bismillah khan biography in english class 9

NCERT Solutions For Class 9

Chapter 2 The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Questions and Answers

Ncert solutions for class 9 english beehive chapter 2 the shehnai of bismillah khan questions and answers.

Part – ll: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

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).

Ans. 1. Pungi

2. A barber

3. Professional musicians

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.

Ans. 1. Positive

2. Negative

3. Negative

5. Positive

6. Positive

7. Negative

iii. Answer these questions in 30-40 words:

1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of Pungi?

Ans. Aurangzeb Ban the playing of Pungi because he thinks that the sound of Pungi is shrill and unpleasant.

2. How is a Shehnai different from a Pungi?

Ans. A Shehnai is a hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi. It had seven holes. when we play the Shehnai, by closing and opening some of these holes. soft and pleasant is sounds were produced.

3. Where was the Shehnai played traditionally? how did Bismillah Khan change this?

Ans. The Shehnai was traditionally played in temples and wedding ceremony.  Bismillah Khan takes this instrument to the classical stage.

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

Ans. Bismillah Khan get his big break with the opening of the all-India radio in Lucknow in 1938.

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

Ans. On 15 August 1947, the Bismillah Khan played the Shehnai from the Red Fort. It was a large historical day because India get its independence and he was the first Indian to great the nation with his Shehnai.

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

Ans. Bismillah Khan refuses to start a school in U.S.A because Bismillah Khan miss his birthplace Banaras and the student of Bismillah Khan promise to recreate the atmosphere of Banaras by replicating the temple. whenever he is in a former country he keeps yearning to see Hindustan.

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

Ans. Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras from the bottom of his heart. he said that he misses the holy Ganga and India. He thinks only of the holy river and the Holy City.

Thinking about language

I. Look at these sentences.

• 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).

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?)

Ans. 1. to win

2. to succeed

3. to take her to a specialist

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 ……………

Ans. 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).

1. lives again

3. welcome it

4. interesting

5. find it good and useful

6. for the second time

7. no longer upsetting

Share this:

2 thoughts on “chapter 2 the shehnai of bismillah khan questions and answers”.

• Pingback: The Sound of Music Questions and Answers Beehive English Class 9

Spelling mistakes plz improve or It will be taken down

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Mathematics

Social science, the shehnai of bismillah khan - beehive - class 9 - english.

Renews every month. Cancel anytime

Your personal doubt-solving assistant

Chatterbot AI gives you 100% accurate answers to your questions in an instant.

• Bismillah Khan
• Vocabulary - Flashcards
• Speak & Learn NEW
• Back Questions
• Back Exercises
• Extra Questions
• Important Lines

Video - Bismillah Khan | The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan in Hindi | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

We've got so much more in store, just for you 🤩.

Sign up to unlock Bismillah Khan and everything else

Bismillah Khan - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

Your mission, should you choose to accept it.

is to attempt this quiz!

Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

Sign up to unlock all cards

Learn Vocab & Speaking Together!

Grow your vocabulary while improving your speaking skills in one set up - simple, convenient, effective.

Back Questions - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Literature | English | Class 9

Why did aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi.

Emperor Aurangzeb banned playing pungi in the Royal Residence as he always felt that it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.

Powered by Chatterbot AI

How is Shehnai different from a Pungi?

Improve your grades!

Join English Chatterbox to access detailed and curated answers, and score higher than you ever have in your exams.

Where was the Shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismiilah Khan change this?

When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?

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

Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the USA?

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

Back Exercises - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Literature | English | Class 9

Complete the following sentences. beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets. the school sports team hopes _____________(what does it hope to do) we all want _____________(what do we all want to do) they advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother _____________(what did they advise her to do) the authorities permitted us to _____________(what did the authorities permit us to do) a musician decided to _____________(what did the musician decide to do).

The school sports team hopes to win the championship . (What does it hope to do?)

We all want to succeed in our endeavors . (What do we all want to do?)

They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother to enroll the child in a sign language class. (What did they advise her to do?)

The authorities permitted us to organize a peaceful protest. (What did the authorities permit us to do?)

A musician decided to pursue a career in music . (What did the musician decide to do?)

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.

the home of royal people (1) ___________

the state of being alone (5) ___________

a part which is absolutely necessary (2)___________

to do something not done before (5) ___________

without much effort (13) ___________

quickly and in large quantities (9) ___________and ___________

Tick the right answer.

When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).

When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started).

When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it/avoid it).

When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).

When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).

When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).

When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).

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

Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own

Use your notes on Kishori Amonkar to introduce her to an imaginary audience. You may use one of the following phrases to introduce a guest: I am honoured to introduce.../I feel privileged to introduce.../We welcome you...

“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.

Extra Questions - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Literature | English | Class 9

How did shehnai get its name.

According to popular folklore, Shehnai was given its name when it was first played in Shah's chambers by a nai (barber), who had improved the tonal quality of the earlier instrument called Pungi. Since it was played by a 'nai,' it came to be called Shehnai. The Shah was so impressed with the new instrument that he named it Shehnai, which means "King of Flutes." 

How was the sound of Shehnai considered earlier, and how did Bismillah Khan change that?

Who revived the pungi?

Summary - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

The article is a tribute to Ustad Bismillah Khan, a renowned shehnai player and musician from India who played a pivotal role in popularizing the shehnai as a classical instrument on the global stage. The article starts by providing a historical background of the shehnai, tracing its origins from the pungi, a reeded noisemaker that was banned in royal residences due ......

Unlock the full summary

Important lines - the shehnai of bismillah khan | beehive | class 9 literature | english.

• The Shehnai is a musical instrument that was invented by a barber who improved the tonal quality of the pungi.
• The Shehnai became popular for its auspicious sound and was played in temples and at weddings.
• Ustad Bismillah Khan brought..

Sign up to unlock Important Lines and everything else

Vocabulary - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

• Generic name : a name given to a class or group as a whole 
• Reeded : wind instruments which have reeds like the flute, the clarinet, etc 
• Auspicious : promising to bring good fortune 
• Indispensable : without which a piece of work cannot be done 
• Ensembles (pronounced ‘onsomble’) : things...

Sign up to unlock Vocabulary and everything else

Themes - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | English

1. Emergence and Evolution of Shehnai:

The chapter describes the transformation of the instrument known as pungi, which had a harsh sound, into the melodious shehnai. A barber from a family of professional musicians improved the tonal quality of the pungi, creating the shehnai. The instrument....

