Staff Reporter : Dr. Rashidun Nabi is a distinguished researcher and scholar in the field of ‘Nazrul Sangeet’, the songs written and composed by the legendary Bengali poet and musician Kazi Nazrul Islam. As a researcher, Dr. Nabi has dedicated much of his life to the study, preservation, and promotion of Nazrul's vast musical legacy, with a particular focus on understanding the historical, cultural, and musical aspects of his compositions. Nazrul is revered as the "Rebel Poet" of Bengal, and his music is known for its powerful fusion of classical, folk, and modern elements, often imbued with themes of social justice, patriotism, and spiritualism. Dr. Nabi’s work primarily centers on ‘Nazrul Sangeet’, which refers to the songs composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Dr. Rashidun Nabi is not only a scholar but also a ‘passionate advocate’ for preserving the legacy of Kazi Nazrul Islam. Through his work, he has helped bridge the gap between ‘traditional Bengali music’ and contemporary understandings of Nazrul's genius, ensuring that his compositions continue to inspire and resonate across generations.

Birth and Educational Life

Professor Dr. Rashidun Nabi was born on 1 January 1957 in the village of Darikhatore, under Shalikha Upazila of Magura district. His father, Md. Abdus Samad, was a teacher at Pulum Golam Sarwar High School, and his mother was Syeda Rabeya Khatun. After the early death of his father in 1967, his grandmother, Phulkuti Bibi, played an extraordinary role in nurturing and shaping him into a man of learning.

He began his education in 1961 at a government primary school in his village. In 1971, while still a tenth-grade student, he joined the great Liberation War of Bangladesh as an armed freedom fighter. Later, he pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Nazrul Sangeet, master’s degrees in both Bengali and Nazrul Sangeet, and finally a Ph.D. on “Artistic Expression and Variety of Melodies in the Songs of Nazrul” under the supervision of Professor Dr. Abul Ahsan Chowdhury, a renowned educator and researcher from the Department of Bengali at Islamic University.

Among his musical mentors were Ustad Phul Mohammad (a direct disciple of Nazrul), Ustad Narayan Chandra Basak, Ustad Syed Zakir Hossain, Sheikh Lutfor Rahman, Sudhin Das, Khalid Hossain, and Abdul Latif.

Career

Dr. Nabi began his professional career on 1 January 1989 as a Research Officer at the Nazrul Institute in Dhaka. He went on to serve as the Head of the Research and Publication Department as well as the Cultural Department. In his mission to enrich the Institute’s collections, he officially traveled to India multiple times to collect manuscripts, unpublished writings, photographs, and other invaluable materials related to Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Through these endeavors, he established connections with eminent musicians associated with Nazrul, including Deepali Nag (Talukdar), Dhirendra Chandra Mitra, Yuthika Roy, Geeta Mitra, Geeta Basu, and Sabitri Ghosh. Together with his guru, the Ekushey Padak-winning musician, artiste, and notator Sudhin Das, he collected over fifteen hundred original gramophone records of Nazrul Sangeet as well as an unpublished manuscript from Dr. Brahma Mohan Thakur (Dr. B. M. Thakur), a renowned Nazrul researcher and musician in West Bengal, India. This achievement has been instrumental in preserving the authenticity of Nazrul Sangeet.

Alongside his research, Dr. Nabi also worked as a part-time teacher of Nazrul Sangeet at several leading institutions, including the historic Nazrul Academy and the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy (BAFA), where he taught for nearly two decades.

On 27 September 2007, he joined the Department of Music at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, as an Associate Professor and was later promoted to Professor (Grade 1). During his tenure, he held several important positions, including,Founding Head of the Department of Music,Founding Provost of Dolonchapa Hall,Founding Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). He continues to serve as a faculty member at the university.

Contribution to Nazrul Sangeet Research

One of Dr. Rashidun Nabi's major contributions is his extensive research on the ‘Musical structure’ and ‘Lyrical themes’ of Nazrul Sangeet. He has meticulously cataloged and analyzed the various genres of songs Nazrul composed, ranging from patriotic songs to devotional pieces, romantic ballads, and songs of social reform.

Dr. Nabi is known for his deep analysis of the musical styles that Nazrul utilized in his compositions. He has explored the nuances of how Nazrul blended ‘Indian classical music’, ‘folk traditions’, and ‘Western influences’, which gave his songs a unique and contemporary appeal during his time.

As a key figure in the study of Nazrul Sangeet, Dr. Nabi has worked tirelessly to preserve the songs and poems of Nazrul, ensuring that they remain relevant in modern times. He has organized several seminars, workshops and music festivals to promote Nazrul's music and poetry, reaching new generations of listeners and researchers.

In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Rashidun Nabi has served as an educator, teaching music and musicology at various institutions. His students have gone on to become prominent musicians and researchers in their own right, further spreading the influence of Nazrul Sangeet.

Legacy and Impact

Dr. Rashidun Nabi is not only a scholar but also a passionate advocate for preserving the legacy of Kazi Nazrul Islam. Through his work, he has helped bridge the gap between traditional Bengali music and contemporary understandings of Nazrul's genius, ensuring that his compositions continue to inspire and resonate across generations.

His contributions have made him one of the leading figures in ‘Nazrul Sangeet research’, and his work has been recognized by various cultural and academic organizations in both Bangladesh and India.

Main Research Area

The life and works of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, with special emphasis on his music.

Publications

Dr. Nabi has authored numerous scholarly papers, articles, and books on Nazrul Sangeet. His writings delve into the musical composition, lyrical analysis, and cultural significance of Nazrul's work. These publications have been instrumental in deepening the understanding of Nazrul's music both in academic circles and among the general public.

His popular books are, Nazrul-Sangeet Sangraha (Collection of Nazrul Songs). Nazrul-Sangeeter Nana Anushanga (Various Aspects of Nazrul Songs), Nazrul-Sangeeter Bhubane Anyanno Geetikarer Gaan (Songs of Other Lyricists in the World of Nazrul Songs), Nazrul-Sangeet Swarlipi Nirdeshika (Nazrul Songs Notation Guide).

Dr. Nabi’s authored and edited works are taught at various universities.

He is most prominently recognized as the editor of Nazrul-Sangeet Sangraha (Nazrul Song Collection), the most extensive compilation of Nazrul Sangeet published by the Nazrul Institute, Dhaka.

Awards

He has been awarded many awards in the country and aboard for his research of Nazrul.Like as,Nazrul Award (2017) – for outstanding contribution to Nazrul research, awarded by the Nazrul Institute, Dhaka (2018). Nazrul Medal (2025) – awarded by Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University for his remarkable contributions to Nazrul studies.

International Awards

Nazrul Award (2018) – awarded by the Nazrul Academy, Churulia, Burdwan, India (2018).

In addition to these, Dr. Nabi has received numerous awards, medals, and honors from cultural and academic institutions both in Bangladesh and abroad. Dr. Rashidun Nabi is one of the few researchers on Nazrul. People working on music would have been honored if he has received the National award.