The Sound of Music Beehive Class 9 Chapter 2 Question Answer

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Thinking about the Text (Page 20)

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

Question 1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?

Answer: Evelyn was not even seventeen when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.

Question 2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?

Answer: Her deafness was noticed when she was eight-year-old. It was confirmed by the time she was eleven.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30-40 words).

Question 1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?

Answer: Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He spotted her potential and said, “Don’t listen through your ears, try to sense it some other way.” He began by tuning two large drums to different notes.

Question 2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.

Answer: Evelyn performed free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She made music her life and performed many regular concerts.

III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100-150 words).

Question 1. How does Evelyn hear music?

Answer: Evelyn became deaf by the time she was eleven. But she did not give up. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. Ron Forbes, a percussionist spotted her potential. He asked her not to listen through ears but try to sense it some other way. She realized she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. Forbes repeated the exercise and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. She learnt to open her body and mind to sounds and vibrations. She herself explained, “It pours in through every part of my body. It tingles in the skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair.” When she played on the xylophone, she could sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she could feel the resonances flowing into her body. On the wooden floor she used to remove her shoes so that the vibrations may pass through her bare feet and up her legs.

Thinking about the Text (Page 25)

I. Tick the right answer.

1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
3. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musi-cians).
4. Bismillah Khan leamt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).

Answers:

1. Pungi
2. A barber
3. Professional musicians
4. Ali bux
5. Afghanistan

II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (✓) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class.

Answers: 1. Positive, 2. Negative, 3. Negative, 4. Neutral, 5. Positive, 6. Positive, 7. Negative

III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?

Answer: Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.

Question 2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

Answer: A shehnai is a pipe with a natural hollow that is longer and broader than a pungi. It has seven holes on the body of the pipe.

Question 3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?

Answer: The shehnai was played traditionally in the temple at the royal courts and on the occasion of weddings. The credit must go to Bismillah Khan to take this instrument onto the classical stage.

Question 4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?

Answer: Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938.

Question 5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?

Answer: Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on 15 August 1947 at the Red Fort. He was the first Indian to greet the nation with his musical instrument. This event was historic because We got independence on that day. He poured his heart out in the presence of a large number of people including Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru.

Question 6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?

Answer: He refused to start a shehnai school in the USA because he never wanted to leave India. He loved India so much and he did not want to settle anywhere except India. That is why whenever he was in a foreign country, he kept yearning to see Hindustan.

Question 7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.

Answer: Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras The sound of Music 197 from the bottom of his heart. He says that he misses the holy Ganga and India when he goes abroad. While in Mumbai, he thinks of only Benaras and the holy river. And when he is in Benaras, he remembers the unique mattha of Dumraon.

Thinking about language (Page 26)

I. Look at these sentences.

(i) Evelyn was determined to live a normal life.
(ii) Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends and teachers.

The italicised parts answer the questions:
“What was Evelyn determined to do?” and “What did Evelyn manage to do?” They begin with a to-verb {to live, to conceal). Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets.

1. The school sports team hopes ………….. (What does it hope to do?)
2. We all want ………….. (What do we all want to do?)
3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother ………….. (What did they advise her to do?)
4. The authorities permitted us to ………….. (What did the authorities permit us to do?)
5. A musician decided to ………….. (What did the musician decide to do?)

Answers:

1. to win
2. to succeed
3. to take her to a specialist
4. play
5. play a new Raaga

II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down. The number of the paragraph where you will find the words/phrases has been given for you in brackets.

1. the home of royal people (1) …………..

2. the state of being alone (5) …………..

3. a part which is absolutely necessary (2) …………..

4. to do something not done before (5) …………..

5. without much effort (13) …………..

6. quickly and in large quantities (9) ………….. and …………..

Answer:

1. royal residence
2. solitude
3. an indispensable component
4. improvise
5. effortlessly
6. thick; fast.

III. Tick the right answer.

1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).
2. When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started).
3. When something is considered auspicious (welcome it/avoid it).
4. When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).
5. When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).
6. When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).
7. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).

Answers:

1. lives again
2. stopped
3. welcome it
4. interesting
5. find it good and useful
6. for the second time
7. no longer upsetting

Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1:
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 realized she hadn’t heard,” says Isabel Glennie. 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.

