Unit Five: Human Rights || Textbook page 96, 97 & 98 || Class eleven and twelve || Unit Five: Human Rights || Lesson 4 Coal Miners || English first paper || word meaning with synonym and antonym Bangla meaning, line by line Bangla meaning, text questions and solution , short questions and summary ||
The images depict child labor in coal mines.
Answer Question No. A
Warm-up Activity:
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Observing the Pictures
- The left image appears to be an illustration showing children working in a coal mine. One child is pushing a heavy coal cart while another is pulling it.
- The right image is a historical photograph showing young boys dressed in work clothes, likely coal miners, with tired and serious expressions.
-
Discussion Questions
- What kind of work are the children doing?
- Do you think this job is safe for them? Why or why not?
- How do you think they feel about working in such conditions?
- Do you believe they are working voluntarily, or are they being forced?
These questions can lead to a discussion on child labor, historical working conditions, and labor rights.
B. Read the passages below and complete the tasks that follow:
Sharing the Earth is a collection of justice-oriented environmental writings. In this lesson, we will read an excerpt from the speech of Lord Ashley which he delivered in 1842. We will read three testimonies collected by Lord Ashley's commission that investigated a serious accident at Huskar Colliery, Yorkshire in 1838. During his investigation, he interviewed a large number of people working in Britain's factories and mines. Through the interviews, inhuman working conditions in the collieries, severe exploitations, and a worrying number of child labourers were revealed. The working conditions of these children were inhumane. Lord Ashley found very young children working as long as eighteen hours a day in mines and collieries, some attached by chains to heavy carts that they had to drag.
Three testimonies gathered by Ashley's Mines Commission are given below:
Sarah Goodler, Age: 8 years.
"I'm a trapper in the Gawber pit. It does not tire me, but I have a trap without a light and I'm scared. I go at four and sometimes half past three in the morning, and I come out at five and half past. I never go to sleep. Sometimes I sing when I've light, but not in the dark; I dare not sing then. I don't like being in the pit. I am very sleepy when I go sometimes in the morning."
"I go to Sunday schools and read Reading made Easy." She knows her letters, and can read little words. They teach me to pray. She repeated the Lord's Prayer, not very perfectly, and ran on with the following addition: "God bless my father and mother, and sister and brother, uncles and aunts and cousins, and everybody else, and God bless me and make me a good servant. Amen." "I have heard tell of Jesus many a time. I don't know why he came on earth, I'm sure, and I don't know why he died, but he had stones for his head to rest on. I would like to be at school far better than in the pit."
[Trapper: The trapper in the coal mine was often the youngest member of the family working underground. Their job was to open and close the wooden doors (trap dours) that allowed fresh air to flow through the mine. They would usually sit in total darkness for up to twelve hours at a time, waiting to let the coal tub through the door]
Isabella Read, Age: 12 years.
I am wrought with sister and brother, it is very sore work: cannot say how many rakes or journeys I make from pit's bottom to wall face and back, it may about 30 or 25 on average; the distance varies from 100 to 250 fathom (1fathom = 1.8 meters).
I carry about Icwt. (equivalent of 50kg) and a quarter on my back; have to stoop much and creep through water, which is frequently up to the calves of my legs. Once I get down, I frequently fall asleep while waiting for coal from heat and fatigue. I do not like the work, nor do the lassies, but they are made to like it. When the weather is warm there is difficulty in breathing, and frequently the lights go out.
Mary Barrett, Age: 14 years.
