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Unit 1, Lesson 3: Our Ethnic Friends

Bangladesh is home to more than 54 Indigenous groups, including the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura, with most living in the northern and southeastern flatlands, and the rest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They have distinct lifestyles, economic practices, and belief systems. These groups speak at least 35 distinct languages, adding to the country’s cultural richness. However, many of these languages are endangered, as the dominance of Bangla and modern societal pressures push them towards extinction, a global issue known as “language death.” The UN warns that many Indigenous languages are disappearing, with one dying every two weeks.

During the British colonial rule, indigenous communities played a significant role in resisting oppression. Leaders like Sidhu and Kanu led uprisings, such as the Santhal Rebellion, highlighting their contributions to the anti-colonial struggle. Despite this legacy, Indigenous people in Bangladesh today face challenges in preserving their languages and culture. The government’s efforts to include Indigenous languages in preschool education face hurdles like a lack of trained teachers and resources for higher education.

Additionally, the 1957 construction of the Kaptai Dam, funded by USAID and built by the Pakistani government, displaced thousands of people in the hill tracts, submerging their homes and farmlands under the Karnaphuli River, disrupting their livelihoods and cultural connections to the land. This history of displacement and ongoing marginalization continues to affect indigenous communities in Bangladesh.

Vocabulary List

Word	Word	Word
Indigenous	Extinction	Marginalization
Colonial	Displacement	Oppression
Rebellion	Endangered	Livelihood
Cultural	Preservation	Heritage

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many Indigenous groups live in Bangladesh?
   • 25
   • 40
   • More than 54
   • 60
2. Which of the following is NOT an Indigenous group in Bangladesh?
   • Chakma
   • Marma
   • Tripura
   • Bengali
3. What is the main threat to Indigenous languages in Bangladesh?
   • Climate change
   • Language death
   • Economic growth
   • Tourism
4. Who led the Santhal Rebellion?
   • Sidhu and Kanu
   • Lalon Shah
   • Rabindranath Tagore
   • Kazi Nazrul Islam
5. What was a major consequence of the Kaptai Dam construction?
   • Improved agriculture
   • Economic boom
   • Displacement of Indigenous people
   • Better transportation
6. Which organization warns about Indigenous languages disappearing?
   • WHO
   • UNESCO
   • UN
   • IMF
7. What is one challenge to preserving Indigenous languages in education?
   • Lack of trained teachers
   • Too many schools
   • Low student interest
   • Ban on Indigenous languages

Short Questions

1. How many Indigenous languages are spoken in Bangladesh?
2. What is “language death”?
3. Who were Sidhu and Kanu?
4. What was the impact of the Kaptai Dam?
5. What are some challenges Indigenous people face today?

Fill in the Blanks

Bangladesh is home to more than ______ Indigenous groups. Many Indigenous languages face the threat of ______ due to modern pressures. Leaders like ______ and Kanu led the ______ Rebellion during British rule. The construction of the ______ Dam in 1957 displaced thousands of Indigenous people.

Answers

Word Details

• Indigenous (Adjective) - Native to a particular region | Bengali: আদিবাসী | IPA: /ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/ | Example: The Chakma are an indigenous group in Bangladesh.
• Endangered (Adjective) - At risk of disappearing | Bengali: বিলুপ্তপ্রায় | IPA: /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/ | Example: Many indigenous languages are endangered.
• Marginalization (Noun) - Pushing a group to the edge of society | Bengali: প্রান্তিকরণ | IPA: /ˌmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ | Example: Indigenous people face marginalization in many societies.
• Colonial (Adjective) - Relating to colonial rule | Bengali: ঔপনিবেশিক | IPA: /kəˈloʊniəl/ | Example: The country has a colonial past.
• Oppression (Noun) - Unjust treatment | Bengali: নির্যাতন | IPA: /əˈprɛʃən/ | Example: Indigenous people fought against oppression.
• Displacement (Noun) - Forced removal from a place | Bengali: বাস্তুচ্যুতি | IPA: /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ | Example: The dam construction caused the displacement of many families.
• Livelihood (Noun) - A means of earning a living | Bengali: জীবিকা | IPA: /ˈlaɪvlihʊd/ | Example: Farming is the main livelihood of many indigenous groups.
• Extinction (Noun) - The process of dying out | Bengali: বিলুপ্তি | IPA: /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/ | Example: Many indigenous languages are at risk of extinction.
• Struggle (Noun) - A hard fight | Bengali: সংগ্রাম | IPA: /ˈstrʌɡl/ | Example: The indigenous communities continue their struggle for rights.
• Resistance (Noun) - Opposition against something | Bengali: প্রতিরোধ | IPA: /rɪˈzɪstəns/ | Example: Indigenous people showed resistance to colonial rule.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the estimated number of Indigenous groups in Bangladesh? More than 54 ✅
2. How many distinct languages are spoken by Indigenous groups in Bangladesh? At least 35 ✅
3. What global issue threatens Indigenous languages? Language death ✅
4. Who were Sidhu and Kanu? Leaders of the Santhal Rebellion ✅
5. What was a major issue with including Indigenous languages in education? Lack of trained teachers and resources ✅
6. What was the effect of the Kaptai Dam construction? Displacement of thousands of Indigenous people ✅
7. Which river submerged Indigenous lands due to the dam? Karnaphuli River ✅

Short Questions & Answers

1. How many Indigenous groups live in Bangladesh?
   More than 54 Indigenous groups live in Bangladesh.
2. What is "language death"?
   Language death refers to the process where a language disappears as speakers stop using it.
3. Which historical event involved Sidhu and Kanu?
   They led the Santhal Rebellion against British colonial oppression.
4. Why are many Indigenous languages endangered?
   The dominance of Bangla and modern societal pressures push them toward extinction.
5. What was the impact of the Kaptai Dam on Indigenous communities?
   It displaced thousands of people, submerging their homes and farmlands.

Fill in the Blanks (With Answers)

1. Bangladesh has more than 54 Indigenous groups.
2. These groups speak at least 35 languages.
3. Language death is a global issue where languages disappear.
4. The Santhal Rebellion was led by Sidhu and Kanu.
5. The Kaptai Dam submerged Indigenous homes under the Karnaphuli River.

📖 Key Features

• 📌 Format: Reading Text
• 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit One, Lesson 3: Our Ethnic Friends (Page 6)
• 📌 Cmposition Number: 1
• 📌 Clarity and Concise: Class VIII
• 📌 Visual Appeal:High Quality Graphics
• 📌 Content: Class VIII – Unit One, Lesson 3: Our Ethnic Friends (Page 6)
• 📌 Exercise: Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, and 10 words with IPA transcription, word class, Bengali and English meanings, and example sentences
• 📌 Ideal for: IT-Assisted Classrooms
• 📌 Perfect for: Presentation Purposes and Personal learning too

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