Extra Questions and Notes
The Sound Of Nusic Extra Questions and Notes
INTRODUCTION
This
chapter gives in brief the life story of the great musician Bismillah Khan. He
is a Shehnai maestro. It also tells us about the origin of the Shehnai.
Bismillah Khan is one of the great personalities of Hindustani music. He
belongs to the Benaras Gharana. He was born in Dumraon in Bihar. His interest
in music was visible from his childhood. As a Shehnai player, he has won
national and international awards. He has travelled all over the world. He has
also been awarded the nation’s highest award Bharat Ratna. Bismillah Khan
thinks that music can bridge the gap between different communities. So he wants
that music should be made a compulsory subject in schools.
(यह पाठ
संक्षिप्त में एक महान संगीतकार बिस्मिल्ला खान के जीवन वो बारे में बताता है । वे
एक कुशल शहनाई वादक हैं । यह हमें शहनाई के जन्म के जन्म के बारे में भी
बताता है । बिस्मिल्ला खान हिंदुस्तानी
संगीत की महान विभूतियों में से एक हैं । वे वनारस घराने से संबंध रखते हैं ।
उनंका जन्म बिहार में दुमराओं मेँ हुआ था । संगीत में उनकी रुचि बचपन से ही नज़र आती थी । शहनाई वादक के रूप में उन्होंने राष्ट्रीय एवं अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय इनाम जीते हैं । उन्होंने
पूरे विश्व का भ्रमण किया है । उन्हें राष्ट्र का सर्वोच्च पुरस्कार
‘भारत रत्न‘ भी दिया गया है
। बिस्मिल्ला खान सोचते है कि संगीत अलग – अलग समुदायों के बीच का फासला खत्म
कर सकता है। इसलिए वे चाहते हैँ कि संगीत को स्कूलों में अनिवार्य विषय बनाया जाए
।
Plot/
Theme
THEME
The
feature is written on the theme that music transcends all barriers. The
author’s focus on Bismillah Khan’s achievements in the field of classical
shehnai music reveals how this great musician’s life was devoted to his passion
for shehnai. It was Bismillah Khan’s secular approach to music that he
sharpened his skill without any bias towards the source of his opportunities.
The life of this legendary musician is an example of the rich, cultural
heritage of India that respects talent, irrespective of the religion of the
artist.
Significance of the Title
Justify the title
TITLE
The
title “The Sound of Music” and the subtitle “The Shehnai Bismillah Khan” are
very appropriate as they are in accord with the contents of the feature, which
celebrates the melodious music produced by Bismillah Khan’s shehnai. It also
describes Bismillah Khan’s evolution and achievements as a pioneering shehnai
player.
Moral/ Message of the
lesson
MESSAGE
The
life sketch of Bismillah Khan teaches the important lesson that Indian music is
very rich and invigorating. Great musicians like Bismillah Khan not only
adopted and inherited traditional music but also enhanced it with their
original contributions. The feature conveys the message in Bismillah Khan’s own
words: “Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition; even
the West is now coming to learn our music.” Another message that the feature
gives is that one must love one’s country and rise above communal feelings.
Summary in English-
DETAILED SUMMARY
This
chapter tells us about the origin of the Indian musical instrument Shehnai. It
also gives the life history of the great Shehnai player, Bismillah Khan. It is
said that in the past a musical instrument called pungi used to be played in
palaces before the kings and Nawabs. But Aurangzeb did not like the shrill and
unpleasant sound of the pungi. So he banned the playing of this musical
instrument in the royal residence. There was a barber who belonged to a family
of musicians. He had access to the royal palace. He tried hard to improve the
tonal quality of the instrument .He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem
that was longer and broader than the original pungi. He carved seven holes on
the body of the instrument. When he played on it, an impressive sonorous tonal
sound was produced. The barber played it before the king and his courtiers.
Everybody was impressed. [he instrument was called Shehnai because it was born
in the Shah’s chamber and was invented by a Mar (barber). There is another
story about the origin of Shehnai. The original Shehnai players were mostly
employed in temples. They played the Shehnai before the images at various times
of the day. It was also played on North Indian wedding and an every auspicious
occasion. Gradually, the Shehnai became very popular. Ustad Bismillah Khan
isthe greatest Shehnai player. He belongs to the Benaras Gharana of Hindustani
Music. He was born at Dumraon in Bihar. lie belonged to a family of
professional Shehnai players. As a five year old boy, Bismillah Khan used to
play gill i-danda near a pond in Dumraon. After playing he generally went to a
nearby temple called Bihariji Temple. lie would sit there and sing the Bhojpuri
thaita’. The local Maha-raja was pleased to hear him sing. At the age of three,
he went to Benaras. There his maternal uncle All Bux taught him the art of
playing Shehnai. For hours, he would practisein the temples of Balaji and
Mangala Maiya. He would also go to the bank of Ganga mid practise in solitude.
Even as a child, Bismillah Khan won many awards. He got his first big award
when he was only 14 years old. He got it at the All India Music Conference in
Allahabad. On the day of independence, 15th August, 1947, he played at the Red
Fort at the request oflawaharlal Nehru. In 1999, lie was awarded the Bharat
Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country. Bismillah Khan is fondly
called K hansaab. He has travelled all over the world. Ile got honours in every
country, In Tehran, an auditorium was named after him. lie has seen many
cities, but he remains very fond of
Benaras and Duntraon. He calls them the most
wonderful towns in the world. He has a special fascination for Benaras because
of the Ganga there. In his youth, he used to practise Shehnai in solitude on
the banks of the Ganga. Once one of his students in the USA requested him to
head a Shehnai school there. He said that he would recreate the atmosphere of
Benaras by building similar temples there. But the Ustad asked him whether he
would bring the Ganga also there. Once he said, “Whenever 1 is in Mumbai. I
think of only Varanasi and the holy Ganga”. And while in varanasi, I miss the
unique “mattha in Dumraon”.
