The Legendary 'Siddhikundu'

 

The Legendary 'Siddhikundu'

There is a Samadhi Mandir (mausoleum) of Saint Siddhinath. Adjacent to this mausoleum is a pond known as 'Siddhikundu'. There is a legend in it. Long ago there lived a childless couple in this village. There lived a saint also in this forested place. The couple prayed to the saint for a child. The saint gave them a magical fruit to eat. But the saint predicted their future and said that after eating this fruit they will have a son and that child will die at the age of twelve. He also said that the dead child cannot be cremated in a pyre, but the child should be buried. Following Saint’s instructions, they had a very beautiful son. The couple became very happy with childish pleasure. But happiness did not last long. The child died at the age of twelve, proving Saint's fortune-telling to be true. But disobeying Saint's instructions, they started burning the dead child on a pyre instead of burying it in the ground. At that time, that saint appeared in the crematorium. He scolded the couple. Then he called 'Siddhinath' three times. The child came out of the pyre half-burnt. On Saint's instructions, he dived into the nearby pond. Forgetting everyone, the child came out of the pond completely healthy. That child was actually the Siddha-Sadhak boy Siddhinath. The present Pancharatna Samadhi Temple belongs to the Saint Siddhinath. After that miraculous incident, the pond was named 'Siddhikundu'. That pond still exists today. Even today, many childless couples come from far to bathe in that pond. They believe that bathing in that pond will fulfill their desire for children.

WBCHSE Class XI English Semester- 1 Model Question Paper

 

WBCHSE CLASS XI ENGLISH SEMESTER- 1 MODEL QUESTION

Subject- English   Semester- 1     Class- XI

Marks- 40     Time- 100 Minutes

Prose

1.       Guru would have to undertake a journey to reach his village-

A.      two days

B.      five days

C.      three days

D.      one days

2.       The word ‘cowrie’ is meant for-

A.      a cat

B.      a small snail

C.      a friend

D.      an astrologer

3.       Life of the man was saved by-

A.      his brother

B.      a passer-by

C.      a fruit seller

D.      a constable

4.       How much money did the astrologer bring to his home?

A.      His mother

B.      his daughter

C.      his wife

D.      Guru Nanak

5.       Swamiji had once gone on a pilgrimage to-

A.      Kashmir

B.      Himachal Pradesh

C.      Darjeeling

D.      Assam

6.       In the end everyone will know that life was a-

A.      skill

B.      reality

C.      dream

D.      film

7.       It was against Swamiji’s idea of ______ to impose his ideas on his disciple.

A.      family

B.      endurance

C.      friendship

D.      freedom

8.       The things available in the shops were-

A.      fruits, nuts, milk

B.      rice, dal, vegetables, curd

C.      dry fruits, milk, dal, rice

D.      milk, paneer, fruits

9.       The blessing of immortality for Swamiji refers to-

A.      life until asked for death

B.      death until asked for death

C.      death

D.      life without death

10.   The _____ fluttered overhead.

A.      parrots

B.      pigeons

C.      sparrows

D.      swallows

Verse

11.  The poet compares the early morning beauty of London to-

A.      a picture

B.      a garment

C.      an ornament

D.     a flower

12.  Which season is implied in the poem?

A.      winter

B.      spring

C.      summer

D.     autumn

13.  The atmosphere in the city is silent because

A.      It is early morning and people are at rest

B.      It is night and people are asleep

C.      people are busy at home

D.     the city is empty

14.  ‘The city now doth like a garment wear’- Here the word ‘garment’ suggests

A.      the city of London

B.      the ships and building

C.      the beauty of the morning

D.     the fields

15.  Select the correct chronological order-

1. They sell their bangles in a temple fair. 2. The poem begins with the narration of the bangle sellers. 3. They carry their wares with the purpose of selling. 4. The bangles are bought by girls and women.

