A. Do you ever read the Problem Page in magazines or newspapers? What kinds of problems do people often write about?
B. Here are two letters from the problem page in the Daily Bangladesh. Read them and discuss with a partner what you think the content of the letters is. Use a dictionary to check any new words.
Dear Avajon
Often I'm so sorry to see the city's footpaths occupied by floating people. They are living in some makeshift shacks. I simply cannot think how father, mother grandfather, grandmother and kids- all live in such a tiny place. Within the few square yards in their possession they sleep , socialise, cook and even beautify themselves. These people are living in such an inhuman condition! This cannot be the picture of life in a civilized society. Also they are polluting the area. They are least bothered about their health and hygiene. Out of curiosity, I talked to some of these people. They have their own homes and identity in their own village. They are here thinking that life in the city will be better. What an irony! Can't the society or the state do anything for these people? However, 1 must admit that I'm amazed to see how they sometimes tidy up their places especially in the evening! Home, sweet home after all! Mithun
Dear Mithun
I understand your concern. Human flow from the rural areas to the urban areas is a big social problem in many countries like ours. These floating people are definitely a burden to the cities where they migrate. When the number is huge, it is difficult for any state to rehabilitate them quickly. See from the other side. The people you have referred to have lost their roots and they are unable to assimilate in the new culture. Maybe many of them are attracted by the charm of the cities, but I'm sure it was a need to many others. People become rootless sometimes due to climate change, river erosion, social discrepancies, or poverty. However, you cannot solve this problem overnight. But you can cartainly take steps to improve their lifestyle. Why don't you form a committee with other young people in your locality that will teach them basic health and hygiene? It may better their life as well as help you minimize pollution. Give it a try.
Yours Avajon
C. Look at the texts. Say who/what they, their, this, that, it refer to in the following sentences.
a They are living in some makeshift shacks.
b Within few square yards in their possession they sleep, socialise, cook and even beautify themselves.
c This cannot be the picture of life in a civilized society.
d Why don't you form a committee with other young people in your locality that will teach them basic health and hygiene?
e Give it a try.
D. Work in pairs. First write two problem letters. The problems can be personal or of your locality as in B. Read your partner's problem and give suggestions.
E. Work in groups. Take roles as a TV Anchor, Mojnu Mia, Fazlur Rahman, and Nilima Chowdhury as given in the following text. Put suitable verb form into each gap of the text related to your role. Then act out the talk show.
TV Anchor : Viewers, ……………. to our program 'Looking back to roots'.
Today we……………. three guests with us-Mr Mojnu Mia, a slum dweller, Mr Fazlur Rahman, an immigrant to UK, and a social scientist Nilima Chowdhury. Today we……………. to see how people……………. when they are detached from their roots, what might……………. some consequences, and how a social scientist……………. them. Let me ……………. to Mr. Mojnu Mia. Mojnu Mia, where……………. you from and why and how have you……………. to this city?
Mojnu Mia : I'm from Sherpur. You……………. it's a river erosion-prone area. The river has washed away most of my agricultural land. It has……………. my home as well. Now you can……………. that I'm a refugee. I and my family members. ……………. to this city with our last savings. But I'm fed up with the life here. I ……………. vegetables as a hawker. I……………. very hard. I can't……………. any time to my wife or kids. I……………. in a slum. It's very dirty. People are sometimes involved in different sorts of crime. My kids don't……………. it. Neither my wife nor me. In the village, everybody used to……………. us but here no one knows me. I have nowhere to……………., none to……………. beside me. Nobody……………. me. I……………. the city
will give me a moderate life. But I'm mistaken.
TV anchor : Right. We are really sorry to……………. about your situation. Now let us ……………. to Mr Fazlur Rahman. Mr. Rahman, why did you ……………. your country and how are you feeling in the UK?
Fazlur Rahman : Well I was young when I went to UK. My first few years were terrible. I ……………. all kinds of odd jobs. Gradually I ……………. experience. I……………. different professional training courses. And over the period my language ……………. Now I'm a citizen there. I……………. my own detached home, personal car, and business. When I……………. there I was a poor man but now I'm a rich man. I ……………. a good amount of income tax but to be honest, when I……………. to my own country, I wish I should not ……………. to UK. It's my
own country. I ……………. my friends and family members here. I miss my culture, tradition, food, and what not? I…………….there for more than 15 years but still there is a distinction between the native people and expatriates like me. Perhaps we will never shake off our identity as foreigners.
TV Anchor : Ok, let us ……………. the explanation of these problems from a social scientist, Nilima Chowdhury. Ms Chowdhury, what are your interpretations of these problems?
Nilima Chowdhury : You see, this problem is often……………. diaspora. A diaspora is created through migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland. There might be different reasons for that. It may be due to government action, political decisions or for avoiding conflict and war. Diaspora has some common consequences. Once people are away from their roots, they have a kind of culture shock. They take time to
……………. to the new culture. Sometimes they never integrate. This……………. them a feeling of home sickness. In spite of their strong fascination for homeland or hometown diaspora people……………. to get back to their roots because of economic and social realities. As a result, they have a kind of mental conflict and identity crisis which make their life restless. Sometimes a lack of social acceptance coupled with economic hardship, inadequate education, and loose family ties people……………. involved in crimes. You may ask, "Does it……………. that people won't ……………. to other cities/countries?". People will, as it is 21st century when the world is a big global village. But we ……………. to be aware of the problems created by migratioa It's a reality that people with better ties with their roots suffer less from this problem. So instead of being allured by the 'better life' we can……………. to be happy with what we have and gradually try to develop our condition without forgetting our roots.
If you want read the next unit please click the link below:
Unit Thirteen: Media and modes of e-communication
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