Day 1: A Profile in Kindness Class IV | English | Butterfly NOTES
A Profile in Kindness
The inspiring life of Haji Muhammad Mohsin
Lesson Overview
This chapter tells the story of Haji Muhammad Mohsin, a great son of Bengal born in 1732. Known for his immense wealth and even larger heart, he dedicated his life to helping the poor and spreading education.
Born
1732
Location
Hooghly
Father
Haji Faizulla
Died
1812
Key Moments of Kindness
The Boiling Pot (ফুটন্ত পাত্র)
Mohsin saw a mother boiling water with no rice just to make her hungry children believe food was coming. He immediately brought them food.
Forgiving the Thief (চোরকে ক্ষমা করা)
Instead of punishing a thief, Mohsin gave him money to start a business after learning the man stole to feed his children.
📝 Word Bank (শব্দার্থ)
Curious
কৌতূহলী (Eager to know)
Saviour
ত্রাণকর্তা (One who saves)
Reverence
শ্রদ্ধা (Deep respect)
Merchant
ব্যবসায়ী (Trader)
Stranger
অপরিচিত ব্যক্তি (Unknown person)
Charity
দাতব্য কাজ (Helping the needy)
Quick Check!
Was Mohsin's father a poor farmer?
Based on WBBSE Butterfly IV Textbook Material
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
A Profile in Kindness
Comprehensive Study Notes & Question Bank
Short Answer Questions (Small)
1. Where did the incident of the crying children take place?
Ans: The incident took place in Hooghly.
2. When was Haji Muhammad Mohsin born?
Ans: He was born in 1732.
3. Who was Mohsin's father?
Ans: His father was Haji Faizulla, a rich merchant.
4. Who was Mohsin's teacher in his childhood?
Ans: He was taught by Maulavi Aga Siraji.
5. What was the woman doing in the hut?
Ans: She was boiling water in a pot to console her hungry children.
6. Why were the children crying?
Ans: The children were crying because they were hungry.
7. What did Mohsin find in the boiling pot?
Ans: He found only water; there was not a single grain of rice in it.
8. What did Mohsin do after seeing the hungry children?
Ans: He immediately went home and returned with food for them.
9. What did Mohsin catch a stranger doing in his room?
Ans: Mohsin caught the stranger stealing.
10. Why was the stranger stealing?
Ans: He was stealing to find food for his hungry children as he had no work.
11. How did Mohsin help the stranger?
Ans: He gave him money to start a business.
12. In which year did Mohsin pass away?
Ans: Mohsin passed away in 1812.
13. What is named after Mohsin in Hooghly?
Ans: Hooghly Mohsin College is named after him.
14. What did Mohsin use his riches for?
Ans: He used his riches for helping the poor, the sick, and the needy.
15. How did the poor people view Mohsin?
Ans: The poor looked upon him as their saviour.
16. What was the atmosphere of the night at the start of the story?
Ans: The night was calm and quiet.
17. What did Mohsin promise the woman in the hut?
Ans: He promised to look after them throughout his life.
18. What did Mohsin dedicate his life to?
Ans: He dedicated his life to spreading education among the Muslims.
19. How was the sound that woke Mohsin up from sleep?
Ans: A mild sound woke him up.
20. What did the stranger do when Mohsin spoke to him?
Ans: He broke down in tears and asked for forgiveness.
Long Answer Questions (Big)