I have worked down in pit for five years; my father works in the next pit; I have 12 brothers and sisters-all of them but one live at home; they weave, and wind, and hurry, one of them can read, none of the rest can, or write; they never went to the day-school, but three of them go to Sunday-school; I come down in the pit at seven in the morning; I do not like working in the pit, but I am obliged to get a living; I work always without stockings, or shoes, or trousers; I wear nothing but my chemise; I have to go up and work with the men. They are all naked there; I have got well used to that, and don't care much about it now, I was afraid at first, and did not like it; but they never behave rudely to me
Here are Some important words from the passages with their meanings in Bangla, along with synonyms and antonyms:
| Word | Meaning (বাংলা অর্থ) | Synonym (প্রতিশব্দ) | Antonym (বিপরীত শব্দ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justice | ন্যায়বিচার | fairness, equity | injustice, unfairness |
| Excerpt | উদ্ধৃতি | passage, extract | entirety, whole |
| Testimony | সাক্ষ্য | evidence, statement | denial, contradiction |
| Inhumane | অমানবিক | cruel, brutal | humane, kind |
| Exploitation | শোষণ | abuse, oppression | fairness, protection |
| Colliery | কয়লা খনি | coal mine | — |
| Commission | কমিশন / তদন্ত কমিটি | committee, board | — |
| Trap | ফাঁদ / দরজা বন্ধ রাখা | snare, ambush | release, freedom |
| Dare | সাহস করা | challenge, venture | fear, hesitate |
| Sore | ব্যথাযুক্ত | painful, aching | comfortable, painless |
| Fatigue | ক্লান্তি | exhaustion, weariness | energy, vigor |
| Stoop | ঝুঁকে পড়া | bend, crouch | straighten, rise |
| Creep | হামাগুড়ি দেওয়া | crawl, slither | run, walk upright |
| Calves | পায়ের পেশী | lower leg | — |
| Obliged | বাধ্য | forced, compelled | free, voluntary |
| Weave | বুনন করা | knit, intertwine | unravel, untangle |
| Hurry | দ্রুত করা | rush, hasten | delay, slow down |
| Stockings | মোজা | socks | bare feet |
| Trousers | প্যান্ট | pants | shorts |
| Chemise | ঢিলেঢালা পোশাক | tunic, gown | — |
| Naked | নগ্ন | bare, unclothed | clothed, dressed |
| Afraid | ভীত | scared, fearful | brave, confident |
| Brutal | নিষ্ঠুর | cruel, savage | gentle, kind |
| Severe | তীব্র | harsh, extreme | mild, gentle |
| Ventilation | বায়ু চলাচল | airflow, aeration | suffocation, blockage |
| Frequent | ঘন ঘন | regular, repeated | rare, occasional |
| Accident | দুর্ঘটনা | mishap, catastrophe | intention, plan |
| Exhausted | সম্পূর্ণ ক্লান্ত | tired, drained | energetic, refreshed |
| Dangerous | বিপজ্জনক | hazardous, risky | safe, secure |
Here is the line-by-line Bangla meaning of the passage.
-
Sharing the Earth is a collection of justice-oriented environmental writings.
"শেয়ারিং দ্য আর্থ" হল ন্যায়বিচার-কেন্দ্রিক পরিবেশ বিষয়ক লেখার একটি সংকলন। -
In this lesson, we will read an excerpt from the speech of Lord Ashley which he delivered in 1842.
এই পাঠে, আমরা লর্ড অ্যাশলির ১৮৪২ সালে প্রদত্ত বক্তৃতার একটি অংশ পড়ব। -
We will read three testimonies collected by Lord Ashley's commission that investigated a serious accident at Huskar Colliery, Yorkshire in 1838.
আমরা লর্ড অ্যাশলির কমিশন দ্বারা সংগৃহীত তিনটি সাক্ষ্য পড়ব, যা ১৮৩৮ সালে ইয়র্কশায়ারের হুস্কার খনিতে ঘটে যাওয়া একটি গুরুতর দুর্ঘটনার তদন্ত করেছিল। -
During his investigation, he interviewed a large number of people working in Britain's factories and mines.
তদন্তের সময়, তিনি ব্রিটেনের কলকারখানা এবং খনিতে কর্মরত অনেক মানুষের সাক্ষাৎকার নিয়েছিলেন। -
Through the interviews, inhuman working conditions in the collieries, severe exploitations, and a worrying number of child labourers were revealed.
