Khona / The mystery that connects seasons - Multiple Choice & Short Question for HSC English First Paper - English for Today for Class 11 and 12 / Seen Passage for HSC
- Fakhruddin Babar
- Feb 13
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 16
Khona
Jodi borshe magher shesh. dhonyi raj ar punyi desh.
If it rains at the end of Magh (last month of Winter), the kingdom will prosper.
The mystery that connects seasons with soil and crops with rain was no secret to her. She realized the interdependence dial links people and climate in myriad ways. She was Khona.
The mythical story of Khona is deeply rooted in Banglafolklore. Khona. originally named Lila, was an incredible woman with a gift for predicting weather and understanding the ways of farming. I ler wisdom was shared through memorable, rhyming verses known as "Khona’s Words" or "Khonar Bochon." These sayings, though simple and easy to remember, were filled with deep knowledge and practical advice for farmers.
Khona used her knowledge to help the peasants, but her actions often challenged die ruling class. The rulers, not pleased with her defiance, punished her cruelly by cutting out her tongue. Thus, she became known as Khona, which means "someone who cannot speak." Despite this harsh punishment, her wisdom lived on through her sayings, which have been passed down for over 1500 years.
There arc many versions of Khona’s story. One retelling goes like this: in the kingdom of DeyuInagar, there was a royal astrologer named Varaha who served King Dharmaketu. Sadly. Vanilla’s wife died while giving birth to their son. Mihir.
Worried about his son’s future. Varaha saw in the stars that Mihir was destined for a life of trouble and death. Heartbroken, Varaha decided to save Mihir by placing him in a copper pot and setting the pot afloat on the river Viddyadhory. The baby was found and rescued in Sri Lanka, where he was raised by the king. As be grew up in the royal court, he married the king's daughter; an astrologer herself, named Lila.
Lila and Mihir managed to find Varaha and prove that his predictions about Mihir’s future had been wrong. Varaha. though surprised by his mistake, was thrilled to see his son again and welcomed both Mihir and Lila warmly. They were soon introduced to the royal court and became royal astrologers themselves.
Even though Lila was now a royal astrologer, she kept in touch with the local farmers. She learned a lot from them and found that they shared valuable knowledge through short, easy-to-remember verses. Lila began to use these simple verses to explain her own complex astrological knowledge.
Varaha, feeling jealous and angry, ordered his son to punish Lila by cutting out her longue, hoping to silence her. However, Khona’s story and her knowledge remained alive. Her wisdom about nature-oriented farming continued to benefit the people of the land.
A. Write the meanings of the following words/phrascs:
i. deeply rooted
ii. interdependence
iii. practical advice
iv. challenged (he ruling class
v. . silenced
vi. shared wisdom
vii. benefited the people
viii. proved wrong
Now write five sentences with each of these phrases in your notebook.
B. Answer the following questions:
i. Describe in your own words how Khona helped the farmers.
ii. Why did the ruling class feel threatened by Khona’s knowledge?
iii. What qualities made Khona’s wisdom endure, despite the punishment she received?
iv. Why arc Khona’s words still relevant to our life today?
v. What reasons can you find for Khona being considered a leader of peasants?
Answer:
A. Meanings of the Following Words/Phrases:
Deeply rooted – Strongly established or firmly connected to something for a long time.
Interdependence – A mutual connection where two or more things rely on each other.
Practical advice – Useful suggestions or guidance that can be applied in real-life situations.
Challenged the ruling class – Questioned or opposed the authority or power of the rulers.
Silenced – Forced to stop speaking or expressing opinions.
Shared wisdom – Knowledge or experience that is passed on to others.
Benefited the people – Helped or improved the lives of the community.
Proved wrong – Showed that someone's belief or prediction was incorrect.
B. Answer the Following Questions:
Describe in your own words how Khona helped the farmers.Khona used her deep knowledge of agriculture and astrology to guide farmers in understanding the best times for planting and harvesting crops. She shared her wisdom through simple and memorable rhyming verses, making it easy for farmers to follow her advice. Her sayings helped them predict weather changes, avoid natural disasters, and improve their farming techniques.
Why did the ruling class feel threatened by Khona’s knowledge?The ruling class felt threatened by Khona’s knowledge because it empowered ordinary farmers, giving them independence and wisdom that could challenge the authority of the rulers. Her practical advice made peasants less reliant on the rulers' decisions. Additionally, her popularity and influence over the people made the rulers fear losing their control over society.
