The Sound of Music Class 9 Question Answer

The Sound of Music Class 9 Question Answer

Part – I

Textbook Questions:

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.
इन प्रश्नों के उत्तर कुछ शब्दों में या एक-दो वाक्यों में दो।

Question 1.
How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
एवलिन की क्या आयु थी जब वह रावल अकादमी ऑफ म्युजिक में गई?
Answer:
Evelyn was only seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.

Question 2.
When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
उसके बहरेपन का पहली बार कब पता चला? उसकी पुष्टि कब
Answer:
Evelyn’s deafness was first noticed by his mother when she was eight years old.
She was eleven years old when it was confirmed by a specialist. He said her hearing was severely damaged.

Short Answer type Questions

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30-40 words).
इन प्रश्नों में से प्रत्येक का उत्तर 30 से 40 शब्दों वाले संक्षिप्त अनुच्छेद में दें।

Question 1.
Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
संगीत में लगे रहने में उसकी सहायता किसने की? उसने क्या किया और क्या कहा?
Answer:
Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He said she had the potential. He tuned two large drums and said to her, “Don’t listen through ears, but try to sense it some other way.” Indeed she was able to sense the vibrations in her body.

Question 2.
Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
वे कौन-कौन से विभिन्न स्थान व संस्थाएँ हैं जिनके निमित एवलिन संगीत सभाएं करती है?
Answer:
Evelyn gives free performances in prisons and hospitals. She also gives preference to the classes for young musicians.

Long Answer type Questions

III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs. (100-150 words)
इस प्रश्न का उत्तर दो या तीन अनुच्छेदों में दें। (100 से 150 शब्द)

Question 1.
How does Evelyn hear music?
एवलिन को संगीत कैसे सुनाई पड़ता है?
Or
How does Evelyn hear music?
How is she an inspiration for the specially disabled people in the world ?
Answer:
Evelyn became completely deaf at the age of eleven. She had an earnest desire to become a musician. Ron Forbes, the percussionist, saw the potential in her and advised her not to hear music through the ears but try to feel it some other way. She tried and started feeling music through vibrations in her body. Now, music pours in through every part of her body. It tingles her skin, cheekbones, even hair and fingertips. Leaning against the drum, she can feel the resonances. On a wooden platform, she takes off her shoes to feel the vibrations through her bare feet and legs.

Evelyn has mastered 1000 instruments. Today, she is the most sought after percussionist of the world. Her success story is a source of inspiration for specially disabled people in the world. They think if she has achieved so much, they too can achieve through similar determination and hard work.

IV. Very Important Examination Questions:

I. Extract-based Objective Type Questions
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions with the help of the given options :

Question 1.
But Evelyn was not going to give up. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. One day she noticed a girl playing a xylophone and decided that she wanted to play it too. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbs spotted her potential. He began by timing two large drums to different notes. ‘Don’t listen through your ears’, he would say, try to sense it some other way.’ Says Evelyn, ‘Suddenly I realised I could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down.’ Forbs repeated the exercise, and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her

(i) Evelyn was determined to :
(а) start singing songs.
(b) go to the doctor for her treatment.
(c) learn dancing.
(d) to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music.
Answer:
(d) to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music.

(ii) Ron Forbes asked Evelyn :
(a) not to listen through her ears but try to sense it some other way.
(b) to listen music through ears as no one can listen without ears.
(c) to learn singing only.
(d) not to learn music at all.
Answer:
(a) not to listen through her ears but try to sense it some other way.

(iii) ‘Suddenly I realised I could feel higher drum from the waist up’ means _________.
(а) that she was beating drum
(b) that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body
(c) that she came to know that she too could learn beating drum
(d) that she could never learn music
Answer:
(b) that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body

(iv) Find a word from the passage which means the same as ‘ability’ :
(a) determined
(b) drum
(c) potential
(d) noticed
Answer:
(c) potential

(v) What was Evelyn not going to give up?
Answer:
Evelyn was very determined to lead a normal life and to pursue her interest in music.

(vi) What was not normal about her?
Answer:
She suffered from hearing impairment due to gradual nerve damage.

(vii) What did Ron Forbes ask Evelyn to do?
Answer:
Ron Forbes asked Evelyn not to listen through her ears but to try to sense it some other way.

(viii) When did she decide to learn music.
Answer:
She, one day, noticed a girl playing a xylophone and decided to learn music.

Question 2.
But this aspiring musician faced a bigger challenge than most.
(i) Identify the musician.
(ii) Why was learning music a great challenge for the teenager?
(iii) What was a bigger challenge for her and why?
(iv) Why was she excited?
Answer:
(i) ‘Evelyn Glennie’ is that musician.
(ii) This was because, at the age of eleven it was discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage. She was advised by the doctor to use hearing aids. But she was determined to lead a normal life and pursued her interest in music.
(iii) The bigger challenge for her was to learn music at Royal Academy of Music because she was deaf.
(iv) She was excited because it was going to be her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

Question 3.
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. But this aspiring musician faced a bigger challenge than most. She was profoundly deaf. (CBSE, 2010, 981403-B2)

(i) The girl was :
(а) on the bus stand, waiting for the bus.
(b) on the zebra crossing, wanting to cross the road.
(c) at the airport waiting to board the aeroplane.
(d) on the underground platform, waiting for the train.
Answer:
(а) on the bus stand, waiting for the bus.

(ii) ‘Jostle’ here means :
(a) to push roughly.
(b) to stay in a hotel.
(c) to travel by train.
(d) to travel by bus.
Answer:
(a) to push roughly.

(iii) Since she was a deaf girl it was a bigger challenge for her _________.
(a) to travel alone by train
(b) to hoard the train alone
(c) to learn music at Royal Academy of Music
(d) to sing in public
Answer:
(c) to learn music at Royal Academy of Music

(iv) She was excited because _________.
(a) she was travelling by train first time
(b) it was going to be her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music
(c) she had never felt the vibrations of approaching train earlier
(d) she was profoundly deaf
Answer:
(b) it was going to be her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music

(v) Who was ‘the girl’ in these lines?
Answer:
The girl was ‘Evelyn Glennie’.

(vi) Where was she?
Answer:
She was on the underground train platform, waiting for the train.

(vii) What was a bigger challenge for her and why?
Answer:
The bigger challenge for her was to learn music at Royal Academy of Music. This was because, she was deaf.

(viii) Why was the young girl nervous yet excited?
Answer:
The young girl was nervous yet excited because it was her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London.

Question 4.
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 Academey of Music and scored highest marks in the history of the Academy. She gradually moved from orchestra to solo performances. At the end of her three-year course, she had captured most of the top awards. (CBSE, 2010, 981408-B2)

(i) Evelyn had toured the United Kingdom with :
(a) her friend.
(b) a youth orchestra.
(c) a musician.
(d) a teacher.
Answer:
(b) a youth orchestra.

(ii) Evelyn fared in the Royal Academy of Music :
(a) by sharing in it.
(b) by singing songs.
(c) by scoring highest marks in the history of the Academy.
(d) by defeating others.
Answer:
(c) by scoring highest marks in the history of the Academy.

(iii) Evelyn decided when she was sixteen years old :
(a) to make music her life.
(b) to sing individually.
(c) to learn music with her friend.
(d) to sing with her friend.
Answer:
(a) to make music her life.

(iv) Find a word in the passage which means ‘gave a short performance so that the director could decide whether she was good enough’ :
(a) looked forward
(b) decided
(c) captured
(d) auditioned
Answer:
(d) auditioned

(v) With whom, Evelyn toured the United Kingdom?
Answer:
Evelyn toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra.

(vi) How did Evelyn fare in the Royal Academy of Music?
Answer:
Evelyn fared very well in the Royal Academy of Music by scoring highest marks in the history of the Academy.

(vii) What was her age, when she decided to opt music as her career?
Answer:
She was only 16-year-old.

(viii) What were her achievements?
Answer:
By the end of the three-year course at Royal Academy, she had captured most of the top awards. She had also become a solo artist from orchestra player.

Question 5.
Evelyn confesses that she is something of workaholic. I’ve just got to work – often harder than classical musicians. But the rewards are enormous. Apart from the regular concerts, Evelyn also gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also gives priority to classes for young musicians.

(i) Evelyn calls herself :
(a) hardworking
(b) lazy
(c) workaholic
(d) careless
Answer:
(c) workaholic

(ii) As compared to other musicians _________.
(a) she is better
(b) she works harder
(c) she is less famous
(d) she is not good
Answer:
(b) she works harder

(iii) She gives free concerts in :
(a) prisons
(b) hospitals
(c) schools
(d) prisons and hospitals
Answer:
(d) prisons and hospitals

(iv) The word in the passage that means ‘extremely large’ is _________.
(a) priority
(b) workaholic
(c) enormous
(d) concerts
Answer:
(c) enormous

Short Answer type Questions

II. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

Question 1.
Why was Evelyn nervous when she was going first time to the Royal Academy of Music in London?
ईवलिन बेचैन क्यों थी जब वह पहली बार लंदन की रॉयल संगीत अकादमी में जा रही थी?
Answer:
Royal Academy of Music in London was a prestigious institution. Her dream of getting training in such an institution was going to be realised, so she was excited and nervous, too. It was much more challenging for her because she was a slight, young, profoundly deaf girl.

Question 2.
When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed? When and how was it confirmed?
ईवलिन के बहरेपन पर पहली बार कब ध्यान गया था? इसकी पुष्टि कब और कैसे हुई थी?
Answer:
It was first noticed when she was eight years old. Her mother noticed that she did not respond when her name was called. It was confirmed when she was eleven years old. Her Headmistress told her parents to consult a specialist when her performance in the class was deteriorating. The specialist told them that her hearing was severely damaged.

Question 3.
Why everything suddenly looked black to Evelyn?
एवलिन को अचानक सब कुछ काला क्यों दिखने लगा?
Answer:
When Evelyn was eleven years old, a specialist told her parents that her hearing was severely damaged as a result of gradual nerve damage. She was advised to be fitted with hearing aid and sent to a school for the deaf. All her dreams to become a musician seemed to shatter and everything suddenly looked black to her.

