KISHORGONJ ( MY BIRTHPLACE) Nirad C Chaudhari (1897-1999)
KISHORGONJ
( MY BIRTHPLACE)
Nirad C Chaudhari (1897-1999)
" The town of Kishorganj was divided into ………….. they had had all desires fulfilled."
About Author:
Mother India has given birth to many great men. Nirad Chandra Chaudhary is one of them. He was a Bengal scholar, a writer as well as an advocate of the British Raj. On November 23, 1897 at Kishorganj in Mymensing in Bangladesh , he took his first breath to Upendra Narayan Chaudhary, a lawyer and Sushilasudarani Chaudhary. From his childhood, he was well- versed in Sanskrit literature. He was a prolific writer in English as well. His famous books are 'The Autobiography of an Unknown India.', 'A passage to England.' 'Scholar extraordinary' etc. He was also an editor of the noted magazine ,' Modern Review'. He was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award. The last years of his life in England, he breathed last. The essay is taken from his 'The Autobiography of an Unknown India'
List of new and unknown words and expressions of the essay:
Contemptuous: scornful
Egoism: self- opinionatedness
Tribute: a mark of respect
Vanity: empty pride
Spirit: mind
Contemporary age: existing age
Formidable: vast, terrible
Backing of economics: a background of economics
Afford: sustain
Aesthetic: pertaining to the beauty
Consideration: the way of understanding
Idgah: a place to hold I'd prayer
Brahmo: belonging to Brahmo samaj
Monotheistic: believing to one God
Dispensary: a place where medicines are sold
Dak-bungalow: a government building in British India under company rule and Raj
Spoil: damage
Strand: a river side
Riparian:on the river bank
Credit: approval
Crude: raw
Condemn: hate
Sanitary: hygienic
Convenience: fitness
Loathe: dislike greatly
Abomination: an object of extreme hatred.
Prejudice: bias
Prostitute: a harlot
Quarters: lodgings
Concentrated collection: in one place collection.
Enclosed: shut in
Screen: curtain
Small fry: ordinary folk
Simpering: smile in a silly way.
Sailing out: coming out with overabundance of dresses
Indignant: affected with anger.
Invade: enter violently
Comply with: obey
Overdo: overmuch act
Hidden: concealed
Playfellow: playmate
Intercommunication: mutually communication
Inaudible: not heard
Conduct: behaviour
Decorousness:decency
Embarrassed: perplexed
Rag: to make fun of
Constantly: always
Set foot: go
Free will: out of pleasure.
Inheritance: inheriting
Primogeniture: the right of inheritance of the eldest son
Entail: to make a settlement of landed property that does not give right to its immediate successor(s) to dispose of the said property .
Split up : divided into many parts.
Fictitious: artificial
Particularizing: making it particular
Fraction: fragment
Succession: one after another
Fission: divided into parts
Acquire: gain, attain
Attraction: allurement
A flowing stream: a river
Suspicion: doubt
Upstream: against the current
Car of Juggernaut: Juggernaut fair
Shed: give up
Inhibitions: restraint put on the expression of feelings
Consequently: therefore
Crushed: pressed under
Inhuman : cruel
Progression: forwarding
On the contrary:on the other hand
Fervid: ardent
Expectation: hope
Tenderest: softest
Retrospect: looking back
Allowance: an amount that is allowed
Immolate: sacrifice
Grown-ups: adults
Bewildering: perplexing
Immense: huge
Spoilt baby: the naughty child
Flaming: blazing
Scarlet: a bright-red colour
Ample: wide
Efficient: capable
Accomplish: perfect in requirements
Potter-stall-keeper: seller who is a Potter
Brush it over: run eyes over
Varnish: coat, finish
Clay figures: clay toys
Hound: a hunting dog
Constitute: form
Piece de resistance: chief dish of metal
Terracotta: a hard pottery of fired- clay
Primitive : antiquated, original
Figurines: small ornamental figures of pottery
Archaeological site: related to the study of ancient things
Immemorial: from many years ago
Timeless: not limited by time
Residuary: remaining
Sophistication: polishing
Appreciation: evaluation
Primitiveness: originality
Monsoon: cloudburst
Barood: pervading
Solitude: loneliness
Downpour: rainstorm
Descend: come down
Sun -streaked- showers: slightest drops of rain that comes with the sun-rays
Haze-like: vague
Drizzle: rain in small drops
Jollity: joy
Crashing high: making sound
Tremendous: terrible
Din: noise
Blare: making sound
Trumpet: Clarion
Palmyra: a kind of palm
Scold: reproach
Entreat: beseech
Unheeding boys: boys who did not give attention
Uncoiled:unknitted
Reverted: returned to
Pleated leaf:folded leaf
Ineffable: indescribable
Idyllic: pastoral
Intensest: highest point
Miniature paintings: pictures in illuminated manuscript.
