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

Key words : quilt artistic commercially traditional demand pattern

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 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 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.

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

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 _ .

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

One is done for you.

1. What does naksha mean?

E Do you like a Nakshi kantha or an ordinary kantha? Why?

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

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....…