Summary in Hindi –
SUMMARY IN HINDI
यह
पाठ हमेँ भारतीय वाद्ययंत्र शहनाई की उत्पत्ति के बारे में बताता है । यह महान
शहनाई वादक बिस्मिल्ला खान के जीवन इतिहास के बारे में भी बताता है ।
ऐसा
कहा जाता है कि अतीत में पुंगी नामक एक वाद्ययंत्र महलों में राजाओं और नवाबों के
सामने बजाया जाता था । मगर औरंगजेब को पुंगी की तीखी एवं अप्रिय आवाज अच्छी नहीं
लगती थी । इसलिए उसने शाही निवास मेँ इस वाद्ययंत्र के बजाए जाने पर रोक लगा दी ।
एक नाई था जो संगीतकारों के एक परिवार से संबध रखता था । उसकी पहुंच शाही महल तक
थी । उसने इस वाद्ययंत्र को सुधारने की कड़ी कोशिश की । उसने एक ऐसी लकडी की पाईप ली
जो मूलभूत पुंगी से अधिक लंबी एवं
अधिक चौड़ी थी । उसने उस वाद्ययंत्र पर सात सुराख किए । जब उसने इसे बजाया तो एक
प्रभाव शाली धुन वाली आबाज़ पैदा हो गई ।
नाई ने इसे राजा एवं दरबारियों के सामने
बजाया । हर व्यक्ति प्रभावित हुआ । वाद्ययंत्र को शहनाई कहा गया, क्योंकि
इसे शाह के कमरे में बजाया गया था और इसका आविष्कार एक ‘नाई‘ ने किया था
।
आरंभिक शहनाई वादकों को आमतौर पर मंदिरों में नियुक्त किया जाता था
। वे दिन में कई बार मूर्तियों के सामने
शहनाई बजाया करते थे । इसे उत्तर भारतीय शादी में तथा हर शुभ अवसर पर भी बजाया
जाता था । धीरे – धीरे,शहनाई बडी प्रसिदूध हो गई ।
उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खान महानतम शहनाई वादक
हैं । वे हिंदुस्थानी संगीत के वनारस
घराने से संबध रखते हैँ । उनका जन्म बिहार में दुमराओं के स्थान पर हुआ । वे
पेशेवर शहनाई वादकों के परिवारों से संबंध रखते है । पांच साल के बच्चे के रूप में
बिस्मिल्ला खान दुमराओं में एक तालाब के पास
गिल्ली-डंडा खेला करते थे । खेलने के बाद वे आमतौर पर निकट एक मंदिर जिसे बिहारी
जी का मंदिर कहते हैं जाया करते थे । वे यहाँ बैठते और भोजपुरी ‘चेता‘ गाया करते
थे । स्थानीय महाराजा को उसे गाता सुनकर बड़ी
खुशी होती थी । तीन साल की उम्र में ,वे बनारस गए । वहाँ उनके मामा अली बक्श ने उन्हें शहनाई बजाना
सिखाया । वे बालाजी और मंगल मैय्या के मंदिरों मेँ घंटों अभ्यास कर ते रहते थे ।
वे गंगा किनारे भी जाते थे और एकांत में अभ्यास करते थे । बचपन में ही, बिस्मिल्ला
खान ने कई पुरस्कार जीते । उन्हें अपना पहला इनाम तब मिला जब वे चौदह बर्ष के थे ।
उन्हें यह इनाम इलाहाबाद में अखिल भारतीय संगीत सभा मेँ मिला । पंद्रह अगस्त, 1947 को आजादी
के दिन उन्होंने जवाहरलाल नेहरु के अनुरोध पर लाल किले पर शहनाई बजाई । 1999 में
उन्हें देश का सबसे बडा नागरिक पुरस्कार ‘भारत रत्न‘ प्रदान
किया गया ।
बिस्मिल्ला खान को प्यार से खान साहिब कहा
जाता है । उन्होंने पूरे विश्व का भ्रमण
किया है । उन्हें हर देश मेँ सम्मान मिला है । तेहरान मेँ, एक
ऑडीटोरियम का नाम उनके नाम पर रखा गया है । उन्होंने वहुत से देश देखे हैं, मगर उन्हें
सदा बनारस और दुमराओं से प्यार रहा है ।
वे उन्हें विश्व का सबसे आश्चर्यजनक शहर मानते हैँ । उन्हें बनारस से विशष लगाव है, क्योंकि
वहाँ पर गंगा है । अपनी जवानी में , वे गंगा के
किनारे एकांत में शहनाई का अभ्यास किया
करते थे । एक बार अमेरिका में उनके एक छात्र ने उनसे अनुरोध किया कि वे यहाँ के
शहनाई स्कूल के मुखिया बने ।उन्होंने कहा कि वे वहॉ बनारस जैसे मंदिर बनाकर वहाँ
के वातावरण का पुननिर्माण करेंगे । मगर उस्ताद ने उनसे पूछा कि क्या वे वहां पर
गंगा ला सकते है ।एक बार उन्होनें कहा,जब भी मैं मुंबई में होता हूँ तो
मैं वाराणसी एवं पवित्र गंगा के बारे में सोचता हूँ और जब मै वाराणसी में होता तो
मुझे दुमराओ के विचित्र (लस्सी) की याद आती है ।
Line to Line Explanation in
Hindi
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
EXTRACT
A
slight girl, looking younger than her seventeen years, was nervous yet excited
as she felt the vibrations of the approaching train. It was her first day at
the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and daunting enough for any
teenager fresh from a Scottish farm. But this aspiring musician faced a bigger
challenge than most: she was profoundly deaf.
Questions
(i)Who was the girl?
(i)She
was Evelyn Glennie.
(ii) How did she react to
the approaching train?
(ii)
She was nervous but excited.
(iii) What can be said about her appearance?
(iii)
She appeared a little younger than her age.
(iv) What challenge was she facing?
(iv) The challenge was to become a successful
percussion player while being a deaf person.
EXTRACT
Evelyn
Glennie’s loss of hearing had been gradual. Her mother remembers noticing
something was wrong when the eight-year-old Evelyn was waiting to play the
piano. “They called her name and she didn’t move. I suddenly realised she
hadn’t heard,” says Isabel Glennie.
Questions
(i)Did Evelyn Glennie’s loss of hearing occur
all of a sudden?
(i)
No, her loss of hearing had been gradual.
(ii) How old was she when her mother realised her deafness?
(ii)
She was eight-years-old when her mother realised her deafness.
(iii) Why did Evelyn Glennie not move to play the piano?
(iii)
Evelyn did not move to play the piano because she did not hear her name.
(iv) How did her mother realise that Evelyn did not hear her
name?
(iv)
When her friends called her name, she did not move.
EXTRACT
For
quite a while Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends and
teachers. But by the time she was eleven her marks had deteriorated and her
headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist.
Questions
(i) Who did Evelyn try to conceal deafness from?
(i)
She tried to conceal it from her friends and teachers.
(ii) How did her mother realise that Evelyn did not hear her
name?
(ii)
When her friends called her name, she did not move.
(iii) What did the headmistress suggest to Evelyn’s mother?
(iii)
The headmistress suggested to take her to a specialist as her marks had
deteriorated greatly.
(iv) What happened to her hearing?
(iv)
It was severely impaired.
EXTRACT
Forbes
repeated the exercise, and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain
notes in different parts of her body. “I had learnt to open my mind and body to
sounds and vibrations.” The rest was sheer determination and hard work. She
never looked back from that point onwards.
Questions
(i) Who was Forbes?
(i)
He was a percussionist.
(ii) How did he help Evelyn?
(ii)
He taught Evelyn to sense music through her body parts.
(iii) Why is Evelyn indebted to Forbes?
(iii)
From him, she learnt to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations.
(iv) What helped Evelyn rise high in her field?
(iv)
Her sheer determination and hard work helped her rise in her field.
EXTRACT
She
has brought percussion to the front of the orchestra and demonstrated that it
can be very moving. She has given inspiration to those who are handicapped,
people who look to her and say, ‘If she can do it, I can.’ And, not least, she
has given enormous pleasure to millions.
Questions
(i) Who does ‘she’ refer to here?
(i)
Here ‘she’ refers to Evelyn Glennie.
(ii) Why did she bring percussion to the front of the orchestra?
(ii)
She did so to show that the percussion can be very touching.
(iii) How does she help the handicapped?
(iii)
She has become an inspiration to the handicapped to do whatever they want with
their determination and hard work.
(iv) What has she done
for other people?
(iv)
She has given enormous pleasure to millions of people.
EXTRACT
A
barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal
palace; decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with
a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi and made seven
holes on the body of the pipe.
Questions
(i) What was a pungi?
(i)
It was a musical instrument.
(ii) What decision did the barber take?
(ii)
He decided to improve its tonal quality.
(iii) Who banned the playing of pungi in the royal residence?
(iii)
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in the royal residence.
(iv) What name was given to the new musical instrument made by
the barber?
(iv)
It was named `Shehnai’.
EXTRACT
Soon
Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of
Benaras where Bux was employed to play the shehnai. Ali Bux would play the
shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end. Slowly, he started
getting lessons in playing the instrument and would sit practising throughout
the day.
Questions
(i) Who was Ali Bux and what was his profession?
(i)
Ali Bux was Bismillah’s maternal uncle. He was employed to play the Shehnai in
the Vishnu temple of Varanasi.
(ii) Why did Bismillah Khan accompany his uncle?
(ii)
Bismillah Khan accompanied his uncle to learn from him how to play Shehnai.
(iii) How did Ali Bin attract Bismillah Khan?
