Sponsored by Chowdhury and Hossain, Advanced PublicationsListen
Unit 12 Lesson 4
The man behind the Shaheed Minar
Objective : By the end of the lesson you will have
• read a passage for detailed information
• identified and used relative pronouns in complex sentences
• written a passage
A Name some famous artists and architects of our country.
Discuss what you know about the history behind the Central Shaheed Minar. Who was the architect? What do you know about him?
B Read the following text and answer the questions below it.
Hamidur Rahman was the man who gave shape to the concept and design of the shaheed Minar, by combining all the aspirations of Bengali identity and nationalism. He was the first art student of Bangladesh who in the 1950 went to Europe and studied at "Ecole de Beaus Art" in Paris. He was the pioneer of the new painting movement in the then Pakistan. But he is most remembered for his remarkable design of the Central Shaheed Minar. When Hamidur Rahman was assigned to make the design. he was full of enthusiast focusing on the language movement as the central concept. He wanted to find a new expression to convey the aspirations of the people. He experimented with basic horizontal and vertical forms to bring out the concept of Bengali solidarity and unity for their national identity. The vertical lines of his design provided the manifestations of inner strength. The four columns on both sides of the central structure reflect the balance and harmony of a united stand.
The original design had included stained glass, with hundreds of eyes, through which the sunlight could pass. The marble floor was to reflect the moving shadows of the columns in an unending process of revolt from dawn to dusk. In the basement of the Minar he had designed a grand fresco work of 1500 square feet, depicting the language movement. This was to be his masterpiece, again reflecting the theme of geometric horizontal and vertical motifs of unity and strength.
Rahman was fully conscious of the tropical damp climate of Bangladesh and therefore worked out such materials for the Minar that would withstand the climate. He ensured that the columns be made of such mixture of iron rods and cement as to stand for centuries. Today the Shaheed Minar is a symbol of freedom, strength and unity.
In 1989, Hamidur Rahman passed away. He is no more with us but we remember him with great admiration and pride.
1 What does the passage say about Hamidur Rahman's education and specialisation?
2 What do the vertical lines and columns of the Shaheed Minar suggest'7
3 Explain the expression "...combining all the aspirations of Bengali identity and nationalism" (lines 1 and 2).
C Identify the relative pronouns in this text (e.g. who gave shape..... in line 1). Now make 5 separate sentences with these relative pronouns.
D Write a wall poster for your college explaining the significance of the Shaheed Minar in our national culture.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading,
speaking,
writing. Functions.
Talking of
achievements.
Grammar/Structure.
Simple past tense,
relative pronouns.
Vocabulary.
concept, identity, nationalism, pioneer, enthusiasm, expression, aspiration, solidarity, harmony, motif, tropical
climate, masterpiece.
This text will be replaced
Unit 12 Lesson 4
The man behind the Shaheed Minar
Objective : By the end of the lesson you will have
• read a passage for detailed information
• identified and used relative pronouns in complex sentences
• written a passage
A Name some famous artists and architects of our country.
Discuss what you know about the history behind the Central Shaheed Minar. Who was the architect? What do you know about him?
B Read the following text and answer the questions below it.
Hamidur Rahman was the man who gave shape to the concept and design of the shaheed Minar, by combining all the aspirations of Bengali identity and nationalism. He was the first art student of Bangladesh who in the 1950 went to Europe and studied at "Ecole de Beaus Art" in Paris. He was the pioneer of the new painting movement in the then Pakistan. But he is most remembered for his remarkable design of the Central Shaheed Minar. When Hamidur Rahman was assigned to make the design. he was full of enthusiast focusing on the language movement as the central concept. He wanted to find a new expression to convey the aspirations of the people. He experimented with basic horizontal and vertical forms to bring out the concept of Bengali solidarity and unity for their national identity. The vertical lines of his design provided the manifestations of inner strength. The four columns on both sides of the central structure reflect the balance and harmony of a united stand.
The original design had included stained glass, with hundreds of eyes, through which the sunlight could pass. The marble floor was to reflect the moving shadows of the columns in an unending process of revolt from dawn to dusk. In the basement of the Minar he had designed a grand fresco work of 1500 square feet, depicting the language movement. This was to be his masterpiece, again reflecting the theme of geometric horizontal and vertical motifs of unity and strength.
Rahman was fully conscious of the tropical damp climate of Bangladesh and therefore worked out such materials for the Minar that would withstand the climate. He ensured that the columns be made of such mixture of iron rods and cement as to stand for centuries. Today the Shaheed Minar is a symbol of freedom, strength and unity.
In 1989, Hamidur Rahman passed away. He is no more with us but we remember him with great admiration and pride.
1 What does the passage say about Hamidur Rahman's education and specialisation?
2 What do the vertical lines and columns of the Shaheed Minar suggest'7
3 Explain the expression "...combining all the aspirations of Bengali identity and nationalism" (lines 1 and 2).
C Identify the relative pronouns in this text (e.g. who gave shape..... in line 1). Now make 5 separate sentences with these relative pronouns.
D Write a wall poster for your college explaining the significance of the Shaheed Minar in our national culture.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading,
speaking,
writing. Functions.
Talking of
achievements.
Grammar/Structure.
Simple past tense,
relative pronouns.
Vocabulary.
concept, identity, nationalism, pioneer, enthusiasm, expression, aspiration, solidarity, harmony, motif, tropical
climate, masterpiece.