The youth and rebellious are often synonymous. The word “rebel”, however, has had a bout of negative association in recent years, and has been used when referring to reckless behaviour -- ranging from substance abuse and wasting outrageous amount of money on food, clothes and gadgets to doing nothing with one's life.
Today's youth could learn a lesson or two on what the word actually means. But, we, the young, don't like lessons or lectures. For those few who want to know what a true rebel is and want to get inspired, Nazrul Institute on Dhamondi Road 28, Dhaka would be the place to go.
Nazrul Institute is dedicated to the memory of Bangladesh's national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, who is also known as “the rebel poet”. The place boasts a library of over 1200 Nazrul songs and over 475 books written by or written about the poet. The director of Nazrul Institute, Rashid Haider, says that the Institute aims to spread the message of the poet.
Once you enter through gates, you get this feel that you are going back in time. There is no state-of-the-art computer in the library, and it doesn't attract many people either. To most, this would be the kind of place that is way behind it's time, but for a few, this could be the place where one can truly feel at peace. The library goes beyond just books about Nazrul; they have books on countless other important icons and personalities from Bangladesh, India and beyond. What's truly attractive about this library is the old school feel. The windows give you enough light to be able to read without straining your eyes but it's not too bright. They even have a few desks, big enough for one person, and a shelf on the desk to keep a couple dozen books nearby for hours upon hours of serious reading.
Nazrul Institute is also home to Kabi Bhaban, the place which the poet called home after he moved permanently to Dhaka. What was once the home of the poet is now a museum full of pictures, important documents and some of his personal belongings. As you go over the photos, you get a glance of the poet's illustrious life. You get to see the poet donning his military uniform, which proves that you do not need to be a non-conformist to be a rebel. You can also find his work, back when he was an editor, in extremely old magazines. The most interesting object at Kabi Bhaban is Nazrul's gramophone; it is kept on the side and most people would not really look at it twice. Did that gramophone withstand the test of time much like its owner did? Perhaps not.
After a nice quiet day at Nazrul Institute, one can choose to buy DVDs, books and even tapes featuring the poet's work at their gift store. If you grow too attached to the place, look no further because, Nazrul Institute has multiple programmes that demonstrate the brilliance and diversity of Nazrul Sangeet and then maybe you can find the inspiration you are looking for from the Rebel Poet himself. On a side note, Asian Dub Foundation's “Rebel Warrior” would be the perfect song to listen to on your way to Nazrul Institute; it really sets the mood.

Photo: Darshan Chakma