The Field of the Embroidered Quilt
by Jasimuddin
Spreading the embroidered quilt,
She works the livelong night,
As if her poet were
কাঁথাখানা মেলে দিয়ে,
সেলাই করে রাত পেরিয়ে।
কবির মনটি ভাঙা, হায়,
বেদনায় সে কাঁদে নিরালায়।
Many a joy and many a sorrow
Is written on her breast;
The story of Rupai’s life is there,
Line by line expressed.
আনন্দ-বেদনা শত স্মৃতি,
বুকে লেখা আছে গীতি।
রূপাইয়ের জীবন কথামালা,
লেখা যেন আলো-ছায়ায় জ্বালা।
“How will he bear the pain, mother?
A Glimpse of Our Culture
On this quilt lies all of mine-
All my pain and my grief,
“কীভাবে সে সহ্য করবে, মা-?
এই কাথাতেই রেখেছি তা।
সব বেদনা, সবই হায়,
তুঁতে তুঁতে আঁকা মন যেমনই চায়।
So lay it on my grave, mother.
This picture of my grief,
That his and mine upon its breast
May mingling find relief.
তাই, বিছিয়ে দিও কবরের উপরে,
শোকের ছবি থাকুক প্রহরে।
আমার আর তার বেদনার ছবি
মিশ্রিত হয়ে খুঁজে পাই স্বস্তি।
(মিশ্রিত হয়ে খুঁজে পাই স্বর্গেরই ভূমি।)
Theme: The poem is about a woman who is very sad because she lost someone she loved named Rupai. To show her sadness and love, she starts sewing a quilt by hand. Each stitch in the quilt holds her memories—happy and sad. The quilt becomes a way to tell her story without speaking. It also shows her culture and love for Rupai. This kind of quilt, called Nakshi Kantha, is a traditional way to express feelings and heal from pain.
Summary: In the poem, a woman spends the whole night sewing a quilt. She uses the quilt to tell the story of her lost love, Rupai. The quilt shows her sadness and memories. It becomes a picture of her feelings. She tells her mother to place the quilt on her grave after she dies. She believes that their shared pain, kept inside the quilt, will find peace after death. This poem shows deep love, sorrow, and a part of cultural tradition.
· What is being unfolded in the poem?
The embroidered quilt is being spread out, representing carefully stitched memories and feelings.
· Who works through the entire night?
A woman stays up all night, sewing her sorrow and love into the quilt.
· What is the woman doing as she works?
She weaves her emotions into the quilt, expressing her inner feelings with each stitch.
· Why does the woman spend the whole night working?
She works overnight to pour out her grief and yearning; it’s her way to communicate her pain.
· What does the quilt symbolize?
It stands for her life story and sorrow, acting as a symbol of emotional memory and cultural heritage.
· Whose story is embroidered into the quilt?
The life of Rupai is stitched into the quilt, showing parts of his story and their shared history.
· What emotions are woven into the quilt?
It contains both happiness and sadness, reflecting a wide range of human experiences.
· How are these emotions conveyed?
They appear line by line through the needlework, telling a story through the embroidery.
· Where are the joys and sorrows ‘written’ symbolically?
They are said to be “written on her breast,” meaning she carries them deeply in her heart and art.
· Why does the poet describe the quilt as a ‘picture of grief’?
Because it visually represents all the woman’s pain and sorrow.
· What is the woman’s final wish to her mother?
She asks her mother to place the quilt on her grave, wanting it to remain part of her after death.
· Why does she want the quilt on her grave?
Because it holds her pain and love, symbolizing her emotional legacy.
· What does she hope will happen through the quilt?
She wishes that her grief and Rupai’s sorrow may find relief together.
· Who is Rupai in the poem?
Rupai is likely her beloved, closely connected to the quilt’s story.
· What mood does the poem convey?
A melancholic, reflective tone exploring love, loss, and memory.
· Which art form is central in the poem?
Embroidery, especially the traditional Nakshi Kantha quilt, blending cultural expression with emotional storytelling.
· What cultural significance does the quilt hold?
It reflects Bengali rural folk traditions where women use embroidery to tell stories.
· Why is embroidery compared to poetry?
Because both creatively express deep emotions; the needle acts like a poet’s pen.
· What might the quilt represent about women’s lives?
It symbolizes their quiet strength and the stories they express through silent crafts.
· What question does the speaker pose to her mother?
“How will he bear the pain, mother?” showing concern for Rupai’s suffering.
· How does the woman envision healing?
Through shared grief, believing that mingling sorrow can bring peace.
· What role does the mother play?
She is a silent witness and keeper of the daughter’s final wishes.
· How is the daughter’s pain preserved?
Through the embroidery on the quilt—a subtle but powerful form of expression.