Cycle: imaginary cycle in the heaven
By virtue of: by means of
Score: make points
Decisively: finally
Outskirts: the borders
Redeem: compensate for
Irresistibly: that can not be opposed
Yearning: longing
Acquisition:that which is acquired
Repress: suppress
Inconsiderable: little
Thrifty: economical
Array: orderly arrangement
Superfluity: superabundance
Novelettes: small novels
Patronize: support
Poulterer: poultry birds' seller
Burnt sienna: reddish brown earth
TomTom: a kind of drum
Indispensable: essential
Crushingly musical: invincible
Utilitarian: useful
Workaday: regularly used
Purveyor: supplier
Superfluous: redundant
Unobtainable: unavailable
Thirst : desire vehemently
Provenance: place of production
Native: indigenous
Cabinet makers: a maker of pieces of furniture
Disdain:hate
Amends: redress
Oppressive abundance: plenty of things that catch attention
Fecundity: productivity
Procreator: breeder
Daze: bewildered
Regular: orderly
Absorption: the whole engagement
Keenest: severest
Expectation:a thing expected
Congressional: assemble
Articulated whole: clear and distinct
Perception: realisation
Animistic: the doctrine of all natural objects
Emanation: expression
Pantheism: doctrine that believes a divine being in all things.
Transcending: surpassing
Hallooing: shouting
Anointed: consecrated with oil
Mien: person's appearance
Countenance: face
Inward tacitness if mind: internal calm
Solemn: sacred
JJRenaissance: the revival of art and letters from the 14th to 16th century.
Adequate: abundance
Procession: a train of persons in a formal March
Emerge: come
Roll down: move down
Steep: straight
Ramp- like path: sloping path
Embankment: a bank or mound
Mount up: raise
Stride: big steps
Gait: way of walking
To and fro: here and there
Rip: tear
Swallow: gulp down
Trapping: things that are managed for a particular job
Lampblack: a black pigment
Vermilion: a bright red colouring matter
Concinnity: neatness
Fringed: adorned with
Caparison: an ornamental covering spread over animal's back
Dangling: swaying
Evocation: suggestive
Gorgeous: showy
Rollicking: joyous
Indissolubly: inseparably
Languid: idle
Briskly: a lively manner
Discussion:
The extract from Nirad Chandra Chaudhary's famous book 'The Autobiography of an Unknown India' is an account of life of Bengal in the early twentieth century. It tells us about the life of the people and their activities. He also shares with us about his childish rapture. His birthplace Kishorganj was in the middle between a town and a village. It was divided into two nearly equal parts by a river. The part in which author lived was a town which had the temple of the goddess Kali, the main Muslim prayer hall, the field for I'd Assemble prayer, the prayer hall for Brahmos and monotheistic Hindu, the schools, the cricket ground, public library, the courts, treasury, the police station, the post office, the Dak bunglow, the government dispensary and the hospital. On the other bank there were bazaars and shops which were supportive to the economic background. Due to cultural , religious and political bias, people of the author's bank had a hate against the other bank. Author, because of his crude childhood, had a bad feeling going on the other bank.
