Nazrul Tirtha an educational and research centre on Kazi Nazrul Islam was unveiled on the poet’s 115th birth anniversary on Monday by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Nazrul Tirtha will soon become the talk of the town. This will act as a beautiful pyramid of Indo-Bangla friendship,” said the chief minister, after inaugurating the complex situated on the Major Arterial Road next to DLF Building, spread over 120 cottahs.

As the sun went down over the complex being built by Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco), the building’s facade was lit up with laser display and ambient lighting.

A 3D projection-mapped show converted one of the buildings into a canvas with animations designed to suit the Cubism-inspired architectural construction, planned by Abin Design Studio. A laser display lit up the super-sized Bengali alphabets engraved into the black concrete facade. Visitors to the museum were treated to a dazzling display that made use of the late poet’s music and rare photographs, book covers and art.

The evening began with an awards ceremony to honour achievers in the fields of art, literature, music and dance followed by Nazrul’s granddaughter Anindita Kazi reciting poetry written by Mamata as her tribute to the rebel poet.

Artiste Ganesh Haloi, a resident of AE Block, being awarded the Benode Behari Mukhopadhyay Purashkar by minister Bratya Basu in presence of artistes Jogen Chowdhury and Shuvaprasanna

Poet Joy Goswami, the chairman of Paschimbanga Kazi Nazrul Islam Academy who spearheads the project, reminded the gathering of the idea behind the research centre and the aims of the academy. “An encyclopaedia of Nazrul’s music will be compiled. All kinds of research will be possible. The target is to reach out to the future generations.”

For the 115th birth anniversary of the rebel poet, Mamata had her entire culture clan accompanying her. Painter and Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury, painter Shuvaprasanna, actors Dipankar De and Rudranil Ghosh, singers Anup Ghosal, Nirmala Mishra and Soumitra Roy were present on stage.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee lights the ceremonial lamp as (from left) deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh Abida Islam, Kazi Nazrul Islam’s daughter-in-law Kalyani Kazi, ministers Bratya Basu and Firhad Hakim, Hidco chairman Debashis Sen and Nazrul’s grandaughter Anindita Kazi look on. Pictures by Pradip Sanyal

Hoping for collaborative projects between Bangladesh and India, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh Abida Islam said: “After Nazrul Institute and Nazrul Academy, we hope we will be able to take forward our studies on Nazrul jointly with Nazrul Tirtha.”

Bangla band Mohul recited two of Nazrul’s poems and one penned by Mamata accompanied by musicians.

“About 60 per cent work is left on the interiors. We plan to open the doors of Nazrul Tirtha for use of the stakeholders on August 29, the poet’s death anniversary,” said Hidco chairman Debashis Sen.