1. Describe the scene Haji Muhammad Mohsin saw when he looked inside the hut.
2. Why was the woman boiling water without any rice? Explain her hope.
3. What do we learn about Haji Muhammad Mohsin's family and early life?
4. Describe the encounter between Mohsin and the stranger in his room.
5. How did Mohsin verify the stranger's story and how did he help him?
6. What were Mohsin's contributions to the field of education and charity?
7. Why is Haji Muhammad Mohsin remembered with reverence even today?
8. Compare the two main incidents of kindness mentioned in the text.
9. What does the text tell us about Mohsin's character through his reaction to the crying children?
10. How did Maulavi Aga Siraji influence Mohsin's life?
11. Explain the phrase "The poor looked upon him as their saviour."
12. What was the significance of the "faint light" coming from the hut?
13. Why did Mohsin ask the thief, "Can you not lead an honest life?"
14. How does the story justify its title "A Profile in Kindness"?
15. What was the result of Mohsin's promise to the hungry children's mother?
16. Describe Mohsin's attitude towards his wealth.
17. What happened when the stranger "broke down in tears"?
18. Write a few lines on Hooghly Mohsin College based on the text.
19. How does the text describe the physical setting of the first incident?
20. What is the central message or moral of the story of Haji Muhammad Mohsin?
CLASS 5 BUTTERFLY
Lesson 4: Memory in Marble
Day 2: A Profile in Kindness Class IV | English | Butterfly ACTIVITIES
Butterfly IV: Mock Test
Chapter: A Profile in Kindness (Haji Muhammad Mohsin)
Instructions: Answer all questions based strictly on the provided text. Click "Submit Test" at the bottom to see your score.
Online Assessment: Butterfly IV
Chapter: A Profile in Kindness
Exam Submitted Successfully!
Descriptive answers have been saved for teacher review.
Word Meanings
Class IV • Butterfly • A Profile in Kindness
শান্ত → Calm
একা হাঁটা → Walk alone (V1: Walk, V2: Walked, V3: Walked)
শোনা → Hear (V1: Hear, V2: Heard, V3: Heard)
কৌতূহলী → Curious
ক্ষীণ → Faint
মনোযোগ দিয়ে শোনা → Listen carefully (V1: Listen, V2: Listened, V3: Listened)
জিজ্ঞাসা করা → Ask (V1: Ask, V2: Asked, V3: Asked)
উত্তর দেওয়া → Reply (V1: Reply, V2: Replied, V3: Replied)
ক্ষুধার্ত → Hungry
ফুটানো → Boil (V1: Boil, V2: Boiled, V3: Boiled)
বিশ্বাস করা → Believe (V1: Believe, V2: Believed, V3: Believed)
ভুলে যাওয়া → Forget (V1: Forget, V2: Forgot, V3: Forgotten)
প্রতিশ্রুতি দেওয়া → Promise (V1: Promise, V2: Promised, V3: Promised)
দেখাশোনা করা → Look after (V1: Look after, V2: Looked after, V3: Looked after)
সম্ভ্রান্ত → Respectable
ধনী ব্যবসায়ী → Rich merchant
চুরি করা → Steal (V1: Steal, V2: Stole, V3: Stolen)
ক্ষমা করা → Forgive (V1: Forgive, V2: Forgave, V3: Forgiven)
উৎসর্গ করা → Dedicate (V1: Dedicate, V2: Dedicated, V3: Dedicated)
শ্রদ্ধা → Reverence
Day 3: A Profile in Kindness Class IV | English | Butterfly MOCK TEST
A Profile in Kindness
Class IV | Butterfly IV | Translation Module
The night was calm and quiet. A man was walking alone in the dark. Suddenly, he heard some children crying. The sound came from a nearby hut. The man was curious. He saw a faint light coming from the hut. He came close to the hut. He listened carefully.
রাতটা ছিল শান্ত ও নীরব। এক ব্যক্তি অন্ধকারে একা হাঁটছিলেন। হঠাৎ তিনি কিছু শিশুর কান্নার শব্দ শুনতে পেলেন। শব্দটি কাছের একটি কুঁড়েঘর থেকে আসছিল। লোকটি কৌতূহলী হল। সে কুঁড়েঘর থেকে একটি ক্ষীণ আলো আসতে দেখল। সে কুঁড়েঘরের কাছে এল। সে মনোযোগ দিয়ে শুনল।
The man heard a woman talking to the children. “Don’t cry. The rice will be ready soon,” she said. The man looked inside the hut. He asked the woman, “Why are the children crying?” The woman replied, “They are hungry. I have nothing to feed them.” The man saw that water was boiling in a pot. But there was not a single grain of rice in it. He was surprised. He asked the woman, “Why, then, are you boiling water?” “My children will believe I am cooking food for them. Then they will stop crying”, replied the woman. She hoped they would fall asleep and forget their hunger. Tears filled the eyes of the man. He at once went back to his house. He returned with food for the hungry children. He then promised to look after them throughout his life.