(iii)
Ali Bux attracted him by playing fascinating and melodious tunes of Shehnai
(iv) How did his uncle help him in learning to play Shehnai?
(iv)
His uncle started giving him lessons in playing Shehnai for practice.
EXTRACT
Ustad Faiyaz Khan patted the young boy’s back
and said, “Work hard and you shall make it.” With the opening of the All India
Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah’s big break.
Questions
(i) Who is the ‘young
boy’ here?
(i)
Bismillah Khan is the ‘young boy’ here.
(ii) How old was Bismillah Khan when he participated in the
Allahabad Music Conference?
(ii)
He was only fourteen years old.
(iii) Why did Ustad Faiyaz Khan pat him?
(iii)
He patted him for his performance in the Allahabad Music Conference
(iv) How was the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow a big
break for him?
(iv)
Bismillah was given a chance to play Shehnai on the All India Radio.
EXTRACT
With
the coveted award resting on his chest and his eyes glinting with rare
happiness he said, “All I would like to say is: Teach your children music, this
is Hindustan’s richest tradition; even the West is now coming to learn our
music.”
Questions
(i) Who is ‘he’ here?
(i)
‘He’ is Ustad Bismillah Khan here.
(ii) Which award is being referred to?
(ii)
The Bharat Ratna is being referred to.
(iii) Why does Bismillah Khan want children to learn Hindustani
Music?
(iii)
Bismillah Khan wants children to learn Hindustani Music as India has a very
rich tradition of music, even the West is now coming to learn this music.
(iv) What quality of him is reflected in the above lines?
(iv)
He was very fond of Hindustani music.
EXTRACT
A
student of his once wanted him to head a Shehnai school in the U.S.A., and the
student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the
temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River
Ganga as well. Later, he is remembered to have said, “That is why whenever I am
in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan.
Questions
(i) Who was Khansaab?
(i)
He was Ustad Bismillah Khan.
(ii) What did his
disciple promise him?
(ii)
He promised him to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the U.S.A.
(iii) What did Bismillah Khan ask his disciple?
(iii)
He asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga
(iv) How did Bismillah Khan show his love for the country?
(iv)
Bismillah Khan loved his country. Whenever he went to any foreign country, he
kept yearning to see Hindustan.
.
IMPORTANT EXTRACT
EXTRACT
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a
musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill
unpleasant sound. Fungi became the generic name for reeded noisemakers. Few had
thought that it would one day be revived. A barber of a family of professional
musicians, who had access to the royal patience, decided to improve the tonal
quality of the fungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stern that was
longer and broader than the pungi and made seven holes on the body of the pipe.
When he played on it. casing and opening some of these holes, soft and
melodious sounds were produced. He played the instrument before royalty and
everyone was impressed. The instrument so different from the pungi had to be
given a new name. As the story goes, since it was first played in the Shah’s
chambers and was played by a ‘name’ (the barber), the instrument was named the
‘Shehnai’..
Questions :
(i) Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi?
(i)
Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi because he did not like its shrill
pleasing sound.
(ii) Which family did the
barber belong?
(ii)
The barber belonged to a family of professional musicians.
(iii) What slid the barber decide to do?
(iii)
The barber decided to improve the tonal quality °lithe pungi.
(iv) Where did the barber
play the new instrument the first time?
(iv)
He played k in the Shah’s chamber.
(v)What
name was given to this new instruments?
(v)
This instrument was named the ‘Shehnai’
EXTRACT
The
sound of the Shehnai began to be considered auspicious. And for this reason, it
is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North
Indian wedding. In the past, Shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional
ensembles of nine instruments found at royal courts. Till recently it was used
only in temples and weddings. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the
classical stage goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Questions :
(I) How was the sound of the Shehnai considered?
(i)
The sound of Shehnai was considered auspicious
(ii) On which occasions was the Shehnai played?
(ii)
It was played in temples and (on the occasion of) weddings
(iii) What was the Shehnai a part of?
(iii)
It wara part of the naubat or traditional ensembles.
(iv) What change did
Bismillah Khan give to ‘Shehnai’?
(iv)
He played Shehnai on another occasion also other than in temples and in
weddings.
(v) Name the lesson
(v)
‘The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan.’
EXTRACT
As
a five-year-old, Bismillah Khan played Gilli-danda near a pond in the ancient estate
of Dumraon in Bihar. He would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to
sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaim’, at the end of which he would earn a big laddu
weighing. 1.25 kg, a prize given by the local Maharaja. This happened 80 years
ago, and the little boy has travelled far to earn the highest civilian award in
India—the Bharat Ratna.
Questions :
(i) What did Bismillah Khan use to do when he was just five
years old?
(i) When he was five-year-old he used to play
Gilli-danda near a pond in Dumraon.
(ii) Why did he go to the
Bihariji temple?
(ii)
He went to Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaitra’.
(iii) What award did he win at the end of this Bhojpuri that’?
(iii)
A big laddu weighing 1.25 kg.
(iv) What is the highest civilian award in India?
(iv)
The Bharat Ratna.
EXTRACT
Born
on March 21, 1916, Bismillah belongs to a well-known family of musicians from
Bihar. His grandfather, Rasool Bux Khan was the Shehnai-Nawaz of the Bhojpur
king’s court. His father, Paigambar Bux, and other paternal ancestors were also
great Shehnai players.
Questions :
(i) When was Bismillah Khan born?
(i)
Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916.
(ii) Which family did Bismillah Khan belong?
(ii)
He belongs to a well-known family of musicians in Bihar.
(iii)
What was the name of his grandfather?
(iv)
What was his grandfather’s Profession?
(iii)
ftdsool Bux Khan.
(v) Name Bismillah Khan’s father.
(v)
Paigambar Bux.
EXTRACT
Awards
and recognition came thick and fast. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to
be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Center Hall in the USA. He
also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, at the Cannes Art Festival
and in the Osaka Trade Fair. So well known did he become internationally that
an auditorium in Teheran was named after him—Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah
Khan.
Questions :
(i) Where did Bismillah Khan perform in the USA?
(i)
He performed at the prestigious Lincoln Center Hall.
(ii) Where was the Cannes Art Festival held?
(ii)
The Cannes Art Festival was held in Montreal.
(iii) What honour did he receive in Teheran?
(iii)
An auditorium in Teheran named after him—Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.
(iv) In which country do you think Teheran is?
(iv)
Tehran is the capital of Iran.
(v) What performance did
Bismillah Khan give in Osaka Trade Fair?
(v)
He gave the performance of ‘Shehnai recital’.
Character
Sketches
Evelyn
Glennie: Evelyn was a determined and hardworking girl. With her strong will
power, she overcame the obstacle that was gifted to here by Nature. In
childhood, she lost her hearing capabilities gradually. At the age of eleven
years, her hearing power was severely damaged. In spite of her handicap, she
did not want to give up. She took music as her passion. Her teachers
discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes guided her. She joined a
three-year course at the Royal Academy of Music. She captured the most of top
awards at the Royal Academy. She is the world’s most sought multiplayer of
drums and tables.
Ron
Forbes: He was a percussionist. He identified Evelyn potential and supported
her in achieving her goal. He trained her to sense the music through different
parts of her body. He certainly played a great role in helping Evelyn achieve
her goal. He was a perfect teacher and lift his marks in the world of music.
EXTRACTS
FOR COMPREHENSION
Read
the following extracts and answer the questions that follow in one or two lines
each.
(I)
Few had thought that it would one day be
revived. A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the
royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi.
(a)
What does ‘it’ refer to?
It refers to a reeded musical instrument
called the pungi.
(b)
Why did ‘it’ need to be revived?
The
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had banned the pungi in the royal residence as he
found its sound to be shrill and unpleasant. Therefore, it needed to be
revived.