Question 4.
What happened when Evelyn wanted to play xylophone?
क्या हुआ जब एवलिन जाइलोफोन बजाना चाहती थी?
Answer:
One day Evelyn noticed a girl playing a xylophone. She too wanted to play it, but most of her teachers discouraged her. The percussionist Ron Forbes came forward to help her by advising her not to listen through her ears, but try to sense music some other way.

Question 5.
Who is Evelyn Glennie? What has made her extraordinary?
एवलिन ग्लेनी कौन थी? उसे असाधारण किस बात ने बना fact?
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie is the most sought after percussionist in the world. The fact that in spite of her deafness she has mastered to play 1000 instruments has made her extraordinary.

Question 6.
How was Evelyn helped by Ron Forbes? रोन फोर्बस द्वारा एवलिन की मदद कैसे की गई?
Answer:
When all other teachers discouraged Evelyn, Ron Forbes, the percussionist, was the only one who saw the potential in her. He encouraged and helped her pursue her aim. He tuned two large drums to different notes and asked Evelyn not to hear the sound through the ears but feel it in some other way. She tried and discovered that she could feel the vibrations in every part of her body. Thus Ron Forbes showed her the way to achieve her aim.

Question 7.
Write down Evelyn’s message for the people.
लोगों के लिए एवलिन के संदेश को लिखो।
Answer:
Evelyn’s message to the people is, “If you work hard and know where you are going, you’ll get there.”

Question 8.
How did Evelyn learn to open her mind and body to sound and vibrations ?
एवलिन ने अपना दिमाग और शरीर आवाज और तरंगों के faut att sitem?
Answer:
Evelyn started feeling music through vibrations in her body. Instead of hearing, she senses the music. It pours through every part of her body. It tingles in her skin, cheekbones, even hair and fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she can feel resonances flowing into her body. She takes off her shoes on a wooden stage to feel vibrations through her bare feet and legs.

Question 9.
What does master percussionist James Blades say about Evelyn?
महान संगीतकार जेम्स ब्लेड्स ने एवलिन के बारे में क्या कहा
Answer:
Master percussionist James Blades has said about Evelyn, “God may have taken her hearing but she was given her back something extra ordinary. What we hear, she feels – far more deeply than any of us. That is why she expresses music so beautifully.”

Question 10.
Why does she call herself a workaholic?
वह अपने आपको काम का नशा करने वाली क्यों मानती है?
Answer:
She calls herself workaholic because she has become so used to hard work that she has to remain busy to be happy and normal. She works harder than classical musicians. She takes regular and free concerts and classes for young musicians.

Question 11.
In spite of her deafness, how did Evelyn listen to music?
अपने बहनेपन के बावजूद, ईवलिन संगीत कैसे सुनती थी?
Answer:
Evelyn was determined to pursue her interest in music. Moreoever, the percussionist, Ron Forbes helped Evelyn by teaching her to sense the music through different parts of her body. Hence, Evelyn felt and listened to music through its vibrations.

Question 12.
Who was Ron Forbes? How did he help the young Evelyn Glennie?
रॉव फॉर्ख कौन थे? उन्होंने युवा ईवलिन ग्लेनी की मदद कैसे की थी?
Or
Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What was his/her advice to Evelyn?
ईवलिन को संगीत जारी रखने में किसने मदद की? उसने ईवलिन को क्या सलाह दी?
Or
Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What did he do and say?
ईवलिन को संगीत जारी रखने में किसने मदद की? उसने क्या कहा और किया?
Answer:
(1) Ron Forbes was a percussionist.

(2) He encouraged Evelyn to be a musician. He asked her not to listen through ears but try to sense it some other way. Evelyn started feeling music through different parts of her body. She felt music through its vibrations.

Question 13.
When did Evelyn Glennie’s mother notice that something was wrong?
ईवलिन ग्लेनी की माँ ने यह ध्यान कब दिया कि कुछ गलत था?
Answer:
At the age of eight, when Evelyn was waiting to play with the piano, her deafness was first noticed by her mother. Evelyn’s name was called, but she didn’t move. Only then, her mother realized that something was wrong with Evelyn.

Question 14.
Why does Evelyn remove her shoes on the wooden platform?
Answer:
Evelyn would remove her shoes on the wooden platform so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. She tries to hear the music through every part of her body as she was deaf. wooden platform so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. She tries to hear the music through every part of her body as she was deaf.

Long Answer type Questions

III. Answer the following questions in 100 – 150 words :

1. Evelyn is a perfect example of sheer determination and hard work. She is a role model for all. Bring out the positive attributes of Evelyn in about 100-150 words.
ईवलिन परिश्रम और निश्चय बढ़ संकल्प का उत्तम उदाहरण है। वह सबके लिए प्रेरणास्रोत है। ईवलिन के सकारात्मक गुणों को सौ से दो सौ शब्दों में उल्लेख करो।
Or It was a bigger challenge for Evelyn Glennie to become a musician as she was profoundly deaf. Did she overcome her disability as a challenge to achieve her goal ? Write in about 100-150 words about this extraordinary girl.
ईवलिन ग्लेनी के लिए एक संगीतकार बनना एक बहुत बड़ी चुनौती थी, क्योंकि वह पूरी तरह बहरी थी। क्या इवलिन अपनी इस अयोग्यता पर अपने अभीष्ट को पाने के लिए विजय प्राप्त की? 100-200 शब्दों में इस असाधारण लड़की का वर्णन करें।
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie became completely deaf at the age of eleven. Although, she lost her hearing but, did not lose courage. It is unthinkable for a deaf person to become a musician. It is sheer determination and hard work that made her a multi-percussionist of international repute. She has mastered to play 1,000 instruments. No wonder she is a source of inspiration or a role model for all.

After hearing loss, when everyone else was doubtful of her becoming a musician, undaunted with courage, hardwork, determination and strong will, Evelyn paved the way to achieve her set goal. Instead of hearing music through ears, she learnt to sense it through vibrations in her body.

Evelyn won most of the top awards during her three year course at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. She is a workaholic and lireless worker. In 1991, she presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Soloist Award of the year.

Question 2.
Apart from regular concerts, Evelyn also gives concerts in prisons and hospitals. She is a shining inspiration for deaf children. Evelyn shares her experiences and achievements with others. She lives for a cause. Explain in about 100-150 words.
नियमित संगीत कार्यक्रमों से अलग ईवलिन अस्पतालों और जेलों में भी संगीत कार्यक्रम प्रस्तुत करती थी। वह बहरे बच्चों के लिए एक चमकती हुई प्रेरणा है। ईवलिन ने अपनी उपलब्धियाँ और अनुभवों को अन्य लोगों से बाँटा है। वह एक कारण के लिए जीती है। 100-150 शब्दों में इसके बारे में समझाइए।
Answer:
When Evelyn became deaf, she did not lose her heart. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. It is her strong determination and hard work that led her to a renowned musician and performer. Instead of hearing music through ears, she learnt to sense it through vibrations in her body. She is the most sought after percussionist in the world. In spite of her deafness, she has mastered to play 1,000 instruments. In 1991, Evelyn was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Societies Soloist Award of the year. She has turned to be the buriest performer of the world. She toured the United Kingdom with a Youth Orchestra. Today, she is invited to give her performance in every part of the world. She performs free at hospitals and jails. She shares her experiences and achievements with others. No wonder she is a source of inspiration especially for the disabled youngsters.

Question 3.
Even after such major accomplishments, Evelyn won’t accept any hint of heroic achievement. What do you think is the secret of her success ? Every aspect of her character has something to learn from. Elucidate in about 100-150 words.
इतनी बड़ी उपलब्धियों के बावजूद भी ईवलिन ने बहादुर उपलब्धियों के संकेत को स्वीकार नहीं किया। उसकी कामयाबी के राज के बारे में आप क्या सोचते हैं? उसके व्यक्तित्व के प्रत्येक पहलू में कुछ सीखने को है। सौ से दो सौ शब्दों में स्पष्ट कीजिए।
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie is a multi-percussionist. Even after hearing loss at the age of eleven, she can play about one thousand instruments with perfection. Evelyn is a perfect example of sheer determination and hard work. The loss of hearing did not deter her from her determination to lead a normal life. She wanted to become a musician. Instead of hearing music through ears, she learnt to sense it through vibrations in her body.

Evelyn went to prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She auditioned for the Academy and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. During her three-year course, she won almost all the top awards. She is a very popular artist and is invited for performances all over the world. In 1991, she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the year. She works harder than classical musician. Moreover, she tries to do her bit for others. She performs free in prisons and hospitals. Also, she helps the young musicians. She is humble, kind, generous, responsible, perseverant, and dedicated person. Really, every aspect of her character has something to learn from.

I. Summary In English:

Evelyn a great artist: Evelyn Glennie is a multi-percussionist. She can play about one thousand instruments with perfection. But she is profoundly deaf. She has worked hard to achieve this.

Loss of hearing: When she was eight-year old school girl, her mother noticed that she was becoming deaf. The loss of hearing had been gradual, and Evelyn had managed to hide it from all others. At last she was taken to a specialist when she was eleven. The specialist confirmed that she had lost her hearing altogether. She was sent to a school for the deaf.

Her determination: The loss of hearing did not deter her from her determination to lead a normal life. She wanted to be a musician. One day she saw a girl playing a xylophone. She too wanted to play it. All teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes believed she could do it.

She listens with her body: Ron Forbes tuned two drums. He asked her not to hear but to sense the sound in some other way. Soon Evelyn was excited. She felt the vibrations of the higher drum from the waist up, and the lower drum from the waist down. Later she realised that she could feel the vibrations in every part of her body. It tingles in her skin, her cheekbones and even in her hair. When she performs on a wooden platform she takes off her shoes. Then she can feel the resonances flowing up through her bare feet.

Her training: Evelyn went to prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She was about seventeen at that time. She auditioned for the Academy and scored one of the highest grades. At the end of her three-year course, she had captured most of the top awards. She had moved from the orchestral work to solo performances.

Her achievement: Now Evelyn is a multi-percussionist. She has mastery of about 1000 instruments. She is a very popular artist and is invited for pe rformances all over the world. In 1991 she was presented with The Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the year.

She has accomplished more than any other person of her age. Of course she did not lose her speech and can speak fluently. But inspite of her deafness she has learnt French and Japanese.

Her service: Evelyn works hard. She works harder than classical musicians. But she is most unassuming. She tries to do her bit for others. Besides her regular concerts, she performs free in prisons and hospitals. She helps the young musicians. She is indeed a source of inspiration to the handicapped, especially the deaf.

