The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Mymensingh

Rupa Mia, whose personal love story is believed to have been depicted by Palli Kabi Jasimuddin in his popular poem Nakshi Kanthar Maath, died at his village home Sunday night at the age of 107.

Rupa Mia, called as 'Rupai' in the poem by the great poet, was suffering from various old age complications. He breathed his last at Silashi village in Gaforgaon upazila at about 11:30pm.

The popular poem was staged by various theatre groups on various occasions across the country since its publication in 1929. It was also included in university curriculum of Bangla department.

Soumitra Shekhar, a teacher of Dhaka University's Bangla Department, told UNB that poet Jasimuddin in his student life came across Rupa Mia when he had been in Mymensingh on a tour and heard his love story.

Moved by Rupa Mia's tragic story, as Shekhar says, the poet narrated it in his poem Nakshi Kanthar Maath wining the hearts of millions.

Nakshi Kantha is a traditional textile craft in Bangladesh featuring elaborate stitching in a spectrum of different styles. The word "kantha" originally suggests a light quilt for mild winters and cool monsoon nights.

The name Nakshi Kantha became particularly popular among literate people after the publication of Jasimuddin's poem Naksi Kanthar Maath.