Besides, there were some improvised houses on the other bank where lived a group of prostitutes. Servants, shopkeepers, ferrywallas and meaners visited the houses. The author did not look at the simpering women if encountered. The town people did not go to the other bank. Here was a house that attracted everyone's attention. It was a house, and it had the water tank which caught the most attraction. It supplied the drinking water. In its grounds a car festival of Krishna was held annually, and a fair was arranged for this purpose. Like all other children, he was not allowed to visit there of his own will, but with the accompaniment of a servant he could visit the fair. Children like him were given money to see sights and buy toys. Apart from Bengali dolls under the name 'Spoilt Baby', other varieties such as clay- cows, hounds in chains, cats with mice, birds, reptiles, and also fruits and vegetables are sold in the fair.The dolls and other models were as real in colour and design as original ones. Beside buying the model of 'Spoilt Baby' , the author bought the models of a cow, a hound or a cat. Although the fair was held in the monsoon, it was not interrupted by the rains or the cloudburst. It was obviously going in the drizzling rains. The sky above the fair was filled to its every inch with the blowing of many hundreds of palm trumpets by the children. Another Swing festival of lord Krishna was held annually on the other bank. It was more attractive than that which was held on the author's side. Local traders, craftsmen of eastern Mymensingh, Marchant men from Dacca and Narayanganj come to this fair. The fair had a great economic and social importance for having the features of selling a plenty of things which were not so very important to the people of Kishoreganj. The first row was owned by book binders. Such new books and old books as the Koran, Bustan and Gulistan as well as novelettes brought for binding and rebinding. Especially this row was thronged by Muslim men. The fair was actually arranged by Hind festival but Muslims took part equally. Next to that row, it was the row of selling musical instruments like violins, harmoniums, drums, tablas and bayas , mridang and many more that are used for singing to the devotion of Radha and Krishna. There were also a lot of stalls where essential hand-made and machine-made goods were sold. These stalls were loved by the author because he got the chance to see a large amount of creativity. People of Kishorganj lived happily and peacefully. The elders observed themselves in the earnings and the youngsters in education. The stability of the peaceful life of Kishorganj was broken by the car festival, swing festival and Id festival. In I'd festival common muslims used to come in a procession in the prayer ground or Idgah for congregational prayers. Although it was a barring to the author because of being a child, he once went there on a servant's shoulder. Because of his childish memory he could not describe everything, but he could describe that muslim zamindars came on elephants' backs to the Idgah. Author saw a senior member as the leader read the Eid namaz to others. After reading Eid Namaz ,he returned with ordinary people as well as with elephants. The return of people and the elephants was very much attractive and drew attention to the author's childish heart. Having a festival, being a human activity and being transcendental, the Muslim old, young and children accomplished their goal, and they looked different in their meanings and dresses from those which was seen in the other market days. They were seen washed, anointed, and dressed in white. They seemed to remove themselves from all the sorrow , suffering and unhappiness. They became relaxed and talked in a friendly manner. The zamindars among them found themselves looking tired.
NIRAD CHANDRA CHAUDHURY’S VIEWS CAN BE STATED AS:
The way the people led life at Kishorganj.
The contempt he felt on the other bank.
Aa a child his expectation for the fairs held at his birthplace.
His drawing comparison of the fairs.
How Hindu and Muslim lived in a perfect harmony.
It is to note that the author has used the first person ‘I’ and ‘we’ to build a direct relationship with readers. He wishes to have a sympathetic response from them.
STYLE:
In the essay it is found that although using first person mode ‘I’ he remains formal and avoids a relaxed, chatty and also the informal type of conversation. The title my ‘birthplace’ gives a simple account of life.There are words, phrases, and sentences that illustrate the significance of the title. His choices are made with very carefulness. He also talks about the human feelings and relationship among themselves.
A few words and expressions are ‘a tribute of vanity’, 'the spirit of the age’, ‘the formidable backing of economics’, ‘the simpering women’, the quarter-to- Four-Anna House’, the cloudy solitude overhead’, ‘animistic emanation etc. Some sentences are very favourite. Such sentences are “Another fact which prejudiced us against the other bank ….” , “ It goes to the credit of our crude childish aesthetic sense...”, “Those who have read about the car Juggernaut should now shed all about their inhibition.” These three movements of the whole performance had different qualities, but taken together they formed an articulated whole for us” etc.
SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND THE ANSWERS
1.What divided the author’s birthplace kishorganj into two parts?
There was a river that made the Kishorganj into two equal halves.