II. Complete Text With Hindi Translation:

Text (Page 17) : 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. But this aspiring musician faced a bigger challenge than most: she was profoundly deaf.

Vocabulary : Rush hour (रश आवर) time when everyone is in a hurry सभी का भागदौड़ का समय; underground (अंडरग्राउंड) below surface भूमिगत; jostle (जोस्ल) push roughly धक्कम-धक्का करना; position (पोजिशन) place of advantage बढ़िया स्थान; slight (स्लाइट) small and thin दुबली-पतली; nervous (नरवस) worried, afraid अधीर, विकल; excited (एक्साइटिड) enthusiastic उत्तेजित; vibrations (वाइब्रेशन्ज) quivering कम्पन; prestigious (प्रिस्टिजिअस) reputed प्रतिष्ठित; daunting (डॉटिंग) frightening निरुत्साहित करने वाला; teenager (टीनएजर) adolescent किशोर/किशोरी; aspiring musician (एस्पायरिंग म्युजिशिअन) a person who wants to be a musician संगीतकार बनने की आकांक्षा करने वाला; profoundly (प्रोफाउंडलि) deeply, utterly पूर्णतः।

अनुवाद : भूमिगत रेलवे प्लेटफॉर्म पर भीड़ आगे स्थान प्राप्त करने के लिए धक्कम धक्का हो रही है। एक सतरह वर्षीय लड़की जो अपनी आयु से छोटी प्रतीत होती थी, समीप आती हुई रेलगाड़ी के स्पंदन को अनुभव करके कुछ विकल हो रही थी परन्तु उत्तेजित थी। लंदन की प्रतिष्ठित रायल सोसाइटी फॉर म्यूजिक में उस का प्रथम दिन था और स्काटलैंड के फार्म से आई किसी किशोरी के लिए डराने वाला भी। परन्तु इस संगीतकार बनने की आकांक्षा करने वाली लड़की के सामने तो औरों की अपेक्षा और बड़ी चुनौती थी। वह बहरी थी।

Text (Pages 17-18) : 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. 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 for the deaf. ‘Everything suddenly looked black,’ says Evelyn.

Vocabulary: gradual (प्रेन्युअल) slow and steady क्रमिक; conceal (कन्सील) hide छुपाना; deafness (डेफनेस) inability to hear बहरापन: deteriorated (डिटिरिओरेटिड) worsened आगे से ज्यादा खराब हो गए, कम हो गए; urged (अड) entreated, exhorted प्रवृत्त करना, आग्रह करना; severely (सिविअरलि) seriously गंभीर रूप से; impaired (इम्पेअर्ड) weakened कमजोर हो गईं; nerve (नर्व) fibres conveying sensation स्नायु: looked black (लुक्ड ब्लैक) appeared to be hopeless निराशाजनक दिखता था।

अनुवाद : एवलिन ग्लनी की श्रवण शक्ति का हास धीरे-धीरे होता गया। उसकी माँ को याद है कि उसने देखा था कि कुछ गड़बड़ है जब आठ वर्ष की एवलिन पिआनो बंजाने की प्रतीक्षा करती रही। “उस का नाम पुकारा गया परन्तु वह न उठी। मैंने यकायक समझ लिया कि उसे सुनाई न पड़ा था।” इसाबेल ग्लेनी कहती है। काफी समय तक एवलिन अपनी सहेलियों व अध्यापिकाओं से अपने बढ़ते बहरेपन को छुपाने में सफल रही। परन्तु जब वह ग्यारह वर्ष की हुई तो उस के अंक कम होते गए और उस की मुख्याध्यापिका ने उसके माता-पिता से आग्रह किया कि वे उसे (एवलिन को) किसी विशेषज्ञ के पास ले जाएँ। तब पता चला कि स्नायु के धीरे-धीरे खराब होने से उसकी श्रवण शक्ति गम्भीर रूप से बिगड़ चुकी थी। उनको सलाह दी गई कि उसे श्रवण यंत्र लगवाया जाए और बहरों के स्कूल में भेजा जाए। “सब ओर निराशा प्रतीत होने लगी।” एवलिन कहती है।

Text (Page 18) : But Evelyn was not going to give up. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. One day she noticed a girl playing a xylophone and decided that she wanted to play it too. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. ‘Don’t listen through your ears,’ he would say, try to sense it some other way.’ Says Evelyn, ‘Suddenly I realised I 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. ‘I had learnt to open my mind and body to sounds and vibrations. The rest was sheer determination and hard work.

Vocabulary: give up (fra 319) accept defeat पराजय स्वीकार करना; determined (डिटर्मिन्ड) firm संकल्प किए हुए, दृढः pursue (परस्यु) follow in order to achieve लक्ष्य प्राप्ति के लिए प्रयास करते रहना; xylophone (जाइलोफोन) a musical instrument एक प्रकार का जल तरंग; discouraged (डिस्करज्ड) dissuade, dishearten हाँसला तोड़ा; pereussionist (परक्युशनइस्ट) a person who plays the drum/tabla etc. सबलची, डोलक बजाने वाला; spotted (स्पॉटिड) ‘noticed ध्यान दिया; potential (पोटेन्शल) ability that can be developed भावी योग्यता; tuning (ट्युनिंग) series of musical notes ताल बन्धी; sense (सेंस) feel अनुभव करना; repeated (रिपीटिंड) did it again पुनः किया; exercise (एक्सरसाइज) attempt प्रयास; vibrations (वाइब्रेशन्ज) tremors स्पन्दन; sheer (शिअर) absolute निरा।

अनुवाद : परन्तु एवलिन हार मानने को तैयार न थी। उसने सामान्य जीवन जीने व संगीत सीखने में अपना प्रयास जारी रखने का संकल्प किया हुआ था। एक दिन उसने एक लड़की को जाइलोफोन बजाते देखा और निश्चय किया कि मैं भी उसे बजाऊंगी। अधिकांश अध्यापिकाओं ने उसका हौसला तोड़ा परन्तु ढोल बजाने वाले रान फार्बिस ने उसकी भावी योग्यता को पहचाना। उसने दो बड़े ढोल अलग-अलग ताल पर बजाने आरम्भ किए। “अपने कानों से न सुनो”, उसने कहा, “परन्तु किसी अन्य ढंग से अनुभव करने का प्रयत्न करो।” एवलिन कहती है “मैंने यकायक यह समझ लिया कि बड़े ढोल को मैं कमर से ऊपर व छोटे ढोल को कमर से नीचे अनुभव कर रही थी।” फार्बिस ने प्रयास दोहराया और एवलिन ने देखा कि कुछ स्वर उसे शरीर के भिन्न-भिन्न भागों में महसूस हो रहे थे। मैंने अपने मस्तिष्क और शरीर को ध्वनियों व स्पन्दन प्रति खोलना सीख लिया था। शेष कार्य तो निरा संकल्प व परिश्रम करना था।

Text (Page 18) : She never looked back from the 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. At the end of her three-year course, she had captured most of the top awards.

Vocabulary : looked back (सुक्ड बैक) continued togo forward मुड़कर न देखा; orchestra (ऑकेस्ट्रा) group of instrumental musicians वादक वृंद; auditioned (ऑडिशन) gave a performance so that the directors could decide whether she was good enough ध्वनि-परीक्षण दिया; scored (स्कोर्ड) obtained प्राप्त किए; gradually (ग्रेज्युअली) by slow degrees धीरे-धीरे; solo performance (सोलो परफार्मन्स) presentation by a single artist एकल वादन; captured (केपचर्ड) got प्राप्त किए।

अनुवाद : उस समय से उसने मुड़कर न देखा। उसने एक युवा वादक वृंद के संग इंग्लैंड का दौरा किया और जब वह सोलह वर्ष की हुई तब तक उसने संगीत को अपना जीवन बनाने का निश्चय कर लिया था। उसने रायल अकादमी ऑफ म्युजिक में ध्वनि परीक्षण दिया और अकादमी के इतिहास में उसके अंक अधिकतम प्राप्त करने वालों में से थे। धीरे-धीरे वह वादक वृंद से हटकर एकल वादन करने लगी। तीन वर्ष के पाठ्यक्रम में उसने लगभग सभी उच्चतम इनाम प्राप्त कर लिए थे।

Text (Page 18) : And for all this, Evelyn won’t accept any hint of heroic achievement. If you work hard and know where you are going, you’ll get there. And she got right to the top, the world’s most sought-after multi-percussionist with a mastery of some 1000 instruments, and hectic international schedule.

Vocabulary: hint (हिन्ट) slight indication संकेत heroic (हिरोइक) of hero वीरतापूर्ण; achievement (अचीवमेट) accomplishment उपलब्धि; multi (मल्टी) many side वाहमुखी mastery (मास्ट्री) thorough knowledge पूर्ण ज्ञान; sought after (साट आफ्टर) in great demand जिसे बहुत लोग आमन्त्रित करते हो; hectic (हेक्टिक) very busy अतिव्यस्तschedule (शेड्यूल) time table समय सारणी, कार्यक्रम।

अनुवाद : और इतना होने पर भी एवलिन यह जरा भी मानने को तैयार नहीं कि मैंने बड़ी वीरतापूर्ण उपलब्धि प्राप्त कर ली है। “यदि आप परिश्रम करते हैं और आप जानते हैं कि आप को कहाँ पहुँचना है, तो आप वहाँ पहुँच जाएंगे।” और वह ठीक शिखर पर पहुँच गई-वह संसार की बहुमुखी ढोल-तबला वादक बन गई जिसकी सबसे अधिक मांग थी और जिसे लगभग 1000 संगीत वादकों का पूर्ण ज्ञान था और जो संसार भर में अत्यधिक व्यस्त रहती थी।

Text (Pages 18-19) : It is intriguing to watch Evelyn function so effortlessly without hearing. In our two-hour discussion she never missed a word. Men with bushy beards give me trouble,’ she laughed. It is not just watching the lips, it’s the whole face, especially the eyes. She speaks flawlessly with a Scottish lilt. ‘My speech is clear because I could hear till I was eleven,’ she says. But that doesn’t explain how she managed to learn French and master basic Japanese.