What qualities made Khona’s wisdom endure, despite the punishment she received?Khona’s wisdom endured because it was simple, practical, and beneficial to the common people. Her teachings were passed down through easy-to-remember rhyming verses, ensuring their survival over generations. Despite being silenced, her followers continued spreading her knowledge, valuing her insights about nature, farming, and seasonal changes.
Why are Khona’s words still relevant to our life today?Khona’s words remain relevant today because they provide timeless agricultural wisdom that aligns with modern environmental and farming practices. Her insights about nature, climate patterns, and sustainability still help farmers make informed decisions. Additionally, her story highlights the importance of knowledge, free speech, and standing up against injustice, lessons that continue to inspire people today.
What reasons can you find for Khona being considered a leader of peasants?Khona is considered a leader of peasants because she dedicated her knowledge to improving their lives. She spoke on behalf of the common people, challenging the ruling class and empowering farmers with practical guidance. Her deep understanding of agriculture and her ability to communicate wisdom in a way that farmers could easily understand made her a true leader and protector of the working class.
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদঃ
খোনা
জোড়ি বর্ষে মাঘের শেষ। ধোনি রাজ আর পুণ্যি দেশ।
যদি মাঘ মাসের শেষে (শীতের শেষ মাস) বৃষ্টি হয়, তাহলে রাজ্য সমৃদ্ধ হবে।
মাটির সাথে ঋতু এবং বৃষ্টির সাথে ফসলের সংযোগ স্থাপনের রহস্য তার কাছে গোপন ছিল না। তিনি বুঝতে পেরেছিলেন যে পারস্পরিক নির্ভরশীলতা মানুষ এবং জলবায়ুকে অসংখ্য উপায়ে সংযুক্ত করে। তিনি ছিলেন খোনা।
খোনার পৌরাণিক কাহিনী বাংলা লোককাহিনীতে গভীরভাবে প্রোথিত। খোনা, যার আসল নাম লীলা, আবহাওয়ার ভবিষ্যদ্বাণী এবং কৃষিকাজের পদ্ধতি বোঝার প্রতিভাধর একজন অবিশ্বাস্য মহিলা ছিলেন। "খোনার কথা" বা "খোনার বোচন" নামে পরিচিত স্মরণীয়, ছন্দময় পদগুলির মাধ্যমে আমার জ্ঞান ভাগাভাগি করা হয়েছিল। এই উক্তিগুলি, যদিও সহজ এবং মনে রাখা সহজ, কৃষকদের জন্য গভীর জ্ঞান এবং ব্যবহারিক পরামর্শে পরিপূর্ণ ছিল।
খোনা কৃষকদের সাহায্য করার জন্য তার জ্ঞান ব্যবহার করত, কিন্তু তার কাজগুলি প্রায়শই শাসক শ্রেণীকে চ্যালেঞ্জ জানাত। শাসকরা, তার অবাধ্যতায় সন্তুষ্ট না হয়ে, তার জিহ্বা কেটে তাকে নিষ্ঠুর শাস্তি দিত। এইভাবে, তিনি খোনা নামে পরিচিত হন, যার অর্থ "কথা বলতে পারে না এমন কেউ"। এই কঠোর শাস্তি সত্ত্বেও, তার জ্ঞান তার বাণীর মাধ্যমে বেঁচে ছিল, যা ১৫০০ বছরেরও বেশি সময় ধরে চলে আসছে।
খোনার গল্পের অনেক সংস্করণ রয়েছে। একটি পুনরালোচনা এইরকম: দেউইনগর রাজ্যে, বরাহ নামে একজন রাজকীয় জ্যোতিষী ছিলেন যিনি রাজা ধর্মকেতুর সেবা করতেন। দুঃখের বিষয় হল, ভ্যানিলার স্ত্রী তাদের পুত্রের জন্ম দেওয়ার সময় মারা যান। মিহির।
ছেলের ভবিষ্যৎ নিয়ে চিন্তিত। বরাহ নক্ষত্রের মধ্যে দেখতে পান যে মিহিরের জীবন কষ্ট ও মৃত্যুর দিকে ঠেলে দেওয়া হবে। হৃদয় ভেঙে যাওয়া বরাহ মিহিরকে একটি তামার পাত্রে রেখে পাত্রটি বিদ্যাধোরী নদীতে ভাসিয়ে দিয়ে বাঁচানোর সিদ্ধান্ত নেন। শ্রীলঙ্কায় শিশুটিকে খুঁজে পাওয়া যায় এবং উদ্ধার করা হয়, যেখানে রাজা তাকে লালন-পালন করেন। রাজসভায় বেড়ে ওঠার পর, তিনি রাজার কন্যাকে বিয়ে করেন; একজন জ্যোতিষী, যার নাম লীলা।
লীলা এবং মিহির বরাহকে খুঁজে বের করতে সক্ষম হন এবং প্রমাণ করেন যে মিহিরের ভবিষ্যৎ সম্পর্কে তার ভবিষ্যদ্বাণী ভুল ছিল। বরাহ, যদিও তার ভুল দেখে অবাক হয়েছিলেন, তবুও তিনি তার ছেলেকে আবার দেখে রোমাঞ্চিত হন এবং মিহির এবং লীলা উভয়কেই উষ্ণভাবে স্বাগত জানান। শীঘ্রই তাদের রাজদরবারে পরিচয় করিয়ে দেওয়া হয় এবং তারা নিজেরাই রাজকীয় জ্যোতিষী হয়ে ওঠেন।
