1. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it.
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, SirajSain, 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 SirajSain 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 KaziNazrul 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 KangalHarinathMajumder, Pagla Kanai and Dudu Shah.
Bangla Translation: লালন শাহ (১৭৭৪–১৮৯০) প্রধানত বাংলার বাউল ধারার প্রতীক হিসেবে পরিচিত, তবে তিনি ছিলেন একজন দার্শনিক, চিন্তাবিদ এবং সমাজ সংস্কারকও। তিনি ধর্মীয় সহনশীলতা প্রচার করতেন এবং শ্রেণী, জাত এবং বিশ্বাসের ভিত্তিতে সামাজিক পার্থক্য প্রত্যাখ্যান করতেন। তিনি বিশ্বাস করতেন যে সত্যের সন্ধান শরীর থেকেই শুরু হওয়া উচিত, যা সৃষ্টির রহস্য প্রতিফলিত করে।
যদিও লালনের গানগুলি গভীর দার্শনিক এবং আধ্যাত্মিক অন্তর্দৃষ্টির জন্য প্রশংসিত হয়, তিনি কোন প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা লাভ করেননি। তার প্রারম্ভিক জীবন সম্পর্কে বেশি কিছু জানা যায় না। তার সম্পর্কে একটি জনপ্রিয় গল্প, যা অনেকে সত্য বলে মনে করেন, তা হলো যে পবিত্র স্থানে তীর্থযাত্রা করার সময়, হিন্দু জন্মগ্রহণকারী লালন গুটিবসন্তে আক্রান্ত হন এবং তার সঙ্গীরা তাকে পরিত্যাগ করে। এক মুসলিম ফকির, সিরাজ সাঁই, তাকে তুলে নিয়ে নিজের বাড়িতে নিয়ে যান এবং তাকে সুস্থ করে তোলেন।
যখন লালন বাড়ি ফিরলেন, তখন পরিবার তাকে গ্রহণ করতে অস্বীকার করল কারণ তিনি একটি মুসলিম পরিবারের সাথে বসবাস করেছিলেন। তাই লালন সিরাজ সাঁইয়ের কাছে ফিরে যান এবং তার নির্দেশনায় ভক্তি ও সন্ন্যাসের জীবন গ্রহণ করেন। সাঁইজির মৃত্যুর পর, লালন কুষ্টিয়ার কাছে ছেউড়িয়াতে একটি আখড়া স্থাপন করেন। এটি শীঘ্রই ভক্ত এবং মুক্তির সন্ধানকারী Mystics-দের আকর্ষণ করে যারা বাউল সন্ন্যাসে দীক্ষিত হন এবং তার শিষ্য হন।
যখন লালন গান লেখা এবং সুর করা শুরু করেন, যা তার শিষ্যরা একতারা বাদোতারার সঙ্গতে গাইতেন, তখন তার খ্যাতি দূর–দূরান্তে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর এবং কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম তার মধ্যে ছিলেন যারা তাকে প্রশংসা করতেন এবং তার সহজিয়া দর্শনে প্রভাবিত হয়েছিলেন (স্ব–অর্জন সহজ সত্যগুলির মাধ্যমে যা নিজের শরীর এবং আত্মায় বিদ্যমান – বাইরের নয় – যা সাধনা বা ধ্যানের মাধ্যমে পৌঁছানো যায়)।
তার অনেক শিষ্যও তাদের গানের জন্য বিখ্যাত হন। তাদের মধ্যে ছিলেন কাঙ্গাল হরিনাথ মজুমদার, পাগলা কানাই এবং দদু শাহ।
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.
a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as?
i. A philosopher ii. A thinker iii. An icon of the Baul tradition iv. A social reformer
b. What did Lalon Shah preach?
i. Religious intolerance ii. Religious tolerance
iii. Social differences based on caste iv. Social differences based on class
c. What did Lalon Shah reject?
i. Social differences based on gender ii. Social differences based on age
iii. Social differences based on class, caste, and creed iv. Social differences based on wealth
d. Where did Lalon Shah believe the search for truth should begin?
i. With the mind ii. With the body iii. With the soul iv. With nature
e. What reflects the mystery of creation according to Lalon Shah?
i. The mind ii. The soul iii. The universe iv. The body
f. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education?
i. He received a traditional education ii. He did not receive any formal education
iii. He studied abroad iv. He was self-taught
g. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life?
i. He was born into a wealthy family ii. He received formal education
iii. Not much is known iv. He traveled extensively
h. What disease did Lalon Shah contract during his pilgrimage?
i. Malaria ii. Smallpox iii. Cholera iv. Tuberculosis
i. Who nursed Lalon Shah back to health?
i. A Hindu priest ii. His companions iii. A Muslim fakir, SirajSain iv. His family
j. Why did Lalon Shah’s family refuse to take him back?
i. He had converted to another religion ii. He had lived in a Muslim household
iii. He had abandoned them iv. He was still sick
k. What did Lalon Shah do after being rejected by his family?
i. Returned to SirajSain ii. Went to a different city iii. Joined a different religious sect iv. Lived alone in the forest
k. Where did Lalon Shah set up an akhrah?
i. Dhaka ii. Chheuriya near Kushtia iii. Kolkata iv. Sylhet
m. What is an akhrah?
i. A temple ii. A mosque iii. A monastery iv. A library
n. Who were among those who admired Lalon Shah?
i. Rabindranath Tagore and KaziNazrul Islam ii. Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa
iii. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru iv. Satyajit Ray and RitwikGhatak
o. What instrument did Lalon’s disciples use to sing his songs?
i. Sitar ii. Ektara or dotara iii. Tabla iv. Harmonium
p. What philosophy did Lalon Shah promote?
i. Vedanta philosophy
ii. Sufi philosophy
iii.Shahajiya philosophy
iv. Buddhist philosophy
q. What does shahajiya philosophy emphasize?
i. Attainment of wealth ii. Attainment of power
iii. Attainment of the self through simple truths in one’s own body and soul
iv. Attainment of knowledge through books
r. Through what can shahajiya philosophy be reached according to Lalon?
i. Rituals ii. Sadhana or meditation iii. Pilgrimage iv. Fasting
s. Who were some of Lalon Shah’s famous disciples?
i. Rabindranath Tagore and KaziNazrul Islam
ii. KangalHarinathMajumder, Pagla Kanai, and Dudu Shah
iii. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru
iv. Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa
t. What happened to Lalon Shah’s fame as he began writing and composing songs?
i. It remained local ii. It spread to faraway places iii. It declined iv. It was forgotten
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as?
b. What other roles did Lalon Shah play besides being an icon of the Baul tradition?
c. What did Lalon Shah preach regarding religion?
d. What social differences did Lalon Shah reject?
e. What did Lalon Shah believe should be the starting point for a search for truth?
f. Why is Lalon Shah’s body significant in his philosophy?
g. What is the general perception of Lalon’s songs?
h. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education?
i. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life?
j. What popular story is associated with Lalon Shah’s pilgrimage?
k. What disease did Lalon Shah contract during his pilgrimage?
l. Who helped Lalon Shah recover from smallpox?
m. Why did Lalon Shah’s family refuse to take him back?
n. What did Lalon Shah do after being rejected by his family?
o. Where did Lalon Shah set up an akhrah?
p. What is an akhrah?
q. Who were some of the notable admirers of Lalon Shah?
r. How did Lalon Shah’s fame spread?
s. What philosophy did Lalon Shah promote and who were influenced by it?t. Who were some of Lalon Shah’s famous disciples?