Sign up to unlock Themes and everything else

• RS Aggarwal
• ML Aggarwal
• Merchant of Venice
• NCERT Books
• Questions and Answers
• NCERT Notes
• Important Questions
• The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan (The Sound of Music)

NCERT Solutions for The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan (The Sound of Music) Class 9 Beehive English

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 musicians).

4. Bismillah Khan learnt 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).

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 ?)

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 _______

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).

NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4 The Age of Industrialisation Class 10 History

Related chapters.

• The Fun They Had
• Evelyn Glennie (The Sound of Music)
• The Little Girl
• A Truly Beautiful Mind

Related Questions

• Summary of The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan (The Sound of Music) Class 9 Beehive

Report a problem

• Question is incorrect
• Answer is Incorrect
• Spelling Mistakes
• Not explained in detail

NCERT Guides.Com

Free NCERT Solutions

The Shehnai Of Bismillah Khan | Class IX English | Chapter 2 | Questions And Answers

by Manjusha · May 3, 2022

You can find answers for the questions from the chapter The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan.

Class IX English | Chapter 2 | The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

1. 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 musicians)

4. Bismillah Khan learned 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)

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

III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

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

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

2. How is shehnai different from the pungi?

Shehnai is a modified version of pungi. In order to make a shehnai, a pipe with a natural stem that is longer and broader than the pungi is chosen. Seven holes are made on the body of the pipe. When it is played by closing and opening some of the holes, it produces soft and melodious music.

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

Shehnai was traditionally played only in temples, royal courts and on the occasion of weddings. Bismillah Khan brought this instrument onto the classical stage.

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

Bismillah Khan got his first break when All India Radio was opened in Lucknow in 1938. He soon became a frequently heard shehnai player on the radio.

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

When India won independence on August 15, 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with the shehnai. He played Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience that included India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.

6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the US?

Although Bismillah Khan had travelled all over the world, he was extremely fond of Benaras and Dumraon. The student who wanted Bismillah Khan to start a shehnai school in the US promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras there. Bismillah Khan refused that offer asking if he could transport river Ganga there as well. He loved India so much that whenever he left the country, he kept yearning to return.

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

Once when a student asked him to start a shehnai school in the US, he refused the offer because he didn’t want to leave India. He loved Benaras and River Ganga so much that he hated the thought of leaving them. In another instance in the text, he says that when he went to Pakistan, he didn’t spend more than an hour there. He crossed the border just to say that he had been to Pakistan. The thought of leaving India and living in another country never crossed his mind.

Tags: class ix english the shehnai of bismillah khan the shehnai of bismillah khan questions and answers

• Next story  Class IX English Chapter 2 Grammar Questions And Answers
• Previous story  The Sound Of Music | Class IX English | Chapter 2 | Questions And Answers

You may also like...

The lake isle of innisfree | class 9 chapter 4 poem | questions and answers.

May 8, 2022

 by Manjusha · Published May 8, 2022

Determiners Worksheet for Class 9

June 18, 2023

 by Manjusha · Published June 18, 2023

Class 9 English Workbook Unit 1 Exercises

June 8, 2021

 by Manjusha · Published June 8, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Biographies
• Career Guidance
• Class 10 NCERT Solutions
• Class 2 Solutions
• Class 3 Solutions
• Class 4 Solutions
• Class 5 Solutions
• Class 6 NCERT Solutions
• Class 7 Solutions
• Class 8 NCERT Solutions
• Class 9 NCERT Solutions
• English Grammar
• English Grammar Worksheets
• English Vocabulary Exercises
• General Knowledge
• Inspirational Stories
• Kerala Syllabus English
• KSEEB Solutions
• Personality Development
• Political Science
• Sample Question Papers
• Social Science
• Social science
• State Boards
• Tamil Nadu Board
• Uncategorized
• West Bengal Board
• Writing Skills
• Underline the Proper Nouns Worksheet for Class 2
• Reported Speech Exercise for Class 10 TN Board
• List of Plural Nouns for Class 10
• Suffixes Worksheet for Class 10
• Synonyms Worksheet for Class 10 TN Board

Biography And History

bseb class 9th english notes | BISMILLAH KHAN

The shehnai of bismillah khan.

bseb class 9th english notes

CLASS – 9

SUBJECT – ENGLISH

LESSONS 6 – THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN

THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN                                         O.Henry.

Introduction:Bismillah Khan is known to be legendry figure in the field of music. He was  born on March,1916 in a family of musicians of Bihar. His family belongs to Dumraon a small place in Bihar situated between patna and varanasi. Khan Saheb was born in Dumraon. He moved to his maternal uncle’s house in Varanasi as a small child and remained there till his death on 21st August 2006. Recognise his value service to the Indian classical music, he was conferred with the highest civilian award of ‘Bharat Ratna’ in the year 2001. SUMMARY IN ENGLISH

