Unit-1: Lesson-1 from HSC First Paper English For Today

Unit-1: Lesson-1 from HSC English For Today

HSC English First Paper Part 1: Reading Test 

The Parrot's Tale by Rabindranath Tagore 

Translated by: Kaiser Haq 

Once upon a time there lived a bird. It was unlettered. It sang but couldn't recite a word of scripture. It hopped and it flew but lacked all sense of manners. The King said. Such a bird is of no use. Yet it devours fruit from the forest, bringing down the profits of fruiterers in the royal market." He summoned the Minister and commanded. "Educate the bird!"

The task of educating the bird fell on the King's nephews, his sisters' sons. The learned men of the court deliberated long. They pondered the reasons behind the ignorance of the creature in question. The conclusion the bird's nest made of straw and twigs could not hold much knowledge. Therefore, the first thing needed was a proper cage.The royal scholars received handsome fees and happily went home. A goldsmith set to work on a gilded cage. It turned out to be of such exquisite workmanship that people from far and near crowded round for a look. Some said. "This is education par excellence. " 

Others said. "Even if it learns nothing. It has got the cage. What a lucky bird." The goldsmith was delighted to get a bagful of money as reward and went home at once. A teacher came to give lessons to the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and declared, "This isn't a matter of just a few texts. "One of the royal nephews sent for scribes. They made multiple copies of various texts until there was a veritable mountain. "Bravo!", exclaimed those who saw it, "There is no room for any more knowledge. "The scribes loaded their wages onto bullocks and merrily headed home. They would never again want for anything. The nephews were constantly busy looking after the expensive cage. Repairs were always underway. Anyone who saw the endless dusting, wiping and polishing had to agree that there was marked Improvement". A large maintenance crew was needed, and more personnel to supervise them. They all got handsome monthly salaries, which they saved in their wooden chests. Even their cousins came to live with them in cushioned comfort. The world is short of many things but not detractors. They said. "The cage look better no doubt, but has anyone taken notice of the bird? "This was reported to the King. He said to a nephew, "What's this I hear? "Your Majesty." replied the nephew, "If you wish to hear the truth, summon the goldsmiths, the scholars, the scribes, the maintenance crew and their supervisors. Those who haven't got a share of the royal bounty are resorting to slander."Everything became clear to the King and he rewarded his nephew with a gold chain.

ৰঙ্গানুবাদ : এক যে ছিল পাখি। সে ছিল মূর্খ। এটি গান গাইত কিন্তু শাস্ত্র পড়তে পারত না। এটি লাফাতো আর উড়ত কিন্তু জানত না কোনো কায়দা-কানুন ।রাজা বললেন, “এমন পাখি তো কাজে লাগে না। অথচ এটি বনের ফল খেয়ে রাজহাটে ফলের বাজারে লোকসান ঘটায়” তিনি মন্ত্রীকে ডেকে বললেন, “পাখিটাকে শিক্ষা দাও!”

