Every year, on the birth anniversary of our National Poet, two Nazrul memorial centres — at Kazir Shimla and Darirampur in Trishal — are thronged by many.

But the establishments require more support to make them attractive to the visitors.

The two centres — displaying memorabilia of Nazrul — still draw visitors from different areas of the district and outside. The memorial centres also house two libraries with books written by Nazrul. Sources said that books on other writers are also needed to enrich the libraries.

Nazrul spent about a year during his childhood at Kazir Shimla and Darirampur while he studied at Darirampur High School. Kazi Rafizullah, a sub-inspector of police working at Burdwan in West Bengal took Nazrul to his village home in 1914.

Later, Nazrul shifted his lodging at the house of Bechutia Bepari at Namapara as his school was far from Kazir Shimla. The Jatiyo Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam University — an arts-based university — was later founded at Namapara, in his honour.

The memorabilia kept at the two centres include records released by His Masters Voice, handwritten scripts of the poet in Bangla, English, Hindi and Urdu, some rare photographs of the poet and his family members.
The Nazrul memorial centre in Kazir Shimla.

The Nazrul memorial centre in Kazir Shimla. Photo: Star

Kazi Kawsar Ahmed, grandson of Kazi Rafizullah, said that the number of artifacts is not enough to really engage the visitors, causing a decline in interest from people.

The collection of memorabilia of Nazrul and other singers who promoted Nazrul’s songs in the sub-continent should be increased to add more substance to both of the centres, added Kazi Kawsar.

The centres can run music schools and play a vital role in organising cultural programmes on Nazrul and others poets of Bangla Literature, said Kazi Noor-e-Alam Siddique, another grandson of Kazi Rafizullah.

Like every year, on the second day of three-day national level celebration of the poet’s 114th birth anniversary, programmes will be held at both the centres, sources said.

The memorial centres have been facing acute staff shortage since its inception. Though there are 17 posts at the two centres — launched in 2003, they are run by five staff, four of whom are employed on a daily basis contract till now, sources said.