(c)
Why did the barber probably have interest in ‘it’?
The barber hailed from a family of
professional musicians. That is why he probably had an interest in the reeded
musical instrument, the pungi.
(d)
Did he succeed in improving ‘it’? If yes, how?
Yes,
he succeeded in improving the tonal quality of the pungi. He took a reed or a
pipe with the natural hollow stem which was wider and longer than the pungi. He
made seven holes in it. When played, it produced soft and melodious music
instead of the shrill, unpleasant sound of the earlier pungi.
(II)
As
the story goes, since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played
by a nai (barber), the instrument was named the ‘shehnai.
(a)
What is ‘it’ here?
It
is shehnai – a musical instrument made with a hollow stem with seven holes in
it.
(b) How did ‘it’ get its name?
The
instrument was played by the barber in the chambers of the emperor. ‘Shah’ is
an Urdu word for ’emperor’ and ‘nai’ for a barber. The two words combined to
form the name ‘shehnai’ that was the improved version of pungi.
(c)
Who was the barber that played the instrument first?
The
barber who first played the instrument belonged to the family of musicians. He
had made an improved form of pungi.
(d)
What is the significance of the instrument being played in the royal court?
The
pungi had been banned by the emperor Aurangzeb in the royal residence.
Therefore, concerts of the shehnai in the royal court made it a significant
instrument.
(III)
Till recently it was used only in temples and
weddings. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes
to Ustad Bismillah Khan.
(a)
Which instrument is being referred to in the extract?
The instrument is referred to in the extract
is ‘shehnai’.
(b) Why, do you think, it was used only in
temples and weddings?
The
sounds of shehnai were so melodious that they were considered to be auspicious.
As the temple is a holy place and wedding, is an auspicious occasion, shehnai
came to be played there.
(c)
Who was Ustad Bismillah Khan?
Ustad
Bismillah Khan was the renowned shehnai player who contributed in a major way
to the promotion of shehnai as a significant musical instrument.
(d)
How did Bismillah Khan bring the shehnai to the classical stage?
Bismillah
Khan did a great service to shehnai as it came to be regarded as an instrument
of classical music because of the new melodies produced by him.
(IV)
The
flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas that
were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai.
(a) Who was inspired by the flowing waters of
the Ganga?
Ustad
Bismillah Khan was inspired by the flowing waters of the Ganga.
(b) What kind of impact did the waters of the
Ganga have on ‘him’?
The
waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise the old raagas and invent new
ones for the shehnai.
(c)
How did he widen the range of the shehnai?
There
were certain raagas or musical notations which were considered to be outside
the range of the shehnai. He invented and played new raagas on it and made its
range wider.
(d)
What could be the relation between the waters of the Ganga and the musical
notations?
The
waters of the Ganga flow with a rhythm and beat which are similar to musical
notations.
(V)
He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from
the Red Fort to an audience which included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, who later gave his famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech.
(a) Who is ‘he’ in this line?
He
is Ustad Bismillah Khan, the eminent shehnai player.
(b)
On which occasion did he play Raag Kafi for the audience?
He played Raag Kafi for the audience on the
occasion of the independence of India on August 15, 1947.
(c)
Which instrument did he play upon on this occasion?
He
played upon the shehnai, the music of which is considered auspicious in India.
(d)
Explain the expression: “He poured his heart out.”
The
expression implies that the music played on the shehnai came from the depths of
the heart of Bismillah Khan who, as a true patriot, was excited at the
declaration of the independence of India.
(VI)
“I
just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film
world….”
(a)
Who is the speaker of these words?
Bismillah Khan, the famous shehnai maestro, is
the speaker of these words.
(b)
Which two characteristics of the film world did he dislike?
He
disliked the artificiality and glamour of the film world.
(c)
What does it indicate about his character?
It
indicates that truthfulness and simplicity were two significant traits of
Bismillah Khan’s character.
(d)
Explain: ‘come to terms’.
The
expression ‘come to terms’ means to reconcile with or to accept somebody or
something.
(VII)
But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to
transport River Ganga as well.
(a) Who does ‘Khansaab’ refer to in this
extract?
In
this extract, ‘Khansaab’ refers to Bismillah Khan, the great shehnai maestro.
(b) Who did Khansaab ask the question?
Khansaab asked the question from his student
who was settled in the USA.
(
C) When did Khansaab say so?
He
said so when his student asked him to head a school of music in the USA and
promised that he would create the atmosphere Of Benaras by replicating the
temples.
(d)
What does the remark reveal about ‘Khansaab’?
It
reveals that Khansaab was a true patriot, who passionately loved the Ganga and
never wanted to live away from it.
Additional Questions
Q.1
Why was this musical instrument named Shehnai?
Ans.
This musical instrument was first played in the Shah’s chamber and was played
by a ‘nai’. So this instrument was named Shehnai.
Q.2.
Describe Bismillah Khan as a boy in Duniraon.
Ans.
As a boy, Bismillah Khan played Gilli-danda near a pond at Dummon. Alter that
he would go to Bhihariji Temple and sang Bhojpuri ‘Chaitra’. The local Maharaja
was pleased to hear him sing.
Q.3. What prize did boy Bismillah Khan earn?
Why was he given this prize?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan earned a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg. He was given this prize by
the local Maharaja. Bismillah Khan earned this prize for singing the Bhojpuri
‘Chaita’ at the Bihariji Temple.
Q.4.
“I5th August. 1947, the first Independence Day was the happiest day of his
life.” Why?
Ans.
On the first Independence Day, Bismillah Khan played the Shehnai at the
ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru had invited
him to play the Shehnai there. It was a great honour for him. So it was the
happiest day of his life.
5. Why is Bismillah Khan so attached to the Ganga?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan is greatly attached to the Ganga. lie had spent his childhood
playing and practising Shehnai on the blanks of the Ganga. He gets inspiration
from the Ganga. He cannot imagine his life happy if he is away from her. He
loves the Ganga very much.
Main Characters of the
Story
CHARACTERS
Bismillah
Khan In “The Sound of Music” (Part II), Bismillah Khan has been portrayed as a
great musician, a devout patriot, and a liberal human being. Bismillah Khan has
been one of the most eminent musicians of India who honoured rich, cultural
heritage of Indian music. Born and brought up in the family of musicians, he
inherited and learnt a lot from his paternal and maternal families. But he
further enriched the shehnai music by his improvised raagas which he harmonised
with the waves of the Ganga. His passion for music started at the early age of
three and continued up to his death at ninety.
Starting
with playing music in temples and on the banks of the Ganga, Bismillah Khan
rose to fame with international conferences and concerts. Such was his fame
that he was invited to play shehnai at the Red Fort on the occasion of the
independence of India on August 15, 1947. Many awards like the Padamshri, the Padma
Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. He has also been
honoured with the Bharat Ratan, the greatest civilian award in India. He played
shehnai in Afghanistan before King Zahir Shah; was invited to perform at
Lincoln Central Hall, USA; participated in the World Exposition in Montreal, in
the Cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade Fair. Such is his international fame
that in Teheran, an auditorium has been named after him.
Bismillah
Khan was a great patriot who declined the offer of his student to settle down
in the USA. He had a profound love for the Ganga in Benaras and his birthplace,
the estate in Dumraon, Bihar. Such high regard does he have for the rich
heritage of India, that he was not allured by the glamour of the film world.
Bismillah
Khan was a liberal human being who had respect for all religions. Though a
devout Muslim, he played shehnai every day in the Kashi Vishwanath temple,
Benaras. Thus, a great musician and a great human being, Bismillah Khan earned
international repute for himself.
MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE
STORY
Ustad
Bismillah Khan: He was a great Shehnai player. His contribution to Shehnai will
always be remembered. From his very childhood, he was a great learner. He
watched his maternal uncle Ali Bux at Benaras and learnt the lessons of Shehnai
from him. As he was dedicated to Shehnai, he practised for hours on the
peaceful bank of Ganga in Benaras. He developed different varieties of
Hindustani ragas and became popular. He was unable to forget the Ganga, Benaras
and the Mattha of Dumraon. He had visited several countries but never tried to
settle there. He got the opportunity to celebrate the Independence of India by
playing Shehnai on the ramparts of the Lal Quila. His music really moved the
country. Finally, he was given the highest civilian award — the Bharat Ratna.
Ali
Bux: He was the maternal uncle of Ustad Bismillah Khan. Like a true teacher, he
peacefully gave Bismillah the lessons of Shehnai. Bux was a hard working
Shehnai player. He used to practise playing Shehnai for hours. The great
quality of his character was that he had no difference between religions. He
was employed as the Shehnai player in the Vishnu temple of Benaras. Here he
tried to please Lord Vishnu with the charming music of Shehnai. His character
was very influencing. He taught Bismillah the importance of constant practice
and dedication of work.
Very Short Answer Type
Questions
1. What did Aurangzeb do to the playing of pungi in his royal
residence?
Ans.Ms.
Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in his royal residence.
2. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi in his royal
residence?
Ans.
Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in his royal residence because he did not
like its shrill unpleasant sound.
3. Which family did the barber belong to?
Ans.
He belonged to a family of professional musicians.
Q.4. Who invented `Shehnai’?
Ans.
A barber in Aurangzeb’s court invented Shehnai.
5. How many holes does a Shehnai have on its body?
Ans.
It has seven holes in its body.
6. Where was Bismillah Khan born?
Ans. He was born in Dumraon in Bihar.
7. When was Bismillah Khan born?
Ans. He was born on 21 March 1916.
8. Which highest civilian award in India was conferred on
Bismillah Khan?
Ans.
The Bharat Ratna.
9. What was the name of Bismillah’s grandfather?
Ans. His name was Rasool Bux Khan.
10. What was the name of Bismillah’s father?
Ans. His name was Paigambar Bux.
11. What was the profession of Bismillah’s paternal ancestors?
Ans.
They were great Shehnai players.
12. Who was Ali Bux?
Ans.
AN Bux was Bismillah’s maternal uncle.
13. When was All India Radio in Lucknow was opened?
Ans. In 1938.
14. What is Bismillah Khan’s special achievement on 15 August
1947?
Ans. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to
greet the nation with his Shehnai on this day.
15. To which foreign country did Bismillah Khan go on his first
trip?
Ans. Afghanistan.
16. Which film was made by Vijay Matt after hearing Fsismillah’s
Shehnai?
Ans. `Gunj Uthi Shehnai’.
17. Which auditorium is named after Bismillah Khan in Tehran?
Ans.
The name of the auditorium is Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.
18. What name is Bismillah Khan fondly called?
Ans.
He is fondly called `Khansaab’.
19. When Bismillah Khan is in Mumbai he missed two things badly.
Name those two things.
Ans. They are Benaras and the Ganga.
20. What did one of his students in the U.S.A. want him to do?
Ans.
One of his students in the U.S.A. wanted him to head a Shehnai school in the
U.S.A.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Ans.
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because he considered it as a
reeded noisemaker with its loud, shrill, and unpleasant sound. He prohibited
its play in the royal court.
Q2. Why did the pungi become a generic name for “reeded
noisemakers”?
Ans.
The pungi produced loud, unpleasant and jarring music. Because of this shrill
music, Aurangzeb banned it in the royal house. As it was made from a reed and
produced noisy sounds, it became a generic name for “reeded noisemakers”.
Q3. How is a ‘shehnai’
different from a pungi?
Ans.Though
a reeded instrument like a pungi, a shehnai differs from it in width and sound.
It is made with a longer and broader stem than a pungi and produces soft,
melodious sounds instead of the loud, jarring sound of a pungi.
Q4. Who revived the pungi
and what shape did it take?
Ans. When Aurangzeb banned the playing of the
pungi in the royal residence, a barber who belonged to a family of professional
musicians revived it by taking a wider and longer hollow stem and making seven
holes in it. The improved pungi produced soft and sweet sounds.
Q5. How did the ‘shehnai’ get its name?
Ans.
It is believed that the barber (nai) who improved the pungi, played his
instrument in the chamber of the emperor (shah). The c combination of the two
words ‘shah’ and ‘nai’ formed the name ‘shehnai’.
Q6. Why was the shehnai played in temples and weddings?
Ans.
The music of the shehnai was melodious and soft. It came to be believed that it
was auspicious. Therefore, in the holy temples and on the happy auspicious
occasions of weddings, the shehnai was played.
Q7. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did
Bismillah Khan change it?
Or
How did Bismillah Khan
bring the ‘shehnai’ onto the classical stage?
Ans.
Traditionally, the shehnai was played in the royal court as one of the nine
instruments together known as naubat. Bismillah Khan made it an independent
instrument and gave its music a place among other classical instrumental music.
Q8. Where did Bismillah Khan usually sing at the age of five?
How was he rewarded and by whom?
Ans.
At the age of five, Bismillah Khan usually sang the Bhojpuri ‘chaita a’ in the
Bihariji temple in his native town Dumraon in Bihar. At the end of the song, he
earned a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg which was given by the local Maharaja as a
prize.
Q9. What does the feature “The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan”, tell
us about the paternal ancestors of Bismillah Khan?
Or
What kind of family did Bismillah Khan hail from?
Ans. Bismillah Khan hailed from a family of
musicians in Bihar. His grandfather Rasool Bux Khan was the shehnai player in
the royal court of the king of Bhojpur. His father Paigambar Bux and many
paternal and maternal uncles were also ‘shehnai vaadaks’ (players).
Q10. Who was Ali Bux?
Where was he employed and what was his influence on Bismillah Khan?
Ans.
Ali Bux was the maternal uncle of Bismillah Khan and may be regarded as his
mentor and trainer. He was a great shehnai player and was employed to play the
shehnai in the Vishnu temple of Benaras. At a very young age, Bismillah Khan
started accompanying him and got lessons in playing the shehnai from him. The
young boy would sit for hours listening to his uncle and later practise
throughout the day.
Q11. Which places were
young Bismillah Khan’s favourite haunts for practising music? Why?
Ans.
The temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya, as well as the banks of the Ganga, were
young Bismillah Khan’s favourite haunts because he could practice his music
there in solitude. The flowing waters of Ganga inspired him to improvise and
invent raagas which were earlier considered beyond the range of the shehnai.
Q12. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
(Textual)
Ans. The ‘big break’ came to Bismillah Khan
when in 1938 the All India Radio was started in Lucknow. Khansaab was regularly
invited to play the shehnai and soon became an often-heard shehnai player on
the radio.
Q13. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on August 15,
1947? Why was the event historic?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on August 15, 1947, at the Red Fort in New
Delhi prior to the speech of Pandit Nehru. It was a historic event as India had
got independence from the British on this day. Bismillah Khan was the first
Indian to greet the nation and he poured his heart out while playing the
melodious Raag Kafi on his shehnai.
Q14. Where did Bismillah Khan go on his first foreign trip? How
was he honoured there?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan’s first foreign trip took him to Afghanistan where King Zahir
Shah was so impressed with the maestro’s shehnai recital that he honoured him
with gifts of priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs.
Q15. Why did the film director Vijay Bhatt name his film “Gunj
Uthi Shehnai“?
Ans.
