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Post-Symposium Update: Sent
by Kazi M. Belal Professor
Winston E. Langley became interested in
Kazi Nazrul Islam in the year 1996 when he attended a dinner & music party
at one of his Bangladeshi friend’s house in Boston, Massachusetts. His
interest in Nazrul grew when he had the opportunity, for the first time, to
listen to a few Nazrul songs by the local singers at that party.
He was further inspired by the English translated version In
2002, under the leadership of Dr. Gulshan Ara & Mr. Kazi M. Belal, the 8th
North America Nazrul Conference (NANC) was held in Los Angeles, California.
This significant conference was organized During
this important conference a historic proposition was made to establish a Nazrul
Endowment Fund a CSUN, which later became a reality. Without a question,
Professor Phyllis Herman of CSUN was the main source of inspiration and the
principal driving force behind this effort. Of course, there were other
important university leaders involved as well. Prof. Winston E. Langley was the keynote speaker at that occasion.
His powerful & compelling speech entitled “Nazrul: The Moral Giant”
was one of the decisive factors in establishing the Kazi Nazrul Islam
Endowment Fund at the California State University, Northridge. (First of its
kind in the USA) Once
again, under the leadership of Dr. Gulshan Ara and Mr. Kazi M. Belal, the 2006
Nazrul Symposium was held at the University of Connecticut (UCONN), in
conjunction with the Asian American Studies Institute & the Asian American
Cultural Center of UCONN. The Symposium was jointly hosted by the University
of Connecticut and the members of the Bangladeshi community of
greater Hartford. The Day-long symposium was a stunning success. Once again,
Professor Winston E. Langley was
the keynote speaker. His powerful and convincing speech, the efforts of
the symposium organizers and strong determination of Prof. Roger N. Buckley of
UCONN resulted in the establishment of yet another Kazi Nazrul Islam Endowment
in a prominent university in the East Coast. Roger N. Buckley, Prof. of
History & the Director of the Asian American Studies Institute (UCONN) and
Ms. Angela Rola, the Director of Asian American Cultural Center (UCONN) were
the main forces behind this important & historic mission. Another
influential & notable person, Prof. Rafiqul Islam, a renowned Nazrul
Professor from Bangladesh was also invited twice to North America Nazrul
Conferences in Boston and Washington DC as the keynote speaker. His dynamic
speeches and vision for the promotion of Kazi Nazrul Islam has also provided
tremendous support toward the ultimate success and the goal of the North
America Nazrul Conference Committee, which was to gain a wider recognition for
Nazrul’s creative works in the western world.
Dr.
Gulshan Ara Mr.
Kazi M. Belal
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