যদিও লীলা এখন একজন রাজকীয় জ্যোতিষী ছিলেন, তিনি স্থানীয় কৃষকদের সাথে যোগাযোগ রাখতেন। তিনি তাদের কাছ থেকে অনেক কিছু শিখতেন এবং দেখতে পেতেন যে তারা ছোট, সহজে মনে রাখা যায় এমন শ্লোকগুলির মাধ্যমে মূল্যবান জ্ঞান ভাগ করে নেন। লীলা তার নিজস্ব জটিল জ্যোতিষশাস্ত্রীয় জ্ঞান ব্যাখ্যা করার জন্য এই সহজ শ্লোকগুলি ব্যবহার করতে শুরু করেছিলেন।
বরাহ, ঈর্ষান্বিত এবং রাগান্বিত হয়ে, তার ছেলেকে লীলাকে চুপ করানোর আশায় তার দীর্ঘায়ু কেটে শাস্তি দেওয়ার নির্দেশ দেন। যাইহোক, খোনার গল্প এবং তার জ্ঞান বেঁচে ছিল। প্রকৃতি-ভিত্তিক কৃষিকাজ সম্পর্কে তার জ্ঞান দেশের মানুষের উপকারে আসতে থাকে।
More Exercise:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What was Khona's real name?
a) Lila
b) Mihir
c) Varaha
d) Dharmaketu
Answer: a) Lila
2. What is the meaning of "Khona"?
a) A wise astrologer
b) Someone who cannot speak
c) A powerful ruler
d) A royal priest
Answer: b) Someone who cannot speak
3. What was the purpose of "Khonar Bochon"?
a) To entertain the royal court
b) To teach farmers about astrology
c) To provide practical farming advice
d) To predict the king’s future
Answer: c) To provide practical farming advice
4. Who was Varaha?
a) Khona's father-in-law
b) A farmer who taught Khona
c) The king of Sri Lanka
d) A powerful warrior
Answer: a) Khona's father-in-law
5. What was Mihir’s destiny according to Varaha’s prediction?
a) He would become a king
b) He would live a troubled life and die young
c) He would become a famous astrologer
d) He would be a great ruler
Answer: b) He would live a troubled life and die young
6. How did Mihir survive despite Varaha’s prediction?
a) He was hidden in the forest
b) He was placed in a copper pot and sent down the river
c) He was taken to another kingdom by a soldier
d) A sage blessed him with a long life
Answer: b) He was placed in a copper pot and sent down the river
7. Why was Varaha jealous of Khona?
a) She married Mihir against his wishes
b) She was more respected than him in the royal court
c) Her wisdom and knowledge became more popular than his
d) She insulted him in front of the king
Answer: c) Her wisdom and knowledge became more popular than his
8. What was the main theme of Khona’s teachings?
a) Warfare strategies
b) Astrology and weather-based farming
c) Spiritual and religious practices
d) Trade and commerce
Answer: b) Astrology and weather-based farming
9. What was the reason behind Khona’s punishment?
a) She challenged the ruling class with her knowledge
b) She refused to obey the king’s orders
c) She tried to overthrow the ruler
d) She helped Mihir escape from prison
Answer: a) She challenged the ruling class with her knowledge
10. How has Khona’s legacy survived over time?
a) Her teachings were recorded in books
b) Her sayings were passed down through generations
c) Statues were built in her honor
d) A festival is held every year in her memory
Answer: b) Her sayings were passed down through generations
Short Answer Questions with Answers
1. Who was Khona, and why is she famous?Answer: Khona, originally named Lila, was a legendary woman known for her wisdom in astrology and agriculture. She became famous for her sayings, called "Khonar Bochon," which provided practical farming advice. Despite being silenced by having her tongue cut out, her knowledge was passed down for generations.
