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 Bengal 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.
নকশী কাঁথা হল এক ধরনের সূচিকর্ম করা কাঁথা। নামটি বাংলা শব্দ ‘নকশা’ থেকে নেওয়া হয়েছে , যার অর্থ শৈল্পিক নকশা। এটি এক ধরনের ঐতিহ্যবাহী কারুশিল্প এবং বলা হয় যে এটি বাংলাদেশ এবং ভারতের পশ্চিমবঙ্গের আঞ্চলিক। এই শিল্পটি শতাব্দীর পর শতাব্দী ধরে গ্রামীণ বাংলায় চর্চা করা হয়েছে। নকশী কাঁথা নামটি জনপ্রিয় হয়ে ওঠে ১৯২৯ সালে কবি জসীমউদ্দীনের কবিতা ‘নকশী কাঁথার মাঠ’ প্রকাশিত হওয়ার পর। ঐতিহ্যবাহী কাঁথাগুলো পারিবারিক ব্যবহারের জন্য তৈরি করা হয়। পুরানো বা নতুন কাপড় এবং সুতা ব্যবহার করে এই কাঁথাগুলি তৈরি করা হয়। ময়মনসিংহ, জামালপুর, রাজশাহী, ফরিদপুর, বগুড়া, এবং যশোর এই কারুশিল্পের জন্য সবচেয়ে বিখ্যাত। এখন এটি বাণিজ্যিকভাবে উৎপাদিত হয়। তুমি এগুলো শহরের অনেক ব্যয়বহুল হস্তশিল্পের দোকানে খুঁজে পাবে। এতে বিভিন্ন বর্ণিল নকশা ও সূচিকর্ম করা ডিজাইন থাকার কারনে এই কাঁথাগুলি এখন খুব চাহিদাসম্পন্ন।
Choose the best answer from the alternatives:
a) The word ‘Nakshi Kantha’ comes from the ______ word.
i) English √ ii) Bengali iii) Hindi iv) Burmese
b) Nakshi Kantha is a _____ kantha.
i) modern ii) ultramodern iii) age old √ iv) conventional
c) ‘Nakshi Kantha’ is related with _____.
i) urban people √ ii) rural people iii) ethnic people iv) tribal people
d) Nowadays Nakshi Kantha is produced _____.
i) traditionally ii) nationally √ iii) commercially iv) normally
e) ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ is written by _____.
i) Kazi Nazrul Islam ii) Farrukh Ahmed √ iii) Jasimuddin iv) Rabindranath Tagore
f) The term ‘indigenous’ means _____.
i) indigestible √ ii) native iii) famous iv) wild
g) Nakshi Kanthas are a kind of _____.
i) quilt ii) song √ iii) embroidered quilt iv) crop
h) Jasimuddin was a famous _____.
√ i) poet ii) scientist iii) painter iii) architect
i) The art of Nakshi Kanthas is most famous to _____ districts in Bangladesh.
i) three ii) four iii) five √ iv) six
j) The people of Bangladesh and West Bengal usually prepare kanthas for _____.
i) national ii) industrial √ iii) family iv) commercial
k) What does the word ‘pattern’ mean?
i) step by step ii) series √ iii) artistic design iv) handmade work
l) Where has the art been practised?
i) Large cities ii) Urban area √ iii) Rural area iv) Rich family
m) ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ is a _____ by Jasimuddin.
i) novel √ ii) poem iii) satire iv) Drama
n) The word ‘naksha’ refers to ____.
i) new pattern √ ii) artistic pattern iii) old pattern iv) best pattern
Answer the following questions :
(a) What is Nakshi Kantha?
(b) How long has the art been practised?
(c) Which areas are most famous for this craft?
(d) Why are the traditional Kanthas made?
(e) Why are the quilts now in great demand?
(f) What materials are required to prepare Nakshi Kanthas?
(g) When did the name ‘Nakshi Kantha’ become popular?
(h) In cities, where do we get them?
Answer
(a) Nakshi Kantha is one kind of embroidered quilt.
(b) The art has been practised for centuries.
(c) Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogra and Jessore are most famous for this craft.
(d) The traditional Kanthas are made for family use.
(e) The quilts are now in great demand for the colorful patterns and designs.
(f) Old or new cloth and thread are required to prepare Nakshi kanthas.
(g) The name ‘Nakshi Kantha’ became popular after the poet Jasimuddin’s poem ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math was published in 1929.
(h) We get them in many expensive handicraft shops in cities.
Summarize the passage in around 50/85 words.
Nakshi Kantha is a traditional embroidered quit. The name was taken from the Bengali word ‘naksha’ which means artistic pattern. The art of Nakshi kantha has been practiced in rural areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal in India for centuries. Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogra and Jessore are famous for ‘Nakshi kantha’. It became popular after the poet Jasimuddin’s poem ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ was published in 1929. People like it for its colourful patterns and designs embroidered on it.Now it is in great demand and produced commercially.
