English For Today chapter 1: A Glimpse of Our Culture

Unit One

A Glimpse of Our Culture

After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

• read and understand texts through silent reading
• infer meaning from context
• ask and answer questions
• write answers to questions
• write short compositions

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Lesson 1: Folk Song

Figure: A set of four stamps issued on 21 July 2011 on Traditional Musical Instruments of Bangladesh

Labels: Traditional Musical Instrument of Bangladesh; বাংলার ঐতিহ্যবাহী বাদ্যযন্ত্র; BANGLADESH 2011; ৳৫ Description: Four stamps in a 2×2 grid, each showing a seated musician with a traditional instrument. Top-left: long-necked instrument with a red body. Top-right: instrument with a round body and a long thin neck. Bottom-left: instrument with a round body, played with a bow. Bottom-right: long box-shaped instrument with tuning pegs, played with a bow.

Keywords: people's music, oral tradition, self-expression, instruments, migration

A. Work in Pairs:

1. What kinds of music do you listen to in your daily life? Are they related to your family traditions or culture?
2. How do you think music changes over time? Does it stay the same, or does it evolve with people’s lifestyles?
3. Can you think of any traditional instruments you’ve seen or heard about? What materials do you think they’re made from?
4. Why might certain types of music become less common as people move from villages to cities?

B. Read the text and answer the following questions:

People’s music, also known as folk music, consists of tunes, lyrics, and knowledge passed down orally for generations. Over time, this music has evolved, closely tied to the way people live. Our agriculture, food, ecology, seasons, and rituals are all reflected in these songs. Palligiti, Bhatiwali, Jari, Sari,

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Gambhira, Lalon Giti, Paalagan, and the songs of Hason Raja all embody the self-expression of the people.

As the landscape changes, the music shifts too. In the hill tracts, you encounter music with the same role but expressed in the diverse languages of the ethnic communities. The instruments used for folk music are crafted from materials found in the surroundings—animal skin, bamboo, and calabash are common examples. The sounds they produce are deeply connected to the land they come from. As people migrate to cities and villages transform, these traditional tunes are slowly fading. However, folk music still finds its place in mainstream films and music albums.

The following are translations of a Hason Raja song and a Bhawaiya song featured in the film Asiya, directed by Fateh Lohani:

Translation of Hason Raja's song “Loke Bole Bole Re (Oh, They Say)”

Oh, They say my house is no good, But what can I build with nothing here? I’ll erect a home, Yet how long will I truly stay? I gaze into the mirror, Noticing the strands of grey in my hair. Thinking of this, Hason Raja never built a dwelling. Where will Allah take him? Where will he find rest? This uncertainty brings him to tears. If only Hason Raja had known his days, He would have painted his rooms in vibrant hues. Oh, They say my house is no good, But what can I build with nothing here?

Listen to the Bhawaiya song on the internet as featured in the film Asiya and sung by Mustafa Zaman Abbasi and Ferdousi Rahman:

Questions:

1. What are some examples of Bangladeshi folk music genres mentioned in the passage?
2. How are the instruments used in folk music connected to the land and environment?
3. What happens to folk music as people move to cities and villages change?
4. How is Bangladeshi folk music still present in mainstream media, despite its decline?

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C. Discuss in groups and write a paragraph on the following topic:

How has Bangladeshi folk music changed over the years, and what is it’s importance in everyday life and culture today?

D. The following sentences describe the life of Hason Raja but are not in the correct order. Rearrange them to form a meaningful passage.

a. His unique style of music filled with emotion and devotion made him one of the most prominent figures in Bengali folk culture.

b. He was born on 21st December 1854 in Teghoriya village of Lakshmansree Parghana, now Sunamganj to a Bengali Muslim zaminder family.

c. He established schools and religious centres like mosques and he is said to have been widely engaged in charities within his immediate communities.

d. Raja's songs are collected in books Hason Udas and Shaukhin Bahar.

e. Dewan Hason Raja Chowdhury, simply known as Hason Raja, who was Bengali mystic poet and song writer.

f. Today, a museum in Sylhet is dedicated to preserving his memory and contributions.

g. Hason Raja died on 6 December 1922.

h. Despite his riches, he felt a deep connection with the common people.

Lesson 2: Nakshi Kantha

Figure

Description: A rectangular quilt with dashed stitched lines along its border and a motif in each corner. A central radiating medallion of striped and leaf-shaped motifs, with striped petal-like motifs around its edge.

Keywords: quilt, artistic, commercially, traditional, demand, pattern

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A. Look at the picture and the questions. Then ask and answer the questions with your partner:

1. What do you see in the picture?
2. What is it called?
3. Have you seen it before? Where?
4. What do we do with it?

B. Excerpt from 'The Field of the Embroidered Quilt' (Nokshi Kanthar Math) by Jasimuddin:

Spreading the embroidered quilt, She works the livelong night, As if her poet were On his bereaved plight. Many a joy and many a sorrow Is written on her breast; The story of Rupai’s life is there, Line by line expressed. “How will he bear the pain, mother? On this quilt lies all of mine— All my pain and my grief, Embroidered line by line. So lay it on my grave, mother. This picture of my grief, That his and mine upon its breast May mingling find relief.

Translation: E. M. Milford

C. Now, read the text to know about Nakshi Kantha:

Nakshi Kantha is a kind of embroidered quilt. The name was taken from the Bangla word, 'naksha' which means artistic pattern. It is a kind of traditional craft and is said to be indigenous to Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The art has been practised in rural Bangladesh for centuries. The name Nakshi Kantha became popular after the poet Jasimuddin's poem 'Nakshi Kanthar Math' was published in 1929.

Traditional kanthas are made for family use. Old or new cloth and thread are used to make these quilts. Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogura and Jashore are most famous for this craft. Now, it is produced commercially. You can find them in many expensive handicraft shops in cities. The quilts are now in great demand because of the colourful patterns and designs embroidered on them.

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D. Complete the sentences with clues given. There are more words than necessary:

bengali | patterns | embroidery | years | fashion | art | rural | designs | quilt | naksha

1. Naksha means artistic ............... .
2. The name was taken from a .............. word ............... .
3. The art has been practised in .............. Bengal for .............. .
4. Nakshi Kanthas are now sold in ............ shops.
5. Nakshi Kanthas are in great demand because of their colourful .............. and .............. .
6. Nakshi Kanthas are a kind of ............... .

E. Write down five questions for the completed statements in Activity D above:

One is done for you.

1. What does naksha mean ?

F. Do you like a Nakshi Kantha or an ordinary kantha? Why?

G. Work in pairs. Ask and answer all the questions that you have written in Activity E. Now, write 3-4 more questions on the text given in Activity B above:

H. Write a paragraph describing how the Nakshi Kantha is made. Start like this: Old or new cloth and coloured thread are needed. First, the cloth is folded, then