Vocabulary: intriguing (इन्टिगिंग) fascinating and curious अचम्भा; function (फंक्शन) work कार्य करना; effortlessly (एफर्टलेसली) without strain प्रयास रहित, सहज ढंग से; discussion (डिस्कशन) exchange of views विचार-विमर्श: bushy (बुशी) thick and spreading झाड़ी जैसी; flawlessly (फ्लालेसली) without a fault बिना त्रुटि के; lilt (लिल्ट) way of speaking बोलने का ढंग; basic (बेसिक) fundamental बुनियादी।

अनुवाद : सुनने की शक्ति के बिना एवलिन को बिना प्रयास किए संगीत बजाते देखने से अचम्भा होता है। हमारे दो घंटे के विचार-विमर्श में उसने एक शब्द भी अनसुना न किया। “झाड़ीदार दादी वाले लोगों से मुझे थोड़ी दिक्कत आती है” उसने हंस कर कहा, “बात केवल होंठों को देखने की नहीं है, बल्कि सारा चेहरा देखना होता है, विशेषकर आँखों को।” वह स्काटलैंड के बोलने के ढंग से बिना त्रुटि के बोलती है। “मेरी भाषा साफ इसलिए है कि मैं ग्यारह वर्ष की आयु तक सुन सकती थी।” वह कहती है। परन्तु इससे यह बात स्पष्ट नहीं होती कि उसने फ्रांस की भाषा (.च) व बुनियादी जापानी भाषा कैसे सीख ली।

Text (Page 19): 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 fingertips. 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.

Vocabulary : pours in (पोज इन) enter प्रवेश करना; tingles (टिग्लज) feel athrilling sensation सनसनी का अनुभव करना; fingertips (फिंगर टिप्स) ends of fingers उंगलियों के छोर; resonances (रेजोनेनिसव) echoes of sound गूंज।

अनुवाद : जहाँ तक संगीत की बात है वह स्पष्ट करती है, “यह मेरे शरीर के हर अंग में से प्रवेश करता है। मेरी त्वचा, मेरी गालों की हड्डियों और बालों में भी सनसनाहट पैदा करता है। जब वह जाइलोफोन बजाती है तो ध्वनि छाड़ियों में से होकर उसकी उंगलियों के छोरों में प्रवेश करती है। डोलों का सहारा लेने से, वह (तरंगों) गूंज को अपने शरीर में प्रवेश करतो अनुभव करती है। लकड़ी की सेज पर वह अपने जूते उतार देती है ताकि कम्पन उसके पांव में से होकर उसकी टांगों में आ जाए।

Text (Page 20) : Not surprisingly, Evelyn delights her audiences. In 1991 she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award. Says master percussionist James Blades, “God may have taken her hearing but he has given her back something extraordinary What we hear, she feels far more deeply than any of us. That is why she expresses music so beautifully.’

Vocabulary: delights (डिलाइट्स) gives pleasure आनन्द प्रदान करना; audiences (आडिएनसिज) assembly of hearers श्रोतागण; presented (प्रेजेंटिड) awarded, given पेश किया गया; prestigious (प्रिस्टिजिअस) reputed प्रतिष्ठित; soloist (सोलाइस्ट) single performer एकल वादन कर्ता।

अनुवाद : इसमें कोई आश्चर्य नहीं कि एवलिन अपने प्रोतागण का भरपूर मनोरंजन करती है। 1991 में उसे रायल फिल हामीनिक सोसायटी ने उस वर्ष का एकल वादन कर्ता का अपना प्रतिष्ठित खिताब प्रस्तुत किया। ढोल बजाने वाले गुरु जेम्ज ब्लेडस कहते हैं कि “ईश्वर ने उसकी श्रवण शकिा तो ले ली परन्तु उसके बदले में कुछ विलक्षण वस्तु दी है।” जो हम सुनते हैं उसे वह अनुभव करती है और हमसे कहीं अधिक गहराई के साथ। यही कारण है कि वह संगीत इतने सुन्दर ढंग से व्यक्त करती है।

Text (Page 20): Evelyn confesses that she is something of workaholic. ‘Tve just got to work ….. often harder than classical musicians. But the rewards are enormous. Apart from the regular concerts, Evelyn also gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also gives high priority to classes for young musicians. Ann Richlin of the Beethoven fund for Deaf Children says, ‘she is a shining inspiration for deaf children. They see that there is nowhere that they cannot go.

Vocabulary : confesses (कन्फेसिप्त) admits स्वीकार करती है; workaholic (वर्कहोलिक) a person who finds difficult to stop working वह व्यक्ति जो कार्य में व्यस्त रहता है। classical (क्लासिक्ल) of recognised excellence शास्त्रीय musicians (म्युजिशन) those who sing or play music संगीतज्ञ enormous (एनॉर्मस) plentiful numberless असंख्या; concerts (कनसट्स) musical entertainments संगीत सभाएं: apart from (अपार्ट फ्रॉम) besides के अतिरिका; priority (प्राअी) great importance अधिक महत्व; shining (शाइनइंग) bright उज्ज्वल; inspiration (इन्सपिरेशन) encouragement प्ररेणा।

अनुवाद : एवलिन यह स्वीकार करती है कि उन्हें काम का नशा है। “मुझे परिश्रम करना ही पड़ता है-प्रायः शास्त्रीय संगीतज्ञों से भी अधिक परन्तु उसका फल भी बहुत अधिक है।” सामान्य संगीत सभाओं के अतिरिक्त, एवलिन जेलों व अस्पतालों में मुफ्त संगीत सभाएं भी करती है। वह युवा संगीतकारों की कक्षाओं को भी अधिक महत्व देती है। बीथोवन फण्ड फॉर डेफ चिल्ड्रन की एन रिचलिन कहती है, “वह (एवलिन) बहरे बच्चों के लिए उज्ज्वल प्रेरणा है। वे देखते हैं कि कोई स्थान नहीं जिसे वे प्राप्त नहीं कर सकते।”

Text (Page 20) : Evelyn Glennie has already accomplished more than most people twice her age. 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 the least, she has given enormous pleasure to millions.

Vocabulary : accomplished (अकम्पिलश्ड) achieved प्राप्त कर लिया है; percussion (परक्युशन) playing of drums etc. तबला/ढोल वादन; demonstrated (डिमाँस्ट्रेटिड) showed प्रदर्शित कर दिया; moving (मूविंग) inspiring प्रेरक; handicapped (हेण्डिकेप्ड) physically challenged विकलांग; million (मिलियन) ten lac दस लाख।

अनुवाद : एवलिन अपनी आयु से दुगुने बड़ों से भी अधिक सफलता पहले ही प्राप्त कर चुकी है। उसने ढोल/तबला के बजाने को आर्केस्ट्रा में अगला स्थान दिला दिया है और यह दिखा दिया है कि यह बहुत प्रभावशाली हो सकता है। उसने उन विकलांग लोगों को प्रेरणा दी है जो उसे देख कर कहते हैं, “यदि वह ऐसा कर सकती है, तो मैं भी कर सकता हूँ।” और सबसे बढ़कर बात यह है कि उसने लाखों लोगों का मनोरंजन किया है।

Part – II

Textbook Questions

Thinking about the Text

I. Tick the right answers:
सही उत्तर पर चिह्न लगाएँ

Question 1.
The (shehnai, pungi) was a freeded noisemaker’.
Answer:
pungi

Question 2.
(Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
Answer:
a barber

Question 3.
Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians)
Answer:
professional musicians

Question 4.
Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaz Khan).
Answer:
Ali Bux

Question 5.
Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, USA, Canada).
Answer:
Afghanistan.

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

पाठ में से वे शब्द चुनो जो उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खाँ की भावनाओं को इनके बारे में प्रकट करते हैं। फिर सही स्तंभ में (✓) का चिह्न लगाएँ।

Bismillah Khan’s feelings about	Positive	Negative	Neutral
1. teaching children music
2. the film world
3. migrating to the USA
4. playing at temples
5. getting the Bharat Ratna
6. the banks of Ganga
7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon

Answer:
1. teaching children music :
“Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition.” (Positive)

2. the film world :
“I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world.” (Negative)

3. migrating to the USA :
“A student of his once wanted him to head a Shehnai school in the USA ……
Khansaab asked if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well.” (Negative)

4. playing at temples :
……… a devout Muslim like him can very naturally
play the shehnai every morning at
Kashi Vishwanath temple. (Positive)

5. getting the Bharat Ratna :
‘….. his eyes glinting with rare happiness.’ (Positive)

6. the banks of Ganga :
(a) ‘While in Mumbai, I think of only Varanasi and the holy Ganga.’ (Negative)
(b) Ganga became his favourite haunt Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas. (Positive)

7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon :
(a) Khansaab ……. is exceedingly fond of Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful town of the world. (Positive)
(b) “While in Mumbai, I think of only Varanasi, etc.’ (Positive)

Short Answer type Questions

III. Answer these questions in about 30-40 words:

Question 1.
Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi?
औरंगजेब ने पुंगी के बजाने पर प्रतिबन्ध क्यों लगाया?
Answer:
Pungi was a reeded musical instrument. It produced shrill and unpleasant sound. Aurangzeb did not like it. So he banned its playing in his palace.

Question 2.
How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
पुंगी से शहनाई किस प्रकार भिन्न होती है?
Or
How was ‘Shehnai’ different from ‘Pungi’? Why was it called ‘Shehnai’?
पुंगी से शहनाई भिन्न कैसे थी? वह ‘शहनाई’ क्यों कहलाती थी?
Answer:
Pungi was an instrument like the flute, clarinet etc. But it had a shrill unpleasant sound unlike shehnai. Shehnai was called so, because it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by a nai (barber).

Question 3.
Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
पारम्परिक रूप से शहनाई कहाँ बजाई जाती थी? बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने इसे कैसे बदल दिया?
Answer:
Traditionally shehnai was played in temples and at weddings because it is considered auspicious. Ustad Bismillah Khan made new experiments. He produced new raagas that were earlier thought to be beyond the shehnai’s scope. He raised its playing to classical level.

Question 4.
When and how did Bismillah Khan get his break?
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ को नया अवसर कैसे और कहाँ प्राप्त हुआ ?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan got his ‘big break’ in 1938. All India Radio was opened in Lucknow. He got a chance to play shehnai on radio. His melodious music could be frequently heard on the radio. This brought him fame, popularity and new opportunities.