2.What was the consideration of the writer’s part about the other bank?
The people who lived on the author’s side considered the people who lived on the other part of the river to be contemptuous.
3.What is meant by strand?
The word ‘strand’ clearly indicates the side of the river that is used for a walk for amusement or a place for walking.
4.Why did the author and his companions dislike the quarters on the other bank of the river?
The author and his companions hated the quarters of the other bank of the river because those were the quarters in which the dirty women lived.
5.Who were the interested people in the other bank?
They were servants, shopkeepers, and a small party of ferrywalas.
6.Why did the author's friends call the author Lakshmana?
Lakshmana, the brother of Rama of the Epic Ramayana, never cast a look at Sita, the wife of his brother Rama. Similarly, oneday he hid himself in a hut seeing the dirty women. So his companions called him Lakshmana.
7. Did the prostitute quarters see openly?
No, a compact collection of thirty to forty huts were enclosed on all sides by a high screen.
8.What is meant by the word ‘ Primogeniture’?
After the death of his father, according to Hindu Law, the custom of ownership, the eldest or the oldest son is the recipient of all property.
9.What was the Quarter-to- four Anna House?
It was the trend of British Bengal that the fifteen-sixty-fourth of a big estate was recognised as Quarter-to-four Anna House.
10.What was the reason that Quarter-to-four Anna makes an attraction to the boys?
It was the tank that supplied drinking water to the town of the author's side and it was in high demand when cholera appeared.
11. What is the Hindu Law of inheritance?
Hindu views that after the death of the parents all landed property is to be divided equally among the sons and daughters.
12.Why did the childr bien look forward to the day of the Lord Krishna festival?
As in the fair a large variety of dolls and clay figures were sold. The children were very much eager for the day of the Lord Krishna festival.
13.What was the fear of the car festivals of Jaggernaut?
The fear was the fear of being run over by the crowd who pulled the rope of the car at a cruel speed.
14.When did the car festival usually take place?
It was usually held in the monsoon season.
15.Did the monsoon rain stop the festival?
No, the monsoon rain could not stop the festival because in the drizzling rain the fair went on and the sky was filled with the blare of palm- leaf trumpets.
16.What was the immolation different from the death by the car?
The immolation means the sacrifice of life at the love of god or goddess. When the car was pulled at a cruel speed, many were seen run over under it, and that was the immolation different from the death by the car.
17.What was the famous Bengali doll?
The famous Bengali dolls which were made available in the fair were as popularly called ‘spoilt baby’
18. How did the dolls look?
The dolls that were found in the fair were realistic in colour and modelling.
19.How did the clay figures look?
The clay figures were made with the burnt clay and so they like browning orange with the appreciation of designing.
20.What was the trumpet and when did it blow?
The trumpets were made with the leaves of the palm tree. Usually the car festival was held in the monsoon season at the author's birthplace, but the fair continued in the drizzle and the children of the author’s age bought the trumpets and blew them.
21.What did the elders do when children blew the trumpets?
At first they could not tolerate the sound and scolded firmly and therefore lastly entreated.
22.What is meant by idyllic note?
Idyllic note means peaceful and pleasant rustic note. The blowing of trumpets in the car festival in the drizzle wore the look of a pastoral scene and that was an idyllic note.
23.Why did the author call the muslim Id festival a half human activity and half spiritual activity?
Muslim scriptures does not worship any earthy objects. They pray for Allah and believe in Him. They read Namaz and say prayer by which they aim to connect with Him.The reading Namaz and saying prayer from the earth is called the half human activity and feeling the touch of divine being is called half spiritual activity by the autor.
24.How did the author make a difference of the walk of Muslim in the ordinary days and that of to the prayer ground?
In the working days when they went to the markets and returned to homes they were seen talking and shouting but in the Id days they were seen washed, anointed, and in white dress as well as wearing silence and calm in their faces.
25. how did the Muslim children do on the Id day?
They wore colourful dresses and went to the Idgah reading namaz. They were solemnised by the elders.
26.How was the procession of the elephant?
On the Id day, the elephants were washed. Their foreheads were painted with oil and lampblack. The lines of ears and eyes were coloured with vermilion.Thus, they were seen prepared for the procession.