The film director, Vijay Bhatt, once heard the shehnai recital of Bismillah
Khan in a festival. He was so fascinated by the performance that he decided to
name his next film after the instrument and called it “Gun Uthi Shehnai“
Q16. Which films did Bismillah Khan provide music for? Why did
he discontinue playing the shehnai for films?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan ventured into the film world with Vijay Bhatt’s “Gunj Uthi
Shehnai” . Then he played in a Kannada film – “Samadhi Apanna“. Though he was
very successful, he gave up the film world because his tastes did not tune well
with the artificiality and glamour of filmdom.
Q17. How was Bismillah Khan’s music appreciated and recognised
on the international level?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan’s music was so much appreciated on the international level that
he became the first Indian to be invited to perform in the prestigious Lincoln
Central Hall, USA. He participated in the World Exposition in Montreal, the
Cannes Art Festival and the Osaka Trade Fair. In Teheran, an auditorium was
named after him.
Q18. How did India honour and reward the great musician,
Bismillah Khan?
Ans.
India honoured Bismillah Khan by conferring on him the greatest national awards
– the Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He was also awarded
the Bharat Rama in 2001, the highest civilian award in India.
Q19. Why did Bismillah Khan want that the
children in India should be taught music?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan had great regard for Indian music and considered the Hindustani
music to be its richest heritage. He wanted that children must not cut off
their bond from this grand tradition which was fascinating even for the people
of the west.
Q20. What offer did one
of Bismillah Khan’s students in the US make to him? Why?
Ans. A student of Bismillah Khan, who himself
was settled in the US, wanted that the great maestro should be the head of a
shehnai school in the U.S. He promised that he would create the environment of
India by erecting the temples like those in Benaras, India.
Q21. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in
the U.S.A.?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan was a staunch patriot and was passionately in love with Benaras
and Dumraon in India. He intensely loved the Ganga and could not stay away from
the sacred river. Therefore, he declined the offer to settle down in the US and
head a shehnai school there.
Q22. Why does the author believe that Bismillah Khan’s life is
“a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India”?
Ans.
India has always shown a liberal attitude to all communities and religions. Its
cultural heritage is a blend of various castes and creeds. Bismillah Khan’s
life perfectly represents this blend. Although a devout Muslim, Khansaab played
the shehnai in the Kashi Vishwanath temple every morning.
Q23. Find instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah
Khan loved India and Benaras.
Ans.
Bismillah Khan’s love for India and Benaras is revealed by the fact that he
refused to settle down in the US as the head of a shehnai school in spite of a
strong assurance from his student to build temples like those in India. This
love also becomes obvious in his acceptance speech after receiving the Bharat
Ratna when he declared Hindustani music to be the richest heritage.
Q.24. How did Evelyn sense the sounds and vibrations of the
music?
Ans.
Evelyn sensed the sounds and vibrations of the music by opening her mind and
body to them. She felt different notes through different parts of her body.
Q25. What was the contribution of Forbes in helping Evelyn to
learn music?
Ans.
Forbes played a crucial role in shaping Evelyn’s musical talents. He asked her
to sense the sounds and vibrations through her different body parts. He turned
two large drums to different notes and asked her to feel the different notes
and sounds some other way.
Q26. How was Evelyn a source of great pleasure to her audience?
Ans.
Evelyn was very young. She performed despite her handicap. Her music was better
than those of her double age. She was an inspiration to the handicapped. Thus,
she has given enormous pleasure to millions.
Q27. How is Evelyn able to express music so beautifully?
Ans.
Though deaf, Evelyn was able to express music beautifully as she could feel far
more deeply than many of us. That is why she expressed music so beautifully.
Q28. How was Evelyn able to get admission to the Royal Academy
of Music?
Ans.
Ron Forbes spotted Evelyn’s potential in music. She never looked back from that
point. By the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She
auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored the highest marks in the
history of the academy.
Q29. Why does Evelyn remove her shoes on the wooden platform?
Ans.
While playing instruments she removes shoes on the wooden platform. It allows
the vibrations to pass through her bare feet and up to her legs. She is able to
feel music through every part of her body. She can also feel the echo of sound
flowing into her body by leaning against the drums.
Q30. How did Ron Forbes give training in music to Evelyn?
Ans.
He took two large drums for tuning Evelyn at once realised higher drums from
the waist up and lower drums from the waist down. He motivated her to feel
music in different parts of her body.
Q31. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Ans.
With the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, Bismillah Khan got a
big break. He became an often heard Shehnai player on Radio. When India got
independence on 15th August 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to
greet the nation with his Shehnai.
Q32. Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15 August
1947? Why was the event historic?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan played the Shehnai from the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. It was
a historic event because he became the first Indian to greet the nation on the
occasion of first Independence Day. This programme was attended by Nehru, the
first Prime Minister and many stalwarts of the nations.
Q33. What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan was a true Indian at heart. The recurring themes of his music
were the ethics of temples and human relationships. The flowing waters of the
Ganga inspired him to improve and invent `raagas’.
Q34. How was pungi came to be named Whehnai’?
Ans.
A barber from a family of professional musicians decided to improve the pungi.
He chose a pipe with a hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi.
He played the instrument before the king and everyone was impressed. Since it
was played by a barber, and in the Shah’s chambers, the instrument was named as
‘She/tile.
Q35. Bismillah Khan loved India and Benaras the most. Justify it
by giving two instances from the text.
Ans.
He was fond of Benaras and Dumraon. They remained for him the most wonderful
towns in the world. He said that whenever he was in a foreign country, he kept
yearning to see India. While in Mumbai, he thinks only of Benaras and the holy
Ganga. And while in Benaras, he misses the unique mattha of Dumraon.
Q36. How did the barber change the tonal quality of a pungi into
the melodious voice of the Shehnai?
Ans.
The barber chose a pipe with a natural hollow-stem. It was longer and broader
than `pungi’. He made seven holes on the body of the pipe. He played on it.
Soft and melodious sounds were produced. The barber played it before the
royalty and it came to be known as Shehnai.
Q37. How did Ustad Bismillah Khan bring Shehnai to the classical
stage?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai player. He invented many raagas and played
them on Shehnai. His tunes enchanted everybody. Thus, Shehnai became a popular
musical instrument in the country.
Q38. What idea did Ustad Bismillah Khan hold about Hindustani
music?
Ans.
He held a high about Hindustani music. He was of the opinion that every child
should learn Hindustani music. India has a very rich tradition of music. Even
the West come here to learn our music.
LONG TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Write a note on the origin of the Shehnai.
Ans. It is said that in the past a musical
instrument called pungi used to be played in palaces before the Kings and
Nawabs. But Aurangzeb did not like the shrill and unpleasant sound of the
pungi. So he banned the playing of this musical instrument in the royal residence.
There was a barber who belonged to a family of musicians. He had access to the
royal palace. He tried hard to improve the tonal quality of the instrument: Ile
chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the
original pungi. lie carved seven holes on the body of the instrument. When he
played on it, an impressive sonorous tonal sound was produced. The barber
played it before the king and his courtiers. Everybody was impressed. The
instrument Was called Shehnai because it was born in the Shah’s chamber and was
invented by a ‘nai’ (barber). There is another story about the origin of
Shehnai. It is said that a doctor of Iran invented it. His name was I laquim Bu
All Saina and the instrument was named after him.
Q.2. What are the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music and
how did they originate?
Ans.
At the age of flute, Bismillah Khan went to Benaras. #1 here his maternal uncle
All Bux taught him the nuances of the Shehnai. the lie used to practise in the
temple of Balaji and Mangla Maiya. He also practised on the banks of the Ganga.
There is practised for hours in complete solitude. The flowing waters of the
Ganga inspired him to improvise his music. There he invented the ‘ragas’ that
were earlier considered beyond the range of Shehnai. The atmosphere of the
temple and the solitude of the banks of the Ganga had a great effect on him.