এই সাক্ষাৎকারগুলোর মাধ্যমে খনিগুলোর অমানবিক কাজের পরিবেশ, চরম শোষণ এবং বিপজ্জনক সংখ্যক শিশু শ্রমিক থাকার বিষয়টি প্রকাশ পায়। -
The working conditions of these children were inhumane.
এই শিশুদের কাজের পরিবেশ ছিল অমানবিক। -
Lord Ashley found very young children working as long as eighteen hours a day in mines and collieries, some attached by chains to heavy carts that they had to drag.
লর্ড অ্যাশলি দেখতে পান যে খুব ছোট শিশুরা খনি এবং কয়লাখনিতে প্রতিদিন আঠারো ঘণ্টা পর্যন্ত কাজ করছিল, কিছু শিশুকে ভারী ট্রলির সঙ্গে শৃঙ্খলিত করা হতো, যা তারা টেনে নিয়ে যেত।
Testimonies from Ashley's Mines Commission
-
Sarah Goodler, Age: 8 years.
সারা গুডলার, বয়স: ৮ বছর। -
"I'm a trapper in the Gawber pit. It does not tire me, but I have a trap without a light and I'm scared.
"আমি গবার খনির একজন ট্র্যাপার। এটি আমাকে ক্লান্ত করে না, তবে আমার কাছে আলো ছাড়া একটি দরজা রয়েছে, আর আমি ভয় পাই। -
I go at four and sometimes half past three in the morning, and I come out at five and half past.
আমি ভোর চারটায়, কখনো সাড়ে তিনটায় যাই, এবং বিকেল পাঁচটা বা সাড়ে পাঁচটায় বের হই। -
I never go to sleep. Sometimes I sing when I've light, but not in the dark; I dare not sing then.
আমি কখনো ঘুমাই না। যখন আলো থাকে তখন মাঝে মাঝে গান গাই, কিন্তু অন্ধকারে নয়; তখন আমি গান গাওয়ার সাহস পাই না। -
I don't like being in the pit. I am very sleepy when I go sometimes in the morning."
আমি খনিতে থাকতে পছন্দ করি না। মাঝে মাঝে সকালে যখন যাই তখন খুব ঘুম পায়। -
"I go to Sunday schools and read Reading Made Easy."
"আমি রবিবারের স্কুলে যাই এবং রিডিং মেইড ইজি পড়ি।" -
She knows her letters, and can read little words.
সে অক্ষর চেনে এবং ছোট ছোট শব্দ পড়তে পারে। -
They teach me to pray.
তারা আমাকে প্রার্থনা করতে শেখায়। -
She repeated the Lord's Prayer, not very perfectly, and ran on with the following addition:
সে লর্ডস প্রেয়ার বলল, তবে পুরোপুরি ঠিকঠাক নয়, এবং এরপর যোগ করল: -
"God bless my father and mother, and sister and brother, uncles and aunts and cousins, and everybody else, and God bless me and make me a good servant. Amen."
"সৃষ্টিকর্তা আমার বাবা-মা, বোন-ভাই, চাচা-চাচি, ফুফা-ফুফু, কাজিন এবং সবাইকে আশীর্বাদ করুন, এবং আমাকে ভালো একজন চাকর বানান। আমেন।" -
"I have heard tell of Jesus many a time.
"আমি বহুবার যীশুর কথা শুনেছি। -
I don't know why he came on earth, I'm sure, and I don't know why he died, but he had stones for his head to rest on.
আমি জানি না তিনি কেন পৃথিবীতে এসেছিলেন, এবং কেন মারা গিয়েছিলেন, তবে আমি শুনেছি তার মাথা রাখার জন্য শুধু পাথর ছিল। -
I would like to be at school far better than in the pit."
আমি খনির চেয়ে স্কুলে থাকতে অনেক বেশি পছন্দ করব।
Definition of a Trapper
-
[Trapper: The trapper in the coal mine was often the youngest member of the family working underground.
[ট্র্যাপার: কয়লা খনিতে ট্র্যাপার সাধারণত পরিবারের মধ্যে সবচেয়ে ছোট সদস্য হত, যে খনির নিচে কাজ করত। -
Their job was to open and close the wooden doors (trap doors) that allowed fresh air to flow through the mine.
