

Ans: In the meditative cave of the heart.

• Who was the Darling of Arabia?

Ans: Prophet Muhammad (SM).

• Where did he receive the message of equality?

Ans: In the heart, through revelation.

• How does the poem on equality conclude?

Ans: The heart is greater than any temple.

• Which poem reveals Nazrul’s mysticism most?

Ans: “Of Equality and That Happy Land.”

• What is Samyabadi mainly about?

Ans: Spiritual and social equality through humanism.

• How to acquire wisdom in “Samyabadi”?

Ans: Open the heart through study and devotion.

• Which collection includes “Manush (Man)”?

Ans: Samyabadi (1925).

• What did the priest find at his door?

Ans: A starving beggar in rags.

• How did the priest react?

Ans: He slammed the door shut.

• Why was the Mollah at the mosque happy?

Ans: He got many leftovers of offerings.

• What did the hungry traveller tell the Mollah?

Ans: He had starved for seven days.

• Who was Chengis?

Ans: Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire.

1. Who was Mahmood of Ghazni?

Ans: A powerful ruler who invaded India.

• Who are iconoclasts?

Ans: Destroyers of religious images, like Kalapahar.

• What status does Nazrul give to man?

Ans: “Man is above everything.”

• What is the message of “Manush (Man)”?

Ans: Humanism is higher than hollow rituals.

• Why did the Mollah drive away the traveller?

Ans: He never prayed, so was rejected.

• Which poem has these lines on the heart-temple?

Ans: “Of Equality and That Happy Land.”

• Why was the Mollah happy in “Man”?

Ans: For the abundant leftover food.

• Who is a Bedouin?

Ans: An Arab desert-dwelling nomad.

• What backdrop birthed “Kandari Hushiar”?

Ans: Hindu–Muslim riots around 1926.

• What kind of song is it?

Ans: A patriotic chorus-song.

• Where did Nazrul sing “Kandari Hushiar”?

Ans: At the Congress session, Krishnanagar, 1926.

• What is its main theme?

Ans: Urging Hindu–Muslim unity for freedom.

• Who is the “Captain” there?

Ans: The Indian National Congress leadership.

• What does “Beware My Captain” allegorize?

Ans: India’s freedom voyage through storms.

• Which images symbolize danger?

Ans: Desert, hills, dark night, storms, thunder.

• What does the storm symbolize?

Ans: Communal riots disrupting freedom.

• Who “sang the victory of life”?

Ans: Martyrs who died for their motherland.

• What “test” does the poet mention?

Ans: The great ordeal of the freedom struggle.

• Who is the Captain (repeated)?

Ans: The Congress leaders guiding India.

• Why is the Himalayan peak cast down?

Ans: Awed by the valorous heads held high.

• When did Nazrul write “Bidrohi”?

Ans: In December 1921.

• Who is the angry God on the rebel’s brow?

Ans: Rudra, the Vedic storm-god.

• What does Rudra represent?

Ans: Fierceness and terror.

• Name tropical storms likened to the rebel.

Ans: Cyclone, hurricane, typhoon, tornado, tempest.

• “I am the dance-intoxicated rhythm”—meaning?

Ans: The rebel echoes Shiva, lord of dance.

• Who is the king of great upheaval?

Ans: Shiva, the cosmic transformer.

• What are Hambeer, Chhayanata, Hindole?

Ans: Classical musical modes.

• Which words suggest destruction or end?

Ans: Plague, death, graveyard, bugle, falling stars.

• How is the rebel both creator and destroyer?

Ans: He bears cosmic power to do both.

• Who is Indrani?

Ans: Indra’s queen, goddess of wrath and jealousy.

• Who was Chengis (repeated)?

Ans: Genghis Khan, Mongol emperor.

• How is Brahma’s sound described?

Ans: As the creative sound of the universe.

• What is Israfil’s bugle’s role?

Ans: Its blast will end the universe.

• Who is the king of truth?

Ans: Yudhishthira of Hindu lore.

• What are Chakra and Shankha?

Ans: Vishnu’s discus and conch.

• Who is Vishwamitra (Bishyamitra)?

Ans: A sage who rose to Brahminhood.

• Who is Durvasa (Durbasha)?

Ans: A sage famed for his fierce temper.

• Who is “the trembling first touch of the virgin”?

Ans: The rebel’s tender, awakening force.

• What makes the virgin tremble and throb?

Ans: Her first secret kiss with a lover.

• Who is the shy village maiden?

Ans: A girl unsettled by budding youth.

• What sound do her bangles make?

Ans: A bright, jingling music.

• Name two famous flute-players mentioned.

Ans: Orpheus and Sri Krishna.

• How is the mighty flood double-natured?

Ans: It destroys, yet renews fertility.

• What are two “girls” on Vishnu’s bosom?

Ans: Srivatsa mark and the Kaustubha jewel.

• Who is Chandi?

Ans: Fierce Durga, slayer of demons.

• Why is Parshurama’s axe called cruel?

Ans: He slew many Kshatriyas with it.

• How does the rebel bring peace by killing?

Ans: By ending tyrants, peace can return.

• Why compare him to Balarama’s plough?

Ans: He uproots misery like Balarama’s might.

• What do flute and war-bugle signify together?

Ans: Creation and destruction held in balance.

• What is Nazrul’s basic equality principle?

Ans: All humans are equal in dignity.

• What does “thunder in the sky” symbolize?

Ans: The threat of British imperial power.

• How does he address readers in “Man”?

Ans: He calls them “comrades.”

• Who is Dhurjati?

Ans: A medieval Telugu poet devoted to Shiva.

• What message does the rebel carry?

Ans: Revolt against injustice, earth to sky.

• What will pacify the rebel?

Ans: A world free from the oppressed’s cries.

• What is the trident of Pinakpani?

Ans: Shiva’s three-pronged spear.

• When will the rebel rest in quiet?

Ans: When sky and air hold no groans.