Lalon Shah (1774-1890) is best known as an icon of the Baul tradition in Bengal, although he was also a philosopher, thinker and social reformer. He preached religious tolerance and rejected social differences based on class, caste and creed. He also believed that a search for truth should begin with the body, which reflects the mystery of creation. Although Lalon's songs are admired for the profound philosophical and mystical insights they offer, he did not receive any formal education. Not much is known about his early life. A popular story about him which many believe to be true is that while on a pilgrimage to a holy place, Lalon, who was born a Hindu, contracted smallpox and was abandoned by his companions. A Muslim fakir, Siraj Sain, picked him up and took him to his own house where he nursed him back to health. When Lalon returned home, his family refused to take him in as he had lived in a Muslim household. So Lalon returned to Siraj Sain and took up a life of devotion and asceticism under his guidance. After the death of Sainji, Lalon set up an akhrah or monastery in Chheuriya near Kushtia. It soon attracted admirers and mystics in search of salvation who became Initiated into Baul asceticism and became his disciples. As Lalon began writing and composing songs, which his disciples sang with the accompaniment of ektara or dotara, his fame spread to faraway places. Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam were among those who admired him and were influenced by his Shahajiya philosophy (the attainment of the self through the simple truths that reside in one's own body and soul- not outside which can be reached through sadhana or meditation). Many of his disciples also became famous for their songs. They included Kangal Harinath Majumder, Pagla Kanai and Dudu Shah.

১.

Choose the best answer from alternatives.

(a) The word 'tolerance' is synonymous with —.
(i) intolerance (ii) patience (iii) bias (iv) bigotry

(b) The word 'insights' means —.
(i) stupidity (ii) shallowness (iii) wisdom (iv) ignorance

(c) The word 'akhrah' refers to a place —.
(i) where people go for prayer (ii) where people go for playing (iii) where people of Baul tradition practice their beliefs (iv) where people go for enjoying picnic

(d) The word 'mystery' means —.
(i) enigma (ii) openness (iii) understanding (iv) knowledge

(e) The word 'abandoned' is opposite to —.
(i) ceased to support (ii) left (iii) supported (iv) deserted

উত্তর

(a) (ii) patience

(b) (iii) wisdom

(c) (iii) where people of Baul tradition practice their beliefs

(d) (i) enigma

(e) (iii) supported

Lalon Shah (1774-1890) is best known as an icon of the Baul tradition in Bengal, although he was also a philosopher, thinker and social reformer. He preached religious tolerance and rejected social differences based on class, caste and creed. He also believed that a search for truth should begin with the body, which reflects the mystery of creation. Although Lalon's songs are admired for the profound philosophical and mystical insights they offer, he did not receive any formal education. Not much is known about his early life. A popular story about him which many believe to be true is that while on a pilgrimage to a holy place, Lalon, who was born a Hindu, contracted smallpox and was abandoned by his companions. A Muslim fakir, Siraj Sain, picked him up and took him to his own house where he nursed him back to health. When Lalon returned home, his family refused to take him in as he had lived in a Muslim household. So Lalon returned to Siraj Sain and took up a life of devotion and asceticism under his guidance. After the death of Sainji, Lalon set up an akhrah or monastery in Chheuriya near Kushtia. It soon attracted admirers and mystics in search of salvation who became Initiated into Baul asceticism and became his disciples. As Lalon began writing and composing songs, which his disciples sang with the accompaniment of ektara or dotara, his fame spread to faraway places. Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam were among those who admired him and were influenced by his Shahajiya philosophy (the attainment of the self through the simple truths that reside in one's own body and soul- not outside which can be reached through sadhana or meditation). Many of his disciples also became famous for their songs. They included Kangal Harinath Majumder, Pagla Kanai and Dudu Shah.

২. Answer the following questions.
(a) What is Lalon Shah mainly famous for?
(b) How do you evaluate Lalon's songs?
(c) What is the essence of Shahajiya philosophy of Lalon?
(d) Who are some of the prominent people who admired Lalon?
(e) Mention the names of some followers of Lalon who became famous for their songs.

উত্তর

(a) Lalon Shah is famous mainly as an icon of the Baul tradition in Bangla. Besides, he is also well known as a philosopher, thinker, and social reformer.

(b) I evaluate Lalon's songs as profoundly philosophical and mystical. His songs, written in simple languages, are intended to reform society. They preach religious tolerance, rejecting social differences based on class, caste, and creed.

(c) The essence of the Shahajiya philosophy is to attain the self through the simple truths that exist in one's body and soul. In fact, this self or truth can be gained through sadhana or meditation.

(d) Some of the prominent people who admired Lalon are Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. They were deeply influenced by his Shahajiya philosophy.

(e) Kangal Harinath Majumder, Pagla Kanai and Dudu Shah are some of his disciples who became famous for their songs.

Dreams have fascinated philosophers for thousands of years, but only recently have dreams been subjected to empirical research and scientific study. Chances are that you've often found yourself puzzling over the content of a dream, or perhaps you've wondered why you dream at all.
First, let’s start by answering a basic question: What is a dream? A dream can include any of the images, thoughts and emotions that are experienced during sleep. Dreams can be extraordinarily vivid or very vague; filled with joyful emotions or frightening images; focused and understandable or unclear and confusing. Why do we dream? What purpose do dreams serve? While many theories have been proposed about the reason and function of dreams, no consensus has emerged. Considering the time we spend in a dreaming state, the fact that researchers do not yet understand the purpose of dreams may seem baffling. However, it is important to consider that science is still unraveling the exact purpose and function of sleep itself. Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.

৩.

Based on your reading of the passage, make short notes in each of the boxes in the flow chart showing different characteristics of dreams. (No. 1 has been done for you.)

Box	Content
1	Fascinating
2	______
3	______
4	______
5	______
6	______

উত্তর

Box	Content
1	Fascinating
2	Extraordinarily vivid
3	Very vague
4	Filled with joyful emotions
5	Focused and understandable
6	Unclear and confusing

The orphanage is high in the Carolina mountains. I was there in the autumn. I wanted quiet, and isolation, to do some troublesome writing. I wanted mountain air to blow out the Malaria from too long a time in the subtropics. I was homesick too, for the flaming of Maples in October, and for corn shocks and pumpkins and black walnut trees-....... I found them all living in a cabin that belonged to the orphanage, half a mile beyond the orphanage farm. When I took the cabin, I asked for a boy or man to come and chop wood for the fireplace....... I looked up from my typewriter one late afternoon, a little startled. A boy stood at the door and my pointer dog, my companion, was at his side and had not barked to warn me. The boy was probably twelve years old but undersized. He wore overalls and a torn shirt and was barefooted. He said, "I can chop some wood today."

৪. Summarise the following text.

উত্তর

The narrator rents a cabin near an orphanage in the Carolina mountains to find quiet for difficult writing and to enjoy the autumn scenery. After requesting someone to chop firewood, the narrator is surprised one afternoon by a small, barefoot boy standing at the door. The boy is about twelve and wears overalls and a torn shirt. He offers to chop wood. The excerpt ends with his offer rather than showing him beginning the work.

জালালাবাদ ক্যান্টনমেন্ট পাবলিক স্কুল ও কলেজ ২০২৬

জালালাবাদ ক্যান্টনমেন্ট পাবলিক স্কুল ও কলেজ ২০২৬ আনলক করো