লোকটি এক মহিলাকে বাচ্চাদের সাথে কথা বলতে শুনল। “কেঁদো না। ভাত শীঘ্রই তৈরি হয়ে যাবে,” সে বলল। লোকটি কুঁড়েঘরের ভিতরে তাকাল। সে মহিলাকে জিজ্ঞাসা করল, “বাচ্চারা কাঁদছে কেন?” মহিলা উত্তর দিল, “তারা ক্ষুধার্ত। আমার কাছে তাদের খাওয়ানোর মতো কিছু নেই।” লোকটি দেখল যে একটি পাত্রে জল ফুটছে। কিন্তু তাতে এক দানাও চাল ছিল না। সে অবাক হল। সে মহিলাকে জিজ্ঞাসা করল, “তাহলে আপনি জল ফোটাচ্ছেন কেন?” “আমার বাচ্চারা বিশ্বাস করবে আমি তাদের জন্য খাবার রান্না করছি। তাহলে তারা কান্না থামিয়ে দেবে”, মহিলা উত্তর দিল। সে আশা করেছিল তারা ঘুমিয়ে পড়বে এবং তাদের ক্ষুধা ভুলে যাবে। লোকটির চোখে জল ভরে গেল। সে সঙ্গে সঙ্গে তার বাড়িতে ফিরে গেল। সে ক্ষুধার্ত বাচ্চাদের জন্য খাবার নিয়ে ফিরল। তারপর সে সারাজীবন তাদের দেখাশোনা করার প্রতিশ্রুতি দিল।
This incident took place in Hooghly, over 200 years ago. This kind man was Haji Muhammad Mohsin. Many poor people were helped by him. In 1732, Mohsin was born in a respectable family. His father, Haji Faizulla, was a rich merchant. In his childhood, Mohsin was taught by Maulavi Aga Siraji. He had a great influence on Mohsin. Mohsin had a large property. He used his riches for helping the poor. He looked after the sick and the needy.
এই ঘটনাটি ২০০ বছরেরও বেশি আগে হুগলিতে ঘটেছিল। এই দয়ালু মানুষটি ছিলেন হাজী মুহম্মদ মহসীন। অনেক দরিদ্র মানুষ তার দ্বারা সাহায্য পেয়েছিল। ১৭৩২ সালে, মহসীন এক সম্ভ্রান্ত পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। তার বাবা, হাজী ফয়জুল্লাহ, একজন ধনীব্যবসায়ী ছিলেন। শৈশবে, মহসীন মৌলভী আগা সিরাজীর কাছে শিক্ষা লাভ করেন। তার মহসীনের উপর গভীর প্রভাব ছিল। মহসীনের বিশাল সম্পত্তি ছিল। তিনি তার ধন-সম্পদ গরীবদের সাহায্য করার জন্য ব্যবহার করতেন। তিনি অসুস্থ এবং অভাবীদের দেখাশোনা করতেন।
One night, Mohsin was sleeping. A mild sound woke him up. He saw a stranger in his room. Mohsin caught him stealing. He asked him, “Why do you need to steal? Can you not lead an honest life?” The stranger replied, “I have no work. There is no food in my house. My children are crying. I steal to find food for them. Please forgive me.” He broke down in tears. Mohsin felt sad for the man. He went to his house. He saw that the man had told him the truth. He gave him money to start a business. He promised to give him more money later, if needed.
এক রাতে, মহসীন ঘুমাচ্ছিলেন। একটি মৃদু শব্দ তাকে জাগিয়ে দিল। সে তার ঘরে একজন অপরিচিত লোককে দেখল। মহসীন তাকে চুরি করতে ধরল। সে তাকে জিজ্ঞাসা করল, “তোমার চুরি করার দরকার কেন? তুমি কি সৎ জীবনযাপন করতে পারো না?” অপরিচিত লোকটি উত্তর দিল, “আমার কোনো কাজ নেই। আমার বাড়িতে কোনো খাবার নেই। আমার বাচ্চারা কাঁদছে। আমি তাদের জন্য খাবার জোগাড় করতে চুরি করি। দয়া করে আমাকে ক্ষমা করুন।” সে কান্নায় ভেঙে পড়ল। মহসীন লোকটির জন্য দুঃখ অনুভব করল। সে তার বাড়িতে গেল। সে দেখল যে লোকটি তাকে সত্যি কথা বলেছে। সে তাকে ব্যবসা শুরু করার জন্য টাকা দিল। সে প্রতিশ্রুতি দিল যে প্রয়োজন হলে পরে আরও টাকা দেবে।
Mohsin dedicated his life in spreading education among the Muslims.The income of his property was spent in charity. The poor looked upon him as their saviour. Hooghly Mohsin College is named after him. Mohsin passed away in 1812. This great son of Bengal is still remembered with reverence.
