Lesson: They Had Dreams 1

A. Dream Inspirations

Shanta is chatting with one of her foreign friends, Jenny. Read their dialogue and identify the subject of their conversation.

Jenny: Shanta, what’s your dream for the future?

Shanta: To be a good human being first and then work for my country—no matter whether I become a social worker, an artist, or another professional.

Jenny: Wow! I really appreciate your thinking! By the way, Shanta, does anyone inspire you in your dreams?

Shanta: Certainly. I’m always influenced by great personalities in our country and abroad. Whenever I read the biography of great people, I try to understand how their dreams helped them become who they were.

Jenny: Would you please tell me about some of your favorite dreamers?

Shanta: Sure! Read the following texts to learn about some dreamers in my country. They are my icons as well.

B. Reading

Pritilata Waddedar: A Freedom Fighter’s Sacrifice

Pritilata Waddedar was born in Chittagong on May 5, 1911. She was a meritorious student at Dr. Khastagir Government Girls’ School in Chittagong and Eden College, Dhaka. She graduated in philosophy with distinction from Bethune College in Kolkata. In her college days, Pritilata was an activist in the anti-British movement. Throughout her life, she dreamed of two things: a society without gender discrimination and her motherland free from British colonial rule.

(Picture: Pritilata Waddedar)

So, she decided to fight against British rule. Soon after, Pritilata became the headteacher of Nandankanan Aparna Charan School in Chittagong. Gradually, she involved herself in Surya Sen’s armed resistance movement. Surya Sen was a well-known anti-British movement organizer and revolutionary activist in the Chittagong area at that time.

In 1932, Surya Sen planned an attack on the Pahartali European Club. The club was notorious for its sign at the entrance: “Dogs and Indians not allowed.” Surya Sen assigned Pritilata to lead a team of 10-12 men to attack the club. The raid was successful, but Pritilata, dressed as a man, was unable to escape from the club. She committed suicide by swallowing potassium cyanide to avoid arrest.

She proved that women can fight like men. She also proved that women needed to be prepared to sacrifice their lives to free their country from British colonial rule. Her dream finally came true. British rule ended in 1947, although she did not live to see it.

C. Vocabulary

Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B:

| Column A | Column B | |-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | graduated | a) a member of a certain social or political group | | activist | b) fight | | movement | c) completed a university degree | | gender discrimination | d) rule by a powerful country over a weaker country | | colonial rule | e) battle | | combat | f) inequality between males and females | | gradually | g) slowly | | resistance | h) give responsibilities | | notorious | i) activities | | assign | j) dishonorable |

D. Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

1. Where did Pritilata fight?
2. When did she fight?
3. Why did she fight?
4. What was Pritilata’s profession?
5. What do you learn from Pritilata’s life?

E. Matching

Construct questions using the words in the substitution table and match them to the correct answers. One is done for you.

| | | | Answer | |-----------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | When | was | Pritilata born? | On 5 May 1911. | | Where | did | ______ | ______ | | What | did | ______ graduate in? | ______ | | Why | did | ______ fight? | ______ | | What | was | ______ assigned Pritilata to attack? | ______ | | Who | was | ______ famous for? | ______ | | How | did | ______ die? | ______ |