Man : Summary

Summary

Summary

Song of Equality: Kazi Nazrul Islam begins his poem “Manush” with a proud and clear declaration of equality. He sings, “There is nothing greater than man, more majestic than man.” Through this line, he declares his faith in the greatness of human beings. According to Nazrul, there are no differences among people based on race, caste, country, or religion. Every man is equal and belongs to one family. Humanity is the only true religion of the world. The poet’s voice rises above all narrow divisions and sings the song of unity and love.

The Hungry Man at the Temple: The poet presents a touching story to show how false religion denies humanity. A poor, starving traveler comes to a temple in search of food. The priest, who was dreaming of divine blessings, opens the door but sees only a hungry man. The traveler says weakly that he has not eaten for seven days. Instead of helping him, the priest shuts the temple door. The man walks away in the dark night and cries, “This temple belongs to the priest, not to God.” Through this story, Nazrul shows how religious pride and selfishness destroy compassion. God cannot live where hungry people are turned away.

The Hungry Man at the Mosque: The second story mirrors the same tragedy in a different faith. A hungry traveler goes to a mosque where there are leftovers from a feast. He asks for some food, but the mullah becomes angry and questions him, “Do you say your prayers?” When the man says “no,” the mullah locks the door and drives him away. The hungry traveler leaves, saying that even though he never prayed for eighty years, God never let him starve, but now the priests have locked the houses of God. Nazrul uses this scene to show that cruelty is not limited to any religion. The problem lies in the hypocrisy of men who claim to serve God but fail to serve humanity.

Voice of the Hungry Man: The hungry man’s words become the moral center of the poem. He feels that temples and mosques have lost their real purpose. They no longer belong to God, but to selfish men who control them for their own power. He walks away into the night, carrying the light of truth — the truth that God does not live behind closed doors. He lives in the heart of every man, especially in those who suffer. Through this voice, Nazrul speaks for all oppressed people and reminds the world that love and compassion are greater than rituals.

Call to Break False Barriers: Nazrul’s tone now turns bold and revolutionary. He calls upon historical warriors such as Genghis Khan, Mahmud of Ghazni, and Kala Pahar to break down the locked doors of temples and mosques. He asks, “Who shuts the doors of the house of God?” His call is symbolic. It means that all forms of division, pride, and greed must be destroyed. The poet wants to free religion from the chains of superstition and selfishness. He dreams of a world where all houses of worship remain open for every man, woman, and child, where faith stands for love, not hatred.

Exposure of Hypocrisy: Nazrul directly attacks the false saints who preach religion but exploit others for gain. They climb the minaret and sing for their own pride, not for God. They worship books ( the Quran, the Vedas, and the Bible), but forget the human message within them. The poet cries out, “Man has created books, books have not created man.” He reminds us that prophets like Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, Krishna, and Buddha were human beings who lived for truth and compassion. To insult mankind is to insult the prophets themselves. Nazrul’s tone here is sharp, fearless, and filled with divine anger.

The Poet’s Humanist Message: In the final part, Nazrul unites all religions and all ages under one idea — humanity. God may appear in the form of a poor beggar, a peasant, or a laborer. If we drive them away, we drive away God. Every man carries a spark of divinity within him. The poet reminds readers that service to man is the highest form of worship. The message of the poem is timeless: that equality, love, and mercy are the foundation of every true religion. Nazrul ends his poem as a prophet of humanity, declaring that to love man is to love God Himself.