Main Text
I. His First Flight
By Liam O’Flaherty
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down — miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
I. তেওঁৰ প্ৰথম উৰণ
লিয়াম অ’ফ্লেহাৰ্টিৰ
তাৰ লেজত অকলে আছিল ডেকা ছিগালটো। ইতিমধ্যে তাৰ দুই ভাই আৰু ভনীয়েক আগদিনা উৰি গুচি গৈছিল। সিহঁতৰ লগত উৰা মাৰিবলৈ সি ভয় কৰিছিল। কেনেবাকৈ যেতিয়া সি অলপ দৌৰি আগবাঢ়ি গৈ লেজৰ সীমালৈকে গৈছিল আৰু ডেউকা দুখন জোকাৰিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিছিল তেতিয়া সি ভয় খাইছিল। তলত সাগৰৰ বৃহৎ বিস্তৃতিটো তললৈ বিস্তৃত হৈ আছিল, আৰু ইমান দূৰ তললৈ — মাইলৰ পিছত মাইল তললৈ। তেওঁ নিশ্চিত অনুভৱ কৰিছিল যে তেওঁৰ ডেউকাবোৰে তেওঁক কেতিয়াও সমৰ্থন নকৰে; গতিকে সি মূৰটো বেঁকা কৰি ৰাতি শুই থকা লেজৰ তলৰ সৰু গাঁতটোলৈ উভতি গুছি গ’ল।
Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not move.
আনকি যেতিয়া তেওঁৰ প্ৰত্যেকজন ভায়েক আৰু ডেউকাবোৰ নিজৰ ডেউকাতকৈ বহুত চুটি সৰু ভনীয়েকে দৌৰি গৈ সীমালৈ গৈছিল, ডেউকা দুখন জোকাৰি উৰি গৈছিল, তেতিয়াও তেওঁ ইমান হতাশজনক যেন লগা সেই ডুবটো ল’বলৈ সাহস গোটাব নোৱাৰিলে। দেউতাক আৰু মাকে তাক চিঞৰি চিঞৰি মাতি ঘূৰি আহিছিল, তাক গালি পাৰিছিল, সি উৰি নগলে তাৰ লেজত অনাহাৰে থাকিবলৈ দিয়াৰ ভাবুকি দিছিল। কিন্তু তেওঁৰ জীৱনৰ বাবে তেওঁক লৰচৰ কৰিব নোৱাৰিলে।
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.
সেইটো চৌবিশ ঘণ্টা আগৰ কথা। তেতিয়াৰ পৰা কোনোৱেই তেওঁৰ ওচৰলৈ অহা নাছিল। আগদিনা গোটেই দিনটো তেওঁ মাক-দেউতাকক ভায়েক-ভনীয়েকৰ সৈতে উৰি ফুৰা দেখিছিল, তেওঁলোকক উৰণৰ কলাত নিখুঁত কৰি তুলিছিল, ঢৌবোৰ কেনেকৈ স্কিম কৰিব লাগে আৰু মাছৰ বাবে কেনেকৈ ডুব মাৰিব লাগে সেই বিষয়ে শিকাইছিল। তেওঁ আচলতে দেখিছিল যে ডাঙৰ ভায়েকে প্ৰথম হেৰিংটো ধৰি খাইছিল, শিলৰ ওপৰত থিয় হৈ, মাক-দেউতাকে গৌৰৱান্বিত হুমুনিয়াহ এটা তুলি ঘূৰি ঘূৰি ফুৰিছিল। আৰু গোটেই ৰাতিপুৱাটো গোটেই পৰিয়ালটোৱে বিপৰীত শিলৰ মাজভাগত ডাঙৰ মালভূমিখনত খোজ কাঢ়ি ঘূৰি ফুৰিছিল তেওঁৰ ভয়াতুৰতাক সিহঁতে ঠাট্টা কৰিছিল।
The sun was now ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the previous nightfall. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him.