They influenced the themes of his music also. One such theme was the ethos of
the temple. The other theme was the relationship between human beings based on
the tune of the flowing river. These became the recurring themes of Bismillah
Khan’s music.
3. Why is Benaras so important to Bismillah Khan?
Ans.
Mr Bismillah Khan is fondly called Khansaab. He has travelled all over the
world. He got honours in every country. In Tehran, an auditorium was named
after him. He has seen many cities, but he remains very fond of Benaras and
Dumraon. He calls them the most wonderful towns in the world. He has a special
fascination for Benaras because of the Ganga there. In his youth, he used to
practise Shehnai in solitude on the banks of the Ganga. Once one of his
students in the USA requested him to head a Shehnai school there. He said that
he would recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by building similar temples there.
But the Ustad asked him whether he would bring the Ganga also there. Once he
said, “Whenever I am in Mumbai, I think of only Varanasi and the holy Ganga”.
Q4.Write a note on the life and achievements of Bismillah Khan
as a ‘shehnai vaadak’. What values of life do you derive from his story?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan’s journey as a ‘shehnai vaadak’ carries in itself deep moral
values of dedication, simplicity and patriotism. It started at the young age of
three and continued up to the age of ninety. The journey ranged from playing
the instrument in the temples to getting international fame.
Hailing
from a family of musicians, Bismillah Khan inherited an interest in the
shehnai. At a young age of three, he started accompanying his maternal Uncle
Ali Bux to the Vishnu temple in Benaras and learnt a lot from him. He would
sing scriptures like the Bhojpuri chaita’
Bismillah
Khan got a significant break when he started playing for the All India Radio,
Lucknow in 1938. His music was so admired that he was invited to play at the
historic moment of Indian independence on 15 August 1947. In recognition of his
talent, he was conferred upon with the greatest awards of India – the
Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He was awarded the Bharat
Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 2001. Bismillah Khan ventured
into the film world but abandoned it after he found it to be too artificial and
glamorous. On the international level, he mesmerized the King of Afghanistan
with o his shehnai music. He was the only Indian to be invited to play shehnai
in the Lincoln Central Hall, USA. He also played inn international events like
the World Exposition, Montreal, the Cannes Art Festival and the Osaka Trade
Fair. As a token of appreciation, the Teheran government has named an
auditorium after Bismillah Khan.
Bismillah Khan has a deep devotion to his
motherland and is proud of its heritage of music. Hence, he declined the offer
to settle down in foreign countries. F His journey teaches the values of
dedication to one’s talent and persistent efforts to reach the greatest heights
of excellence.
Q5. How does the author of The Sound of Music” portray Bismillah
Khan as a great patriot?
Or
Bismillah Khan, on receiving the Bharat Ratna, remarked, “Teach
your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition; even the West is
now coming to learn our music.” What does it reveal about his sentiments
towards India?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan, in “The Sound of Music”, emerged as a person imbued with intense
and strong patriotic emotions. He had a profound and passionate love for his
birthplace, Dumraon in Bihar and for Benaras where he took training to play the
shehnai. He feels a deep bond with the Ganga because the flowing waters of the
holy river made him improvise and spontaneously play new raagas – the ones
which were earlier regarded to be beyond the range of the shehnai. Such was
Bismillah Khan’s love for his country and the Ganga that he refused to settle
down in America to head a-school for the shehnai. His strong attachment with
the sacred river made him miss Benaras when he was in Mumbai or elsewhere.
Equally strong was his bonding with his birthplace Dumraon.
Bismillah Khan had a great regard for the
Hindustani music which, for him, is the richest cultural heritage of India. He
wanted the tradition of the Indian music to be carried on from generation to
generation. That is why he advised the people of India to teach music to their
children and felt proud that this music fascinated even the people of the west.
Q6. You have now read
about two musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Do you think that
they both worked hard? Where did they want to go? (Textual)
Or
Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan shared the values of hard work
and perseverance. Discuss.
Or
What important lesson does the life of Evelyn Glennie and
Bismillah Khan teach us?
Ans.
Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan, the two eminent music maestros, through
their achievements, have proved to the world that the values of hard work and
unstaggering efforts are always rewarded. Evelyn Glennie became an
internationally admired multi-percussionist only because of her untiring work
which could conquer even her handicap. Instead of yielding to her deafness, she
made all-out efforts to sense the sounds of music through different parts of
her body and never looked back. With her persistent efforts, she made it to the
Royal Academy of Music, London and bagged the most prestigious awards. Her sincere
devotion to her art has given percussion a new place on the international
stage.
Bismillah
Khan, like Evelyn, was dedicated to his art and attained greatest heights as a
‘shehnai vaadak’. He too worked diligently and transformed the shehnai into a classical
instrument. He added enormously to what he had inherited by widening the range
of the shehnai. He invented many new raagas spontaneously. Starting with
playing in the temples of Benaras and on the banks of Ganga, he reached the
stage of international acclaim. His hard work enabled him to win the most
prestigious awards in India and in the world.
Thus,
the lives of both Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan are perfect examples of how
dedicated efforts and persistent hard work lead to grand achievements.
Q7. Write a note on some
of the most memorable performances of Ustad Bismillah Khan as described in the
feature “The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan”.
Ans. During his illustrious career spanning
over 80 years, Bismillah Khan gave countless music performances, but a few of
them stand out as milestones in his career.
For
example, his performance of the Bhojpuri ‘chaita’ at the Bihariji temple at the
age of five indicated the signs of a maestro he was to evolve into. For every
recital, he would get a 1.25 kg laddu as a reward from the local king. At the
age of 14, he was patted for his performance at the Allahabad Music Conference
by Ustad Faiyaz Khan. In 1938, Bismillah Khan got perhaps the biggest break of
his career when he got to perform on the All India Radio, Lucknow. Equally
remarkable was the opportunity to usher in the Independence of the country from
the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. His first foreign performance
in Afghanistan got him rich accolades and honours. He also had the chance to
provide music to two films – Vijay Bhatt’s “Gunj Uthi Shehnai” and Srinivas’s
Kannada movie “Samadhi Apanna”. Then followed a string of international
performances, notable among them being the performances at the prestigious
Lincoln Centre Hall (USA), World Exposition (Montreal), Cannes Art Festival and
Osaka Trade fair.
Q8. “Music has no religion.” How did Bismillah Khan’s Shehani
prove it?
Ans.
Music is the voice of the soul. It is sacred beyond the religions. It is
eternal and acts as a source of inspiration for everyone. A musician never
plays music for any particular religion. Bismillah Khan who belonged to the
Muslim community played Shehnai in temples. He was deeply attached to the holy
city of Benaras and the holy river Ganga. The river Ganga and its flowing water
were the main source of inspiration for him. He could never think of leaving
Benaras and holy river Ganga. Since his childhood, he was fond of music. As a
five-year-old child, he used to visit Bihariji temple at Dumraon to sing Bhojpuri
Chaita. His love for music was so deeply influenced by Benaras and Ganga that
once a student from the USA wanted him to head a Shehnai school there. He
promised him to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the USA by replicating
the temple. But Bismillah Khan refused to say that he couldn’t take the Ganga
there.
Q9. Describe the life and character of Ustad Bismillah Khan with
emphasis on values of his character you should imbibe.
Ans.
Ustad Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai player. He was born in a village of
Bihar state. He belonged to a family of professional musicians. He made Shehnai
a famous musical instrument in the world. The government of India gave him the
greatest civilian award —”Bharat Ratna”. He was a true patriot. He never showed
his desire to settle abroad when he was offered several chances. Bismillah had
a great passion for Shehnai. He took lessons from his maternal uncle Ali Bux
and practised hard on the peaceful banks of the river Ganga. Infect his life is
motivating for students. He teaches them that human beings should give up
narrow mindedness. They should take values from different religions.
Q10. Why did Emperor Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi and
how it was improved and called Shehnai?