2. What role did Khona play in helping farmers?Answer: Khona observed nature and used astrological knowledge to guide farmers. She created simple, rhyming verses that helped them predict weather patterns, decide when to plant crops, and manage agricultural practices efficiently.
3. Why did the ruling class oppose Khona?Answer: The rulers disliked Khona because her knowledge and advice empowered farmers, reducing their dependence on the ruling class. Her growing influence threatened those in power, leading to her punishment.
4. What was the significance of "Khonar Bochon"?Answer: "Khonar Bochon" was a collection of short, poetic sayings that conveyed deep agricultural and meteorological knowledge. They were easy to remember and helped farmers make practical decisions about their crops and seasons.
5. How did Mihir survive despite Varaha’s prediction?Answer: Varaha predicted a troubled future for Mihir and set him afloat in a copper pot on the river. However, Mihir was rescued in Sri Lanka, raised in a royal family, and later returned to prove his father’s prediction wrong.
6. Why did Varaha become jealous of Khona?Answer: Varaha was a respected royal astrologer, but Khona’s simple and effective way of explaining astrology gained more popularity. This made him jealous, leading him to order her punishment.
7. What does the saying "Jodi borshe Magher shesh, dhonyi raj ar punyi desh" mean?Answer: This saying means that if it rains at the end of the Bengali month of Magh, the land will be fertile, and the kingdom will prosper. It reflects Khona’s understanding of seasonal rainfall and its impact on agriculture.
8. How did Khona’s legacy survive despite her punishment?Answer: Even though Khona was silenced, her wise sayings continued to be shared orally by farmers and common people. Over time, they became an important part of Bengali folklore and agricultural knowledge.
9. What was the connection between Khona and Mihir?Answer: Mihir was Khona’s husband. He was the son of Varaha, the royal astrologer, who initially predicted a troubled life for him. Later, Mihir and Khona worked as astrologers in the royal court.
10. Why is Khona still relevant today?Answer: Khona’s teachings are still valuable because they provide timeless agricultural wisdom. Her sayings help farmers understand seasonal changes, predict rainfall, and follow sustainable farming practices, making her legacy important even in modern times.
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Vocabulary words from the passage along with their Bangla meanings:
Mystery - রহস্য
Connects - সংযোগ করে
Seasons - ঋতুসমূহ
Soil - মাটি
Crops - ফসল
Rain - বৃষ্টি
Interdependence - পারস্পরিক নির্ভরতা
Climate - জলবায়ু
Mythical - পৌরাণিক
Folklore - লোককথা
Predicting - পূর্বাভাস দেওয়া
Understanding - বোঝাপড়া
Wisdom - প্রজ্ঞা
Memorable - স্মরণীয়
Verses - শ্লোক
Sayings - প্রবাদ
Practical - ব্যবহারিক
Advice - পরামর্শ
Peasants - কৃষক
Defiance - অবাধ্যতা
Rulers - শাসক
Punished - শাস্তি দেওয়া
Cruelly - নির্মমভাবে
Despite - সত্ত্বেও
Passed down - প্রজন্ম থেকে প্রজন্মে হস্তান্তর
Retelling - পুনঃকথন
Astrologer - জ্যোতিষী
Royal - রাজকীয়
Predictions - ভবিষ্যদ্বাণী
Heartbroken - দুঃখে ভেঙে পড়া
Destined - নির্ধারিত
Trouble - বিপদ
Rescued - উদ্ধার করা
Introduced - পরিচিত করানো
Jealous - ঈর্ষান্বিত
Punish - শাস্তি দেওয়া
Silence - নীরব করা
Knowledge - জ্ঞান
Nature-oriented - প্রকৃতিনির্ভর
Benefit - উপকার
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