সূৰ্য্যটো এতিয়া আকাশলৈ উঠি আহিছিল, দক্ষিণমুখী তেওঁৰ লেজখনত উজ্বলি উঠিছিল। আগৰ নিশাৰ পৰা খোৱা নাই বাবেই সি গৰম অনুভৱ কৰিলে। লাহে লাহে লেজৰ সীমালৈ ওলাই আহিল আৰু আনখন ভৰি ডেউকাৰ তলত লুকুৱাই এখন ভৰিৰে থিয় হৈ এটা চকু মুদি দিলে, তাৰ পিছত আনটো চকু মুদি টোপনি যোৱাৰ অভিনয় কৰিলে। তথাপিও তেওঁলোকে তেওঁৰ কোনো লক্ষ্য লোৱা নাছিল।
He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to whet it.
সি দেখিলে ভায়েক দুজন আৰু ভনীয়েকক ডিঙিত মূৰ ডুবাই মালভূমিত শুই আছে। দেউতাকে বগা পিঠিৰ পাখিবোৰ চেপি ধৰি আছিল। কেৱল মাকেহে তালৈ চাই আছিল। তাই মালভূমিৰ ওপৰত অলপ ওখ কুঁজত থিয় হৈ আছিল, তাইৰ বগা বুকুটো আগলৈ ঠেলি দিছিল। এতিয়া বাৰে বাৰে ভৰিৰ ওচৰত পৰি থকা মাছৰ টুকুৰা এটা ফালি পেলালে আৰু তাৰ পিছত ঠোঁটৰ প্ৰতিটো ফাল শিলটোত পেলাই দিলে। খাদ্যৰ দৃশ্যই তেওঁক উন্মাদ কৰি তুলিলে। কেনেকৈ সি খাদ্য সেইদৰে ফালি ভাল পাইছিল, মাজে মাজে ঠোঁটটো চেপি ধৰিছিল, ঠোঁটটো জোকাৰিবলৈ।
“Ga, ga, ga,” he cried, begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
“গা, গা, গা” বুলি কান্দি কান্দি তাইক খোৱা-বোৱা অলপ আনিবলৈ অনুৰোধ কৰিলে। “গাউ-কল-আহ” তাই উপহাস কৰি উত্তৰত চিঞৰি উঠিল। কিন্তু সি অভিযোগ কৰি মাতি থাকিল, আৰু এক মিনিটমানৰ পাছত সি আনন্দৰ চিঞৰ এটা মাৰিলে। মাকে মাছৰ টুকুৰা এটা তুলি লৈ তাৰ ওচৰলৈ উৰি আহিছিল। সি আগ্ৰহেৰে হেলান দি ভৰিৰে শিলটোত টিপ মাৰিলে, তাই উৰি যোৱাৰ লগে লগে তাইৰ ওচৰলৈ যাবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিলে। কিন্তু যেতিয়া তাই তাৰ ঠিক বিপৰীতে আছিল, তাই ৰৈ গ’ল, তাইৰ ডেউকা দুটা নিশ্চল, তাইৰ ঠোঁটত থকা মাছৰ টুকুৰাটো তাৰ ঠোঁটৰ প্ৰায় হাতৰ মুঠিত। তাই কিয় ওচৰলৈ নাহিল বুলি ভাবি সি আচৰিত হৈ ক্ষন্তেক ৰৈ থাকিল আৰু তাৰ পিছত ভোকত উন্মাদ হৈ সি মাছটোৰ ফালে ডুব মাৰিলে।
With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards.
