Kazi Nazrul Islam Endowment Report: 
December 15, 2005

Lecture gives insight on Bengali Culture

The first Kazi Nazrul Islam Endowed lecture focusing on the art, culture and literature of Bangladesh was held on Saturday, April 23, 2005 by the College of Humanities of California State University (CSUN), Northridge. 

The lecture was held in the University Students Union Thousand Oaks room. The lecture focused on Kazi Nazrul Islam, a Bengali poet, songwriter, humanist, and a philosopher. According to many, he was an influential figure who inspired millions with his epic writing during the 20th century. His work on social injustice & religious fanaticism illustrated his indignation at the contemporary British colonial rule over India. Kazi Nazrul Islam was alive during a time when India was experiencing widespread communal rioting. He also supported equal rights for women. 

Dr. June McDaniel, presenter of the lecture and a religious studies professor at the college of Charleston in South Carolina said that there is a need for new understanding of the religion Islam that is progressive because regressive ideas lead to destruction and religious wars, much like those experienced during the poet's time. With an unmistakable humanist bent, Nazrul also represented a non-parochial understanding of Islam and the society. "Kazi Nazrul Islam's voice is needed today," McDaniel said, "as not enough people are talking about peace." 

Dr. Gulshan Ara Kazi, Chair of the Nazrul Studies Committee, one of the founding members of the Taranga of California and the Ex-Chairperson of the North America Nazrul Conference Committee (NANCC), said that from 1919 to 1943 Kazi Nazrul Islam tried to join Hindus & Muslims as a voice of global unification. She further referred to poet's won words, in which the poet said "Even though I was born in this country (Bengal), in this society, I belong to the world". 

Funding for the lectureship was provided to the College of Humanities by Taranga of California (TOC) and the Members of the Bangladeshi Community of Greater Los Angeles. Dr. Phyllis Herman, professor of religious studies at CSUN in conjunction with TOC organized and hosted the lectureship. The department was approached by TOC to expose the university community to Bangladesh & the Bengali culture, Dr. Herman said. 

The Executive Director of TOC, Kazi M. Belal said now is the time to bring in Kazi Nazrul Islam's philosophy, this is what's needed at this time. He also said instead of mutual empathy and fellow-feeling, people throughout the world show hatred toward each other.

During the lecture, the Rotary Club of Dhaka, Bangladesh, donated a collection of books on Nazrul to CSUN's Religious Studies Department. The collection of about 200 books included various creative works of the poet. Dr. Herman said that there is a large Bengali community in this area and she would like to see the community represented at CSUN. The Bengali Community should be able to Read about their own culture, Dr. Herman said, and that there is a lot of growing interest in Islam as a Religion. Mr. Belal said, students are the leaders of the future, and it is important that their ways of thinking be enriched. 

Dr. Herman remarked: "We just had a wonderful event, our first annual lecture, given by Dr. June McDaniel, from the College of Charleston. We had a huge turnout and the university received 200 books from Dhaka Rotary Club, which is a great contribution for the Nazrul study.

The interest in Bengali arts, culture and literature is growing at our institution and it is due to the efforts of people and groups who take an active part in ensuring the success of the Endowment." 

Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq's speech was significant & meaningful, which energized the audience and reminded them of power, influence and relevance of Nazrul's epic writing. Many of you might already know nazrul.org, a website dedicated to bring the wonderful life & works of Nazrul to the world. Dr. Farooq, whom I have known closely, is the founder & developer of this website. Nazrul.org also has an internet discussion forum. The site and the forum are helping to network Nazrul enthusiasts, artistes and researchers from around the world to come together to better introduce Nazrul beyond Bangla language.

The endowment was established in 2002. Immediately after that, in early 2003, Taranga of California and the Bangladeshi community members of greater Los Angeles took up an aggressive role in raising funds for the endowment. Bangladeshi community members from various parts of USA and the local LA Bangladeshi community members have raised close to $15,000.00 dollars. 

An important update: His Excellency Shamsher M. Chowdhury, BB, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States recently visited the CSUN and spoke to the university authority about the endowment. He congratulated the University & praised the effort, and pledged $50,000.00 dollars for the endowment fund. The CSUN's Department of Humanities in conjunction with Taranga of California plans to offer 3 to 4 lectures a year, initially. This donation would take the Endowment a long way to carry on the Nazrul related mission more meaningfully. 

As Dr. Farooq suggested during the first Nazrul Endowment lecture, to both to get to know Nazrul better through Nazrul's collected works and to facilitate the project of introducing Nazrul to the world, he has taken an important initiative in regard to making available Nazrul's collected works. I am ordering a set of the collected work (6 vols.) of Nazrul and I also urge you to order a set. This collected works of Nazrul definitely should belong to our personal collection. Since only a few sets will be available through this offer, please consider ordering promptly to take advantage of this offer and to further facilitate the work of nazrul.org. Dr. Farooq can be contacted at farooqm@globalwebpost.com. 

At the same time, I would also request you to contribute to Nazrul Endowment Fund. We need to raise a lot more money. Anyone interested to participate in the program or donate money for the endowment please contact:

Mr. Steven Wallace
Director of Development of College of Humanities
California State University
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA-91330-8252
Tel. 818-677-3301 / Fax. 818-677-4902
Email: steven.wallace@csun.edu 

Checks can be made payable to CSUN FOUNDATION for Nazrul Endowment. 
Donations are fully deductible. (checks can be mailed at the above address)

I hope this exciting news will generate interest among all Nazrul lovers and initiate a level of bigger hope for the future of the Nazrul Endowment Fund.

Dr. Gulsha Ara & Mr. Kazi M. Belal, Coordinators
Nazrul Endowment Fund
40 Sunny Side Drive, Northford, CT 06472
Tel. 203-484-2546 / Email. kbelal@sbcglobal.net