“Muzaffar Ahmad had fallen asleep when my grandfather had started writing this poem with a pencil. Nazrul lived in this Taltala house along with close friend and Communist leader Muzaffar Ahmad. Anirban walked down memory lane and remembered the genesis of ‘Bidrohi’ in 1921. The poet’s granddaughter, Mishti Kazi, came all the way from Bangladesh to attend the rally. Members of the Facebook group Purono Kolkatar Golpo, Swarnali Chattopadhya and Jayanta Sen, joined the rally as well. My grandfather’s words ring true even in the contemporary context.” The response to Sunday’s rally was “overwhelming”, he said. I feel it is significant that Kolkata organized such an event too.

“My sister Anindita lives in New Jersey and has organized an online event to mark the poem’s centenary. Kazi Anirban told TOI that a year-long celebration of the poem has created ripples in Bangladesh, South Korea, the United States and Canada. Around 150 admirers of the poet, including Bangladesh deputy high commissioner Toufique Hasan, Kazi Nazrul University VC Sadhan Chakraborty, the poet’s daughter-in-law Kalyani Kazi and the poet’s grandson Kazi Anirban, joined the rally, walking from Subodh Mallick Square to the 3/4C address on Taltala Lane where Nazrul had written ‘Bidrohi’ in 1921.

Kolkata: The West Bengal Heritage Commission, along with Kazi Nazrul University, organized a rally on the centenary-year celebration of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poem ‘ Bidrohi’ (The Rebel).