জোৰেৰে চিঞৰি সি বাহিৰলৈ আৰু তললৈ আকাশলৈ নামি পৰিল। তেতিয়াই এটা দানৱীয় আতংকই তেওঁক আগুৰি ধৰিলে আৰু তেওঁৰ হৃদয়খন থমকি ৰল। সি একো শুনিব পৰা নাছিল। কিন্তু মাত্ৰ এক মিনিট মানহে চলিল। পিছমুহূৰ্তত সি অনুভৱ কৰিলে তাৰ ডেউকা দুখন বাহিৰলৈ মেলিছে। বতাহজাকে তাৰ বুকুৰ পাখিৰ ওপৰত, তাৰ পিছত পেটৰ তলত আৰু ডেউকাৰ ওপৰত লৰচৰ কৰিলে। তেওঁৰ ডেউকাৰ পাখিবোৰে বতাহ কাটি যোৱা অনুভৱ কৰিব পাৰিছিল। সি এতিয়া ওপৰতেই পৰি থকা নাছিল। লাহে লাহে তললৈ আৰু বাহিৰলৈ উৰি গৈ আছিল।
He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga. Ga, ga, ga.” “Gaw-col-ah,” his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
তেওঁৰ আৰু ভয় নাছিল। মাত্ৰ অলপ মূৰ ঘূৰোৱা যেন লাগিল। তাৰ পিছত এবাৰ ডেউকা জোকাৰিলে আৰু ওপৰলৈ উৰি গ’ল। “গা, গা, গা। গা, গা, গা।” “গাউ-কল-আহ” মাকে তাৰ কাষেৰে লৰচৰ কৰিলে, ডেউকা দুখনে জোৰেৰে শব্দ কৰিলে। সি তাইক আৰু এটা চিঞৰ মাৰি উত্তৰ দিলে। তাৰ পাছত দেউতাকে চিঞৰি চিঞৰি তাৰ ওপৰেৰে উৰি গ’ল। তেওঁ দেখিলে যে তেওঁৰ দুজন ভায়েক আৰু ভনীয়েকক তেওঁৰ চাৰিওফালে উৰি গৈ আছে আৰু বেংকিং কৰি আছে আৰু উৰি ফুৰিছে আৰু ডুব গৈ আছে।
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly. His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings.
তাৰ পাছত সি যে সদায় উৰিব পৰা নাছিল, সেই কথা সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে পাহৰি গ’ল আৰু ডুব মাৰি উৰিবলৈ আৰু বক্ৰ কৰি চিঞৰি চিঞৰি নিজকে প্ৰশংসা কৰিলে। সি এতিয়া সাগৰৰ ওচৰতে আছিল, তাৰ ওপৰেৰে পোনে পোনে উৰি গৈছিল, সাগৰৰ ওপৰেৰে পোনে পোনে বাহিৰলৈ মুখ কৰি। তাৰ তলত এটা বিশাল সেউজীয়া সাগৰ দেখিলে, তাৰ ওপৰেৰে সৰু সৰু শিখৰবোৰ লৰচৰ কৰি আছে আৰু সি ঠোঁটটো কাষলৈ ঘূৰাই আনন্দৰে কাউৰ মাৰিলে। মাক-দেউতাক আৰু ভায়েক-ভনীয়েক তেওঁৰ সন্মুখৰ এই সেউজীয়া মজিয়াখনত নামি আহিছিল। সিহঁতে তাক ইংগিত দি আছিল, চিঞৰি চিঞৰি মাতি আছিল। সেউজীয়া সাগৰৰ ওপৰত থিয় হ’বলৈ ভৰি দুখন তললৈ নমাই দিলে। তাৰ ভৰি দুখন তাৰ ভিতৰত ডুব গ’ল। সি ভয়তে চিঞৰি উঠিল আৰু ডেউকা জোকাৰি আকৌ উঠিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিলে।
But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish. He had made his first flight.