(i) What made Isabel suspect Evelyn’s hearing ability ?
(ii) Why did Evelyn’s headmistress advised her parents to consult a specialist?
(iii) Find the word/phrase in the passage which means the same as “to hide”.

Answer:
(i) Isabel had a doubt about Evelyn’s hearing ability when she did not move when her name was called to play on the piano.
(ii) Evelyn’s headmistress advised her parents to consult a specialist when her marks deteriorated.
(iii) Conceal.

Question 2:
As for music, she explains “it pours in through every part of my body. It tingles in the skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair”. When she plays the xylophone, she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her finger tips. By leaning against the drums, she can feel the resonances flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs.

(i) How does Evelyn hear the sound of xylophone ?
(ii) Why does she remove her shoes on a wooden platform during her performance ?
(iii) Find a word from the passage that means “‘take off”.

Answer:
(i) Evelyn hears the sound of xylophone through her finger tips.
(ii) She removes her shoes on a wooden platform during her performance so that she can feel the vibrations of music through her feet to legs.
(iii) Removes.

Question 3:
She never looked back from that point onwards. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra and by the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. She gradually moved from orchestral work to solo performances.

(i) What did Evelyn decide when she was sixteen years old ?
(ii) How did Evelyn get right to the top ?
(iii) Which word in the passage means the same as “gave a short performance so that the director
could decide whether she was good enough”.

Answer:

(i) When Evelyn was sixteen years old, she decided to make music her life.
(ii) Evelyn got to the top by hard work, motivation and determination.
(iii) Auditioned.

Question 4:
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. It was then discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage. They were advised that she should be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school of the deaf.

(i) Why did headmistress urge her parents to take her to the specialists ?
(ii) At what age were symptoms of deafness noticed in Evelyn ?
(iii) Trace the word that means “damaged”.

Answer:
(i) Evelyn’s school’s headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist because she had a hearing problem.
(ii) At the age of eleven the symptoms of deafness were noticed in Evelyn.
(iii) Impaired.

Question 5:
Rush hour crowds jostle for position on the underground train platform. 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.

(i) Who is the ‘girl’ in the above lines ?
(ii) Where was she going ?
(iii) Find the word from the extract that means “frightening”.

Answer:

(i) Evelyn Glennie.
(ii) She was going to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London.
(iii) Daunting.

Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each) (About 30-40 words each)

Question 1: When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed ? When was it confirmed ?

Answer: Isabel had a doubt about Evelyn’s hearing ability when she did not move when her name was called to play on the piano. At the age of 11 it was confirmed when she was taken to a specialist.

Question 2: When and how did Evelyn loose her power of hearing ?

Answer: Evelyn lost her power of hearing due to gradual nerve damage. At the age of 8 it was noticed and then at the age of 11 it was confirmed that Evelyn had lost her hearing ability.

Question 3: Why was Evelyn nervous while going to Royal Academy of Music ?

Answer: Evelyn was nervous while going to the Royal Academy of Music as she was just 16 years old and was fresh from the Scottish farms, to add to her nervousness.

Question 4: How did Evelyn’s deafness come to light ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
OR
When did Evelyn’s mother notice that something was wrong with her hearing ?

Answer: At the age of 8 when her name was announced to play on piano, she did not respond. At the age of 11, her marks deteriorated. The headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist and her hearing impairment was discovered.

Question 5: Who helped Evelyn to continue with music ? What did he do and say ?

Answer: When Evelyn wanted to pursue her career in music, everyone discouraged her. It was a Percussionist Ron Forbes who helped and encouraged her to listen to the music and feel the music through her body.

Question 6: How did Evelyn hear music despite being deaf ?

Answer: Evelyn could sense music through her body. While playing on the xylophone, she could sense music through her fingertips and would learn against drums to sense. On the wooden floors, she used to remove her shoes and sense music through her feet moving of the legs.

Question 7: What is Evelyn’s secret of success and what message does she give to achievers?

Answer: Evelyn’s secret of success was strong determination and hard work. The message that she gives to the achievers is that work hard and get what you want.

Question 8: How has Evelyn Glennie inspired handicapped people ?

Answer: When the handicapped people used to see Evelyn Glennie, they used to say, “If she can do it, I can”,And so, she resulted in inspiring them.

Question 9: Write down Evelyn’s message for the people.