1. Aurangzeb the emperor during Mughal period had banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residential area. The sound produced from this instrument was not at all shooting to the ears. A barber sound produced by this instrument more melodious and acceptable. He made some changes in the body of the pipe of the instrument making seven holes of different sizes in it produce rhythmic notes which gave melodious sound. 2. The instrument was played in the chamber of shah, the king. This time it was highly appreciated. The instrument was played by a nai[barber] , so it was named as shah + nai i.e shehnai. Shehnai become a ‘mangal vadya’  [ auspicious instrument ] as it become a part of the wedding ceremony as well as temple music. It was recognised as one of the nine instruments [ Naubat ] allowed to be played in royal courts. Till that time it was just a ‘lok vadya ‘ or folk instrument. Bismillah Khan turned this instrument into an instrument in which classical music notes could also be played and produced. So the credit of elevating this instrument goes to ustad Bismillah khan. 3. As a small boy Bismillah Khan used to visit the Biharijee temple situated in his village. This temple is having the presiding deity of Maharaja of Dumraon. As young boy Khan Sahab used to get a big laddu every evening after evening pooja. He used to accompany his father Paigambar Bux was also a shehnai player and followed the footsteps of his father. In this family of musicians, Bismillah Khan was born on 21st March, 1916. 4. He migrated to benaras for further training in shehnai under the guidance of his maternal uncle Ali Bux. His maternal uncle was employed to play shehnai at Balajee [ vishnu ] temple of Benaras. Bismillah Khan started practising the steps on the bank of Ganga near the Balajee temple. 5. At the age of 14 Bismillah Khan had the first public appearance on stage in 2 music conference where he accompanied his uncle on shehnai. His performance ( accompaniet ) was highly appreciated by Ustad Faiz Khan. Bismillah Khan also played on the first independence day of India at the Red port. 6. From that time Bismillah Khan started giving performances both inside and outside country. His first performance outside India was in Afghanistan. Film Director Vijay Bhatt recognised his talent and made in film which Bismillah Khan prominently played on the instrument Mr. Bhatt named his film as ‘Goonj Uthi shehnai’. Similarly another film  Kannada entitled ‘Sanadhi Apnna’ featured Khan shaheb’s shehnai After this. Popularity of Bismillah Khan started travelling throught out the world. He performed at the famous Lincon Center Hall in USA in the Cannes Art festival and in osaka Trade Fair. An auditorium in Tehran was named after him Tehar Mosiquee Ustad Bismillah Khan. 7. Subsequently national awards like padamshri, Padma Bushan and Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. In 2001, he was honoured with the highest civilian award of ‘Bharat Ratna’. 8. Though Bismillah Khan had the opportunity of the visiting all over the world, he had special love for Benaras, Dumraon and the Ganges. He never liked to miss Benaras and the Ganga. 9. Once he was asked after partition of India that as to why he and his family not moved to Pakistan? He replied I would never think of leaving Benaras. He said that once he visited Pakistan across the border for few hours. He went there said. Namaskar to the Pakistanis and ‘salam walekum’ to the Indians there and came back. 10. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a true patriot‌, a great musician a devout Muslim and over and above a perfect human.

          SUMMARY IN HINDI

भूमिकाः संगीत की दुनिया में बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ की‌ अपनी‌ एक खास पहचान है। उनका परिवार डुमराँव का‌ निवासी हैं। यह एक छोटा‌ सा कस्बा है जो ‌पटना‌ और वाराणसी के मध्य में बक्सर के पास सिथ्त है । बिस्मिल्लाह खां का जन्म अपने गांव ‌डुमराँव में हुआ था । बाल्यकाल में ही खाँ साहब अपने मामा के घर बनारस आ गये और जीवन के अंतिम दिनों तक वाराणसी में रहे। उनकी मृत्यु 21 अगस्त, 2006 को वाराण में हुई। संगीत की क्षेत्र में उनकी कीर्तिमान सेवा के फलस्वरूप भारत सरकार द्वारा मई, 2001 में उन्हें ‘भारत रत्न’ ‌की सर्वोच्च नागरिक उपाधि से अलंकृत किया गया था। सारांश:

1. मुगल सम्राट ने‌ अपने राजशाही क्षेत्र में पुंगीनामक वाद्ययंत्र के बजाये जाने पर रोक लगा दी थी। इस वाद्ययंत्र की ध्वनि ककंश थी और कानों को अप्रिय लगती थी। एक नाई उस राजघराने का अत्यंत आत्मीय जन बन गया था और राजमहल में वह बेरोकटोक आया जाया करता था। उसने इस वाद्ययंत्र में परिवर्तन लाने का विचार किया और इस दिशा में काम करने लगा। उसने लकड़ी की एक लम्बी नली चुनी जिसका मध्य भाग खोखला था। यह नली पुंगी से अपेक्षाकृत बड़ी भी थी। उसने उस नली के ऊपरी हिस्से में सात छोटे-बड़े छेद कर दिये। अब जब उसने अंगुलियों के संचालन से इन छेदों को नियंत्रित करते हुए उत्पन की तो उससे कोमल और कर्णप्रिय संगात की उत्पत्ति हुई । 2. अपने इस नये वाद्ययंत्र को उस नाई ने राजदरबार में बादशाह के सामने इसकी प्रशंसा की । चूँकि यह वाद्ययंत्र पहली बार शाहंशाह के सामने एक नाई के द्वारा बजाया गया था, इसीलिए इसका नाम ‘ शहनाई ‘ रखा गया । शहनाई शादी-ब्याह एवं मन्दिरों में बजायी जाने लगी। अतः इसे मंगल वाद्य का दर्जा दिया गया और इसे दरबारी संगीत के रूप में भी स्वीकृति मिली। ‘ नौबत ‘ में बजने वाले वाद्ययंत्रों में शहनाई को भी स्थान मिल गया। इस कारण यह एक लोकवाद्य से ऊपर उठकर एक अधिकारिक वाद्ययंत्र के रुप में गिना जाने लगा। बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ साहब को यह गौरव प्राप्त है कि उन्होंने शाश्त्रीय संगीत के स्र्वरों को इस फूँक- वाद्ययंत्र पर उतारा । यह अत्यंत कठिन कार्य था क्योंकि शाश्त्रीय संगीत के रागों को फूँक के माध्यम से किसी वाद्ययंत्र पर उतारना अपने -आप में कठिन एवं दु: साहस का कार्य था। इस प्रकार इस वाद्ययंत्र को शास्त्रीयता का आधार मिला । इसका श्रेय खाँ साहब को जाता है । 3. जब बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ बालक थे तो डुमरांव स्थित बिहारीजी हैं जो डुमरांव के महराजा के आराध्य देव हैं। खाँ साहब के दादा रसूल बख्श खाँ डुमरांव रियासत के दरबार में शहनाई बजाते थे। अतः खाँ साहब की रुचि भी शहनाई वादन में जागृत हुई । इसी संगीत परिवार में बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ  का जन्म 21 मार्च ,1916  को हुआ । 4. बाद में बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ की माँ अपने बेटे को लेकर बनारस चली आयीं और अपने मामा के संरक्षण में बालक बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ शहनाई वादन का प्रशिक्षण लेने लगे । उनके मामा का नाम रसूल बख्श था और बनारस के बाला जी मंदिर में शहनाई वादन के लिए नियुक्त किये गये थे। बाद में बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ  के लिए बालाजी मंदिर और मंगला माई का मन्दिर आकर्षण का केंद्र बन गया। गंगा के तट पर सीढ़ियों पर बैठ कर वे एकांत में घंटों रियाज करते थे और नीचे बहती गंगा जी की पवित्र धारा उनकों प्रेरणा देती थी । 5. 14 वर्ष की आयु में बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ को सर्वप्रथम  इलाहाबाद की एक संगीत सभा में अपने मामा के साथ बजाने का सुअवसर मिला । कार्यक्रम की समाप्ति पर उस्ताद फैय्याज उस बालक को अपने पास बुलाया और उसकी पीठ ठोंकी । ” खूब अभ्यास करों तुम्हारा बड़ा नाम होगा।” भारत की आजादी के पहले वर्ष पर बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ को लालकी में शहनाई बजाने का सुअवसर मिला था  जिसमें पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू स्वयं उपस्थित थे । 6. उसी समय से खाँ साहब देश-विदेश में अपना स्वतंत्र कार्यक्रम करने लगे। विदेश में उनका पहला कार्यक्रम अफगानिस्तान में आयोजित हुआ था। उनकी क्षमता और ख्याति से प्रभावित होकर प्रसिद्ध फिल्म निर्देशक विजय भट्ट ने ‘ गूँज उठी शहनाई ‘ नाम से एक फिल्म हो बना डाला । बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ की शहनाई पर आधारित इस फिल्म का गीत ‘ दिल का खिलौना हाय टूट गया ‘ को सर्वाधिक ख्याति मिली । इस फिल्म में  बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ की शहनाई का सफलतापूर्वक प्रयोग हुआ । इसके बाद बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ  की चारों ओर पुरस्कार बरसने  लगे। उनके शहनाई वादन के कार्यक्रम का आयोजन अमरिका  के लिंगन सेंटर हाँल में हुआ । उन्होंने मान्टियल में शहनाई का कार्यक्रम प्रस्तुत किया। केन्स के कला समारोह तथा ओसाका (जापान ) के व्यापार मेले में भी अपना कार्यक्रम पेश किया जिसे सराहना मिली । तेहरान में एक प्रेक्षागृह का नामकरण उस्ताद के नाम पर ‘ तहर मौसुकी बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ ‘ रखा गया । 7. भारत सरकार द्वारा उन्हें क्रमशः पद्मश्री , पद्मभूषण , पद्म विभूषण की उपाधि से सम्मानित किया गया ‌। वर्ष 2001 में उन्हें भारत का सर्वोच्च नागरिक सम्मान ‘भारत रत्न ‘ से विभूषित किया गया।  यह भारत की दौलत और विरासत हैं। ” अब तो पश्चिमी देश के लोग भी भारत का संगीत सीखनें यहाँ आ रहे हैं। 8. यद्यपि खाँ साहब ने देश – विदेश की सर्वाधिक यात्रा की थी पर बनारस और डुमरांव के प्रति उनका विशेष आकर्षण था । वे कहा करते थे कि जब भी मैं विदेश जाता हूँ तो मुझे बनारस और गंगा की याद आती है और जब बनारस में रहता हूँ तो डुमरांव का ‘ मट्ठा मुझे खींचता है। 9. एक बार किसी ने उनसे पूछा, देश के विभाजन के बाद आप सपरिवार पाकिस्तान क्यों नहीं चले गए ? उन्होंने कहा कि एक बार वे सीमा पार गये थे । वहाँ पहुँचकर उन्होंने पाकिस्तानियों को ‘नमस्कार ‘ कहा और हिन्दुस्तानियों को ‘सलाम वालेकुम ‘ और एक घंटा रहकर अपने देश वापस आ गया । 10. बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ एक सच्चे  इन्सान, एक सच्चे मुसलमान और एक सच्चे देशभक्त थे। वे हमारे देश की विशाल सांस्कृतिक परम्परा की धरोहर थे । ऐसी ही धार्मिक आस्था वाला सच्चा मुसलमान प्रतिदिन सुबह काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर में शहनाई  बजाकर अपने दिन की शुरुआत खुदा की इबादत से करना पसन्द करता था । Glossary : शब्दावली

Generic name (n)= एक जाति या वर्ग का नाम। Reeded (Adj) = वाद्ययंत्र जिसमें रीड का प्रयोग हो जैसे बांसुरी, शहनाई , क्लारिओनेट । Auspicious (adj)= मंगल सूचक  Indispensable (adj)= अविभाज्य। Ensemble (n)= वृन्द समूह जैसे वाद्यवृन्द । Souvenir (n) = स्मारिका। Celluloid = चलचित्र, सिनेमा । Venture= साहस । Coveted = इच्छित ।

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

A.    Work in small groups and discuss the following: As in the Text book. [ To be organised by the class teacher in the school.]

B.1.2. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False statements:

1.  Bismillah Khan belongs to a family of musicians from Uttar Pradesh.                   [F] 2.  Bismillah khan’s ancestors were also great  shehnai players.                                              [T] 3.  The flowing water of the Ganga gave inspiration to Bismillah to create ragas.   [T] 4.  He learnt shehnai from his parents and grand faster.                                      [F]

B.1.2. Complete the sentences on the basis of unit you have just studied:

1. The pungi is a musical instrument. 2. The pungi became the generic name for reeded noise makers. 3. The instrument which is so different from the pungi is called Shehnai. 4.  Seven holes were made on the body of a pipe. 5.  Rasool Bux Khan was the Shehnai Newaj of Bhojpuri king’s court. 6.  He was Bismillah’s grandfather. 7.  Bismillah accompanied his maternal uncle to the vishnu temple of Benaras. 8.  Bismillah played at the temple of Balajee and the banks of Ganga as a young apprentice.

B.1.3. Answer the following questions very briefly:

1. Who banned the playing of the pungi?

Ans: Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the musical instrument called pungi.

2. What generic name did the pungi came to acquire?

Ans: Pungi became shehnai after certain innovations made by a barber.

3. Who revived the pungi?

Ans: A barber of a family of professional musicians who had access to the royal place decide to improve the tonal quality of the pungi.

4. Where was the Shehnai played for the first time?

Ans: It was first played in the Royal Chamber of the shah.

5. Who played the instrument for the first time so different from the pungi?

Ans: It was played by the nai who had developed because it was played by the nai and it was played in the shah Chamber, it was named shehnai.