Question 5.
Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 Aug. 1947? Why was the event historic?
15 अगस्त, 1947 को बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने कहाँ शहनाई बजाई? यह ऐतिहासिक घटना कैसे थी?
Answer:
India won her freedom on August 15, 1947. On this historic and happy occasion Bismillah Khan played shehnai from the Red Fort. He was the first Indian to greet the nation and congratulate his fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion in the traditional Indian style.

Question 6.
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the USA?
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने अमरीका में शहनाई स्कूल चलाने से क्यों इन्कार कर दिया?
Or
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A. ?
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने अमरीका में शहनाई स्कूल की अध्यक्षता से it at fau?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan visited many countries but he was never at home anywhere. He always yearns to come back to India. He loved Benaras, the Ganga, the temples and the mattha of his native Dumraon.
So, he refused to start a school in the USA.

Question 7.
Find at least two things in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
पाठ में ऐसी दो बातें पता लगाओ जो वे बताती है कि बिस्मिल्ला खाँ को भारत व बनारस से प्यार है।
Answer:
Bismillah Khan is a true patriot. He loves India and Benaras. He has refused to settle in any other country. He always’coines back to India. Even during partition he remained in India. He visited Pakistan for namesake. But his love of Benaras is so deep that when he is in India he yearns to reach there as quickly as he can.

Thinking about Language

I. Look at these sentences :
इन वाक्यों को देखो :

Evelyn was determined to live a normal life.
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. Begin with a to-verb. and try to answer the questions in brackets.
नीचे लिखे वाक्यों को पूरा करें। to-verb से आरम्भ करें और ब्रैकट में दिए गए प्रश्नों का उत्तर दें।

Question 1.
The school sports team hopes _________
(What does it hope to do ?)
Answer:
The school sports team hopes to win the trophy.

Question 2.
We all want (What do we all want to do ?)
Answer:
We all want to live better lives.

Question 3.
They advised the deaf child’s mother _________ (What did they advise her to do ?)
Answer:
They advised the deaf child’s mother to send her to a school for the deaf.

Question 4.
The authorities permitted us to _________
(What did the authorities permit us to do ?)
Answer:
The authorities permitted us to take photographs of the wild animals.

Question 5.
A musician decided to _________ (What did the musician decide to do ?)
Answer:
A musician decided to give a solo performance.

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.

बिस्मिल्ला खाँ के पाठ में से वे शब्द चुनो जो इन परिभाषाओं से मेल खाते हैं। उन अनुच्छेदों की संख्या दी गई है जिनमें आप को ये शब्द मिलेंगे।

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/palace
2. solitude
3. indispensable
4. improvise
5. effortlessly
6. thick and 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)

Answer:

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

IV. Dictionary work:
→ The sound of the shehnai is auspicious.

→ The auspicious sound of the shehnai is usually heard at marriages.
The adjective ‘auspicious’ can occur after the verb be as in the first sentence, or before a noun as in the second. But there are some adjectives which can be used after the verb be and not before a noun. For example :

→ Ustad Faiyaz Khan was overjoyed.
We cannot say : the overjoyed man.
Look at these entries from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary [2005].

elder/eld r)/adj., noun:
adjective 1 [only before noun] (of people, especially two members of the same family ) older : my elder brother his elder sister 2 (the elder) used without a noun immediately after it to show who is the older of two people : the elder of their two sons 3 (the elder) (formal) used before or after sb’s name to show that they are the older of two people who have the same name : the elder Pitt Pitt, the elder.

awake/ weik/adj/., verb adjective [not before noun] not asleep (especially immediately before or after sleeping): to be half!fully awake, to be wide awake. I was still awake when he came to bed.

Consult your dictionary and complete the table. The first one has been done for you.

adjective	Only	Not before noun	Both before and after the verb be
indispensable			✓
impressed		✓
afraid		✓
outdoor	✓
paternal			✓
countless			✓
priceless			✓

Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own.

Sentences :

• indispensable : (i) Electricity is indispensable. (ii) My indispensable companion is my dog.
  impressed : Everybody was impressed by her performance.
• afraid : I am afraid she will not help you.
• outdoor : What outdoor game do you play?
• paternal : (i) She was deprived of paternal love. (ii) This house is paternal.
• countless : (i) Countless people travel by trains. (ii) Stars are countless.
• priceless : (i) Koh-i-noor diamond is priceless.
  (ii) She gave me a priceless gift.

Writing
“If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there,” says Evelyn Glennie.
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” ?

Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.
“यदि आप परिश्रम करते हैं और आप जानते हैं कि आप कहाँ जा रहे हैं, तो आप अपना लक्ष्य प्राप्त कर लेंगे,” एवलिन ग्लेनी कहती है। अब आपने दो संगीतज्ञों के बारे में पढ़ लिया है-एवलिन ग्लेनी के और उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खाँ के बारे में। क्या आपके विचार में दोनों ने परिश्रम किया ? वे क्या लक्ष्य प्राप्त करना चाहते थे ?
इन प्रश्नों के उत्तर दो अनुच्छेदों में दें, एक-एक अनुच्छेद दोनों संगीतज्ञों के बारे में।

Answer:
1. Evelyn Glennie proved by her personal example “If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there.” Glennie was deaf and she wanted to be a percussionist. It appeared impossible. Everybody discouraged her but she did not give up. A percussionist showed her the way. She could hear through her body. She was inspired. But it required a ceaseless hard work to be multi-percussionist. She has mastery of a 1000 instruments. It is the result of determination and hard work.

2. Ustad Bismillah Khan is another shining example of determination and hard work to be the maestro shehnai player. He started learning shehnai at an early age of three. He practised playing it in the temples of Benaras. He went to the lonely banks of the Ganga and listened to the flowing waters. He was so devoted to shehnai that inspired by the music of the holy river, he invented raagas that were considered beyond the scope of the shehnai. It is through long practice and determination that he has gained world renown and the coveted Bharat Ratna.

IV. Very Important Examination Questions:

I. Extract-based Objective Type Questions

Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions with the help of the given options :

Question 1.
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.
(i) In which celebration is it considered indispensable ?
(ii) Why is shehnai played in temples ?
(iii) Why is it considered important in North India?
(iv) What is meant by the word ‘indispensable’?
Answer:
(i) North Indian weddings.
(ii) The sound of the shehnai is considered auspicious and hence played in temples.
(iii) It is considered vital in North Indian weddings.
(iv) ‘Indispensable’ means something that is absolutely necessary.

Question 2.
In spite of having travelled all over the world – Khansaab as he is fondly called is exceedingly fond of Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world.
(i) The person fondly called ‘Khansaab’ is _________.
(a) Abdual Gaffar Khan
(b) Changez Khan
(c) Ustad Bismillah Khan
(d) Amzad Ali Khan
Answer:
(c) Ustad Bismillah Khan

(ii) Khansaab was most fond of _________.
(a) Benaras and Haridwar
(b) Haridwar and Dumraon
(c) Benarqs and Dumraon
(d) Benaras and Allahabad
Answer:
(c) Benarqs and Dumraon

(iii) He had travelled _________.
(a) all over the world
(b) all over Europe
(c) all over USA
(d) all over India
Answer:
(a) all over the world

(iv) The meaning of the word ‘fondly’ is _________.
(a) lovingly
(b) tenderly
(c) foolishly
(d) lovely
Answer:
(a) lovingly

(v) Who was fondly called as ‘Khansaab’?
Answer:
Ustad Bismillah Khan was fondly called as ‘Khansaab’.

(vi) What was Khansaab fond of?
Answer:
Khansaab was fond of Benaras and Dumraon.

(vii) Name the lesson of the extract.
Answer:
The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan.

(viii) Where did he travel ?
Answer:
He had travelled all over the world.

Question 3.
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. When he played on it, closing and opening some of the’holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed.

(i) ‘He’ refers to a _________.
(a) cobbler
(b) barber
(c) painter
(d) driver
Answer:
(b) barber

(ii) ‘He’ chose a wooden piece which was quite _________.
(a) small twig
(b) small and broad
(c) long and broad
(d) long and narrow
Answer:
(c) long and broad

(iii) When he played on the newly devised instrument _________.
(a) nothing happened
(b) coarse sound was produced
(c) soft and melodious sound was produced
(d) loud and melodious sound was produced
Answer:
(c) soft and melodious sound was produced

(iv) When the royal people listened to the tune of the newly devised instrument, they _________.
(a) were impressed
(b) disliked it
(c) were disinterested
(d) were scared of it
Answer:
(a) were impressed

(v) Who is ‘he’ in these lines?
Answer:
He was a barber of a family of professional musicians.

(vi) What did ‘he’ choose? Why?
Answer:
He chose a wooden pipe (hollow stem) which was long and broad in order to make his new musical instrument.

(vii) What happened when he played the instrument for the first time?
Answer:
When he played the instrument for the first time, a soft and melodious sound was produced.

(viii) What was the reaction of the royal people on listening the tune of the newly devised instrument ?
Answer:
The royal people were impressed on listening the tune of the newly devised instrument.

Question 4.
As a five-year old, Bismillah Khan played gillidanda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar. He would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’, 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.

(i) Bismillah Khan, when he was five-year old :
(a) played shehnai first time in Bihar.
(b) used to play gillidanda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar.
(c) used to play gillidanda in Patna.
(d) used to go to the school of music.
Answer:
(b) used to play gillidanda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar.

(ii) What reward would he get for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ in the temple :
(а) the Bharat Ratna.
(b) a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg.
(c) Rs. 1.25 lac.
(d) 1.25 acre of land.
Answer:
(b) a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg.

(iii) ‘This happened 80 years ago’ means :
(a) Bismillah Khan was born.
(b) he would earn a big laddu for playing gillidanda.
(c) he, as a five-year old, would earn laddu weighing 1.25 kg for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’.
(d) he had been awarded the highest civilian award in India – the Bharat Ratna.
Answer:
(c) he, as a five-year old, would earn laddu weighing 1.25 kg for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’.

(iv) Find a word from the above passage which is the opposite of ‘modern’ :
(a) ago
(b) regularly
(c) ancient
(d) travelled
Answer:
(c) ancient

(v) What was particular about Bismillah Khan, when he was five-year old?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan, when he was five-year old, used to play gillidanda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar.

