Kazi Nazrul Islam, popularly known as rebel poet (vidrohi kobi), was an exceptionally talented figure in Bangla literature. This patriot, poet, composer and writer edited a politico-cultural magazine "Dhumketu".
When still a school student in his teens, Nazrul joined the newly recruited Bengali regiment (1916) and sent to Mesopotamia some months before the armistice. The regiment was not given a chance to face battle but all the same Nazrul got his fill of the fighting gusto which later-found expression in poetic effusion and warmth.
His first two significant poems, Pralayollas (Exhilaration at the Final Dissolution) and Vidrohi (Rebellion) appeared early in 1922 and his first book of poem Agnibina (The flute of fire) was out before the year was over. The book was received with an enthusiasm never experienced in the sub continent before or since. After that he joined the Kollol group and wrote mostly deft and pungent verses .
Nazrul wrote a good numbers of valuable poems, songs, novels and dramas. He had a good command on classic music. He could sing, recite and act with considerable proficiency.
Nazrul was an emotional soul, but his emotion was unstable and volatile. Those who came in personal contact with him were moved by his irresistible enthusiasm and sincerity. But his literary output falls far short of his merit, except the early poems in Agnibina. After Agnibina his best known books of poems and songs are Dolonchampa(1923), Biser Bansi (The poisonous flute, 1924), Bhangar Gan (Songs of break-up, 1924), Puber Haoya (The east wind 1925) and Bulbul(1928).
After a sudden attack of paralysis on July 10, 1942, he became silent forever and spent 34 years of his life before he ultimately died on August 29, 1976 at the age of 77.