A.      1-3-2-4

B.      2-1-3-4

C.      4-2-1-3

D.     2-3-1-4

16.  Relationship between statements-

1. Some are like fields of sunlit corn. 2. Here the poet says which season corns are mostly grown.

A.      2 contradicts 1

B.      1 is true but 2 is false

C.      2 is the reason of 1

D.     1 and 2 are independent of each other

17.   Some bangles are like fields of

A.      corn

B.      maize

C.      wheat

D.      rice

18.   Pick out false statements-

A.                  Surely some revelation is at hand.

B.                  An aged man is but a paltry thing.

C.      A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun.

D.                  Mere anarchy  is loosed upon the world.

19.   ‘Spiritus Mundi' refers to

A.                  Heaven

B.                  Universal storehouse of images

C.                  Abode of Hod

D.                  Temporal place

20.   Match the column

1	Anarchy	i	A formal religious or public occasion to celebrate a particular event
2	Blood-dimmed	ii	Spiral/ vortex
3	Ceremony	iii	A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling system
4	Gyre	iv	Shocking, violent and bloody, affecting everything and everyone.

A.                  1-iii, 2-iv, 3-ii, 4-i

B.                  1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i

C.                  1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii

D.                  1-iv, 2-iii, 3-i, 4-ii

Rapid Reader

21.   Macduff had fled to

A.                  England

B.                  Scotland

C.                  France

D.                  Ireland

22.   Macbeth visited the heath and found

A.      Banquo’s ghost there

B.      Macduff waiting for him

C.      the witches near a cave

D.      the dagger used to kill Duncan

23.   The second spirit looked like a

A.      Child

B.      cauldron

C.      child with a tree

D.      bloody child

24.   _______ was the last one of the shadows seen by Macbeth.

A.      Macduff

B.      Malcom

C.      Banquo

D.      Donalbain

25.   Mandragora is a plant whose juice bring

A.      sleep

B.      happiness

C.      peace

D.      death

26.   The statement of Othello was confirmed by

A.      Brabantio

B.      Desdemona

C.      the duke

D.      his friend

27.   Which statement is True (T) or False (F)

(1)    Othello wished Desdemona was never born.

(2)    Desdemona fell asleep.

(3)    Desdemona was awakened with kisses.

(4)    Othello stifled her to death.

A.      1-T, 2-T, 3-T, 4-F

B.      1-T, 2-T, 3-T, 4-T

C.      1-F, 2-F, 3-T, 4-F

D.      1-F, 2-T, 3-T, 4-F

28.   The name of Sir Rowland de Boy’s son was

A.      Frederick

B.      Adam

C.      Orlando

D.      Ganymede

29.   Frederick called Celia a fool as she

A.      pleaded for Rosalind

B.      wanted to join Rosalind in the forest

C.      could not woo Orlando

D.      opposed her father

30.   The love sonnets fastened to the trees were addressed to

A.      Celia

B.      Orlando

C.      Rosalind

D.      Aliena

Textual Grammar

31.  You know my name. (Choose the correct Complex sentence)

A.                  You know my name is what?

B.                  You know whose name I have.

C.                  You know my name.

D.                 You know what my name is.

32.  I saw his marvelous purity. (Choose the Noun form of the underlined word)

A.      marvelously

B.      marvellousity

C.      marvel

D.     None of these

33.  I will prepare some nice stuff for her. (change the voice)

                                                              i.      Some nice stuff further will be prepared by me. ii. Some nice staff will be prepared for her by me.

A.      only ii

B.      only i

C.      both i &ii

D.     none of these

34.  The Swami said, ‘I worship the terrible!’ (Change the narration)

A.      The Swami said that he was worshipping the terrible.

B.      The Swami said that he worshipped the terrible.

C.      The Swami said that he had worshipped the terrible.

D.     none of these

35.  All bright and glittering _______ the smokeless air. (Fill in the blank with preposition)

A.      through

B.      in

C.      of

D.     on

Comprehension (Unseen)

Read the following passage and choose the correct answer from the given alternatives:

Bangladeshi economist Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank founded by him were today awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in helping millions, especially women, in the country overcome poverty through a system of small-scale loans.

The 66-year-old Yunus, the first Bangladeshi to win a Nobel Prize, said: "I think this is a wonderful recognition of our efforts at Grameen Bank, and for all the women who work for us and who have made Grameen Bank a success."