6. What is naubat called?

Ans: Naubat is the assembly of different musical instruments which were played in royal courts. Normally it has combination of nine instruments.                                           

7.  Who brought the instrument Shehnai on the classical stage?

Ans: The credit of bringing this instrument onto to the classical stage goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan.

8. Which sport did Bismillah Khan played in his childhood?

Ans: In his childhood, Bismillah Khan used to play ‘ Gilli–Danda’ a rural sport which is still played in villages.

9. Where did he play the sport?

Ans: He used to play the sport near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar.

10. Where did he go to sing Bhojpuri Chaita?

Ans: He used to go to Biharijee’s temple to sing the folk song of Chaita.

11. What is the highest civilian award in india?

Ans: The highest civilian award in India is ‘Bharat Ratna’.

12. Who was Bismillah’s father?

Ans: The name of Bismillah’s father was Paigambar Bux.

13. Who was Bismillah’s maternal uncle?

Ans: Bismillah’s maternal uncle name was Ali Bux.

B.2.1. Complete the sentences on the basis of the unit you have studied :

1. At the age of fourteen Bismillah Khan accompanied his uncle to Allahabad Music Conference. 2. In 1983 came Bismillah’s first break with the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow. 3. His father trip abroad was to Afganistan. 4. Film Director Vijay Bhatt named his film as ‘Goonj Uthi Shehnai’ after being impressed by the Shehnai. 5. National award like the Padmashri, padmabhushan and the Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. 6. Bismillah Khan also referred to as Khan Shaheb. 7. An auditorium in Tehran named after him is called Tahar Mosiquee Ustad Bismillah Khan.

B.2.2. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False statements:

1. An auditorium in Tehran was named after Bismillah Khan.                                         [T] 2. Bismillah Khan was fondly called Khan shaheb.                                                       [T] 3. Khan shaheb was Shehnai player of international repute even then no national award were conferred of him.              [F]

B.2.3. Answer the following questions very briefly:     

1. When was Bismillah Khan awarded the highest civilian award?

Ans: The award was given in the year 2001.

2. Of which two cities was the most fond of?

Ans: He was most fond of Benaras and Dumraon. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Which emperor banned the playing of the pungi? Do you think that it is against the right to expression?

Ans : Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi a musical instrument which had a shrill and unpleasant sound. In monarchy the right  to expression has no ecistance. It is the will of the emperor which prevails.

2. Ustad Khan refused the calluloid world after two films.was it a loss to the cinema world or gain to Hindustani music ? Discuss.

Ans : It was perfectly again to Hindustani music. To play classical music on wind instruments like shehnai is very difficult. Only a genias like Ustad Bismillah Khan would have done this. It was a god gifted music and no other musician could have produced that miracle on shehnai as Bismillah Khan.

3. Capture in word that feeling of the Ustad Khan when he received Bharat Ratna?

Ans : He said: I wish and would like that the rich tradition music is maintained and this is possible if we teach our children music particularly the Indian classical music. Even the western countries have started learning our Indian music. Why should we he left behind.

4. Only in India it is possible that a devout muslim like Khan shaeb can very naturally play the shehnai every morning at Kashi Vishwanath temple. What light does this statement throw on India’s cultural heritage ? Discuss.

Ans : Khan shaheb was a true devout muslim. He had faith in Allah, God, Ishwar. He felt god is one. Only we call him through different names. Music is a prayer to God. We reach to the some almighty through our prayer. India is a multiracial, multilingual and a multicultural country. We are so many but one and the Indian music find our nation in unity against diversity.

5. Describe the incident of Ustad  Khan visiting pakistan?

Ans : Bismillah Khan once narrated that once he visited Pakistan that too for an hour, when he reached there he said Namaskar to the Pakistanis and the Salam walekum to the Indians and came back. He said that he can never think of having Benaras.

6. How did shehnai get its name? Describe in your words the process how the pungi became the Shehnai?

Ans : A barber, who belonged to the family of musicians decided to convert pungi into a melodious instrument. He took a pipe longer in size than pungi which had natural hollowaess and made seven holes on its body of different dimensions to produce seven ‘swears’ of musical notes. The pipe produce melodious sound. It was played in shah’s chamber and was invented and played by a nai so it got the name’s shehnai.                       GROUPING DISCUSSIONS

Discuss the following in group of pairs: 1. Composite culture of our country. 2. Musical instruments of your area. To be arranged by the class teacher. COMPOSITION

1. Imagine yourself as young Bismillah and write in 10 lines about your attachment to varanasi.

Ans : Vanarasi is situated in two rivers—Varuna+ Asi. Asi is on the bank of great river Ganga. This is on of the ancient cities of the world which is called the cultural capital of India. Bismillah Khan is a small child moved to the city of his maternal uncle. He started learning shehnai under the guidance of his maternal uncle who loved him very much. He got so attached to the city that no allurement could move him out of the city. He developed as a great musician in this city and Khan shaheb was known through Varanasi and Varanasi  was known for so many things including Bismillah Khan Shehnai’s.

2. Write in about 100 words the achievement of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Ans : Ustad Bismillah Khan was known to be a great musician. The credit of elevating Shehnai from a folk instrument to a recognised music instrument of Indian classical music goes to only Bismillah Khan. Even today the morning session of All India Radio starts with his Mangal Vadya Shehnai. He visited the length and breadth of our country and enchanted the audience with his music. He performed at as so many music conferences abroad and got honoured by the high dignitaries of the country he visited. Due to his service to the nation particularly in the file of music, he was conferred with the highest civilian award of ‘Bharat Ratna’.