27.What is meant by the word ‘fecundity’?
The word 'fecundity' means fertility and productivity. The fertility means man gives birth to the children and productivity means man makes a lot of things by their hands.
28. What impression did the writer collect from the Id festival?
He did not have any idea of the assembly prayer on the Id festival which was held in the large field because he never took part in it. What he knew was the march of the common people towards the prayer ground and also the zamindar family came there riding on the elephant procession.
29. What is the difference between Id festival and Hindu Festival?
The Id festival has no relation with season and whether where Hindu festivals have a strong relation with the both.
30. What is the meaning of the ‘Animistic emanations’?
By the phrase ‘Animistic emanation’ means pertaining to the consciousness of natural objects.
31. What is meant by the word Hindu ‘Pantheism’
The phrase ‘Hindu Pantheism’ bears out God in relation to the whole universe.
32 “These three movements of the whole performance.” - what are they?
The performance implies the Id procession in which the three marches were performed: the march of the common people to the prayer ground, the procession of elephants with decoration to the prayer ground and the return of the people and the elephants from the prayer ground.
SOME EXPLICATORY QUESTIONS
1.Why did the author hate the other bank?
The people of the author's river bank had a hatred feeling towards the other bank where bazaars and shops were going on. According to the author the other bank was considered the base of the economic stability of his birthplace. The author lived in the part of the bank that was a town where had a temple of goddess Kali, the Muslim prayer hall, the Id ground, the prayer hall of Brahmos, the courts, the schools, the libraries, government dispensary and a hospital. Because of this reason, their part was culturally,religiously and politically stronger than the other part of the bank. This was not only the reason for people's hatred but also another reason was that a group of dirty women lived in the quarters on the other part of the bank. Whenever the author and his friends encountered them in the roads , they were to avoid the dirty women’s sights. There was also a clear prohibition of talking and discussing about these women from the olders as well as elders. These were the reasons for which the author hated the other bank.
2.Why was the Krishna car festival so much attractive to the boys?
The annual Krishna car festival on the other riverbank was very attractive to the boys. They all waited for this occasion with high expectations. They were not allowed to visit there according to their free will. They could only visit there if an older one accompanied them.
In the fair, the Krishna car was drawn by the devotees. The seniors had a fear that the little boys might run over the car when it was drawn at a cruel speed. But they were sent there by a servant. They were also allowed some amount of money to see it and buy playthings. Almost all boys bought Bengali dolls which were famous to them with the name ‘Spoilt Baby’.It was a bright pink or a flaming scarlet model. The middle of the doll had a special indication which clearly showed its spoiling feature. When it was sold, it was given a touch with a varnished brush so that it should look shining bright. It was the most favourite toy to the boys. Besides this, there were many other stalls for boys and children attractions. Many models were sold in those stalls such as models of clay-cows, reptiles, hounds with chains, cats and mice, different kinds of birds models and many more. These models were realistic in colours and designs. So the Krishna car festival was of much attraction to the boys of children like the author's age.
3. How was the Eid festival held at Kishorganj?
Kishorganj was the author's birthplace which was associated with the author's dream and aspiration. Among the three festivals held there, Id festival , the festival of Muslims assemble prayer , was one of them. At the time of this festival, a congregational prayer was held in a chosen place which was Known as Idgah. Though belonging Hindo family, the author, like other children, expected this special day. Muslim men , kept themselves in silent, went there in a large procession. The muslim zaminder families came sitting on the elephants. In the assembly prayer, a senior member led the prayer. After the prayer, all return to their places. This day is the special day for the muslim men, and is unlike Hindu festivals, for related to the particular time of the year and seasons. Muslim festivals own the strong association with both men and the earth. Muslim men remained busy all the time of the year for their heavy loaded livelihood, but this day was sacrificed for the assembly pray. Early in the morning on that day, they were washed, anointed and well clothed. The elders and youngsters all went to pray. When they returned , they wore solemn looks on their faces.
4) How was calmness disturbed Kishorganj?