পাখিটাকে শিক্ষা দেওয়ার দ্বায়িত্ব পড়ল রাজার ভাগ্নেদের উপর।

দরবারের পন্ডিতেরা অনেক চিন্তা করলেন । প্রশ্নটা এই, উক্ত জীবের অবিদ্যার কারণ কী। সিদ্ধান্ত হলো: সামান্য খড়কুটা দিয়ে পাখি যে বাসা বাঁধে সে বাসায় বিদ্যা বেশি ধরে না। তাই সর্বপ্রথম ভালো করে খাঁচা বানানো দরকার।রাজপন্ডিতেরা মোটা অঙ্কের দক্ষিণা পেয়ে খুশি হয়ে বাড়ি গেলেন ।স্বর্ণকার সোনার খাঁচা বানানোর কাজ শুরু করল। খাঁচাটি এমন আশ্চর্য হলো যে, এটি দেখার জন্য দেশ-বিদেশের লোক ভীড় জমালো। কেউ বলে, “এটিই শিক্ষার শ্রেষ্ঠত্ব।” কেউ বলে, “এটি যদি কিছু নাও শেখে, খাঁচা তো হলো। পাখির কী কপাল।স্বর্ণকার থলি বোঝাই বকশিশ পেয়ে খুশি হয়ে বাড়ি চলে গেল ।পাখিকে বিদ্যা শেখাতে এক পন্ডিত এলেন। তিনি এক চিমটি নস্য নিয়ে বললেন, “এটি অল্প পুঁথির কর্ম নয়।”ভাগ্নে তখন পুঁথি লেখকদের তলব করলেন। তারা বিভিন্ন পুঁথির নকল করে এবং নকলের নকল করে পর্বতপ্রমাণ করে তুলল। যে দেখল সেই বলল, “সাবাস। বিদ্যা আর ধরে না।”লিপিকারের দল বলদ বোঝাই করে পারিতোষিক নিয়ে খুশিমনে বাড়ির দিকে রওয়ানা দিল । তাদের সংসারে আর অভাব রইল না।অনেক দামের খাঁচাটির জন্য ভাগ্নেদের খবরদারির সীমা নেই। মেরামত তো লেগেই আছে। এরপর সীমাহীন ঝাড়া, মোছা আর পালিশ করার ঘটা দেখে সবাই বলল, “উন্নতি হচ্ছে।” লোক লাগল বিস্তর এবং তাদের উপর নজর রাখার জন্য লোক লাগল আরো বিস্তর। তারা মোটা বেতন পেয়ে সিন্ধুক বোঝাই করল। এমনকি তাদের মামাতো, পিসতুতো, খুড়তুতো ভাইরাও আরামে থাকার জন্য তাদের কাছে চলে এলো ।জগতে অন্য কিছুর অভাব থাকলেও নিন্দুক আছে যথেষ্ট। তারা বলল, “খাঁচাটির উন্নতি হচ্ছে, কিন্তু পাখিটার খবর কেউ রাখে না। কথাটা রাজার কানে গেল । তিনি ভাগ্নেকে ডেকে বললেন, “ভাগ্নে, এ কী কথা শুনি?” ভাগ্নে বলল, “মহারাজ, সত্যি শুনতে চাইলে স্বর্ণকার, পন্ডিত, লিপিকর, মেরামতকারী এবং মেরামত তদারককারীদের ডাকুন ।নিন্দুকেরা ভাগ পায়নি দেখেই মন্দ কথা বলছে।”জবাব শুনে রাজার কাছে সবকিছু স্পষ্ট হয়ে গেল, আর তিনি ভাগ্নেকে স্বর্ণের হার উপহার দিলেন।

The King wished to see for himself at what an awesome pace the bird's schooling was going on. One day he turned up at the schoolroom with his friends, counselors and courtiers. At once the musicians at the gate struck up on their many wind and percussion instruments. The teaches shook their sacred tufts of hair as they loudly chanted mantras, and all the workmen, labourers goldsmiths, scribes and their numerous cousins raised slogans in praise of the King. A nephew commented. "Your Majesty can see how things are going on." "Astonishing replied the King, "the din isn't negligible.""Not only the noise," said the nephew. The meaning behind it isn't negligible either."The King was pleased and walked out of the gate to mount his elephant when one of the faultfinders, who had been lurking behind the bushes, shouted, "Have you seen the bird. Your Majesty?" The King was startled. He said. "There! I'd forgotten about it. We haven't seen the bird. He went back and said to the teacher. "We must see the manner in which you conduct the lessons. "A demonstration followed. It pleased the King no end. The manner was so advanced that the bird was hardly visible. It seemed not at all necessary to see the bird. The King was satisfied that there was no flaw in the arrangements. Inside the cage there was neither any grain nor a drop of water. Only reams of texts were being torn and the pieces of paper thrust into the bird's mouth with the point of a quill. Not only had the singing stopped, there wasn't even scope for screeching. It was thrilling to watch.This time, as the King mounted the elephant he ordered the officer entrusted with twisting the ears of mischief-makers to deal with the fault-finder. Predictably, the bird weakened with every passing day, and lay half-dead. The tutors considered Ba good sign. Still, out of innate bad habit it would look out at the morning light and flutter its wings in a reprehensible manner. In fact, on some days it would try to cut the wires of the cage with its feeble beak. "What impudence!" the Inspector of Police commented.Then the blacksmith arrived with his furnace, bellows and hammer and anvil. What thunderous hammering began then. A chain was fastened on the bird's foot and its wings were trimmed. The King's brothers-in-law looked greatly annoyed as they shook their heads and said, "It's not just that the birds in this kingdom are stupid, they are also ungrateful. "Then the teachers, armed with quill in one hand and lance in the other, gave a memorable demonstration of teaching. The blacksmith's trade flourished to such an extent that gold ornaments bedecked his wife's body and the Police Inspector's alertness earned him a medal.The bird died. When it died was not known. Thanks to the godforsaken detractors the rumour went round, "The bird is dead."The King called his nephew and said." What is this 1 hear? "Your Majesty, the nephew replied, "the bird's education has been completed."