তাদের কাজ ছিল কাঠের দরজা (ট্র্যাপ ডোর) খোলা এবং বন্ধ করা, যা খনির ভেতরে তাজা বাতাস চলাচলের সুযোগ দিত। -
They would usually sit in total darkness for up to twelve hours at a time, waiting to let the coal tub through the door.]
তারা সাধারণত সম্পূর্ণ অন্ধকারে একটানা বারো ঘণ্টা বসে থাকত, অপেক্ষা করত কয়লার গাড়ি দরজা দিয়ে যাওয়ার জন্য।
-
Isabella Read, Age: 12 years.
ইসাবেলা রিড, বয়স: ১২ বছর। -
I am wrought with sister and brother, it is very sore work:
আমি আমার ভাই-বোনের সাথে কাজ করি, এটি খুব কষ্টের কাজ। -
cannot say how many rakes or journeys I make from pit's bottom to wall face and back, it may about 30 or 25 on average;
আমি বলতে পারি না কতবার আমি খাদানের নিচ থেকে দেয়ালের সামনে এবং পিছনে যাই, গড়ে প্রায় ৩০ বা ২৫ বার হতে পারে। -
the distance varies from 100 to 250 fathom (1 fathom = 1.8 meters).
এই দূরত্ব ১০০ থেকে ২৫০ ফ্যাদম পর্যন্ত পরিবর্তিত হয় (১ ফ্যাদম = ১.৮ মিটার)। -
I carry about Icwt. (equivalent of 50kg) and a quarter on my back;
আমি আমার পিঠে প্রায় ১ সি-ডব্লিউ-টি (প্রায় ৫০ কেজি) এবং এর চতুর্থাংশ বহন করি। -
have to stoop much and creep through water, which is frequently up to the calves of my legs.
আমাকে অনেক নিচু হতে হয় এবং পানির মধ্যে হামাগুড়ি দিয়ে যেতে হয়, যা প্রায়ই আমার পায়ের বাছুর পর্যন্ত উঁচু থাকে। -
Once I get down, I frequently fall asleep while waiting for coal from heat and fatigue.
একবার নিচে নামলে, আমি প্রায়ই তাপ ও ক্লান্তির কারণে কয়লার জন্য অপেক্ষা করার সময় ঘুমিয়ে পড়ি। -
I do not like the work, nor do the lassies, but they are made to like it.
আমি এই কাজ পছন্দ করি না, মেয়েরাও পছন্দ করে না, কিন্তু তাদের এটি পছন্দ করাতে বাধ্য করা হয়। -
When the weather is warm there is difficulty in breathing, and frequently the lights go out.
যখন আবহাওয়া গরম থাকে, তখন শ্বাস নিতে কষ্ট হয় এবং প্রায়ই বাতি নিভে যায়। -
Mary Barrett, Age: 14 years.
মেরি ব্যারেট, বয়স: ১৪ বছর। -
I have worked down in pit for five years; my father works in the next pit;
আমি পাঁচ বছর ধরে খনির নিচে কাজ করছি; আমার বাবা পাশের খনিতে কাজ করেন। -
I have 12 brothers and sisters-all of them but one live at home;
আমার ১২ জন ভাই-বোন আছে—তাদের মধ্যে একজন বাদে সবাই বাড়িতে থাকে। -
they weave, and wind, and hurry, one of them can read, none of the rest can, or write;
তারা বুনন, সুতা কাটা এবং দ্রুত কাজ করে; তাদের মধ্যে একজন পড়তে পারে, বাকিরা কেউ পড়তে বা লিখতে পারে না। -
they never went to the day-school, but three of them go to Sunday-school;
তারা কখনোই দিনের স্কুলে যায়নি, তবে তাদের মধ্যে তিনজন রবিবারের স্কুলে যায়। -
I come down in the pit at seven in the morning;
আমি সকালে সাতটায় খনির নিচে নামি। -
I do not like working in the pit, but I am obliged to get a living;
আমি খনিতে কাজ করতে পছন্দ করি না, কিন্তু জীবিকা নির্বাহের জন্য বাধ্য। -
I work always without stockings, or shoes, or trousers;
আমি সবসময় মোজা, জুতা বা প্যান্ট ছাড়া কাজ করি। -
I wear nothing but my chemise;
আমি শুধুমাত্র একটি পাতলা জামা (কেমিজ) পরি। -
I have to go up and work with the men.
