Core committee members of the Paschimbanga Kazi Nazrul Islam Academy, which had been announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee two months ago, made public their roles and aims on Thursday.

“The academy was created to promote the poetry, other writings and music of Nazrul Islam. The core committee initially included 10 members. This month, we added six more. If required, we will invite any artiste or writer who can add value to the academy. We have had three meetings so far,” said Somnath Mukhopadhyay, the director of the culture department and a member of the committee.

The 16-member panel, chaired by poet Joy Goswami, includes singer Anup Ghosal as vice-chairman, theatre actor-director Arpita Ghosh, singer Ustad Rashid Khan, theatre actor-director Bibhash Chakraborty and writers Abhik Mazumdar and Sudip Bandopadhyay.

The committee wants to set up a library of books and other published material written by or on Nazrul Islam.

“We will seek advice and suggestions from Nazrul scholars in the state as well as Bangladesh. For example we are trying to contact the Nazrul Academy in Churulia (Nazrul’s birthplace),” said Goswami.

An archive of Nazrul’s letters, books and personal items and notations of his songs has been planned.

The committee also intends to constitute research and publishing panels that will analyse materials and decide whether they are fit to be printed. The Academy is keen on helping and seeking the help of Nazrul Islam’s family members. Kalyani Kazi, his daughter-in-law, has been inducted into the committee, said Goswami.

Chakraborty pointed out a lack of awareness about scholars and musicians who are doing good work on Nazrul. “We have to connect younger generations to Nazrul’s writings and music,” he said.

The academy has organised an event at Sisir Mancha on Saturday. Bangladeshi poet and author Sayed Shamsul Haque will speak on Nazrul for an hour, followed by music and narration by Anup Ghosal and Satinath Mukhopadhyay.

The academy, which has a temporary office on the first floor of Rabindra Sadan, hopes to get a permanent office soon. “We have spoken to Mamata Banerjee thrice about this and she has assured us that space will be provided,” said Goswami.