মহসীন মুসলমানদের মধ্যে শিক্ষা বিস্তারে তার জীবন উৎসর্গ করেছিলেন। তার সম্পত্তির আয় দাতব্য কাজে ব্যয় করা হত। দরিদ্ররা তাকে তাদের ত্রাণকর্তা হিসেবে দেখত। হুগলী মহসীন কলেজ তার নামে নামকরণ করা হয়েছে। মহসীন ১৮১২ সালে মারা যান। বাংলার এই মহান সন্তানকে এখনও শ্রদ্ধার সাথে স্মরণ করা হয়।
Comprehension & Activities
Activity 1: True or False
a. It was a stormy night. (False)
b. The sound of crying was heard from a hut close by. (True)
Activity 3: Complete the sentences
a. The man looked inside the hut.
b. The mother hoped that her children would fall asleep and forget their hunger.
Activity 4: Who/What did the Action?
| Who/What | Action |
|---|---|
| The woman / mother | was talking to the children |
| The children | crying in hunger |
| Maulavi Aga Siraji | taught Mohsin in his childhood |
Activity 6: Answer the Questions
a. Why did Mohsin feel sad for the man?
Ans: Mohsin felt sad because the man was stealing only to feed his hungry children as he had no work.
b. What did Mohsin give the thief?
Ans: Mohsin gave the thief money to start a business.
c. When did Mohsin die?
Ans: Mohsin passed away in 1812.
Online Test (Mock)
A. Fill in the blanks:
- The man saw a faint light coming from the hut.
- There was not a single grain of rice in the pot.
- In 1732, Mohsin was born in a respectable family.
- Mohsin dedicated his life in spreading education.
B. Match the columns:
© WBBSE AI Engine - Educational Resource for Class IV Butterfly
Day 4: A Profile in Kindness Class IV | English | Butterfly ONLINE EXAM
A Profile in Kindness
Haji Muhammad Mohsin - Life and Activities
1 Activity 1: True or False
a. It was a stormy night.
Answer: False. (The night was calm and quiet.)
b. The sound of crying was heard from a hut close by.
Answer: True.
3 Activity 3: Complete the sentences
a. The man looked inside the hut.
b. The mother hoped that her children would fall asleep and forget their hunger.
4 Activity 4: Who/What did the Action?
| Who/What | Action |
|---|---|
| The woman / mother | was talking to the children |
| The children | crying in hunger |
| Maulavi Aga Siraji | taught Mohsin in his childhood |
5 Activity 5: Arrange the sentences
Mohsin heard children crying from a nearby hut while walking at night.
Mohsin passed away in 1812 and is still remembered with reverence.
6 Activity 6: Answer the Questions
a. Why did Mohsin feel sad for the man?
Answer: Mohsin felt sad because the man was stealing only to find food for his hungry children as he had no work.
b. What did Mohsin give the thief?
Answer: Mohsin gave the thief money to start a business and promised more help if needed.
c. When did Mohsin die?
Answer: Mohsin passed away in 1812.
Activity 7(b): Prepositions
- a. I placed the vase on the table.
- b. The river flows under the bridge.
Activity 8(a): Vocabulary
- a. He was a rich and noble merchant.
- b. Never forget a helpful friend.
9 Writing Practice
9(a): About a Freedom Fighter
Bhagat Singh was a great freedom fighter of India. He fought bravely against British rule. He is remembered as a hero who sacrificed his life for India’s freedom.
9(b): A Promise
I made a promise to my parents that I would finish my homework every day before watching television. To keep my promise, I created a daily schedule and stuck to it. My parents were very happy to see me being responsible.
Online Test (Solved)
A. Fill in the blanks:
- The man saw a faint light coming from the hut.
- There was not a single grain of rice in the pot.
- In 1732, Mohsin was born in a respectable family.
- Mohsin had knowledge of Arabic, Persian and English.
- Mohsin dedicated his life in spreading education.
B. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False:
- 1. The incident took place in Hooghly. [T]
- 2. Mohsin’s father was a poor farmer. [F]
- 3. Mohsin was taught by Maulavi Aga Siraji. [T]
- 4. The stranger stole because he was greedy. [F]
- 5. Mohsin passed away in 1812. [T]
D. Answer the following:
1. Why was the woman boiling water without any rice?
Answer: She was boiling water so her children would believe she was cooking food and stop crying, eventually falling asleep.
2. How did Mohsin help the poor?
Answer: He used his riches to help the needy, looked after the sick, and spent his property's income on charity.
3. Why was the stranger stealing?
Answer: He had no work and no food in his house, and his children were crying for food.
Day 5: A Profile in Kindness Class IV | English | Butterfly Activities Revision + Mistake Analysis Active Recall / Teaching Leave a Reply
A Profile in Kindness
Class IV | Butterfly | Haji Muhammad Mohsin
Mistake Analysis: Common Pitfalls
| Common Student Mistake | Correct Concept / Fact |
|---|---|
| Thinking the woman was actually cooking rice in the pot. | The pot contained only boiling water. She was pretending to cook so the children would fall asleep. |
| Assuming the thief was a bad person who wanted to get rich. | The stranger was desperate and hungry. He stole only to find food for his crying children. |
| Confusing Mohsin's father's profession (thinking he was a teacher). | His father, Haji Faizulla, was a rich merchant. Maulavi Aga Siraji was his teacher. |
| Mixing up the dates of birth and death. | Mohsin was born in 1732 and passed away in 1812. |
| Thinking Mohsin punished the thief he caught. | Mohsin forgave him and gave him money to start a business after verifying his story. |
Power Revision Summary
Key Identity
- Name: Haji Muhammad Mohsin.
- Born: 1732, in a respectable family.
- Location: Hooghly, West Bengal.
- Father: Haji Faizulla (Rich Merchant).
- Teacher: Maulavi Aga Siraji.
Acts of Kindness
- The Hut Incident: Fed children whose mother was boiling water to trick them into sleep.
- The Thief: Caught a stranger stealing, felt pity, and gave him money for a business.
- Charity: Used his large property to help the sick, poor, and needy.
Legacy & Education
- Dedicated his life to spreading education among Muslims.
- His property income was spent on charity.
- Hooghly Mohsin College is named in his honor.
Vocabulary Check
- Saviour: A person who saves someone from danger.
- Reverence: Deep respect.
- Curious: Eager to know or learn something.
- Stranger: Someone you do not know.
"Mohsin passed away in 1812, but remains the Great Son of Bengal."
Active Recall Toolkit
Subject: Butterfly IV | Chapter: A Profile in Kindness
1. Blind Questions (Memory Test)
- Where did the incident with the crying children take place?
- Who was the kind man walking alone in the dark?
- Why was the woman boiling water in a pot with no rice?
- What did Mohsin do immediately after seeing the hungry children?
- In which year was Haji Muhammad Mohsin born?
- What was the profession of Mohsin's father, Haji Faizulla?
- Who was Mohsin's teacher during his childhood?
- How did Mohsin use his large property and riches?
- What woke Mohsin up one night in his room?
- Why was the stranger stealing from Mohsin's house?
- What did Mohsin give the thief to help him lead an honest life?
- In which community did Mohsin dedicate his life to spreading education?
- Which famous college in Hooghly is named after him?
- In what year did Haji Muhammad Mohsin pass away?
- How do the people of Bengal remember him today?
2. The Feynman Method (Explain to a 5-Year-Old)
"Imagine a very kind man named Haji Muhammad Mohsin. He was very rich, but he didn't use his money just for toys or fancy things. One night, he saw a mommy boiling a pot of water with no food inside just to trick her hungry children into falling asleep! It made him so sad that he ran home, brought them food, and promised to help them forever."
"He even helped a man who tried to steal from him! Instead of being angry, he gave the man money to start a business so he wouldn't have to steal again. He spent his whole life building schools and helping poor people. He is like a superhero of kindness that we still remember today!"
3. Spaced Repetition Schedule
Day 1: The Stories
Review the story of the hungry children in the hut and the story of the thief. Focus on why Mohsin helped them.
Day 3: Facts & Figures
Memorize the dates (1732, 1812), names (Haji Faizulla, Maulavi Aga Siraji), and the name of the college.
Day 7: Vocabulary
Review difficult words like reverence, saviour, respectable, and dedicated. Practice the True/False questions.