আমাকে পুরুষদের সাথে ওপরে গিয়ে কাজ করতে হয়। -
They are all naked there;
তারা সবাই সেখানে নগ্ন থাকে। -
I have got well used to that, and don't care much about it now,
আমি এর সাথে অভ্যস্ত হয়ে গেছি এবং এখন আর এতে কিছু মনে করি না। -
I was afraid at first, and did not like it; but they never behave rudely to me.
আমি প্রথমে ভয় পেতাম এবং এটি পছন্দ করতাম না; তবে তারা আমার সাথে কখনো অভদ্র আচরণ করেনি।
Answer Question No. C
Here is the answer in table format:
| Name | Work Description |
|---|---|
| Sarah Goodler | Worked as a trapper in the coal mine, responsible for opening and closing wooden doors (trap doors) to allow fresh air to flow. Had to sit in total darkness for long hours. |
| Isabella Read | Worked with her sister and brother, carried about 50kg of coal on her back. Had to stoop, creep through water, and endure heat and fatigue. Frequently fell asleep while waiting for coal. |
| Mary Barrett | Worked in the pit for five years, started at seven in the morning, worked barefoot and with minimal clothing, and had to work alongside naked men. She was initially afraid but got used to it over time. |
D. Answer the following questions:
a. What is your impression about these three children's education?
b. Why were they afraid?
c. What was their working condition like?
d. How do you feel about their living situation?
Answer Question No. D
Here are the answers to the questions:
a. The three children's education was very limited. Sarah Goodler could barely read small words, while Isabella Read and Mary Barrett did not mention any schooling. Most of the children had little or no formal education, with only a few attending Sunday school, which suggests that education was not a priority for them due to their difficult working conditions.
b. The children were afraid because of the dangerous and harsh environment in the mines. Sarah was scared of being alone in the dark while working as a trapper. Isabella and Mary faced exhaustion and unsafe conditions, such as working in water, breathing difficulties, and the risk of accidents. The mines were terrifying places, especially for young children working long hours.
c. Their working conditions were extremely harsh and inhumane. They worked long hours, often from early morning until night, in dangerous and unhealthy environments. They carried heavy loads, crawled through water, and suffered from exhaustion and breathing difficulties. Many of them worked without proper clothing or shoes, making their jobs even more uncomfortable and dangerous.
d. Their living situation was heartbreaking and unfair. They had to work at a young age to support their families, with little access to education or a proper childhood. They faced extreme poverty, and their basic needs, such as proper clothing and rest, were not met. It is upsetting to think that they were forced to endure such suffering instead of having a safe and happy childhood.
E. Read the testimonies again. What form of speech is used here direct or indirect?
Answer Question No. E
The testimonies provided in the passage use direct speech. This is evident because the statements are presented exactly as spoken by the individuals, using quotation marks and first-person pronouns.
F. Now, convert each of their testimony into indirect speech. Follow the example below.
Sarah Goodler:
Sarah Goodler was an eight-year-old child, working in the Gawber pit. She was a trapper. She had a trap without a light and she was scared. She went there at four in the morning. Sometimes she went there at half past three in the morning...
Answer Question No. F
Here are the indirect speech versions of the testimonies:
Sarah Goodler: Sarah Goodler was an eight-year-old child, working in the Gawber pit. She was a trapper. She mentioned that she had a trap without a light and was scared. She went there at four in the morning, and sometimes at half past three. She said that she came out at five or half past five. She never went to sleep. She stated that sometimes she sang when she had light, but not in the dark because she dared not sing then. She also expressed that she didn’t like being in the pit and was often very sleepy when she went in the morning. She mentioned that she attended Sunday school and could read little words, adding that they taught her to pray. She recalled repeating the Lord's Prayer, though not very perfectly, and prayed for her family, friends, and for God to make her a good servant. She had heard of Jesus many times but didn’t know why He came to Earth or why He died. She also wished to be at school instead of in the pit.