(vi) What reward would he get for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ in the temple?
Answer:
He got a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ in the temple.

(vii) Which is the highest civilian award in India?
Answer:
Bharat Ratna.

(viii) What do you understand by ‘This happened 80 years ago’?
Answer:
This implies that when he was a five-year old boy, he earned laddu weighing 1.25 kg for singing Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’.

Question 5.
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.
(i) What family did the barber belong to?
(ii) What did the barber decide to do?
(iii) How did he make a new musical instrument?
(iv) Why was the tonal quality of the Pungi needed to improve?
Answer:
(i) The barber belonged to a family of professional musicians.
(ii) He decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi.
(iii) Choosing a naturally hollow pipe, that was longer and broader than the pungi, the barber made seven holes on it, making the shehnai.
(iv) Pungi was a reeded musical instrument. It produced shrill and unpleasant sound. This was because, the tonal quality of the Pungi needed to improve.

Question 6.
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 nai (barber), the instrument was named the ‘shehnai.’
(i) What does ‘he’ refer to here?
(ii) Why was it named ‘shehnai’?
(ii) How did he impress the royalty?
(iv) How is Shehnai different from Pungi?
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ here refers to a barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace and he improved the tonal quality of pungi.

(ii) Since this new instrument different from pungi was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by a ‘rau’(barber), the instrument was named the ‘shehnai’.

(iii) He played ‘shehnai’ before the royalty and impressed them.

(iv) Both Pungi and Shehnai are made from a hollow stem. But Shehnai is made from a broader and longer one. Shehnai has seven holes. Unlike the Pungi, Shehnai produces sweet and melodious music.

Question 7.
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) Where was Bismillah Khan’s first trip to abroad?
(ii) What present did King Zahir Khan of Afghanistan give to Bismillah Khan?
(Hi) What does the phrase ‘taken in’ imply here?
(iv) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘mementoes’?
Answer:
(i) Afghanistan.
(ii) priceless Persian carpets and souvenirs.
(iii) fascinated.
(iv) souvenins.

Question 8.
Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux to the Vishnu temple of Varanasi where Bux was employed to play the shehnai. Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end.
(i) Who was Ali Bux?
(ii) Why did Bismillah Khan start going with Ali Bux to Vishnu temple at Varanasi?
(iii) Where was Ali Bux employed as a Shehnai player?
(iv) What is the noun form of ‘employed’?
Answer:
(i) uncle.
(ii) wanted to listen to Ali Bux’s Shehnai recital.
(iii) at the Vishnu temple.
(iv) employment.

Question 9.
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) How was Bismillah Khan honoured on 15th August 1947 ?
(ii) What does ‘poured his heart’ imply ?
(iii) Which Raag did he play on his shehnai on the 15th August 1947 ?
(iv) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘had in it’ ?
Answer:
(i) greet the nation with his shehnai recital.
(ii) played from the depth ‘of his heart.
(iii) Kafi.
(iv) included.

Question 10.
At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference. At the end of his recital, Ustad Faiyaz Khan patted the young boy’s back and said, “Work hard and you shall make it.” ’
(i) At the age of 14, where did Bismillah Khan give his Shehnai recital ?
(ii) Why did Ustad Faiyaz Khan pat boy Bismillah Khan ?
(iii) What advice did Ustad Faiyaz Khan give to Bismillah Khan ?
(iv) What is the verb form of ‘recital’ ?
Answer:
(i) Allahabad Music Conference.
(ii) encourage him.
(iii) work hard and he would become a topmost shehnai player.
(iv) recite.

Question 11.
For years to come the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga became the young apprentice’s favourite haunt where he could practise in solitude. 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.
(i) Where did Bismillah Khan go to practise shehnai ?
(ii) What effect had the flowing water of the Ganga on Bismillah Khan ?
(iii) What does the passage reflect ?
(iv) What is the adjective form of ‘favourite’ ?
Answer:
(i) Balaji and Mangla Mai temple.
(ii) inspired him to invent ragaas.
(iii) innovation in shehnai vadan by Bismillah Khan.
(iv) favourable.

Short Answer type Questions

II. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words :

Question 1.
Which places was Bismillah Khan particularly fond of and why?
बिस्मिल्ला खान को विशेष रूप से कौन-से स्थान प्रिय थे और क्यों?
Answer:

• Bismillah Khan fond of Benaras and Dumraon.
• Dumraon was his birthplace and Benaras was his workplace. He spent his childhood in these places. He was very much included to the unique ‘mattha’ in Dumraon and the temples of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the Ganga in Benaras.

Question 2.
Who decided to improve on the quality of the ‘PungV ? Did he succeed in his endeavor?
पुंगी की गुणवत्ता को सुधारने का निश्चय किसने किया? क्या वह अपने प्रयास में सफल हुए?
Answer:

• A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access decided to improve the tonal quality of-pungi.
• Yes, he succeeded in his endeavour. He made a similar instrument which produced melodious sound. It was named Shehnai.

Question 3.
Who had brought Shehnai to the classical stage? What was he honoured with?
शहनाई को शास्त्रीय मंच पर कौन लाया था? उनको किससे सम्मानित किया गया था?
Answer:

• Ustad Bismillah Khan had brought Shehnai to the classical stage.
• He has been awarded national awards like Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. In 2001, he was given India’s highest civilian award, ‘Bharat Ratna’.

Question 4.
Who had banned the use of ‘Pungi’ and why ?
पुंगी के उपयोग पर किसने प्रतिबंध लगाया और क्यों?
Answer:

• Emperor Aurangzeb had banned the use of ‘Pungi’.
• Pungi was a reeded musical instrument. It produced shrill and unpleasant sound. Aurangzeb .did not like it. So, he banned its playing in his palace.

Question 5.
Describe Bismillah Khan as a boy in Dumraon.
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ को डुमराव के लड़के के तौर पर वर्णन करो।
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was born on March 2, 1916. As a five-year old, he played gilli-danda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon. He would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ and earn a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg.

Question 6.
Why did Bismillah Khan not delve deep into the world of cinema?
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ फिल्मी दुनिया में गहराई से क्यों नही गए?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was a simple man. He could not come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world. That was why he left it inspite of his great success in both the films he worked in Vijay Bhatt’s ‘Gunj’ Uthi Shehnai’ and Vikram Srinivas’ Kannada film – ‘Sanadhi Apanna’.

Question 7.
What prize did boy Bismillah Khan earn?
लड़के बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने क्या ईनाम जीता?
Answer:
The boy Bismillah Khan earned daily a 1.25 kg laddu from the local Maharaja of Dumraon for singing ‘Bhojpuri Chaita’ at Bihariji temple.

Question 8.
‘Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of rich cultural heritage of India.’ Justify it by giving two instances from the text.
‘उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खाँ का जीवन भारत की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक परंपरा का उत्तम उदाहरण है।’ दो उदाहरण देकर सिद्ध करो।
Answer:
The secularism which is the spirit of the rich cultural heritage of India is reflected in the life of Bismillah Khan. At the time of partition, he had a chance to go to Pakistan but he did not. He accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play the Shehnai at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. He loved and had regard for the Ganga and Varanasi, the sacred river and town of Hindus.

Question 9.
How did Vyay Bhatt show that he was highly impressed by Bismillah Khan’s music?
विजय भट्ट ने यह कैसे दर्शाया कि वह बिस्मिल्ला खाँ के संगीत से अत्यंत प्रभावित हैं?
Answer:
The film director Vijay Bhatt heard Bismillah Khan’s shehnai at a festival. He was so impressed by it that he named a film ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’. It was a hit film and one of Bismillah Khan’s composition-‘Dil ka Khilona hai Toot Gaya’ became a nationwide chartbuster.

Question 10.
What were the two favourite places of Bismillah Khan? How does he express his feelings about the two places?
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ की दो पसंदीदा जगह कौन-सी थीं? उसने उन जगहों के बारे में अपने भाव कैसे दर्शाए हैं?
Answer:
The two favourite places of Bismillah Khan were – Dumraon and Benaras. He was born and spent his early childhood at Dumraon. He learnt, practised and perfected playing Shehnai at Benaras. He had fond memories and long association with these two towns. He considered them to be the most wonderful towns of the world.

Question 11.
Why did Aurangzeb ban ‘pungi’? Who revived it and how?
औरंगजेब ने ‘पुंगी’ पर प्रतिबंध क्यों लगाया? इसका पुनरुत्थान किसने और कैसे किया?
Answer:
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. A barber of the family of professional musicians 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. This new instrument produced soft and melodious sound. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed. The instrument different from pungi was given a new name ‘shehnai’.

Question 12.
How was ‘Shehnai’ different from ‘Pungi’ ? Why was it called ‘Shehnai’?
‘शहनाई’ पुंगी से किस प्रकार भिन्न थी? इसे शहनाई क्यों कहा गया है?
Or
How is Shehnai different from Pungi?
शहनाई पुंगी से किस प्रकार भिन्न है?
Answer:
Pungi was an instrument like the flute, clarinet, etc. But it had a shrill, unpleasant sound unlike shehnai. Shehnai was called so, because it was first played in the Shah’s chambers by a nai (barber).

Long Answer type Questions

III. Answer the following questions in 100-150 words :

Question 1.
Ustad of Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of India. A devout Muslim like him had no qualms about playing Shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Elucidate in about 100-150 words.
उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खान का जीवन एक समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत का आदर्श उदाहरण है। उन जैसे भक्त मुसलमान को प्रत्येक सुबह काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर में शहनाई बजाने में कोई कपट नहीं था। सौ-दो सौ शब्दों में इसको स्पष्ट कीजिए।
Answer:
Undoubtedly, Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of India. At the tender age of five, he would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’.

This young boy took to music early in life. At the very early age, Bismillah Khan started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux to the Vishnu temple of Varanasi where Bux was employed to play the Shehnai. For years to come, the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga became young Bismillah Khan’s favourite haunt where he could practise in solitude. 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. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to him.

In the ‘Bharat Ratna’ ceremony of 2001, he said, “Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition.” He loved India and the Ganga at Benaras. He Visited his favourite temples in Benaras and played Shehnai there, even though he was a denout Muslim.