"I am proud of the whole country," a beaming Mr. Yunus told reporters at his home here. The award will "inspire him to complete his future plans," said the economist whose Grameen Bank was honored with India's Gandhi Peace Prize in 2000. The prize includes 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.4 million). Mr. Yunus said he would invest the cash into his financing offers for the poor.

Announcing the award, the Nobel Committee in Oslo said it was given for efforts by Mr. Yunus and the bank to "create economic and social development from below". "Across cultures and civilizations, Mr. Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development," the Nobel Committee said in its citation.

Mr. Yunus first learnt about winning the prize from a Norwegian TV station, which called him to say he might get the award and then told him to hold the telephone line. Soon after, a voice from the other end confirmed he had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

36.  The Nobel Prize was given to

A.      Mr. Yunus

B.      Grameen Bank

C.      Mr. Yunus and Grameen Bank

D.     Bangladesh Govt.

37.  Mr. Yunus first learnt about winning the Nobel prize from

A.      a Norwegian TV station

B.      Bangladesh Govt.

C.      Nobel Committee

D.     Grameen Bank

38.  Yunus was awarded the Nobel Prize for

A.      Economics

B.      Physics

C.      Peace

D.     Literature

39.  The announcement of the award was made in

A.      Dhaka

B.      Stockholm

C.      New   York

D.     Oslo

40.  “I am proud of the whole country”- Which country is referred to here?

A.      Norway

B.      India

C.      Bangladesh

D.     Sweden

• 
  

The Legacy of Kansabati River Art and Architecture

 

The Legacy of Kansabati River Art and Architecture

River Kansabati has been flowing from the unknown past of prehistoric times till today. Flowers, fruits, grains and vegetables flourish across the fertile lands of the vast riverbanks. The picturesque villages make Kansabati even more enchanting. Kansabati has not only influenced the present civilization but has also embodied the past civilization. Art architecture embedded in the womb of that civilization flows from the dawn of civilization to today.

Kapisha to Kansabati

Kansabati is called by various names including Karva, Kansbas, Kalindiganga, Kaliganga, Ganga, and Kangshanadi. Before changing its course, the last part of the stream was called Behula, Gangurya, and Gauri etc. However, the river known as Kapisha in the long past history is known as Kansabati now.

Historical and Epic Reference

There is no doubt about the antiquity of the Kapisha or Kansabati River. Professor Paresh Chandra Dasgupta, former Director of Archaeology, West Bengal wrote in his book 'Subarnarekha Prangane Aranyakanya Kansabati' that different phases of the Stone Age have passed in the valley of the river Kansabati. In the light of successive discoveries, it can be confirmed that the valley attracted the food-seeking 'hominids' in an extensive chapter during the latter half of the Pleistocene period. Naturally, the history of this river's contribution dates back to the earliest stages of civilization in the distant past.

       The Kapisha River is known from the epic 'Raghuvansam' by Mahakabi Kalidas, written between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. Here the King Raghu triumphantly conquered Sumbhadesh (Tamralipta) and other kingdoms in the east and crossed the 'elephant bridges' which were lined up over the Kapisha River and marched towards Kalinga.

     Again, it is known from the Madla Panji of Utkal that King Anangabhimadev (reigned 1211-1238 AD) extended his kingdom up to the Kansbas River (Kansabati) in the north.

     The Kansai River is mentioned in the 16th century poet Dwij Madhav's poem 'Chandimangal'. There Devi Chandi instructed Vishwakarma to build a monastery on the banks of the 'Kangshanadi' or Kansai River.

Nomenclature

The colour of the water of the river flowing through the plateau is like ‘Kansa’ or brass. Hence the name of the river is supposed to be Kansai. Later the river came to be known as Kansabati and others.

Flow path

Jabar Hills in Jhalda Block of Purulia District of West Bengal is the source of Kansai or Kansabati River. It then flows through Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal. At Bankura the Kansabati joins its main tributary the Kumari River. The Kansabati dam is built at the confluence of the Kansabati and Kumari rivers in Mukutmanipur. Then Kansabati entered Paschim Medinipur district. The river splits into two branches at Kapastikari in Debra of Paschim Medinipur. Then the main branch in the name of Kansabati flows through Purba Medinipur and joins into the Keleghai River.

