উলুবনে মুক্তো ছড়ানো

Kultureller Hintergrund

The 'Ulu' grass is a staple of the Bengal delta. It grows in the 'char' lands (river islands). Using it in a proverb shows how closely Bengali language is tied to its riverine geography. In urban Bengal, this phrase is often used by the educated middle class to express frustration with the 'vulgarization' of culture or politics. While the phrase itself isn't religious, the concept of 'giving to the worthy' is a strong theme in Hindu and Muslim traditions in Bengal. Bengali literature, from Rabindranath Tagore to modern poets, often uses this imagery to describe the loneliness of the artist in an unappreciative society.