· What is missing from the woman’s life?
Joy and peace, as her life is filled with sorrow and longing.
· What is the poem’s central theme?
Love, grief, and remembrance expressed through cultural art forms.
· What does the woman use instead of spoken words?
Thread and fabric—her silence is filled with meaningful stitches.
· How is the poem linked to rural life?
It highlights traditional village crafts and emotional experiences in simple settings.
· What poetic device is found in the phrase ‘line by line’?
Repetition and symbolism emphasizing detailed storytelling.
· Why might the woman keep her sorrow unspoken?
Due to cultural or emotional restraint, choosing to express it through her handiwork.
· How is pain made visible in the poem?
Through the detailed quilt embroidery, turning intangible feelings into something tangible.
· What literary figure is used by calling the quilt a ‘picture’?
A metaphor, representing her life and story visually.
· What does the speaker fear Rupai will experience?
Profound pain from their separation.
· What does the quilt allow the woman to do emotionally?
To release and preserve her feelings; it serves as her silent diary.
· How does the quilt connect the living and the dead?
By carrying memory and longing, it rests on her grave as a symbol of enduring love.
· What is the woman’s emotional state?
Sorrowful yet resigned, accepting her pain but wanting it remembered.
· How is love depicted in the poem?
As beautiful yet tragic, surviving beyond death.
· What role does memory play?
It is preserved through the quilt, making it eternal via craft.
· What message does the poem convey about grief?
That grief can be expressed creatively and that shared sorrow can heal.
· Why is the quilt culturally important?
Because it contains life stories, especially women’s, reflecting heritage and emotion.
· What is the speaker’s final wish?
That her quilt, with her grief, lies with her in death so her love story endures.
· What kind of pain is portrayed?
Emotional pain from separation and longing, deep and lasting.
· What does “this picture of my grief” mean?
The quilt embodies her pain—an emotional self-portrait.
· What does the phrase ‘may mingling find relief’ imply?
That shared grief might bring peace and reconciliation.
· What does the poem say about death?
It doesn’t end love; memories and emotions live on.
· How does the woman view her life?
As a tapestry woven with grief and memory.
· Why is silence important in the poem?
It reflects quiet suffering and strength—expressing through creation rather than words.
· Why is embroidery a good metaphor for memory?
Because it requires patience and detail, building slowly and lasting long.
· How is the poem connected to the land?
The title’s reference to a field links the craft to rural, traditional life.
· How does the poem give voice to women?
By showing their emotional expression through silent, artistic labor.
· What does the poem teach about cultural expression?
That art preserves emotion and history, and even simple crafts carry deep meaning.
· What does the embroidered quilt stand for?
It symbolizes the woman’s emotional pain, grief, and life story, serving as a fabric of memories and sorrows.
More Practices
Q: Why does the woman work on the quilt all night?
A: She uses sewing the quilt to express her sadness and remember her lost love. It helps her cope with pain.
Q: What is “written on her breast” in the poem?
A: The quilt’s stitches show the happy and sad moments from Rupai’s life.
Q: How does the quilt connect to Rupai’s life?
A: The quilt tells Rupai’s story step by step through its embroidery.
Q: Why does the woman want the quilt placed on her grave?
A: She believes that in death, her pain and Rupai’s pain will come together and find peace.
Q: What is the main theme of the poem?
A: The poem talks about turning grief into art and how memories keep love alive.
Q: How does the poem show the link between art and pain?
A: Sewing becomes a way to show deep feelings, turning private sadness into something lasting.
Q: What feeling is strongest in the woman’s actions?
A: Sadness and love guide her as she sews.
Q: Why is the quilt called a “picture of my grief”?
A: Because the patterns show her feelings and stories of sorrow and love.
Q: How does the poem reflect cultural traditions?
A: It shows how Bengali people use quilting (Nakshi Kantha) to tell stories and heal.
Q: What kind of rhyme does the poem have?
A: The poem uses an AABB rhyme pattern, which sounds like a steady rhythm, like sewing.
Q: How does repeating phrases help the poem?
A: It shows the careful, repeated sewing and the slow process of feeling grief.
Q: What is the quilt compared to in the poem?
A: The quilt is like a field where feelings are planted and grow.
Q: Why is the quilt like a “bereaved plight”?
A: Both the quilt and Rupai’s life carry pain and strength.
Q: How does the night add to the poem’s mood?
A: Night shows loneliness and deep thought while she sews.
Q: Who is Rupai?
A: Rupai is the loved one who has died and inspired the quilt.
Q: What role does the mother have?
A: The mother keeps the quilt safe and helps honor the woman’s feelings.
Q: How does the woman see her pain?