কিন্তু তেওঁ ভোকত ভাগৰুৱা আৰু দুৰ্বল হৈ পৰিছিল আৰু তেওঁ উঠিব পৰা নাছিল, অদ্ভুত ব্যায়ামৰ দ্বাৰা ক্লান্ত হৈ পৰিছিল। ভৰি দুখন সেউজীয়া সাগৰত ডুব গ’ল, আৰু তাৰ পিছত পেটটোৱে চুই গ’ল আৰু তেওঁ আৰু বেছি দূৰলৈ ডুব নাযায়। সি তাৰ ওপৰত ওপঙি আছিল, আৰু তাৰ চাৰিওফালে তেওঁৰ পৰিয়ালে চিঞৰি আছিল, তেওঁক প্ৰশংসা কৰিছিল আৰু তেওঁলোকৰ ঠোঁটত কুকুৰ-মাছৰ টুকুৰাবোৰ আগবঢ়াইছিল। তেওঁ প্ৰথমখন উড়ন আছিল।
Summary
This story is about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. His parents and siblings had already learned flying, but he was too scared to even try. He thought his wings would not support him and he might fall into the sea.
His parents tried everything to make him fly — they scolded him, called him, and even left him alone on the cliff without food. Still, he did not move.
Finally, his mother came with a piece of fish and flew close to him, but she did not give it to him. Out of hunger, he jumped to catch the food and suddenly started flying. At first, he felt scared, but soon he enjoyed the feeling of flying in the air.
He soared, dived, and flew happily, and finally landed on the sea with his family praising him. He had made his first successful flight.
Main Message:
This story teaches us that we must face our fears. Only when we try, we can learn and succeed. Sometimes, a little push or need gives us the courage to take the first step.
এই কাহিনীটোত উৰিবলৈ ভয় কৰা এজন চিগালৰ পোৱালিৰ কথা কোৱা হৈছে। মাক-দেউতাক আৰু ভাই-ভনীয়ে ইতিমধ্যে উৰণ শিকিছিল যদিও সি বৰ ভয় খাইছিল যে চেষ্টাও কৰিব নোৱাৰিলে। তেওঁ ভাবিছিল যে তেওঁৰ ডেউকাবোৰে তেওঁক সহায় নকৰে আৰু তেওঁ হয়তো সাগৰত পৰিব।
মাক-দেউতাকে তাক উৰিবলৈ সকলো চেষ্টা কৰিছিল — গালি-শপনি কৰিছিল, মাতিছিল, আনকি খাদ্য নোহোৱাকৈয়ে শিলৰ ওপৰত অকলে এৰি থৈ গৈছিল। তথাপিও তেওঁ লৰচৰ কৰা নাছিল।
অৱশেষত মাকে মাছ এটুকুৰা লৈ আহি তাৰ ওচৰলৈ উৰি গ’ল, কিন্তু তাই তাক নিদিলে। ভোকত জপিয়াই খাবলৈ ধৰিলে আৰু হঠাৎ উৰা মাৰিবলৈ ধৰিলে। প্ৰথমতে তেওঁৰ ভয় লাগিছিল যদিও অলপ পিছতে তেওঁ বতাহত উৰি যোৱাৰ অনুভৱটো উপভোগ কৰিছিল।
তেওঁ উৰি গ’ল, ডুব মাৰিলে আৰু আনন্দৰে উৰি গ’ল আৰু অৱশেষত পৰিয়ালে তেওঁক প্ৰশংসা কৰি সাগৰত নামিল। তেওঁ প্ৰথমখন সফল উৰন চলাইছিল।
মূল বাৰ্তা:
এই কাহিনীয়ে আমাক শিকাইছে যে আমি আমাৰ ভয়ৰ সন্মুখীন হ’ব লাগিব। চেষ্টা কৰিলেহে আমি শিকিব পাৰিম আৰু সফল হ’ব পাৰিম। কেতিয়াবা, অলপ ঠেলা বা প্ৰয়োজনীয়তাই আমাক প্ৰথম খোজ দিবলৈ সাহস দিয়ে।
Thinking About the Text
- Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others?
Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Ans: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him. He feared he would fall into the deep sea and die.
Yes, many young birds may be afraid to fly for the first time.
Just like that, even a human baby is scared when learning to walk. But with support and courage, both learn.