The King asked, "Does it hop?""God forbid," said the nephew."Does it still fly?"

"No."

"Does it still Sing?"

"No."

"Does it screech if it isn't fed?

"No."

"Bring it to me so that I can see it," said the King. The bird came. Along with it came the Inspector, a guard, a cavalry officer. The King pressed the bird; it made no sound, not even a squeak. Only its stomach let out the rustling noise of dry pieces of paper.Outside, the green shoots of early spring sighed in the southerly breeze, filling the sky above the budding forest trees with wistful melancholy.

বঙ্গানুবাদ : শিক্ষা যে কী ভয়ংকর তেজে চলছে, রাজার ইচ্ছা হলো তা স্বয়ং দেখবেন। একদিন তিনি বন্ধু বান্ধব, উপদেষ্টা আর সভাসদ নিয়ে শিক্ষাশালায় উপস্থিত হলেন।  তখনি ফটকে থাকা বাদ্যযন্ত্রীরা তাদের বাদ্যযন্ত্র বাজানো শুরু করল। পণ্ডিতেরা গলা ছেড়ে, টিকি নেড়ে মন্ত্রপাঠ করতে শুরু করলেন। আর সকল মিস্ত্রী, মজুর, স্বর্ণকার, লিপিকর, তদারকনবিশ ও মামাতো, পিসতুতো, খুড়তুতো ভাইরা রাজার জয়ধ্বনি তুলল।

ভাগ্নে বলল, "মহারাজ, কান্ডটা দেখছেন। মহারাজ বললেন, “আশ্চর্য। শব্দ কম নয়।"ভাগ্নে বলল, “শুধু শব্দ নয়, পিছনে অর্থও কম নাই ।"

রাজা খুশি হয়ে ফটক পার হয়ে হাতিতে ওঠার সময়, ঝোপের মধ্যে লুকিয়ে থাকা নিন্দুক বলে উঠল, "মহারাজ, পাখিটাকে দেখেছেন কি?",রাজা চমকে উঠলেন । তিনি বললেন, “এই যা! মনে তো ছিল না। পাখিটাকে দেখা হয়নি।" তিনি ফিরে এসে পণ্ডিতকে বললেন,"পাখিটাকে তোমরা কীভাবে শেখাও তা চাই।" শেখানোর পদ্ধতি দেখানো হলো। রাজা ভীষণ খুশি হলেন। পদ্ধতিটি এতই উন্নত ছিল যে, পাখিটাকে দেখাই যায় না। মনে হয়, পাখিটাকে না দেখলেও চলে । রাজা বুঝলেন, আয়োজনের কোনো ত্রুটি নেই। খাঁচায় দানা নেই, পানি নেই। কেবল রাশি রাশি পুঁথি হতে রাশি রাশি পাতা ছিঁড়ে কলমের ডগা দিয়ে পাখির মুখের মধ্যে ঠাসা হচ্ছে। গান তো বন্ধই, চিৎকার করার কাজটুকু পর্যন্ত।দেখলে শরীরে রোমাঞ্চ হয়।এবার রাজা হাতিতে চড়ার সময় কানমলা-সর্দারকে আদেশ দিলেন, নিন্দুককে যেন আচ্ছা করে শাস্তি দেওয়া হয়। স্বাভাবিকত, পাখিটা দিনে দিনে আধমরা হয়ে পড়ল। পন্ডিতেরা বুঝল, বেশ আশাজনক। তবু স্বভাবদোষে সকালবেলার আলোরদিকে পাখি চায় আর অন্যায় রকমে পাখা ঝটপট করে। এমন কি, এক-একদিন দেখা যায়, এটি তার রোগা ঠোঁট দিয়ে খাঁচার শলা কাটার চেষ্টা করে।

