Warm up activity:
Discuss the following questions:
□ What is meant by indigenous art?
□ Have you Been paat or scroll paintings?
□ If so, what arc some of the images depicted in them?
□ What other form* of indigenous art tan you think of?
2. Now read the following text and answer the questions that follow:
The Legend of Gazi
According to some myths and legends, Gazi Pir was a Muslim saint who is said to have spread Islam in the part of Bengal close to flue Sunderbans. He was credited with many miracles. For example, he could supposedly calm dangerous animals and make them docile. He is usually depicted in pants or scroll paintings tiding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger, a snake in his hand, but in no apparent danger. According to some stories, he also fought crocodiles who threatened the people of a region full of canals and cracker, indeed, a kid of watery jungle bordering the Bay of Bengal.
Because of his alert and vigilant presence, all predatory animals were said to have been kept within bounds. It was also believed that he enabled villages? to live close to forests and jungles and cultivate their lands. Consequently, people of these regions would pray to him fw protection. The story ofGazi Pir has beai preserved in folk literature as well as ait and has been performed in indigenous theater. In fact, some Gazir paat scrolls are part of the collection of foe British Museum.
3. Find out the meanings of the following words:
a. legends
b. docile
c. scroll
d. creeks
e. vigilant
f. predatory
g. collection
4. Answer the following questions:
a. According to some myths and legends, what kind of extraordinary power did Gazi have?
b. What was the geographical nature of the region where Gazi performed his miracles?
c. Why, do you think, was Gazi admired in parts of rural Bangladesh for a long time?
d. What are the different art forms in which the myth of Gazi is kept alive in Bangladesh and even outside the country?
5. Notice that the passage about Gazi contains words and phrases such as 'for example', 'also', 'indeed', 'consequently' and 'in fact'. These words and phrases are used either for emphasis or for transitions. What part of speech do these words belong to? Which of them are used for emphasis and which for transitions? Why are they needed in the passage and how different would the passage be without them?
Now make some sentences with these words and phrases. You will find that you will need more than a sentence for some of them.
Finally, try to make a list with these and similar adverb words and phrases that you can use for emphasis and transitions.
6. Which of the following statements seem to be false and which true? TickT* or 'F' after each statement to register your response:
a. Gazi was admired and followed because of the miracles he could perform. T/F
b. The miracles of Gazi are followed by people in all parts of Bangladesh. T/F
c. Gazi was said to have helped people in settling down in the southeastern parts of Bangladesh T/F
d. Gazi's deeds are celebrated in folk art and theatre. T/F
e. Gazi paats are to be found on display only in Bangladesh. T/F
7. Write a paragraph of about 150 words explaining what folk art is and your personal experience of some forms of folk art.
8. Follow up activity: Group Presentation
In class, discuss the different forms of the folk art of Bangladesh. Then form groups where each group should give a presentation on one of these forms.
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