Extinct Behula River and Kansabati

Once the lower reaches of the Kansabati was the extinct Behula River. The Kansabati River changes its old course from Panskura of Purba Medinipur district and now flows southwards. Kansabati River is actually a cut canal from here. The previous flow of the lower reaches of the Kansabati from Panskura to Rupnarayana River was known as Behula River. This river was also called Gauri or Gangur or Gangura River. The river is now extinct.

Kansabati River in the light of Archeology

Scattered excavations in the vast river basin at various times have yielded rich artefacts. Pre-medieval pottery, inscriptions, stone carvings etc. have been found. Artefacts of Pala-Sena period, masts of large vessels, fragments of boats recall the rich history of the region. Many artefacts like ancient Vishnu idols, Buddha idols, Sanchistupa replicas, various handicrafts recall the rich cultural heritage influenced by the river. Ancient terracotta temples, the Garbari of the Kings and other ancient construction in the river basin are the wonderful example of architecture influence by the river.

Development of Buddhist Culture

The extensive spread of Buddhist culture in Tamralipta is historically proved. We know it from Hiuen Tsang, Fahien's description. Ancient Buddhist statues and related artefacts are still found in the river basin. The development of riverine Buddhist culture is acknowledged.

The legend

Once the lower reaches of the Kansabati was the extinct Behula River. According to folklore, the extinct Behula River is the 'Gangur River' as mentioned the epic 'Mansamangal'. Behula, the epic heroine was floating on a raft in the river 'Gangur' with her husband who died in a snake bite. As per the geographical location of the river, the culture of the surrounding peoples, folklore etc. the extinct Behula river can be identified as the 'Gangur river' of 'Mansamangal'.

Historical Background of the Flower Valley

Field after field along the Kansabati Basin is a kingdom of flowers. There are so many collection of flowers like Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Dopati, Rajni, Karan, Axter, Cherry, Jhupsi, Bell, Rose, Gladiolus, Murgai etc. Hiuen Tsang was a famous Chinese Buddhist, scholar, traveler and translator. He arrived in India in 629 AD. He came to Tamralipti (Tamluk). It was the river basin of the then Kansabati. According to his description, the land here is flat and watery. The climate is warm. Flowers and fruits are plentiful. Due to the low-lying land and abundant rainfall, the land here is naturally waterlogged most of the time. All these areas were flooded with river water almost every year. As a result the lands were very fertile as they were rich in silt. Therefore, there was abundant production of flowers, fruits, vegetables and grains. About one and a half thousand years ago, Hiuen Tsang saw such an abundance of flowers and fruits when he arrived in the region. Naturally, the history of abundance of flowers of the river basin is about one and a half thousand years old.

River influenced Regional Folk Culture

From the beginning of the 16th century, kirtan songs were widely practiced when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the Kansabati basin several times during his journey to Nilachal. He imbued the region with Vaishnavism. Since then, widespread kirtan music has become popular in the basin area.

     Pot's songs of this region are basically Kansabai based legend. Besides various mythological stories are depicted in colors on cloth or paper canvas and sung. The artists depict the stories of Ramayana, Krishna Leela, Manasamangal, Chandimangal etc. in the Pot-canvas.

     Baul songs were created and spread around the river Kansabati. Hence the Baul song of this region has a unique flavor.

     Kabigan influenced by the Kansabati River is usually performed in two groups. It is a kind of competitive song. The leader of the party is called 'Kabiyal'. Kabial's companions are called 'Dohar'.

     People of Tribal community perform dances and songs with traditional musical instruments dressed in tribal genre.

     Folk songs are one of the genres of music. The daily life of the people, the happiness and sorrow, the struggle of life in the Kansabati river basin emerge in this music. This song is mostly spread orally in the society.

River influenced Regional Handicraft

Kansabati River has greatly influence the everyday life of the basin area. They made various handicrafts for daily needs. Grass-leaf wrap, Pottery, clay idol, Metal tools, fireworks, wooden furniture, materials of bamboo, regionalfoods like ‘gahana bori’, ‘alur chop’, ‘batasa’ etc. are the fine example of river influenced handicraft.