Answer: Evelyn’s message to the people is that—Strong determination and hard work with sincerily / honesty leads to success. Aim for your goal and try to reach your goal with full determination and concentration.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each) (About 80-100 words each)

Question 1: How did Evelyn Glennie fight with her physical disability ?

Answer: Evelyn Glennie was a very brave girl. She learnt to open her body and mind to the sounds and vibrations. She used to feel as if music was flowing through her body. So she joined an orchestra and later the Royal Academy of Music. She did not want to be deprived of the joy of music that made her happy. She later even gave solo performances on stage in many countries and became famous.

Question 2: In spite of her towering success Evelyn Glennie does not accept any hint of heroic achievement.Explain.

Answer: Evelyn Glennie had a hearing loss and was discouraged by most of the teachers but she did not give up. Ron Forbes guided her to listen through her body not ears. Eventually, Evelyn learnt to open her body and mind to sound and vibrations. She scored the highest marks in the history of Royal Academy of Music. She also captured many top awards and brought percussion to the front of the orchestra. She has given pleasure to millions and in spite of this towering success she does ,
not accept any hint of heroic achievement and is a very simple person.

Question 3: Evelyn’s determination to overcome her disability has made her source of inspiration for deaf children. Comment.

Answer: When Evelyn became deaf, she was determined to lead a normal life. She was encouraged by her percussion teacher. She learned to sense music through different parts of the body and opened her mind and body to vibrations. She could feel higher drum from waist up and xylophone music through fingertips. She used to remove her shoes on the wooden floors. She was the master of a thousand instruments and most sought after as a multi – percussionist.

Question 4: How is Evelyn Glennie helping other with her popularity and skill ?

Answer: Inspite of Evelyn’s deafness she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and won the “Soloist of the Year” award. Evelyn used to practice for hours learning languages such as Japanese and French. She earned a lot but was kind at heart. She used to give free performances in prisons and hospitals and also proved a personal example of tireless hard work and firm determination.

Question 5: How did Evelyn succeed in pursuing her interest in music ?

Answer: Evelyn decided not to give up. It was Ron Forbes who recognized her potential and supported her. He advised her not to listen through her ears but to open her body and mind to the vibrations. She mastered the art of interpreting different vibrations of sound on her body to different notes. She could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. After the practice she could sense music in different parts of her body. And by this, Evelyn succeeded in pursuing her interest in music.

Value Based Question (4 marks)

Question 1: “A problem is only as big as we make it.” This thought has been very beautifully brought out in the lesson. Discuss.

Answer: Evelyn Glennie is profoundly deaf and cannot hear a word. Thus, she overcame this difficulty and learnt to listen music from her body. She not only scored highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music but also became a renowned musician. She is an idol for a lot of people and a source of inspiration for. them. Her sfory tells us that no problem is so great that it cannot be overcome.

Part 2 Bismillah Khan Summary

•This chapter throws light on the origin of Shehnai and the life of all time great Shehnai Vadak – Bismillah Khan. The winner of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, his dedication to music and his love for India.
•”Pungi” a musical instrument, was banned by Emperor Aurangzeb, because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. In fact, it was regarded more as a noise maker rather than a musical instrument. It was modified and perfected by a barber who belonged to a family of professional musicians. He played it in the chamber of the king. Its sound was so appreciated by the emperor that it was made a part of Naubat. Since it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as Shehnai.
•Traditionally, it was played in the temples and on every auspicious domestic occasions also. Its sound was regarded as auspicious. But it was treated as an incomplete musical instrument, not capable of creating independent pages. But Bismillah Khan broke this myth.
•Bismillah belongs to the Benares Gharana. He was bom in 1916 at Dumraon, in Bihar. As a 5 year old, he used to visit the Bihariji Temple and sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya” there. For his melodious singing he used to earn a big Laddu from the local Bhojpuri King. At the age of 6, he moved to Benares. There under the guidance and training of his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, he started picking up the finer nuances of shehnai. He used to spend most of his time practicing on the banks of the River Ganges. The themes of his music were deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga.
•He got the best performer award at All India Music Conference in Allahabad in 1930. In 2001, he won 3 awards’the Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan. He was invited to play the shehnai from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 194?, becoming the first to greet the independent India. He won many international awards also. He became the first Indian to perform at titje Lincoln Central Hall, in USA. An auditorium in Tehran was named after him-Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.
•Bismillah was very fond of Benares and Dumraon. He declined an offer from one of his students to settle in the USA, as he was not willing to stay away for long from Benaras and its holy river Ganga. He ventured into film world also. He gave his music in 2 movies. His composition “Dil ka khillonahai ” for movie “Goonj Uthi Shehnai”, was a chartbuster. But he could not associate himself with the artificial glamour of die film world. For him, music was his soul, his life.

Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1:
The young boy took to music early in’life. At the age of three when his mother took him to his maternal uncle’s house in Benares (now Varanasi); Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncles practice the shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benares where Ali Bux was employed to the play the Shehnai. Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end.

(i) Where did the young boy spend his life at the age of three ? .
(ii) What fascinated the young boy ?
(iii) Who was Ali Bux and where was he employed ?

Answer:
(i) At the age of three, the young boy spent his life at his maternal uncle’s house in Benares.
(ii) Shehnai and the practice of shehnai by his uncles fascinated the little boy.
(iii) Ali Bux was Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle. He was employed at the Vishnu Temple of Benares.

Question 2:
Awards and recognition came thick and fast. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States of America. He also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, in the Cannes Art Festival and in the Osaka Trade Fair. So well known did he become internationally that an auditorium in Tehran was named after him. Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

(i) What special recognition did Bismillah Khan achieve ?
(ii) Bismillah Khan promoted Shehnai to international level. How ?
(iii) The word in the passage means “prominent”.

Answer:
(i) The special recognition that Bismillah Khan achieved was to be the first Indian to perform at
Lincoln Central Hall.
(ii) Bismillah Khan promoted Shehnai to international levels by participating in the World Exposition, Cannes Art festival and Osaka Trade Fair.
(iii) prestigious.

Question 3:
When India gained independence On 15th August, 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his* Shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience which included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech.

(i) How did Bismillah Khan greet the nation ? ’
(ii) Who delivered the speech “Tryst with Destiny” ?
(iii) Find a word from the passage that means “gathering of persons for the purpose of hearing a speaker”.

Answer:

(i) Bismillah Khan greeted the nation by playing Raag Kafi on his Shehnai.
(ii) Jawaharlal Nehru.
(iii) Audience.

Question 4:
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.

(i) Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to which country ?
(ii) What did Zahir Shah present Bismillah Khan ?
(iii) Find word from the passage which has the same meaning as “momenta”.

Answer:

(i) Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.
(ii) Zahir Shah presented Bismillah Khan priceless Persian carpets and souvenirs.
(iii) Souvenirs

Question 5:
When India gained independence on August 15,1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from Red – Fort to an audience which included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

(i) When did India gain Independence ?
(ii) Which Raag did Bismillah Khan play from Red Fort ?
(iii) What do the words “poured his heart out” here refer to ?

Answer:

(i) India gained independence on 15th August, 1947.
(ii) Bismillah Khan played the Raag Kafi from the Red Fort.
(iii) Played from the depth of his heart

Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each) (About 30-40 words each)

Question 1: How did ‘pungi’ transform into a Shehnai ?

Answer: ‘Pungi’ a musical instrument was banned because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. But a nai modified and perfected it and played it for the first time an Shah’s chamber, thus it came to be known as ‘Shehnai’.

Question 2: Who had brought shehnai to the classical Stage ? What was he honoured with ?

Answer: Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He started picking up the finger nuances of Shehnai under the guidance of his maternal uncle Ali Bux. He had been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan.

Question 3: Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. ?

Answer: Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not live outside India. He was in love with Benares and Dumraon and missed it whenever he was in abroad.

Question 4: Why did emperor Aurangazeb ban the playing of Pungi in the royal residence?

Answer: Aurangazeb banned the playing of the Pungi in the royal residence because of its shrill unpleasant sound. It was regarded more as a noise maker than a musical instrument. –

Question 5: What is the difference between a Pungi and a Shehnai ?

Answer: The difference between a Pungi and Shehnai can be noticed by the difference in their shapes and the sound produced by them. A Shehnai is longer than a Pungi. The latter has a shrill, unpleasant sound whereas, the former has a soft, melodious sound.

Question 6: Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.?

Answer: Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he was a true patriot and loved India a lot specially the banks of the river Ganga.