D.1. Dictionary use: Correct spelling of the following words:     Incorrect                                        Correct Musisal                                            Musical Awardeb                                          Awarded Conapnoun                                     Conference                                                    Audetorium                                     Auditorium Instrunment                                    Instrument

D.2.1. Look up a dictionary and write two meanings of the following words:

1. Impressed              Influenced, creating                    good and effect 2. Traditional              Old culture, something age old 3. Favorite                   Dear, preferred 4. Auspicious              Good omen, Good time 5. Ancestor                 Forefather, linage of a family 6. Coveted                  Aspiring, to long time  something 7. Hentage                 Traditional, which can be inherited 8. Hollow                    Empty hole cavity 9. Prestigious            Honourable, reputable

D.2.2. Word formation: There is a word called ‘Indispensable’. This word has been made on of verb dispense by adding prefix ‘in’ and suffix ‘able’. So, many word can be  made by this process. Let us make some words by adding suffix ‘able’ to different verbs: Verb    +     suffix Eat       +       able      =       Eatable Use      +       able      =       Useable Work    +      able       =       Workable Count   +      able      =        Countable Read     +      able      =        Readable Select   +      able      =        Selectable Adapt    +      able     =         Adaptable Walk      +      able     =         Walkable Understand + able   =         Understandable Negotiate    + able   =          Negotiable

D.3. Word Matching: Match the word and phrases in column ‘A’ with the meanings given in column ‘B’. A                                                      B 1. Promising to give good              Auspicious fortune 2. Things considered as a group    Ensemble 3. Beloving strongly in religion        Devout 4. Given a tittle, degree etc.             Conferred 5. Something that remainds One place, ocassion or event         Souvenir

D.4. Phrases Find out 10 sentences in the lesson in which phrases have been used? Use these phrases in your own sentence.

1. Fond off: He is fond of listening to good music. 2. Thick and fast: Glory and fame in one’s life come thick and fast. 3. Come to terms: He came to terms after great persuasion. 4. Big Break: Sachin Tendulkar got a big break in cricket at a very young age. 5. Often heard: This song was often heard in her voice. 6. Pour one’s heart: He poured his heart to bring success. 7. Turn out: He turned out to be a great genius. GRAMMAR

Punctuation There are different kinds of punctuations which are used in between the framing of sentence. The punctuation are: Apostrophe              [ ‘ ] Bismillah khan’s Colon                         [ : ] Comma                     [ , ] Dash                          [– ] Full stop                    [ . ] Hyphen                      [ – ] Question mark         [ ? ] Quotation mark       [ ”  ” ] Semi colon               [ ; ] For details and uses read grammar portion of the Text book. F. Activities: [ To be done under guidance of the teacher ]

G. Translation

Translate into Hindi in your mother language

Bismillah Khan has gave many memorable performances both in India and abroad. His first trip abroad was to Afghanistan where king Zeher Shah was so taken in by the maestro that he gifted him priceless Persian carpet and other souvenirs. The king of Afghanistan was not only one to be fascinated which Bismillah’s music. Film Director Vijay Bhatt was so impressed after hearing Bismillah play at a festival that he named a film after the instrument called Gunj Uthi Shehnai. The film was a hit and one of Bismillah khan’s composition, “Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya……..”, turned out to be nationwide chartbuster ! Despite this huge success in the celluloid world, Bismillah khan’s success in film music was limited to two: Vijay Bhatt’s Gunj Uthi Shehnai and Vikram Srinivas’s kannada venture, Sanadhi Apanna ” I just can’t come to terms with the artificially and glamour of the film world,” he says with emphasis.

उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ ने कुछ यादगार संगीत कार्यक्रम देश और विदेश में किये हैं। अफगानिस्तान की यात्रा उनकी पहली विदेश यात्रा थी । वहाँ इनके शहनाई वादन में वहाँ के सम्राट जहीर शाह इतने अभिभूत हो ग्रेड थे कि उन्होंने खाँ साहब को अमूल्य पारसी कारपेट  एवं अन्य स्मृति चिन्ह उपहार में दिये । बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ  के शहनाई वादन से प्रभावित होने वाले अफगानिस्तान के शाह मात्र अकेले व्यक्ति नहीं थे। फिल्म निदेशक, विजय भट्ट ने बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ की शहनाई वादन को एक संगीत समारोह में सुना और इतने आकर्षित हुए कि उन्होंने अपनी फिल्म का नाम ‘ गूँज उठी शहनाई ‘ रख दिया । इस फिल्म में खाँ साहब की संगीत रचना ‘ दिल का खिलौना हाय टूट गया ‘ ने देश भर में धूम मचा दी। फिल्म जगत में इस सफलता के बावजूद खाँ साहब ने मात्र दो फिल्मों में अपना संगीत दिया । वह था विजय भट्ट कृत फिल्म ‘ गूँज उठी शहनाई ‘ और विक्रम श्रीनिवास की कन्नड़ फिल्म —’ सनधी अपन्ना ‘ । बिस्मिल्लाह खाँ ने एक बार स्पष्ट रुप में कहा — ” मैं फिल्मीं दुनिया की चकाचौंध और वहाँ के कृत्रिम जीवन से कदापि समझोता नहीं कर सकता। ”

Share this:

• bseb 8th class hindi note | दीनबन्धु ‘ निराला ‘ ( जीवनी )
• bseb class 9th english note | KATHMANDU

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

PUMPA - SMART LEARNING

எங்கள் ஆசிரியர்களுடன் 1-ஆன்-1 ஆலோசனை நேரத்தைப் பெறுங்கள். டாப்பர் ஆவதற்கு நாங்கள் பயிற்சி அளிப்போம்

• English Language CBSE

The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Practice questions, teacher manual.

The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Extract Based Questions for Class 9 Beehive

Extract based question for the shehnai of bismillah khan class 9 english beehive with solutions.

Extract based questions for The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan- The Sound of Music  has been prepared by our expert teachers. Students can read and learn from these questions and these are very important in their examination. Class 9 English Beehive chapter 2 The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan- The Sound of Music extract based questions are very helpful in understanding the chapter. It also help in the revision. Students can rely on these questions and answers taken from the extract of chapter The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan to get good marks in their English Literature Paper.

The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Extract Based Question Class 9 English

Extract 1 the shehnai of bismillah khan, extract 2 the shehnai of bismillah khan, extract 3 the shehnai of bismillah khan, extract 4 the shehnai of bismillah khan, extract 5 the shehnai of bismillah khan, contact form.

The Sound of Music Part 2 Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English

The Sound of Music Part 2 class 9 English beehive chapter 2 Extra Questions and Answers are available here. All these questions are divided into short type questions answers, long type question answers and extract based questions. These Class 9 extra questions are prepared by our expert teachers. Learning these questions will help you to score excellent marks in the board exams.

Extra Questions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 2 The Sound of Music Part 2

Very short answer questions.

1. What did Aurangzeb do to the playing of pungi in his royal residence? Answer: Ms. Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in his royal residence.

2. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi in his royal residence? Answer:  Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in his royal residence because he did not like its shrill unpleasant sound.