Question 2.
Describe Bismillah Khan’s journey from winning 1.25 kg laddu to winning Bharat Ratna.
1.25 किया. के लड्डू की जीत से ‘भारत रत्न’ जीतने की बिस्मिल्ला खाँ की यात्रा का वर्णन करो।
Answer:
At the tender age of five-years, Bismillah Khan would regularly go to the Bihariji temple in Dumaron to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ and earn a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg as a prize given by the local Maharaja. The young boy took to music early in life. At the age of three, his mother took him to his maternal uncle’s house in Benaras. His uncle gave him lessons in playing the Shehnai. He would sit practising thrughout the day. He practised playing it in the temples of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and on the banks of the Ganga. He created new ragas which were earlier considered to be beyond the scope of the Shehnai. When Bismillah Khan was 14 years old, he played the Shehnai at a music conference in Allahabad and was admired.

In 1938, he began to play the Shehnai on All India Radio, Lucknow. Also, he had the honour to greet the independent nation from the Red Fort with the Shehnai on August 15, 1947. He produced music for two blockbuster films – ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’ and ‘Sanadhi Apana’. He got many national and international awards. He has been awarded national awards like Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. In 2001, he was given India’s highest civilian award, ‘Bharat Ratna’.

Question 3.
Despite his tremendous success in the Him world, why was Bismillah Khan so soon disenchanted?
फिल्मी दुनिया में जबरदस्त सफलता के बावजूद बिस्मिल्ला खान इतनी जल्दी मोहभंग क्यों हो गए थे?
Or
Why did Bismillah Khan not venture into films?
बिस्मिल्ला खान ने फिल्मों में उद्यम क्यों नहीं किया?
Answer:
Film director Vijay Bhatt listened to Bismillah Khan’s shehnai recital at a festival. He was greatly impressed with it. He invited Bismillah Khan to provide his music to his film ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’. The film was a great success. But his ventures in film music were limited only to two films. He was soon disenchanted. Though he could have monetary gains, he could not come to terms with the glamour and artificiality of the film world. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a true artist. He was not lured by money. He was devoted to his art. He could not compromise his art with any other gain.

Question 4.
Name some of the awards and honours conferred on Bismillah Khan.
बिस्मिल्ला खाँ को प्राप्त हुए कुछ पुरस्कारों एवं सम्मानों के नाम बताइए।
Answer:
Bismallah Khan had given many memorable performances and won awards in India and abroad. His first trip abroad was to Afghanistan where King Zahir Shah gifted him priceless Russian carpets and other souvenirs.

He was the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Center Hall in U.S.A. He also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal in, The Cannes Art Festival and in the Osaka Trade Fair. He became an international figure. An auditorium in Teheran was named after him – Tahar Mosiquee Ustad Bismillah Khan.

At home many national awards like Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. In 2001, he was awarded the highest civilian award — ‘Bharat Ratna’.

I. summary In English:

The Origin of Shehnai: Fungi was a reeded instrument. It had a shrill and unpleasant sound. Emperor Aurangzeb banned its playing in his palace. But a nai made a similar instrument which produced melodious sound. It was named shehnai. It was made of a broader and longer hollow reed, and had seven holes on its body.

Popularity of Shehnai: Shehnai became popular. It began to be considered auspicious. It is still played in temples and at weddings. In the modern times Ustad Bismillah Khan has so perfected its music that it has become classical.

Bismillah Khan’s love of Shehnai: Bismillah Khan belongs to a family of shehnai players. He was born on March 21,1916 in Dumraon in Bihar. At the age of three his mother took him to his maternal uncle’s house in Benaras. He watched his uncle practise the shehnai and was fascinated. His uncle gave him lessons in playing the shehnai. Bismillah practised playing it in the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and on the banks of the Ganga. He created new raagas which were earlier considered to be beyond the scope of the shehnai.

Recognition of his skill: At the age of 14 Bismillah Khan accompanied his uncle to a music conference at Allahabad. There he played the shehnai and was admired. In 1938 he began to play the shehnai on All India Radio, Lucknow. He had the honour to greet the independent nation from the Red Fort with the auspicious music of the shehnai on August 15, 1947.

His venture in the film world: Bismillah Khan produced music for two movies, ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’ and ‘Sanadhi Apanna’. Though the films were blockbusters, Bismillah Khan was soon disillusioned with the glamour and artificiality of the film world.

Visits abroad: Ustad Bismillah Khan’s great skill at playing the shehnai was recognised both at home and abroad. He visited many countries and won honours. In Tehran an auditorium was named after him. It is called Tahar Mosiquee Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Recognition in India: The Nation has given ample recognition to his skill. He has been awarded national awards like Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. In 2001 he was given India’s highest civilian award, ‘Bharat Ratna’.

A patriot to the core: Bismillah Khan loves India. He loves the Ganga at Benaras. He loves his native town Dumraon. Like several other maestros he refused to settle in the USA. He visits his favourite temples in Benaras and plays shehnai there, even though he remains a devout Muslim.

II. Complete Text with Hindi Translation:

Text (Pages 21-22) : Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Pungi 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 palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and Luoader than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing 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 ‘nai’ (the barber), the instrument was named the ‘Shehnai’.

Vocabulary : banned (बैन्ड) prohibited प्रतिबन्ध लगा दिया; royal (रॉयल) of the king राजसी, शाही; residence (रेजिडेन्स) house, palace निवास स्थान; shrill (श्रिल) sharp तीखी, कर्कश; generic name (जैनरिक नेम) name given to whole group एक किस्म की सब चीजों का एक नाम; reeded (रीडिड) made ofreed नरकट का बना हुआ; revived (रिवाइव्ड) come back again पुनः जीवित होना; professional (प्रोफेशनल) relating to an occupation व्यावसायिक, पेशेवर; access (एक्सेस) entry पहुँच; tonal quality (टोनल क्वालिटि) quality of sound ध्वनि का गुण; hollow (हॉलो) empty inside खोखला; stem (स्टेम) stalk तना; melodious (मेलोडिअस) musical मधुर; royalty (रॉयल्टी) emperor सम्राट; impressed (इम्प्रेस्ड) had a good effect प्रभावित हुआ।

अनुवाद : सम्राट औरंगजेब ने अपने महल में पुंगी नाम के वाद्य यंत्र के बजाने पर प्रतिबन्ध लगा दिया क्योंकि इसकी ध्वनि बहुत कर्कश व तीखी थी। सभी नरकट से बने नाद करने वाले यंत्रों का नाम पुंगी पड़ गया। शायद ही किसी ने सोचा होगा कि किसी दिन इसका पुनः उत्थान हो जाएगा। पेशेवर संगीतकारों के परिवार से सम्बन्धित एक नाई, ने जिसकी शाही महल में पहुँच थी। पुंगी की संगीत ध्वनि को सुधारने का निश्चय किया। उसने एक प्राकृतिक खोखला तना चुना जो पुंगी की अपेक्षा अधिक लम्बा व मोटा था, और उस नलकी पर सात छिद्र किए। जब उसने कुछ छिद्रों को बन्द व खोलते हुए उसे बजाया तो उसमें से धीमी व मधुर ध्वनि निकली। उसने उस वाद्य यंत्र को सम्राट व उसके परिवार के अन्य सदस्यों के समक्ष बजाया तो सभी बड़े प्रभावित हुए। यह यंत्र पुंगी से इतना भिन्न था कि उसे नया नाम देना था। कहानी ऐसे है क्योंकि इसे सर्वप्रथम शाह (सम्राट) के कमरे में बजाया गया था, और इसको बजाने वाला एक नाई था, इस यंत्र का नाम शहनाई रखा गया।

Text (Page 22) : 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.

Vocabulary: consider ( 45+) to be of opinion मानना; auspicious (ऑस्पिशस) of good omen मंगलकारी, शुभ; indispensable (इनडिस्पेन्सेबल) absolutely necessary परम आवश्यक; component (कम्पोनेन्ट) part of a whole घटक, अंग; ensembles (एनसेम्बल्स) things considered as a group एकट्ठा; credit (क्रेडिट) attribute श्रेय देना; classical (क्लासिकल) work of recognised excellence शास्त्रीय; stage (स्टेज) platform मंच। – अनुवाद : शहनाई का स्वर मांगलिक समझा जाने लगा। और इसी कारण यह अब भी मंदिरों में बजाया जाता है और उत्तर भारत की हर शादी में यह परम आवश्यक होती है। पुराने समय में राजा के दरबार के पारम्परिक नौ वाद्य यंत्रों या नौबत का अंग होती थी। कुछ समय पहले तक इसका प्रयोग केवल मन्दिरों व विवाहों में ही होता था। इसे शास्त्रीय मंच पर लाने का श्रेय उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खाँ को जाता है।

Text (Page 22) : 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 ‘Chaita’, 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.

Vocabulary: ancient (ऐनशिएंट) of old times प्राचीन।
अनुवाद : पाँच वर्ष की आयु में बिस्मिल्ला खाँ बिहार की प्राचीन रियासत डुमरांव में एक तालाब के किनारे गिल्ली-डंडा खेला करता था। वह नियमित रूप से भोजपुरी चैत गाने के लिए समीप के बिहारी जी के मन्दिर में जाया करता था और इसके अंत में स्थानीय महाराजा से सवा किलो का लड्ड् इनाम में प्राप्त करता था। यह बात 80 वर्ष पुरानी है, और उस छोटे बालक ने बहुत उन्नति की है और भारत की सर्वश्रेष्ठ असैनिक उपाधि भारत रत्न प्राप्त की है।

Text (Page 22) : 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.

Vocabulary : paternal (पैटर्नल) fatherly पैतृक; ancestors (ऐन्सेस्टर्ज) forefathers पूर्वजा।

अनुवाद : 21 मार्च, 1916 को जन्मे बिस्मिल्ला खों का सम्बन्ध बिहार के प्रसिद्ध संगीतज्ञों के परिवार से है। उसके दादा रसूल बख्श खाँ भोजपुर नरेश के दरबार में शहनाई नवाज थे। उसके पिता पैगम्बर बख्शा व अन्य पैतृक पूर्वज भी महान शहनाई वादक थे।

Text (Page 23): 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 Benaras, Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncles practise the shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux to the Vishnu temple of Varanasi 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. For years to come the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga became the young apprentice’s favourite haunt where he could practise in solitude. 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.

