If I don't talk about their lifestyle and living it would be impractical to talk about their literature isolatedly.Literature encompasses total life.How is their house and their occupation can say much of their life,and their life-style will say how is their literature.To make it easier lets talk about their houses and living:-
Chakma build their house with bamboo and their house stays about 6 feet above of the ground.Their house(cottage/macha) are divided into several compartments and the needs of the married people are prioritized.Chakma's are mainly Buddhist.But they are christianized nowadays as well.Some of them are transformed to other religions as Hinduism,Islam etc by inter-marriage.Their cultivation is called "Jhuming"as we know it clear.In Levi Strauss's opinion (Kinship Systems of three Chittagong Hill Tribes.South-Western Journal of Anthropology,Spring1952,p:50).Chakma's are patriarchal.After the death of the father the eldest of the son will be the chief.There are 30 'gusti'(clan) like this.''Chakma's originated from Indian Aryans.They are developed and in many number than other tribes in Bangladesh.
Now lets go to their culture and literature:-
Music:
If we need to talk about their literature we have to go to their music first.Like other races music plays an important role in their personal,social and religious life.Their main musical instrument is flute.Every youth can play this instrument very well."Khangarange" is also made of bamboo which is a complex instrument,usually played by girls.
Their chief epical poetry is "Chatiga chara".In it there is a description how they came to chittagong.It is similar to "Aenid" by Vergil.In around 1118-1119AD there was "Roang" war in the reign of king"Sermatia".Chakma's fought this war under the general "Radhamohon".He was as heroic as Achilles to them.."Chatiga Chara" written in that time.There is another folktale called "Tanabee".Here is a vivid description of "Tanabee" an exceptionally beautiful woman!Their is detail descriptions of her beauty and her sorrows which will stire heart of the readers.It is quite similar to "Rupban","Komola Sundori" in Bangla folktale.
Their are some songs which are used by the mothers when their baby want to take a nap.There is a religious song which is quite long "Gojena Lama"."Gojena" means 'almighty',all powerful..like 'hamd' of Muslims.Another type of song is "Uvageeta" (song of the youth)which are sung by every youth.There "gankuli"a group of boys who form a band are also seen in them..It is the business of the youngsters.They move from this village/"mouja" to that "mouja" singing some portions from the Epic.Everyone welcome them wholeheartedly.At the end of the day in a beautiful winter night 'gankuli"sat beside the fire and play on their flute.Their creates a heavenly atmosphere.
Elders of the "Mouja" smoke "hokkah"and move their heads in unison with the rhythm of the music.This worked as a form of social gathering.With it the bond between the elders and the youngsters grow stronger.
Here I'm quoting some extracts from Chakma and Lusai literature:-
(1)
"lagera dunda chara
pani dibo kan
dungkhya ma dukht possyan
dodu dibo bone."
--"Here is planted the tobacco tree,who will water it?
Who will care rather than parents to their baby?
(2)
"chikon chyrat chikon chey
hoje jagob tore chigon bey"
-set trap to fishes in the little fountain
darling,I like to call you in little pet name!
*see here a beautiful girl says to her enticed lover-
(3)
"chotti dogan hale gals
shopone dele nados gale gans"
--"In the stationary shop so many blue glasses you can see-
If you see me in dreams don't curse me!"
(4)
The ardor and deep love expressed here:
"teda de teda dhan kini
daki na parob nab dini"
-"I do buy rice with 2-1 tk by your name
but,oh my dear! I can't call you by name!"
(5)
"Dola pari vagna
khadi dilbo khobna
tar pebadaye mui
rot dine gororyor vabna"
-"Often I collect "Jagna" fruit
and put it in the "macha"upward.
All day and night I think
How I can get my beloved."
(6)
"Ha lya kunot badha megh
Jeiya judade smorone ak"
-"See!The western sky is moving towards the departing sun-
Our body is different but one is our soul."
We've seen how rich and diverse their literature and culture are.They have literature to be compared with other cultures and races.But unfortunately Chakma's are facing hard times nowadays as their culture,language,literature and heritage are on threat.They should be given full right to flourish their own culture and literature on their own way.