A: She feels her pain is tied to Rupai’s and that they share it even after death.
Q: Why does she talk to her mother?
A: Because the mother helps keep the family’s feelings and traditions alive.
Q: What does “mingling find relief” mean about death?
A: It means that after death, their shared pain can heal together.
Q: How does the poem show Bengali rural culture?
A: It highlights traditional handcrafts like embroidery as important stories of life.
Q: What does the quilt say about women’s work?
A: It shows that women’s sewing is powerful and full of meaning, not just “craft.”
Q: How is this poem like Jasimuddin’s style?
A: It uses village life and folk art to talk about deep feelings.
Q: Why is the quilt called a “glimpse of our culture”?
A: Because it shows Bengali customs and history through its designs.
Q: What does “mingling relief” teach about pain?
A: That sharing pain helps people heal together.
Q: How does the quilt act like a history book?
A: It keeps stories of Rupai’s life and the woman’s grief in its stitches.
Q: Why is grief “embroidered line by line”?
A: Because healing takes time, step by step.
Q: What does “bereaved plight” tell us about Rupai?
A: That he faced suffering, and the quilt remembers that.
Q: How does the poem mix life and death?
A: The quilt is for burial but also keeps their love alive.
Q: Why does the woman say the quilt is “all of mine”?
A: Because it holds her feelings and memories deeply.
Q: How does sewing help the woman heal?
A: It turns her sadness into something beautiful and helps her feel in control.
Q: What is the difference between the quilt’s beauty and pain?
A: It looks lovely but carries deep sorrow, showing how art can change pain.
Q: Why does the poem focus on night?
A: Night shows her loneliness and when her feelings are strongest.
Q: How does the quilt break the silence about grief?
A: It tells her story without words so others won’t forget her pain.
Q: What does “the story of Rupai’s life” mean?
A: That memories need to be saved so they aren’t lost.
Q: Why is the quilt called a “field”?
A: Because it’s like land where feelings grow like crops.
Q: What does “embroidered line by line” mean for telling stories?
A: Stories grow slowly, one part at a time, like sewing.
Q: Why put the quilt on a grave?
A: To keep the woman and Rupai connected even after death.
Q: How is sewing like writing?
A: Both create something that lasts and tells a story.
Q: What does “mingling find relief” say about love?
A: Love stays even after death and brings comfort.
Q: How does the poem keep Bengali folk tales alive?
A: It makes quilting a way to tell and remember stories.
Q: Why is Rupai’s story important to the community?
A: His life shows common struggles, turning personal pain into shared history.
Q: How does the poem show women’s work is important?
A: It honors sewing as an important way to express feelings and culture.
Q: What does the mother’s role teach us?
A: Mothers help keep family memories and traditions safe.
Q: How do farming ideas appear in the poem?
A: The quilt is like a field, and feelings grow and are harvested like crops.
Q: What lesson does the poem give about grief?
A: Grief can become something lasting if turned into art.
Q: How does the poem change ideas about death?
A: Death is not the end but a new way to remember and live on.
Q: Why is this poem still important today?
A: Because it speaks to anyone who has lost someone and cares about memory and love.
Q: How can the quilt inspire people now?
A: It shows how creativity can help us heal and remember.
Q: What does the poem celebrate in the end?
A: It celebrates strength, love, and pride in culture, even through sadness.
The Field of the Embroidered Quilt by Jasimuddin: A Symbol of Love and Loss
“The Field of the Embroidered Quilt” (নকশী কাঁথার মাঠ) is a famous Bengali narrative poem by Jasimuddin, often studied in Class 8 under the title “Nakshi Kantha” (নকশী কাঁথা ইংরেজি). It tells the emotional story of Rupai and Sujata, whose love ends in tragedy. Sujata expresses her sorrow by stitching her memories and pain into a nakshi kantha, or embroidered quilt.
What is Nakshi Kantha?
Nakshi Kantha is a type of traditional hand-stitched quilt from Bengal, decorated with artistic patterns. The English meaning of কাঁথা is quilt, and nakshi means decorative or embroidered. Therefore, Nakshi Kantha translates to embroidered quilt in English.
Meaning and Symbolism
The quilt meaning in Bengali is কাঁথা, and quilting meaning in Bengali refers to কাঁথা সেলাই বা অলঙ্করণ করা. In the poem, the quilt becomes a canvas of Sujata’s life — every stitch holds her emotions. This is why the quilts meaning in Bengali in this context goes beyond just fabric — it holds history, love, and loss.
When Did Nakshi Kantha Become Famous?
While nakshi kantha was a rural tradition for centuries, it gained literary and cultural fame through Jasimuddin’s poem, first published in 1929. It highlighted rural Bengali life and turned a simple household item into a national cultural icon.
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