Class 8 |English For Today | Unit: 1, Lesson: 2 | A glimpse of our culture | Nakshi Kantha

Key words: quilt কম্বল, artistic শৈল্পিক, commercially বাণিজ্যিকভাবে, traditional ঐতিহ্যবাহী, demand চাহিদা, pattern নকশা 

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?
Ans: I see a quilt in the picture.

2 What is it called?
Ans: It is called Nakshi Kantha.

3 Have you seen it before? Where?
Ans: Yes, I have seen it before in our house.

4 What do we do with it?
Ans: We use it as our bed sheet.

B. Now read the text to know about nakshi kantha.

 

Nakshi kantha is a kind of embroidered quilt. নকশি কাথা এক ধরনের সেলাইকরা কম্বল।

 The name was taken from the Bengali word, 'naksha' which means artistic pattern. নামটি নেয়া হয়েছে বাংলা শব্দ ‘নকশা’ (যার অর্থ শৈল্পিক নকশা) থেকে। It is a kind of traditional craft and is said to be indigenous to Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. ইহা এক ধরনের ঐতিহ্যবাহী নৈপুন্য এবং বলা হয় বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের পশ্চিম বঙ্গের আদিবাসীদের হস্তশিল্প। The art has been practised in rural Bengal for centuries. শত অব্দ ধরে গ্রাম বাংলায় শিল্পটির চর্চা করা হয়। The name'Nakshi Kantha' became popular after the poet Jasimuddin's poem ' Nakshi KantharMath' was published in 1929.১৯২৯ সালে কবি জসীম উদ্দিনের কবিতা নকশীকাঁথার মাঠ প্রকাশিত হওয়ার পর নকশি কাঁথা নামটি জনপ্রিয় হয়ে উঠে।

Traditional kanthas are made for family use. ঐতিহ্যবাহী কাঁথা তৈরি হয় পারিবারিক ব্যবহারের জন্য। Old or new cloth and thread are used to make these quilts. পুরাতন অথবা নতুন কাপড় এবং সুতা ব্যবহৃত হয় এই কম্বল তৈরিতে। Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogra and Jessore are most famous for this craft. ময়মনসিংহ, জামালপুর, রাজশাহী, ফরিদপুর, বগুড়া এবং যশোর এই নৈপুন্যের জন্য অত্যধিক প্রসিদ্ধ। Now it is produced commercially. এখন ইহা বাণিজ্যিকভাবে উৎপাদন হয়। You can find them in many expensive handicraft shops in cities. আপনি তাদের খুজে পাবেন বড় শহরের অনেক দামী হস্তশিল্পের দোকানে। The quilts are now in great demand because of the colourful patterns and designs embroidered on them. বর্ণিল নকশা এবং তাদের সেলাইকরা ডিজাইনের কারণে কম্বলগুলোর এখন বিশাল চাহিদা।

C. Complete the sentences with clues given

Bengali, patterns, embroidery, years, fashion, art, rural, designs, quilt, naksha
Answer :
1 Naksha means artistic patterns.
2 The name was taken from a Bengali word Naksha.
3 The art has been practised in rural Bengal for years.
4 Nakshi kanthas are now sold in fashion shops.
5 Nakshi kanthas are in great demand because of their colourful patterns and designs.
6 Nakshi kanthas are a kind of quilt.

D. Write down five questions for the completed statements in activity C above.
One is done for you.
1. What does naksha mean ?

Answer :
2 where was the word ‘naksha’ taken from?
3 Where has the art been practised?
4 Where are the nakshi kanthas sold now?
5 Why are nakshi kanthas in great demand?
6 What are Nakshi Kanthas?
 

E. Do you like a nakshi kantha or an ordinary kantha! Why?

Ans: I like Nakshi Kantha because its design is very charming. Nakshi Kantha is comfortable to wear. 

F. Work in pairs. Ask and answer all the questions. Now write 3-4 more questions on the text given in activity B above. 

Answer :  

1   Why are Traditional Kanthas made for?

2   What things are needed to make Nakshi Kanthas?

3   Where are the nakshi kanthas sold now?

4   When did Nakshi Kanthas become famous?

G. 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...........

Answer : Old or new cloth and coloured threads are needed. First the cloth is folded, then the folds are joined together using stitch along the border line. Varieties of patterns and figures are sewn on it using threads of various colours. 

These patterns and figures include geometrical patterns, pictures of flowers, leaves, birds, animals, men and women, tools of daily use, etc.

It bears a lot about the culture and daily life of the rural people. Village women of our country make these in their free time. In their hand a simple quilt of cloth becomes a piece of art. It takes a lot of time, even several months, to adorn the entire quilt. Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogra and Jessore are most famous for this craft. Now it is produced commercially.

We can find these in many expensive handicraft shops in cities. The quilts are now in great demand because of the colourful patterns and designs embroidered on them. Of late many handicraft shops are exporting them outside the country. So it is said that if this trend continues, our traditional art of making Nakshi Kanthas will be more demandable and profitable.