The Rebel Poet
Summary:
The story is about a boy named Pritam, who is excited to sing a patriotic song on Republic Day. His father tells him that the song "Karar Oi Louha Kopat" was written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, a famous poet known as the Rebel Poet of India.
Nazrul was born in 1899 in Churulia, a village in Bengal. As a child, he loved folk theatre and wrote plays like Daata Karna and Kabi Kalidas. He met Nibaran Chandra Ghatak, a revolutionary who became his teacher, and later joined a school where Kumud Ranjan Mullick, a poet, was the headmaster.
Nazrul joined the British Indian Army, but after World War I, his regiment was disbanded. He moved to Calcutta and began writing poems, songs, and essays to protest against British rule. His powerful writings inspired many Indians to fight for freedom.
In 1922, he started a magazine called Dhumketu and published a bold poem. The British arrested him, and while in jail, he went on a hunger strike to protest their cruelty. He was released in 1923.
Nazrul’s courage and fiery words earned him the title “Rebel Poet”, and his legacy continues to inspire young minds.
Activity – 1
Complete the following sentences:
- (a) Pritam was to sing the song “Karar oi louha kopot”
- (b) Nazrul was born in the village of Churulia.
- (c) Burdwan district is in undivided Bengal.
Activity – 2
Answer the following questions:
(a) Was India independent when Nazrul was born?
Ans: No, India was under the British rule when Nazrul was born.
(b) Name some of the folk plays that young Nazrul had written.
Ans: Nazrul wrote exciting folk plays like Daata Karna and Kabi Kalidas when he was young.
(c) Who was Nazrul’s teacher?
Ans: Nazrul’s teacher was Nibaran Chandra Ghatak, who encouraged him to read and learn more.
(d) Who was Kumud Ranjan Mullick?
Ans: Kumud Ranjan Mullick was a poet and the headmaster of Nazrul’s new school, who inspired him to write poems.
Activity – 3
Tick (√) the right answer:
- His poems inspired the youth
Answer: To fight the British. - A poem that he wrote was
Answer: Kheya Parer Tarani. - Nazrul was called
Answer: The rebel poet.
Activity – 4
Write T for true and F for false statements in the given boxes:
- Nazrul was born when India was still under the British rule. – [T]
- Nazrul was not attracted to folk theatre. – [F]
- In school, Nazrul met the great poet Kumud Ranjan Mullick. – [T]
- Nazrul served the Indian army under the British rule. – [T]
- Nazrul fasted for thirty days. – [F]
Activity – 5
Fill in the chart information from the text:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Nazrul met the revolutionary Nibaran Chandra Ghatak |
| 1920 | The regiment was disbanded |
| 1922 | Nazrul started a magazine named as “Dhumketu” |
| 1923 | Nazrul was released from jail |
Activity – 6
Answer the following questions:
1. Who inspired Nazrul to write poems?
Answer: Kumud Ranjan Mullick inspired Nazrul to write.
2. Why did Nazrul have to leave the army?
Answer: Nazrul left the army because his regiment was disbanded in 1920 after the first world war.
3. In which magazine was the poem Anandamoyeer Agamone published?
Answer: In the magazine named as “Dhumketu” the poem Anandamayeer Agamone was published.
4. Why did Nazrul start fasting?
Answer: Nazrul began fasting to protest against the British government unfair treatment and to fight for justice and freedom in his own way.
Activity – 7 (A)
Underline the adverbs in the following sentences. Group them under ‘Adverb of manner’; Adverb of time’ and ‘Adverb of place’:
- Now I will go to school.
- He sat beside me.
- He will watch a play tomorrow.
- She eagerly waited for the result.
- The train moved slowly out of the station.
- We won the match yesterday.
- Come here.
- I shall gladly do it.
Activity – 7 (B)
Let’s classify the adverbs in the following chart:
| Adverb of time | Adverb of manner | Adverb of place |
|---|---|---|
| Now | Eagerly | Beside |
| Tomorrow | Slowly | Here |
| Yesterday | Gladly |
Activity – 8
Let’s learn how to paint pots:
1. A
pot is bought.
2. It
is washed with water.
3. It
is dried in the sun.
4. It
is painted.
5. Polish
is applied to make the surface shiny.
(At first, then, at last,
next, thereafter)
Answer : At first, a pot is bought. Then, it is washed with water. Next, it is dried in the sun. Thereafter, it is painted. At last, polish is applied to make the surface shiny.
Activity – 9
Write eight sentences about the childhood of Rabindranath Tagore. Here are some points:
Born on 8th
May 1861 – did not enjoy formal schooling – was taught at home – mathematics
teacher was Aghore Babu – used to play in verandah – role – playing as a
teacher – taught the railing bars as if they were students – conclusion.
Answer:-
- Rabindranath Tagore was born on 8th May 1861 in Kolkata.
- He did not like going to school and found it boring.
- So, he stayed at home and studied with private teachers.
- His math’s teacher was a kind man named Aghore Babu.
- Little Rabindranath loved to play in the big verandah of his house.
- He often acted like a teacher while playing.
- He used to pretend the railing bars were students and taught them.
- From a young age, he showed a deep love for learning and imagination.