3. Which family did the barber belong to? Answer:  He belonged to a family of professional musicians.

4. Who invented `Shehnai’? Answer:  A barber in Aurangzeb’s court invented Shehnai.

5. How many holes does a Shehnai have on its body? Answer:  It has seven holes in its body. 6. Where was Bismillah Khan born? Answer:  He was born in Dumraon in Bihar.

7. When was Bismillah Khan born? Answer:  He was born on 21 March 1916.

8. Which highest civilian award in India was conferred on Bismillah Khan? Answer:  The Bharat Ratna .

9. What was the name of Bismillah’s grandfather? Answer:  His name was Rasool Bux Khan.

10. What was the name of Bismillah’s father? Answer:  His name was Paigambar Bux.

11. What was the profession of Bismillah’s paternal ancestors? Answer:  They were great Shehnai players.

12. Who was Ali Bux? Answer:  AN Bux was Bismillah’s maternal uncle.

13. When was All India Radio in Lucknow was opened? Answer:  In 1938.

14. What is Bismillah Khan’s special achievement on 15 August 1947? Answer:  Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his Shehnai on this day.

15. To which foreign country did Bismillah Khan go on his first trip? Answer:  Afghanistan.

16. Which film was made by Vijay Matt after hearing Fsismillah’s Shehnai? Answer:  Gunj Uthi Shehnai .

17. Which auditorium is named after Bismillah Khan in Tehran? Answer:  The name of the auditorium is Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

18. What name is Bismillah Khan fondly called? Answer:  He is fondly called `Khansaab’.

19. When Bismillah Khan is in Mumbai he missed two things badly. Name those two  things. Answer:  They are Benaras and Ganga.

20. What did one of his students in the U.S.A. want him to do? Answer:  One of his students in the U.S.A. wanted him to head a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.

Short Answer Type Questions

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

Answer:  Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because he considered it as a reeded noisemaker with its loud, shrill, and unpleasant sound. He prohibited its play in the royal court.

2. Why did the  pungi  become a generic name for “reeded noisemakers”?

Answer:  The  pungi  produced loud, unpleasant and jarring music. Because of this shrill music, Aurangzeb banned it in the royal house. As it was made from a reed and produced noisy sounds, it became a generic name for “reeded noisemakers”.

3. How is a ‘shehnai’ different from a  pungi ?

Answer: Though a reeded instrument like a  pungi , a shehnai differs from it in width and sound. It is made with a longer and broader stem than a pungi and produces soft, melodious sounds instead of the loud, jarring sound of a  pungi .

4. Who revived the  pungi  and what shape did it take?

Answer:  When Aurangzeb banned the playing of the  pungi  in the royal residence, a barber who belonged to a family of professional musicians revived it by taking a wider and longer hollow stem and making seven holes in it. The improved  pungi  produced soft and sweet sounds.

5. How did the ‘shehnai’ get its name?

Answer:  It is believed that the barber (nai) who improved the  pungi , played his instrument in the chamber of the emperor (shah). The c combination of the two words ‘shah’ and ‘nai’ formed the name ‘shehnai’.

6. Why was the shehnai played in temples and weddings?

Answer:  The music of the shehnai was melodious and soft. It came to be believed that it was auspicious. Therefore, in the holy temples and on the happy auspicious occasions of weddings, the shehnai was played.

7. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change it? Or How did Bismillah Khan bring the ‘shehnai’ onto the classical stage?

Answer:  Traditionally, the shehnai was played in the royal court as one of the nine instruments together known as  naubat . Bismillah Khan made it an independent instrument and gave its music a place among other classical instrumental music.

8. Where did Bismillah Khan usually sing at the age of five? How was he rewarded and by whom?

Answer:  At the age of five, Bismillah Khan usually sang the Bhojpuri ‘chaita a’ in the Bihariji temple in his native town Dumraon in Bihar. At the end of the song, he earned a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg which was given by the local Maharaja as a prize.

9. What does the feature “The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan”, tell us about the paternal ancestors of Bismillah Khan? Or What kind of family did Bismillah Khan hail from?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan hailed from a family of musicians in Bihar. His grandfather Rasool Bux Khan was the shehnai player in the royal court of the king of Bhojpur. His father Paigambar Bux and many paternal and maternal uncles were also ‘shehnai vaadaks’ (players).

10. Who was Ali Bux? Where was he employed and what was his influence on Bismillah Khan?

Answer:  Ali Bux was the maternal uncle of Bismillah Khan and may be regarded as his mentor and trainer. He was a great shehnai player and was employed to play the shehnai in the Vishnu temple of Benaras. At a very young age, Bismillah Khan started accompanying him and got lessons in playing the shehnai from him. The young boy would sit for hours listening to his uncle and later practise throughout the day.

11. Which places were young Bismillah Khan’s favourite haunts for practising music? Why?

Answer:  The temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya, as well as the banks of the Ganga, were young Bismillah Khan’s favourite haunts because he could practice his music there in solitude. The flowing waters of Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas which were earlier considered beyond the range of the shehnai.

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

Answer:  The ‘big break’ came to Bismillah Khan when in 1938 the All India Radio was started in Lucknow. Khansaab was regularly invited to play the shehnai and soon became an often-heard shehnai player on the radio.

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

Answer:  Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on August 15, 1947, at the Red Fort in New Delhi prior to the speech of Pandit Nehru. It was a historic event as India had got independence from the British on this day. Bismillah Khan was the first Indian to greet the nation and he poured his heart out while playing the melodious Raag Kafi on his shehnai.

14. Where did Bismillah Khan go on his first foreign trip? How was he honoured there?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan’s first foreign trip took him to Afghanistan where King Zahir Shah was so impressed with the maestro’s shehnai recital that he honoured him with gifts of priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs.

15. Why did the film director Vijay Bhatt name his film “ Gunj Uthi Shehnai “?

Answer:  The film director, Vijay Bhatt, once heard the shehnai recital of Bismillah Khan in a festival. He was so fascinated by the performance that he decided to name his next film after the instrument and called it “ Gun Uthi Shehnai “

16. Which films did Bismillah Khan provide music for? Why did he discontinue playing the shehnai for films?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan ventured into the film world with Vijay Bhatt’s “ Gunj Uthi Shehnai ” . Then he played in a Kannada film – “ Samadhi Apanna “. Though he was very successful, he gave up the film world because his tastes did not tune well with the artificiality and glamour of filmdom.