কোতোয়াল বলল, “এ কী বেয়াদবি।”

তখন কামার হাপর, হাতুড়ি আর আগুন নিয়ে শিক্ষামহালে হাজির হলো। কী দমাদ্দম পিটানি। পাখির পায়ে লোহার শিকল পড়ানো হলো, ডানাও গেল কাটা ।রাজার শ্যালকেরা হাঁড়ির মতো মুখ করে মাথা নেড়ে বলল, “এ রাজ্যে পাখিদের কেবল যে আক্কেল নেই তা না, কৃতজ্ঞতাও নেই। ”তখন পন্ডিতেরা এক হাতে কলম, এক হাতে সড়কি নিয়ে এমনি কাণ্ড করল যাকে বলে শিক্ষা। কামারের প্রসার এতোটাই বাড়ল যে তার গিন্নীর গায়ে স্বর্ণের অলংকার চড়ল এবং কোতোয়ালের হুশিয়ারী দেখে রাজা তাকে পদক দিলেন।পাখিটা মরে গেল । এটি কখন মরল তা কেউ বুঝতে পারে নাই। নিন্দুকেরা রটাল, “পাখিটি মরে গেছে"। রাজা ভাগ্নেকে ডেকে বললেন, "ভাগ্নে, এ কী কথা শুনি?” ভাগ্নে বলল, “মহারাজ, পাখিটার শিক্ষা সম্পূর্ণ হয়েছে।” রাজা জিজ্ঞেস করলেন, “এটি কি আর লাফায়?” ভাগ্নে বলল, “আরে রাম।”

“এটি কি আর ওড়ে?”

"না।"

“এটি কি এখনো গান গায়।”

“দানা না পেলে এটি কি আর চেঁচায়?”

"না।"

রাজা বললেন, “একবার পাখিটাকে আনো তো, দেখি।” পাখি এলো। সঙ্গে কোতোয়াল, পাইক ও ঘোড়সওয়ার এলো। রাজা পাখিটাকে চাপ দিলেন, এটি কোনো শব্দ করল না। পেটের মধ্যে পুঁথির শুকনো পাতা খসখস গজগজ করতে লাগল।ৎবাইরে নববসন্তের দক্ষিণ হাওয়ায় কিশলয়গুলো দীর্ঘনিশ্বাসে মুকুলিত বনের আকাশ আকুল করে দিল।

Answer the following questions.  

(a)  "There is no room for any more knowledge." Elucidate the statement in 2/3 sentences. 

Answer. (a) For educating the bird, one of the nephews ordered scribes for composing more texts. Hence, a multiple copies are made from various texts by scribes. Seeing the hugeness of the texts, some of the beholders commented that. There was no room for any knowledge.  

(b) Do you think the process of educating the bird was relevant? Give reasons. 

Answer. (b) No, I do not. There was not a single step taken to educate the bird was a realistic approach. Everybody was busy in making their pockets full. A gilded cage and multiple copies of texts were made to educate the bird. The process hints at the backwardness of the education system.  

(c) "... has anyone taken notice of the bird?" Who commented this and why? 

Answer. (c) The detractors were not satisfied seeing the magnanimity of the gold made cage and the copying of multiple texts to educate the bird. Rather they were doubtful regarding the well-being of the bird itself. Because everybody was concerned about the cage without caring for the bird.  

(d)  "Those who haven't got a share of the royal bounty are resorting to slander." What did the nephew imply by this statement? 

Answer. (d) In the face of rumors, the King enquired one of his nephews about the truth. In reply, the nephew said that the process of educating the bird was in full swing. But the detractors were jealous as they failed to have any share of the royal bounties. That was why, they were spreading rumors.  

(e) "Such a bird is of no use." Explain the statement in 2/3 sentences. 

Answer. (e) The King said this. There was an unmannered bird in his kingdom. The bird was illiterate. It could do nothing except singing, hopping and devouring up the fruits. That is why, the King said that the bird was useless.  