Question 7: How do we know that sound of Shehnai is considered auspicious ?

Answer: We know that the sound of the Shehnai is considered auspicious because it is played in temples, and is a must for all happy occasions like marriages.

Question 8: What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music ?

Answer: The recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music was the relationships between the human beings and the flowing waters of the Ganga. He thought that Benares and Dumraon were the most wonderful towns of the world.

Question 9: How did “Pungi” get its new name ? What was it ?

Answer: Pungi was modified and perfected by a barber which was very much appreciated by the emperor.
Since, it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as ‘Shehnai.’

Question 10: What place did Shehnai have in the past ? What place has it now ?

Answer: In the past, the Shehnai was a part of the traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts. Then, it was used in temples and weddings but now it is used also in the classical concerts.

Question 11: When and how did Bismillah Khan get the break ?

Answer: Bismillah Khan, at the age of 14, accompanied his uncle to Allahabad Music Conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder. He got encouraged and worked hard and got a big break from the All India Radio in 1938.

Question 12: Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15th Aug 1947 ? Why was the event historic ?

Answer: Bismillah Khan was the first Indian to greet the nation with Shehnai and played ‘Raag Kafi’ from the Red Fort. The event was historic because the audience included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who gave the famous speech – Tryst with Destiny. .

Question 13: Why did Bismillah Khan regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple in his childhood and what did he earn ?

Answer: At the age of 5, Bismillah Khan would regularly visit the Bihariji temple to sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya”, For his melodious singing he used to earn a laddu weighing 1.25 kg. from the local Bhojpuri King.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each) (About 80-100 words each)

Question 1: “There is always a teacher to bring out the latent potential of a pupil/’ Justify with reference to the role played by Ron Forbes and Ustad Faiyaz Khan in the lives of Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan.

Answer: Teachers craft us to become better individuals both personally and professionally. Ron Forbes understood Evelyn’s passion for music. He taught Evelyn the nuances of hearing music not through her ears but through her body. He taught her to feel the vibrations in her hands and parts of legs to get the pitch. So, he crafted her to be more musical and confident.
Bismillah Khan’s teacher and mentor was his maternal uncle Ali Bux. Bismillah used to be transfixed when Ali Bux used to play Shehnai. As a child, Bismillah used to accompany his material uncle to Vishnu Temple of Benares where Ali Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. He attained perfection only because of his uncle and mentor.

Question 2: Give a brief character sketch of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Answer: Ustad Bismillah Khan was a Shehnai master of great national and international fame. He was a great musician. Ali Bux, his maternal unde perfected him in music. Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He practiced for hours and worked very hard to attain perfection. It was his melodious music that made him the first Indian to greet tire independent India. Ustad Bismillah Khan created many new rags. He was given many awards and he even received the “Bharat Ratna”. He was a true patriot who declined many offers to settle aborad. He was a true artist but a simple man. He had great regard for Hindustani Classical Music.

Question 3: How did the young Bismillah develop his interest in Shehnai ?

Answer: Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncle practice the Shehnai when he was only three. He was deeply fascinated by the music of Shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux, to the Vishnu Temple of Benares where Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. The themes of his music deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga. At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to Allahabad music conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder which inspired and encouraged him to work harder.

Question 4: How was Bismillah Khan’s music recognized internationally ?

Answer: Bismillah Khan was not only renowned in India iMt also internationally. He promoted Shehnai to international levels of participating in the world exposition, Cannes Art festival and Osaka Trade Fair. He became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Central Hall in the United States of America. So well known did he become internationally that an auditorium in Tehran was named after him, “Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.”

Question 5: Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.?

Answer: Bismillah Khan was exceedingly fond of Benares and Dumraon. They were the most wonderful towns of the world for him. The students promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benares, but he asked if they would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Whenever, he was in a foreign country he yearned for Hindustan. In Mumbai also he thought of only Benares and the holy Ganga. Thus, herefused to start a Shehnai School in the U.S.A.

Value Based Question (4 marks)

Question 1: Do you think Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep feelings for India ?

Answer: Yes, Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep rooted feelings for India especially for thfe banks of River Ganga and Benares. His love was so profound that he even refused to go to the U.S.A. to start up a schooL He did not even enjoy in Mumbai as he found the life to be very artificial. He was deeply connected to the banks of River Ganga and Benares.

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