Vocabulary : maternal uncle (मैटरनल अंकल) mother’s brother मामा; fascinated (फैसिनेटिड) charmed मोहित; captivated (केष्टिवेटिड) spellbound मंत्रमुग्ध होना; on end (आन एन्ड) without stopping लगातार; apprentice (अप्रेन्टिस) learner of a skill शागिर्द, शिष्य; haunt (हांट) place where one visits frequently tu; solitude (सोलिच्यूड) loneliness एकांत में; improvise (इम्प्रोवाइज) to compose without previous preparation तत्काल रचना करना; range (रेज) scope सीमा, क्षेत्र।।

अनुवाद : इस बालक ने संगीत छोटी आयु में ही सीखना आरम्भ कर दिया। तीन वर्ष की आयु में इसकी माँ उसे उसके मामा के घर बनारस ले जाती थी। बिस्मिल्ला अपने मामों को शहनाई का अभ्यास करते देखकर मोहित हो जाता था। कुछ समय पश्चात बिस्मिल्ला ने अपने मामा अली बखा के साथ वाराणसी के विष्णु जी के मन्दिर में जाना आरम्भ कर दिया, वहाँ उसका मामा शहनाई बजाने वाले के रूप में लगा हुआ था। अली बखा शहनाई बजाता था। और बिस्मिल्ला घंटों तक लगातार मंत्रमुग्ध होकर बैठा रहता था। धीरे-धीरे उसे इस यंत्र के बजाने के पाठ मिलने लगे और वह दिन भर उसका अभ्यास करता रहता था। आने वाले अगले कई वर्षों तक बालाजी और मंगला मैय्या के मन्दिर और गंगा तट इस युवक शिष्य के मनपसन्द स्थान बन गए जहाँ वह एकांत में अभ्यास कर सकता था। गंगा के बहते जल से प्रेरित होकर तत्काल उन नए रागों की रचना कर लेता था, जो पहले शहनाई के सीमा क्षेत्र से परे समझे जाते थे।

Text (Page 23) : At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference. At the end of his recital, 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. He soon became an oftenheard shehnai player on radio.

Vocabulary : recital (रिसाइटल) playing वादन; patted (पैटिड) stroked थपथपाई; make it (मेक इट) accomplish प्राप्त कर लोगे; break (ब्रेक) opening, a good chance अच्छा अवसर।

अनुवाद : चौदह वर्ष की आयु में बिस्मिल्ला अपने मामा के साथ इलाहाबाद संगीत सभा में गया। उसके वादन के अंत में उस्ताद फेयाज खाँ ने इस युवक की पीठ थपथपाई और कहा “परिश्रम करो और सफल हो जाओगे।” 1938 में लखनऊ में ऑल इन्डिया रेडियो के खुल जाने से बिस्मिल्ला को एक बड़ा अवसर प्राप्त हो गया। वह शीघ्र ही प्रायः सुने जाने वाला शहनाई वादक बन गया।

Text (Page 23) : 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, who later gave his famous Tryst with Destiny speech.

Vocabulary : gained (गेन्ड) got प्राप्त की; greet (नीट) salute अभिवादन करना; poured (पोड) flowed freely उंडेला; tryst (ट्राइस्ट) appointment to meet मुलाकात; Destiny (डेस्टिनी) fate भाग्य।।

अनुवाद : जब 15 अगस्त, 1947 को भारत ने स्वतंत्रता प्राप्त की तो बिस्मिल्ला खाँ अपने शहनाईवादन से राष्ट्र का अभिवादन करने वाले प्रथम भारतीय थे। उसने अपनी भावनाओं को लाल किले से अपने श्रोतागण के सामने उंडेला, जिस श्रोतागण में महात्मा गांधी और पंडित जवाहर लाल नेहरू भी सम्मिलित थे, उसके बाद नेहरू जी ने अपना प्रसिद्ध भाषण ‘भाग्य से मुलाकात’ दिया।

Text (Page 23-24): 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 compositions, “Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya …..” turned out to be a nationwide chartbuster!

Vocabulary : memorable (मेमरेब्ल) unforgettable स्मरण करने योग्य; performances (परफार्मेन्सिज) show of singing publicity संगीत प्रदर्शन; abroad (अब्राड) foreign lands (विदेश); taken in (टेकन इन) enchanted मोहित हो गया; maestro (मेस्ट्रो) eminent music composer उस्ताद, संगीत सम्राट; souvenirs (सबनिअरर्ज) tokens of memory स्मरण चिहन hit (हिट) success सफल प्रयास; compositions (कम्पोजिशन) creation रचना; chartbuster (चार्टबस्टर) record breaker रिकार्ड तोड़ने वाला।

अनुवाद : बिस्मिल्ला खाँ ने भारत में व विदेश में कई स्मरणीय सार्वजनिक प्रदर्शन किए। उसकी प्रथम विदेश यात्रा अफगानिस्तान की थी जहाँ राजा जहिरशाह इस उस्ताद से इतना मोहित हुआ कि उसने इसे मूल्यवान इरानी गलीचे व अन्य स्मरण चिह्न भेंट किए। अफगानिस्तान का राजा ही एकमात्र व्यक्ति न था जो बिस्मिल्ला के संगीत से प्रभावित हुआ। फिल्म निर्देशक विजय भट्ट एक मेले में बिस्मिल्ला का वादन सुनकर इतना प्रभावित हुआ कि उसने फिल्म का नाम इस यंत्र पर रखा ‘गूंज उठी शहनाई। यह फिल्म बहुत लोकप्रिय हुई, और बिस्मिल्ला की एक रचना ‘दिल का खिलौना हाय टूट गया’ ने देश भर का रिकार्ड तोड़ दिया।

Text (Page 24) : Despite this huge success in the celluloid world. Bismillah Khan’s ventures in film music were limited to two : Vijay Bhatt’s GunjUthi Shehnai and Vikram Srinivas’s Kannada venture “Sanadhi Apanna”. “I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world,” he says emphatically.

Vocabulary: despite (डिस्पाइट) inspite of के बावजूद; huge (ज) enormous भारी; celluloid (सेल्युलाइड) films फिल्मी, चलचित्र; ventures (वेंचर्ज) attempt, try प्रयास, आजमाइश; come to terms (कम टु टर्मज) compromise समझौता करना; artificiality (आर्टिफिशल्टी) unnaturalness बनावटीपन; glamour (ग्लैमर) dazzle तड़क-भड़क; emphatically (एम्फेटिक्ली) forcefully पूरा जोर डालकर।

अनुवाद : फिल्मी जगत में इस भारी सफलता के बावजूद, बिस्मिल्ला खाँ का फिल्मी संगीत का प्रयास केवल दो फिल्मों तक ही सीमित रहा-विजय भट्ट की ‘गूंज उठी शहनाई’ और ‘सनधी अपन्ना’। “मैं फिल्मी जगत की बनावटपन व तड़क-भड़क के साथ समझौता नहीं कर सकता”, वह पूरे जोरदार ढंग से कहते हैं।

Text (Page 24): 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, in 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 himTahar Mosiquee Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Vocabulary : fondly (फाँडलि) lovingly प्यार से; exceedingly (एक्सीडिंगली) very much अत्यधिक recreate (रिक्रिएट) reproduce पुनः रचना करना; replicating (रेप्लिकेटिंग) making an exact copy हूबहू नकल करना; miss (मिस) feel something is wanting कमी महसूस करना।

अनुवाद : विश्व भर में इतनी यात्रा करने के पश्चात भी, खान साब को, जैसे लोग प्यार से उन्हें बुलाते हैं, बनारस और डुमरांव बहुत प्रिय हैं, और वे उनके लिए वे संसार के सबसे अधिक अद्भुत नगर हैं। एक बार उनका एक शिष्य चाहता था कि वे अमरीका में शहनाई के स्कूल के मुख्य बन जाएँ। और उस शिष्य ने मन्दिरों की हूबहू नकल करके बनारस के वातावरण की पुनः रचना वहाँ करने का वचन दिया। परन्तु खान साय ने पूछा कि क्या वह गंगा को भी वहाँ से उठा कर ले आएगा। तत्पश्चात उस बात को याद करके उन्होंने कहा, “यही कारण है कि जब मैं विदेश में होता हूँ तो हिन्दुस्तान को याद करता हूँ। जब मुम्बई में होता है, तो मैं केवल वाराणसी और पवित्र गंगा को याद करता हूँ। और जब वाराणसी में होता हूँ, तो मैं डुमरांव का अद्भुत मठे की कमी अनुभव करता हूँ।

Text (Page 25) : Shekhar Gupta : When partition happened, didn’t you and your family think of moving to Pakistan?

Bismillah Khan : God forbid Me, leave Benaras? Never! I went to Pakistan once – I crossed the border just to say I have been to Pakistan. I was there for about an hour. I said namaskar to the Pakistanis and salaam alaikum to the Indians! I had a good laugh. (Readers’ Digest, October 2005).

अनुवाद : शेखर गुप्ता : जब बंटवारा हुआ तो क्या आपने और। आपके परिवार जनों ने पाकिस्तान जाने की नहीं सोची?

बिस्मिल्ला खाँ : ईश्वर न करे कि मैं बनारस छोड़ ? कभी नहीं। एक बार मैं पाकिस्तान गया था। मैंने सीमा केवल इसलिए पार की थी कि मैं कह सकूँ कि मैं पाकिस्तान गया था। मैं वहाँ केवल एक घंटा रहा। मैंने पाकिस्तानियों को नमस्कार कहा और भारतीयों को वालेकम सलाम कहा। और मैं जोर से हँसा। (Readers’ Digest, October 2005)

Text (Page 25) : Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect exarnple of the rich, cultural heritage of India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Vocabulary : cultural (कल्चर्ल) tradition संस्कृति; heritage (हेरिटेज) inheritance बपौती; devout (डिवाउट) religious श्रद्धालु।

अनुवाद : उस्ताद बिस्मिल्ला खाँ का जीवन भारत की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक परम्परा का उत्तम उदाहरण है, ऐसा जो सहज भाव से यह स्वीकार करता है कि उसके जैसा श्रद्धालु मुसलमान भी स्वभाविक रूप से प्रत्येक प्रभात के समय काशी के विश्वनाथ मन्दिर में शहनाई बजा सकता है।

Class 9 English Question Answer