The Alipore Museum on Saturday paid tribute to “rebel poet” Kabi Nazrul Islam on his 125th birth anniversary.

Born on May 24, 1899, the poet was incarcerated at the Alipore Jail in 1922 following a sentence of one year’s imprisonment for his anti-British writings.

The cell where he was incarcerated is preserved and named Nazrul Cell at the museum.

Author Binod Ghoshal, whose novel Ke Bajaye Banshi based on the poet’s life, which won the Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi Yuva Sahitya Puraskar, spoke on Nazrul’s days of incarceration first in Alipore Jail, then in Hooghly Jail and finally in Berhampore Jail through 1923.

“Nazrul was imprisoned by the British for his work Anandamoyeer Agamone, published in Dhumketu Patrika, for inciting anti-British sentiments. His revolutionary writings were being scrutinized by the British for some time then and Nazrul knew that he would be arrested before long, so he fled Calcutta to go to Cumilla (Comilla) now in Bangladesh, from where he was eventually arrested on November 23, 1922,” said Ghoshal in his talk.

Nazrul’s case was heard in the court of Magistrate Swinhoe, who was a poet himself.

“Nazrul felt that Swinhoe being a poet would be sympathetic. He refused a lawyer and chose to defend himself. And so he wrote Rajbandir Jobanbandi. Swinhoe heard him and sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment,” said Ghoshal.

Nazrul was brought to the Alipore Jail, which held several political prisoners and
soon Nazrul made himself at home here.

“The poet would create a lively atmosphere wherever he went. Even during his ‘sainik days’ (Nazrul had joined the British Indian Army early in his life) he was known for bringing joy and so was named Hoihoi Kazi. Even at the Alipore Jail he was writing, reciting, singing among like-minded people,” he said.

Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his book Basanta Natika to Nazrul, praising the young poet then aged 23 years for his writings that were inspiring hundreds.

“Nazrul was hugely inspired by this and began writing in earnest. He also performed Saraswati Puja in the jail,” said Ghoshal.

He spent two months in the Alipore Jail where he reportedly wrote a play but that was lost.

“Nazrul was then sent to the Hooghly Jail where he was treated inhumanly by jailer Thurston. Nazrul had revolted against the treatment meted out to political prisoners there who were served horrendous food. As punishment, Thurston (who Nazrul called Harsh Tones) put him on a penal diet which was rice water. Nazrul then went on a hunger strike that lasted for 39 days. The entire nation protested against this. All the leading papers started reporting on Nazrul’s health. He lost 25 pounds. Tagore wrote to Nazrul asking him to break his fast. Finally, when Nazrul was extremely ill, Thurston relented because of the immense pressure created throughout the country. He retracted his punishment and Nazrul broke his fast,” said Ghoshal.

He was then sent to the Berhampore Jail which had a much better atmosphere.

Jailer Basanta Bhowmick was fond of Nazrul and made all arrangements for him to pursue his work and passion.

Nazrul was a good cook having worked as a bawarchi. “He used to cook in jail. And also performed Durga Puja at the jail,” said Ghoshal.

He was finally released in December 1923.