Nokshi Kathar Math

The reference of Nokshi katha is widely present in Bengali literature and art. One of my favorite example is a book of poems titled “Nokshi Kathar Math” by popular poet Jasim Uddin. Many of Jasim Uddin’s significant works portrayed the rural life of Bengal in a simple yet strikingly artistic fashion. That is why he is known as `PolliKobi’ or Folk Poet. ‘Nokshi Kathar Math’ is no exception. It is a folk love story ending in tragedy. It’s a very popular poem and is often discussed in school.

The poem is a dramatized Bengali verse narrative, that tells the tragic love story of Shaju and Rupai. Shaju is a beautiful girl from a neighboring village and Rupai fell in love with her. With the help of a match maker, and the consent of their parents, Rupai and Shaju get married. For some time, they lived happily. However their happiness did not last long and things took a turn. One day Rupai went out to see the harvesting of the crops with other village men. Unfortunately while he was away a fight broke out between the men. In the consuming battle, someone gets killed and Rupai must go into hiding to protect himself, and has to leave Shaju alone. Shaju waits for her love to return, not knowing if he ever will be able to do so. To help pass the time, she starts portraying the sad tale of her life in a Nokshi Katha, a quilt sewn from old clothes with delicate stitches.

“Shaju sat sewing, with her head bent over a little. She hears the crackle of leaves on the path, She pricks her ears to listen. He whom she awaits comes not, it is mistake. Yet the leaves make no sound for a little she is unhappy. Taking the lamp in her hand, she opens the door andlooks out again and again. Yet he does not come. If only she had wings, today she would fly to her love. The quilt is embroidered with many patterns, She has drawn a picture of their wedding; she has drawn the home of Rupa”

Days, months, years go by, and Shaju still waits for Rupai to return to her. Finally, one out of anxiety and hopelessness, one day Shaju falls down and dies. According to her wishes, her grave is to be covered with the Nokshi Katha that told the story of her life and love. Rupai finally returns to his home and in grief joins his wife in death. The people of the village renamed their village `Nokshi Kathar Math’ (Field of Embroidered Quilt) to immortalize the tragic saga of Rupai and Shaju’s illustrated love.

Jasim Uddin’s narrative almost paints a picture of the rural life in a village in Bangladesh. Featuring the tragic love story between Shaju and Rupai, the portrayal of traditions, struggles and way of living as a whole are presented eloquently in Nokshi Kathar Math.