Chakma build their house with bamboo and their house stays about 6 feet above of the ground.Their house(cottage/macha) are divided into several compartments and the needs of the married people are prioritized.Chakma's are mainly Buddhist.But they are christianized nowadays as well.Some of them are transformed to other religions as Hinduism,Islam etc by inter-marriage.Their cultivation is called "Jhuming"as we know it clear.In Levi Strauss's opinion (Kinship Systems of three Chittagong Hill Tribes.South-Western Journal of Anthropology,Spring1952,p:50).Chakma's are patriarchal.After the death of the father the eldest of the son will be the chief.There are 30 'gusti'(clan) like this.''Chakma's originated from Indian Aryans.They are developed and in many number than other tribes in Bangladesh.
Now lets go to their culture and literature:-
Music:
If we need to talk about their literature we have to go to their music first.Like other races music plays an important role in their personal,social and religious life.Their main musical instrument is flute.Every youth can play this instrument very well."Khangarange" is also made of bamboo which is a complex instrument,usually played by girls.
Their chief epical poetry is "Chatiga chara".In it there is a description how they came to chittagong.It is similar to "Aenid" by Vergil.In around 1118-1119AD there was "Roang" war in the reign of king"Sermatia".Chakma's fought this war under the general "Radhamohon".He was as heroic as Achilles to them.."Chatiga Chara" written in that time.There is another folktale called "Tanabee".Here is a vivid description of "Tanabee" an exceptionally beautiful woman!Their is detail descriptions of her beauty and her sorrows which will stire heart of the readers.It is quite similar to "Rupban","Komola Sundori" in Bangla folktale.
Their are some songs which are used by the mothers when their baby want to take a nap.There is a religious song which is quite long "Gojena Lama"."Gojena" means 'almighty',all powerful..like 'hamd' of Muslims.Another type of song is "Uvageeta" (song of the youth)which are sung by every youth.There "gankuli"a group of boys who form a band are also seen in them..It is the business of the youngsters.They move from this village/"mouja" to that "mouja" singing some portions from the Epic.Everyone welcome them wholeheartedly.At the end of the day in a beautiful winter night 'gankuli"sat beside the fire and play on their flute.Their creates a heavenly atmosphere.
Elders of the "Mouja" smoke "hokkah"and move their heads in unison with the rhythm of the music.This worked as a form of social gathering.With it the bond between the elders and the youngsters grow stronger.
Here I'm quoting some extracts from Chakma and Lusai literature:-
(1)
"lagera dunda chara
pani dibo kan
dungkhya ma dukht possyan
dodu dibo bone."
--"Here is planted the tobacco tree,who will water it?
Who will care rather than parents to their baby?
(2)
"chikon chyrat chikon chey
hoje jagob tore chigon bey"
-set trap to fishes in the little fountain
darling,I like to call you in little pet name!
*see here a beautiful girl says to her enticed lover-
(3)
"chotti dogan hale gals
shopone dele nados gale gans"
--"In the stationary shop so many blue glasses you can see-
If you see me in dreams don't curse me!"
(4)
The ardor and deep love expressed here:
"teda de teda dhan kini
daki na parob nab dini"
-"I do buy rice with 2-1 tk by your name
but,oh my dear! I can't call you by name!"
(5)
"Dola pari vagna
khadi dilbo khobna
tar pebadaye mui
rot dine gororyor vabna"
-"Often I collect "Jagna" fruit
and put it in the "macha"upward.
All day and night I think
How I can get my beloved."
(6)
"Ha lya kunot badha megh
Jeiya judade smorone ak"
-"See!The western sky is moving towards the departing sun-
Our body is different but one is our soul."
We've seen how rich and diverse their literature and culture are.They have literature to be compared with other cultures and races.But unfortunately Chakma's are facing hard times nowadays as their culture,language,literature and heritage are on threat.They should be given full right to flourish their own culture and literature on their own way.
nice 1.
উত্তরমুছুনthank you dear!
উত্তরমুছুন