Ans.
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi in the royal residence
because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound. But a barber of a professional
family of musicians was able to improve it. He chose a pipe with a natural
hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi. He made seven holes on
the body of the pipe. He played the instrument before the king and everyone was
impressed. Since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by
an’ (barber), the instrument was named the ‘Shehnai’
Q11. How was Bismillah Khan associated with the film world?
Ans.
Film director Vijay Bhatt heard Bismillah Khan at a festival. He was so much
impressed by Bismillah Khan that he named a film after the instrument ‘Cu&
Uthi Shehnai. The film was a huge hit. One of Bismillah Khan’s compositions
“Di! Ka Valens film at Toot Gaya”, turned out to be very !popular: In spite of
his great success in the world, Bismillah Khan’s film music was limited to two.
Vijay Bhatt’a
`Gunj
Uthi Shehnai’ and Vikram Srinivas’s `Samadhi Apanna’. But Bismillah made it
clear that he could not come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the
film world.
Q.12. What important lesson does the life of Bismillah Khan
teach us?
Ans.
Bismillah Khan teaches us a very remarkable lesson of life. People make advancement
in life by dint of hard work and devotion. He was very interested in music as
he was born in the family of a musician. He used to sing Chaita in the Biharji
temple. When he was in Benaras, he was greatly influenced by his maternal
uncle, who was a great Shehnai player. He copied his uncle in the true spirit
and practised Shehnai in the peaceful environment of the Ganga. His hard work
and devotion brought him good fruits. He was awarded the greatest civilian
award, the Bharat Ratna.
QUICK REVIEW
Who banned the playing of pungi in the royal palace?
(A) Babur
(B) Akbar
(C) Shah Jahan
(D) Aurangzeb
Ans.
(D) Aurangzeb
Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi in the royal palace?
(A) it was played only by the Hindus (B) it was an ill-omened
instrument
(C) he did not like its unpleasant tone (D) none of these
Ans.
(A) it was played only by the Hindus
Which family did the barber belong?
(A) professional barbers (B)
professional musicians
(C) professional soldiers (D)
professional beggars
Ans. (B) professional musicians
What did the barber decide to do?
(A) to play the pungi before the Emperor (B) not to cut the emperor’s hair
(C) to request the
emperor to lift the ban from the playing of pungi
(D) to improve the quality of the pungi
Ans.
(D) to improve the quality of the pungi
Where did he play his newly discovered music instrument for the
first time?
(A) in the Shah’s chambers (B) before the public
(C) in the open
court (D)) none
of these
Ans. (A) In the Shah’s chambers
What name was given to this new instrument?
(A) new pungi (B)
improved pungi
(C) shehnai (D)
none of these
Ans.
(C) shehnai
How the sound of shehnai began to be considered?
(A) auspicious
(B)
ill-omened
(C) unpleasant (D) a sign
of mourning
Ans.
(A) auspicious
When and where is shehnai played?
(A) in temples (B) in
weddings
(C) on auspicious occasions (D) all the options are right
Ans. (D) all the options are right
What credit is given to Ustad Bismillah Khan regarding shehnai?
(A) inventing shehnai (B) inventing pungi
(C) bring shehnai onto the classical stage (D) none of these
Ans.
(C) bring shehnai onto the classical stage
Who do you know is Bismillah Khan?
(A) a politician (B) a
shehnai maestro
(C) an actor (D)) a
writer
Ans.
(B) a shehnai maestro
Where did Bismillah Khan regularly go to sing Bhojpuri thaltat ?
(A) Bihariji Temple (B) Jama Masjid
(C) Rumpurva Temple
(D)) Durga Temple
Ans. (A) Bihariji Temple
Where was Bismillah Khan born?
(A) Varanasi (B) Prayag
(C) Dumraon (D) none of these
Ans.
(C) Dumraon
What was Bismillah Khan’s grandfather?
(A) a soldier (b) an
actor
(C) a courtier (D) the
shehnai Nawaz of the Bhojpur King’s court
Ans. (D) the shehnai Nawaz of the Bhojour
King’s court
What was the name of Bismillah Khan’s father?
(A) Rasool Brix Khan (B) Paigambar Bux
(C) All Bux (D)
liazrat Rasool Kaar
Ans. (B) Paugambar Bux
Who was Ali Bux?
(A) Bismillah’s father (B) Bismillah’s grandfather
(C) Bismillah’s maternal uncle (D) Bismillah’s friend
Ans.
(C) Bismillah’s maternal uncle
Bismillah Khan was deeply attached to____
(A) the Sutlej (B) the
Ganga
(C) the Narmada (D) the
Godavari
Ans. (B) the Ganga
On August 15, 1947, which Raag was played by Bismillah Khan from
the Red Fort?
(A) Raag Malhaar (B) Raag Deepak
(C) Raag Kati
(D) Raag
Megh
Ans.
(C) Raag Kafi
Which film is named after Bismillah’s instrument?
(A) Shehnai Ki Awaj (B)
Shehnai Ka Raja
(C) Shehnai Wala (D)
Gunj Uthi Shehnai
Ans. (D) Gunj Uthi Shehnai
Of the following which is Bismillah Khan’s composition?
(A) Dil ka khilona hai
toot gaya (B) Mere
khuda mujhko na bhoolana
(C) Main Tere dar to aaya Noon (D) Ye Dil ka taranaa hai
Ans.
(A) Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya
When was Bismillah Khan awarded the highest civilian award
‘Bharat Ratna’?
(A) in 2000
(B) in 2001
(C) in 2002 (D) in 2003
Ans.
(B) in 2001
Where
is Lincoln Center Hall situated?
(A) UK
(B) the USA
(C)
Canada
(D) France
Ans.
(B) USA
Bismillah
Khan took part in :
(A)
the World Exposition in Montreal
(B) the Cannes Art Festival
(C)
the Osaka Trade Fair (D) All of
these
Ans.
(D) All of these
Tahar
Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan auditorium is situated in :
(A)
Montreal
(B) Osaka
(C)
Teheran
(D) Behrin
Ans.
(C) Teheran
24.Which
national award was conferred on Ustad Bismillah Khan?
(A)
the Padmashri (B)
the Padma Bhushan
(C)
the Palma Vibhushan (D) All of
these
Ans.
(D) All of these
Which
is India’s highest civilian award?
(A)
the Padmashri (B) the Padma Bhushan
(C) the Padma Vibhushan (D) the Bharat
Ratna
Ans. (D) the Bharat Ratna
According
to Bismillah Khan, what is Hindustan’s richest tradition?
(A)
earning money (B) music
(C) spirituality
(D) politics
Ans.
(B) music
Bismillah
Khan was called
(A)
Khansaab
B) Bismillahsaab
(C)
Kingsaab (D)
Ustadsaab
Ans. (A) Khansaab
FOR PRACTICE (UNSOLVED)
Bismillah Khan has given many memorable
performances both in India and abroad. His first trip abroad was to Afghanistan
where King Zahir Shah was so taken in by the maestro that he gifted him
priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs. The King of Afghanistan is not
the only one to be fascinated with Bismillah’s music. Film director Vijay Bhatt
was so impressed after hearing Bismillah play at a festival that he named a
film after the instrument called “Gunj Uthi Shehnai”. The film was a hit, and
one of Bismillah Khan’s composition, “Dii ka khilona hai toot Gaya “, turned
out to be a nationwide chartbuster!
Questions :
What was Bismillah Khan’s first visit abroad?
What gifts did King Zahir Shah of Afganistan give to him?
Which film director was much impressed with him?
What honour did Vijay Blatt give to Bismillah Khan?
How was Bismillah’s composition ‘DO ka khilona hai toot Gaya’
judged by the public?
Main Characters of the Story- The Sound of Music
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