Isabella Read: Isabella Read was twelve years old. She explained that she worked alongside her sister and brother, doing very sore work. She couldn't specify how many rakes or journeys she made from the pit's bottom to the wall face, but she estimated it was about 25 or 30 on average. She said the distance varied from 100 to 250 fathoms. She carried about 50 kg and a quarter on her back. She added that she had to stoop much and creep through water, which often reached up to her calves. Once down in the pit, she frequently fell asleep from the heat and fatigue while waiting for coal. She expressed that she did not like the work, nor did the other girls, but they were forced to endure it. She noted that when the weather was warm, breathing was difficult, and the lights often went out.
Mary Barrett: Mary Barrett was fourteen years old and had worked in the pit for five years. She said that her father worked in the next pit. She had twelve brothers and sisters, of whom all but one lived at home. They worked as weavers, winders, and hurries, and only one could read. She stated that none of them went to day school, but three attended Sunday school. She mentioned that she went down to the pit at seven in the morning. She explained that she did not like working in the pit, but she had no choice as she needed to earn a living. She described that she always worked without stockings, shoes, or trousers, wearing only her chemise. She had to work with the men, who were all naked, but she had become accustomed to it and no longer minded. She admitted that she was initially afraid and didn’t like it, but the men never behaved rudely.
G. What do you think about child labourers in our country? Write an essay on your opinion on child labourers in Bangladesh.
Answer Question No. G
Opinion on Child Labour in Bangladesh
Child labour is a pressing issue in many countries, including Bangladesh, where children are often forced to work in difficult and dangerous conditions. This practice is a violation of children’s rights, and it is something that needs to be addressed urgently to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and live a safe and healthy life.
In Bangladesh, child labour is often linked to poverty. Many families, especially in rural areas, rely on the income their children bring in to survive. Children are employed in various sectors, including agriculture, domestic work, factories, and construction. They are often found working long hours in hazardous environments, exposed to risks like injuries, exploitation, and in some cases, even abuse. These children work for low wages, which are insufficient for their well-being, while being deprived of basic necessities like food, education, and healthcare.
A major consequence of child labour is the deprivation of education. Children working in factories or on farms do not attend school, which prevents them from developing the skills they need for a better future. This creates a cycle of poverty, where children who work instead of going to school are likely to grow up without the skills necessary for well-paying jobs, thus perpetuating the issue for the next generation.
The long-term impacts of child labour on children are devastating. Working long hours at a young age harms their physical and mental health. Many child labourers suffer from malnutrition, fatigue, and injuries caused by unsafe working conditions. Additionally, they experience emotional distress from being forced into work at an age when they should be learning, playing, and developing. The lack of a normal childhood significantly hinders their overall growth and development.
While the government of Bangladesh has made efforts to combat child labour by implementing laws and policies to protect children, enforcement remains a challenge. The government must take more effective steps to tackle this issue. This includes enforcing stricter laws against child labour, providing financial assistance to families in need, and ensuring that children have access to quality education. Moreover, businesses must play a role by ensuring that their supply chains do not rely on child labour.
As a society, we must raise awareness about the harmful effects of child labour and work together to eliminate it. Communities, NGOs, and educational institutions must collaborate to create an environment where children can attend school and grow up without the pressures of working at a young age. Only by working together can we eliminate child labour and ensure a brighter future for the children of Bangladesh.
In conclusion, child labour is a serious issue in Bangladesh that deprives children of their rights and opportunities for a better future. It is essential for both the government and society to take strong actions to protect children, improve their living conditions, and provide them with the chance to receive a proper education. Every child has the right to a childhood free from exploitation, and it is our responsibility to make this a reality.
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