National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's grandson Anirban Kazi, the eldest son of Nazrul’s youngest son Kazi Aniruddha, passed away at the age of 49.

While traveling to Switzerland, Anirban, an established painter himself, breathed his last in a hotel in Switzerland on Wednesday (local time), Anirban's cousin and Nazrul’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi informed local media. 

According to Khilkhil Kazi, Anirban went to Europe with his wife a few days ago. On Wednesday, they went to Switzerland but suffered a massive heart attack after entering the hotel room and died there, she said.

The body of Anirban will be brought and buried in Kolkata according to Khilkhil Kazi. She will also go to Kolkata to bid the last farewell to her cousin.

The Kabi Nazrul Institute in Bangladesh expressed shock at the sudden demise of Anirban Kazi.

The ‘Rebel Poet’ Kazi Nazrul Islam had four sons with his wife Pramila Devi. Their first child Krishna Mohammad died at a very young age, while the second son Arindam Khaled Bulbul, died at the age of four. 

Of the other two children, Kazi Aniruddha (the father of Anirban Kazi), passed away on February 22, 1974 during Kazi Nazrul Islam's lifetime; and Kazi Sabyasachi, the eldest surviving son of Nazrul, passed away on March 2, 1979.

The family of Kazi Aniruddha lives in Kolkata. His wife, Anirban’s mother Kalyani Kazi was a writer and music artist.

Meanwhile Khilkhil Kazi, Mistee Kazi and Babul Kazi, the daughters of Kazi Sabyasachi, are citizens of Bangladesh.

Last year, Anirban and his mother Kalyani Kazi were criticized by their other family members and Nazrul exponents-admirers in both India and Bangladesh, for handing over the rights of the ‘Rebel Poet’s historic song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat” to the Oscar winning acclaimed Indian music director AR Rahman for a remake version, used for the Raja Krishna Menon-directed Bollywood film 'Pippa'.