- “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest?
What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Ans: It shows that the seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother coming with food, he forgot his fear.
Hunger gave him the courage to jump off the ledge and finally learn to fly.
- “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.”
Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Ans: They wanted him to learn flying and become independent. They knew he had to fly to survive. So, they tried to scare him and also encourage him.
- Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Ans: Yes, once I was afraid to ride a bicycle. My parents encouraged me and held the cycle behind me. After some trials, I was able to ride it alone.
(Students can write their own similar story.)
- In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed.
In the examples you have given in answer to the previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?
Ans: Success was not sure. I could fall and get hurt. But it was important to try. Without trying, I would never learn. Just like the young seagull, trying is the first step to success.
MCQ
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
A) He was lazy B) He was sick C) He feared falling D) He hated the sky
Ans: C) He feared falling
What was under the seagull when he looked down?
A) Road B) River C) Rocks D) Sea
Ans: D) Sea
Who flew away before him?
A) Parents B) Friends C) Brother and sister D) Teacher
Ans: C) Brother and sister
What did the parents do to make him fly?
A) Gave food B) Shouted at him C) Ignored him D) All of these
Ans: D) All of these
What did his mother bring to tempt him?
A) Fish B) Bread C) Meat D) Insect
Ans: A) Fish
What did the mother do just before he jumped?
A) Dropped fish B) Screamed C) Stopped mid-air D) Landed
Ans: C) Stopped mid-air
What happened when he jumped?
A) He fell into sea B) He died C) He flew D) He cried
Ans: C) He flew
How did he feel while flying?
A) Afraid B) Angry C) Dizzy but happy D) Sick
Ans: C) Dizzy but happy
What did he do in the air?
A) Dived and soared B) Slept C) Landed on tree D) Did nothing
Ans: A) Dived and soared
Where did he finally land?
A) On cliff B) In water C) On grass D) On tree
Ans: B) In water
How did the family react after he flew?
A) Ignored him B) Praised and fed him C) Hit him D) Flew away
Ans: B) Praised and fed him
What was the seagull’s first flight like?
A) Terrible B) Failed C) Beautiful and successful D) Dangerous
Ans: C) Beautiful and successful
What lesson does the story teach?
A) Love your parents B) Stay at home C) Overcome fear to grow D) Birds are smart
Ans: C) Overcome fear to grow
What time of day was it during his flight?
A) Evening B) Night C) Morning D) Afternoon
Ans: C) Morning
What was the seagull’s problem?
A) Couldn’t see B) Didn’t trust his wings C) Didn’t want food D) Was angry
Ans: B) Didn’t trust his wings
Short Questions
- Why did the young seagull feel nervous to fly?
He was scared that his wings would not support him and he might fall into the deep sea. - What did the seagull’s parents do to force him to fly?
They called him, scolded him, and even left him alone without food to make him fly. - How did the young seagull finally get the courage to fly?
When his mother came near with food and stopped mid-air, hunger made him jump to grab it. That moment, he started flying. - Describe the seagull’s feelings during his first flight.
At first he felt terror and his heart stood still, but soon he felt the wind and began to fly happily.
How did the family react to the seagull’s first flight?
They were happy and proud. They praised him and gave him food as a reward
Long Questions
- Describe how the young seagull overcame his fear and made his first flight.
Ans: The young seagull was very afraid to fly. He believed his wings would not support him. His parents and siblings left him alone on the ledge. He became very hungry. When his mother brought food but stopped mid-air, he jumped forward in hunger and started falling. But then his wings spread and he began flying. Slowly, he learned to dive, soar, and glide. His family welcomed him and gave him food. Thus, he overcame fear and succeeded. - What is the main theme of the story “His First Flight”?
Ans: The main theme is courage and overcoming fear. The story shows that fear is natural, but we must try. Without effort, there can be no success. The young seagull’s first flight teaches that sometimes we need a push, like hunger, to take our first step.
