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A bud yet to bloom Ragas created by Nazrul

In conversation with Yakub Ali Khan

Staff Correspondent
Kazi Nazrul Islam enriched almost all genres of Bengali songs. His compositions are based on the solid foundation of Indian classical music.
Nazrul developed 14 distinct ragas; composed Khayal, Thumri and Tappa-styled Bangla songs; Kabyageeti, Bhajan, Kirtan, Ghazal, Shyama Sangeet, Islamic songs and more. Nazrul is, in a word, an institution.
"The subtle game of raga-ragini used in Nazrul Sangeet appears to be an amusing flow of a musical river. Ragas created by Nazrul are exceptionally brilliant. Some are very melodic. But are we giving appropriate attention to his ragas?" questioned artiste Yakub Ali Khan.
Nazrul used Bengali terms while naming his ragas and these names were inserted in the songs he composed, based on them. The songs - "Rumjhum Rumajhuma Ke Bajaye" and "Hashey Akashey Shuktara", respectively set on raga Nirjhorini and Arunranjoni, are simply remarkable. The trend of Adhunik song is also indebted to Nazrul.
"The ragas developed by Nazrul are now confined to his books only. Very few artistes occasionally render those. The conventional approach of several ustads towards the genre is a bar to attain acceptability among the classical music performers. If classical and Nazrul
Sangeet gurus, exponents, researchers and, of course, the performers sit together and add bandish (words) to those, the ragas will get a new lease of life. Aside from promoting Khayal, we might create Thumri based on ragas Nazrul developed," said Khan.
"In reality the bud is yet to bloom. The trend of making use of Bengali bandish in Hindustani classical music has not yet been established as a standard," explained Khan.
The poet composed the number "Benuka O Ke Bajaye Mohua Bon-e", based on Raga Benuka. He also com-
posed several complex songs like "Dolonchapa Boney Doley" and "Shono O Shondhya Maloti" set on Raga Dolonchapa and Shondhya Maloti respectively.
"Nazrul mingled the essences of several ragas and developed his own that are often very difficult to render. Compositions based on several ragas, including Debjani, Minakkhi, Banokuntola, Boro Hongsho Sharong and Rakto Hongsho Sharong are such examples," the artiste went on to add.
"Through his exclusive compositions, Kazi Nazrul Islam gave birth to and revitalised many obsolete ragas that were on the verge of extinction. The compositions -'Nilambori Shari Pori' (Nilambori), 'Gunjamala Goley Kunjey Esho Hey Kala'(Malgunja), 'Bashonto Mukhor Aaji' (Basant Mukhari), 'Phool-er Jalshaye Nirob Keno Kobi' (Hijaj), 'Jhoro Jhoro Jhorey Shaon Dhara' (Ramdashi Malhar) are apt examples," he said.
Today is the poet's 37th death anniversary. True, death has taken away his physical presence from us. But the legacy that Nazrul has left behind is immense. The poet will stay alive in the hearts of Bengalis for eternity.
"With the creation of Raga Asha Bhairobi, Nazrul declared the end of death in his composition 'Mrityu nai, nai dukkho, achhey shudhu pran, ononto anando hashi ophuran, achhey shudhu pran," Yakub Ali Khan said.