Remembering Kazi Nazrul Islam, the rebel poet of Bengal. That is why Nazrul Tirtha was established in May 2014. It stands as a cultural center. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated it. The inauguration marked the poet’s 115th birth anniversary.
Nazrul Tirtha is near DLF 1 in New Town Kolkata. It is only 2.50 kilometers from Rabindra Tirtha. This center is not just a building. It is a tribute to a literary giant.
Let’s delve deeper into what makes Nazrul Tirtha special. The center screens films since August 2015. It became a Kolkata International Film Festival venue in November 2015. Nazrul Tirtha also hosts art exhibitions. These events add vibrancy to Kolkata’s cultural scene.
The architecture of Nazrul Tirtha is unique. It bears the signature of Le Corbusier. Architect Abin Chaudhuri designed it to reflect Kazi Nazrul Islam’s personality. The building features an introverted design around a central green courtyard. This design provides diffused natural light. The use of thin exterior RC walls saves energy and cost. An indigenous sculptural feature wall displays famous words of the poet. The main gate has an 8.5 m high concrete block. It features words from Nazrul’s poem Bidrohi.
The center houses a museum, a library and an auditorium. These blocks serve different cultural purposes. The library holds 15000 books. It also provides digital reading facilities.
Nazrul Tirtha functions partly as a cinema hall. It also serves as an open-air theatre. Here exhibitions and performances take place.
Nazrul Tirtha also has a digital archive. It preserves invaluable documents of Nazrul’s literary activities. The archive includes original books, manuscripts and notations of songs. You can find advertisements and booklets of his records. There are also photos of records and interviews of Nazrul scholars.
Nazrul Tirtha also features deluxe guest rooms. There is an AV studio for audio/visual makers. Radio New Town studio broadcasts through apps.
Nazrul Tirtha is a rendezvous for art-loving people. It includes a souvenir shop. A multi-cuisine restaurant offers a place to relax. Here you can spend time with loved ones.
The state government observes Nazrul’s birth anniversary at Nazrul Tirtha. Senior officials garland the statue of Nazrul. Ministers give away prizes selected by different academies. Cultural shows feature Nazrul Geeti exponents.
Nazrul Tirtha has a Nazrul archive, museum and library. The library is the first of its kind in the state. It digitizes original and out-of-print books. It also preserves manuscripts and magazines edited by Nazrul.
Though without formal education, Nazrul became famous at 20. He was known as the Rebel Poet. He was imprisoned for criticizing British rule. Many of his books were banned. He criticized communalism in his poems and essays.
Nazrul Tirtha is more than a cultural center. It is a living tribute to a revolutionary poet. It preserves his legacy for generations.