(f) "This is education par excellence." Analyze the reason behind the statement. 

Answer. (f) The nest of the bird made of straw and twig was incapable to hold much knowledge. Hence, a magnificent gold cage was built for the bird. Seeing the luster of the cage, many of the visitors said this statement.  

(g) Why did the teacher feel the need for more texts? What happened after that? 

Answer. (g) A teacher came to teach the bird. He realized that educating the bird was not a matter of few texts. Hearing this, one of the nephews summoned scribes. The scribes made multiple copies of various texts to serve that purpose.  

(h) What was the believed reason behind the bird's ignorance? Write in your own words. 

Answer. (h) The learned men in the court found out that the nest of the bird had much to do with its ignorance. This straw and twigs made nest had no capacity to hold much education. This was the reason behind the bird's ignorance.  

(i) "What's this I hear?" Elaborate the statement.  

Answer. (i) The detractors were the only few who were not blinded by the exquisiteness of the gold cage. They cared for the condition of the bird. Hearing the rumor, the King sent for the one of his nephews and asked whether the rumor is true or not.  

(j)"Educate the bird!" Why did the bird need education? 

Answer. (j) The bird needed education as it could not utter any word from the scripture. It had no sense of manners for being unlettered. It also lessened the profits of fruiterers in the royal market. For all these reasons, the King thought that the bird needed to be educated.

(k) "... they are also ungrateful." Evaluate the statement.

Answer. (k) The King's brothers-in-law were annoyed to see the ungratefulness of the bird. The King was benevolent enough to spend a large sum for educating the bird. But the bird did not want to be in that gilded cage and receive education. Seeing the bird's attempt to break the cage, the King's brothers-in-law said this. 

(l) How did the Police Inspector earn a medal? 

Answer. (l) The Police Inspector was constantly on look out at the bird. One day he found the bird's attempt to break the gilded cage. If he had not been watchful, the bird would have escaped. His alertness pleased the King who gave him a medal.  

(m)  "What impudence!" Who said this and why?  

Answer. (m) The Inspector of Police said this seeing the insolence of the bird. The bird was kept in a gilded cage. Yet it tried to cut the wires of the cage with its feeble beak. 

(n) How was the King welcomed at the schoolroom? 

Answer. (n) When the King set foot at the schoolroom, the musicians at the gate played their instruments to welcome him. Also, the teachers started chanting, mantras loudly and all the workmen, labourers, goldsmiths, scribes and their numerous cousins raised slogans in praise of the King.  

(o) Why was the King startled? What did he do afterward?

Answer. (o) The King was startled at the shouting of one of the fault-finders. Hiding from the bush, he asked the King if he had seen the bird. The King then watched the demonstration of schooling process and it made him pleased. After that, the King commanded one of his officers to punish that fault-finder.  

(p)  Do you feel sorry for the bird? Why or why not?

Answer. (p) Obviously, I feel sorry for the bird. It had to undergo endless suffering for receiving so called education. The King's men denied its freedom and captivated it in a cage. It was not given any food, instead a huge amount of torn pieces of papers was thrust into its mouth. Before its miserable death, its wings were clipped and legs were chained.  

(q)  Why did the King turn up at the schoolroom? Explain in brief. 

Answer. (q) The King turned at the schoolroom accompanied by his friends, counselors and courtiers. He wished to see how the schooling of the bird was going on. For ensuring that, he arrived at the schoolroom.  

(r)  "The bird's education has been completed." Elaborate the statement in your own words. 

Answer. (r) After going through endless torture in the name of education, the bird died. Hearing the news, the King called for his nephew. The nephew assured the King that its education was completed.  

(s) "The meaning behind it isn't negligible either." Elucidate the statement in 2/3  sentences. 

Answer. (s) The nephew said this in reply of the King. The musicians' musical instruments and the welcoming voice of all present there pleased the King. Then the nephew said that behind all those, a lot of money was spent. 

(t) How was the bird being educated? Write in brief.

Answer. (t) The tutors were educating the bird keeping it inside the cage. They allowed the bird no food and water. Instead pieces from reams of texts were thrusting into the mouth of the bird.