Kishorganj was the author’s birthplace. People led normal and simple lives. Elders remained themselves busy with their earnings. Youngers absorbed in the studies. Normalcy and calmness were disturbed on three occasions. They were the car festival of Krishna, the swing festivals of Krishn and the Id festival of Mussalmans. Both in the car festival and swing festival of Lord Krishna, fairs were held. Both the fairs were of great attraction for the people including boys and children. Permitted and allowed with older ones by the seniors, children and boys like author age visited both the fairs.
In the Krishna car festival, the author had the witness that a few devotees sacrificed themselves under the wheels of the car. The boys and children could not go near the wheels because of their ages and the chance of an accident. They could see the fair and could buy the toys. Almost all boys were fond of a particular doll, popularly called ‘ Spoilt Baby’. They also bought many other clay dolls.
In the Krishna swing festival, another fair was held. It had a great economic value. Many craftsmen and large traders from various corners brought handicrafts and goods which were hardly available other times of the year. Like elders, boys were very keen for the fair. Muslim traders sold the copies of the Koran. Also many bookbinders came there for binding and ornamenting new copies and old copies of books. Many musical instruments are also sold there such as violins, harmoniums, drums of various kinds etc. There were also many stalls where such goods as clothes, embroidered cups, chairs , tables , cupboards ets were sold. It was a great collection for the author because he could perceive that man the maker of fine art as well as functional art.
Another important festival, completely separate from the Krishna festivals, took place at Kishorganj. It was the Muslim Id festival. The main aspect of this festival was a congregational prayer which prayed at a large field. Muslim men including their children came to this field. Muslim zaminder families came on elephants’backs. A senior member read the namaz to them and said a prayer. Of course they lived in hurried conditions for the rest of the year for livelihood, but on this particular day they did not be busy and noisy. They washed, clothed and anointed. A perfect clam wore in everyone’s face. They all had solemn looks. The elephants were washed carefully, and they were painted on their foreheads with a mixture of oil and lampblack. When they went back, they all were sanctified by congregational prayers.
Thus the people at Kishorganj lived in a perfect harmony. They were well-to- do people. They have no enmity against one another. These people did not have much knowledge about politics. They were employed in creating their lives with good economic conditions and cultural equality. No root of communal disorder was seen that brought forth its heads.
5. Justify the title of the essay ‘ My Birthplace’.
Nirad Chandra Chaudhury, the author of the essay’ My Birthplace’ was born at Kishorganj in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. In this essay he creates a picture of his birthplace. It is agreed that the birthplace is greater than heaven. He takes it as an encouragement that it is his birthplace. His childhood,his interest and his dream of being a native has been saved in his memory which he shares with us candidly. It does not matter wherever we are born. It is the matter that we are born, the place of which provides us earth, breath and mold our character, because man judges by his work , the best man for the job. Though the author belonged to a conservative family, he got the chance to be in close contact with his native. His Kishorganj owned people of many different communities. But they lived amicably. He draws the three pictures of festivals. He means that religions differ between men, but festivals come for all.
God has created this world. The world has variety. Good things, bad things, small things and large things are all parts of the world. He has told us about the dirty women and their houses and also the men who tended their mach interest, but he has told us how they avoid them. He used to cover his eyes with hands when any dirty women came into his sight. The existence of bad things is not the fault of itself, it is the fault of our eyes that we see it. That all men are equal is true, but the greater truth is that human beings do not have the same feature of action. Because of his childish age he did not know much about superstition, he just had the witness that men sacrificed themselves under the car wheels of Krishna. In the Krishna swing festival, men came binding their Koran and buying Koran, but few of them came buying novel books that deal with realism. In Id festival it is seen that men remained calm and came together in a procession and made congregational prayers, but they obeyed the leadership of one. The zamindars came riding on elephants' backs, but have no idea that according as Muslim religion, to join Idgah by walking is the best way liked by Allah. According to muslim religious srcirpture live like a common man so that common men must not be hated and ignored by the rich. In actuality the people were very innocent and led normal life. Here one could see unity in diversity. The author could see man as a maker created by the Lord. Thus the whole essay is the matter- setting about the life and activity of people at Kishorganj.
So the title ‘My Birthplace' has been chosen aptly.
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