17. How was Bismillah Khan’s music appreciated and recognised on the international level?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan’s music was so much appreciated on the international level that he became the first Indian to be invited to perform in the prestigious Lincoln Central Hall, USA. He participated in the World Exposition in Montreal, the Cannes Art Festival and the Osaka Trade Fair. In Teheran, an auditorium was named after him.

38. How did India honour and reward the great musician, Bismillah Khan?

Answer:  India honoured Bismillah Khan by conferring on him the greatest national awards – the Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He was also awarded the Bharat Rama in 2001, the highest civilian award in India.

39. Why did Bismillah Khan want that the children in India should be taught music?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan had great regard for Indian music and considered the Hindustani music to be its richest heritage. He wanted that children must not cut off their bond from this grand tradition which was fascinating even for the people of the west.

20. What offer did one of Bismillah Khan’s students in the US make to him? Why?

Answer:  A student of Bismillah Khan, who himself was settled in the US, wanted that the great maestro should be the head of a shehnai school in the U.S. He promised that he would create the environment of India by erecting the temples like those in Benaras, India.

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

Answer:  Bismillah Khan was a staunch patriot and was passionately in love with Benaras and Dumraon in India. He intensely loved the Ganga and could not stay away from the sacred river. Therefore, he declined the offer to settle down in the US and head a shehnai school there.

22. Why does the author believe that Bismillah Khan’s life is “a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India”?

Answer:  India has always shown a liberal attitude to all communities and religions. Its cultural heritage is a blend of various castes and creeds. Bismillah Khan’s life perfectly represents this blend. Although a devout Muslim, Khansaab played the shehnai in the Kashi Vishwanath temple every morning.

23. Find instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loved India and Benaras.

Answer:  Bismillah Khan’s love for India and Benaras is revealed by the fact that he refused to settle down in the US as the head of a shehnai school in spite of a strong assurance from his student to build temples like those in India. This love also becomes obvious in his acceptance speech after receiving the Bharat Ratna when he declared Hindustani music to be the richest heritage.

24. How did Evelyn sense the sounds and vibrations of the music?

Answer:  Evelyn sensed the sounds and vibrations of the music by opening her mind and body to them. She felt different notes through different parts of her body.

25. What was the contribution of Forbes in helping Evelyn to learn music?

Answer:  Forbes played a crucial role in shaping Evelyn’s musical talents. He asked her to sense the sounds and vibrations through her different body parts. He turned two large drums to different notes and asked her to feel the different notes and sounds some other way.

26. How was Evelyn a source of great pleasure to her audience?

Answer:  Evelyn was very young. She performed despite her handicap. Her music was better than those of her double age. She was an inspiration to the handicapped. Thus, she has given enormous pleasure to millions.

27. How is Evelyn able to express music so beautifully? Answer:  Though deaf, Evelyn was able to express music beautifully as she could feel far more deeply than many of us. That is why she expressed music so beautifully.

28. How was Evelyn able to get admission to the Royal Academy of Music?

Answer:  Ron Forbes spotted Evelyn’s potential in music. She never looked back from that point. By the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored the highest marks in the history of the academy.

29. Why does Evelyn remove her shoes on the wooden platform?

Answer:  While playing instruments she removes shoes on the wooden platform. It allows the vibrations to pass through her bare feet and up to her legs. She is able to feel the music through every part of her body. She can also feel the echo of sound flowing into her body by leaning against the drums.

30. How did Ron Forbes give training in music to Evelyn?

Answer:  He took two large drums for tuning Evelyn at once realised higher drums from the waist up and lower drums from the waist down. He motivated her to feel the music in different parts of her body.

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

Answer:  With the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, Bismillah Khan got a big break. He became an often-heard Shehnai player on Radio. When India got independence on 15th August 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his Shehnai.

32. Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan played the Shehnai from the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. It was a historic event because he became the first Indian to greet the nation on the occasion of the first Independence Day. This programme was attended by Nehru, the first Prime Minister and many stalwarts of the nations.

33. What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan was a true Indian at heart. The recurring themes of his music were the ethics of temples and human relationships. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improve and invent `raagas’.

34. How was pungi came to be named Whehnai’?

Answer:  A barber from a family of professional musicians decided to improve the pungi. He chose a pipe with a hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi. He played the instrument before the king and everyone was impressed. Since it was played by a barber, and in the Shah’s chambers, the instrument was named as ‘She/tile.

35. Bismillah Khan loved India and Benaras the most. Justify it by giving two instances from the text.

Answer:  He was fond of Benaras and Dumraon. They remained for him the most wonderful towns in the world. He said that whenever he was in a foreign country, he kept yearning to see India. While in Mumbai, he thinks only of Benaras and the holy Ganga. And while in Benaras, he misses the unique mattha of Dumraon.

36. How did the barber change the tonal quality of a pungi into the melodious voice of the Shehnai?

Answer:  The barber chose a pipe with a natural hollow-stem. It was longer and broader than `pungi’. He made seven holes on the body of the pipe. He played on it. Soft and melodious sounds were produced. The barber played it before the royalty and it came to be known as Shehnai.

37. How did Ustad Bismillah Khan bring Shehnai to the classical stage?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai player. He invented many raagas and played them on Shehnai. His tunes enchanted everybody. Thus, Shehnai became a popular musical instrument in the country.

38. What idea did Ustad Bismillah Khan hold about Hindustani music?

Answer:  He held a high about Hindustani music. He was of the opinion that every child should learn Hindustani music. India has a very rich tradition of music. Even the West come here to learn our music.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Write a note on the origin of the Shehnai.

Answer:  It is said that in the past a musical instrument called pungi used to be played in palaces before the Kings and Nawabs. But Aurangzeb did not like the shrill and unpleasant sound of the pungi. So he banned the playing of this musical instrument in the royal residence. There was a barber who belonged to a family of musicians.He had access to the royal palace. He tried hard to improve the tonal quality of the instrument: Ile chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the original pungi. lie carved seven holes on the body of the instrument. When he played on it, an impressive sonorous tonal sound was produced. The barber played it before the king and his courtiers. Everybody was impressed. The instrument Was called Shehnai because it was born in the Shah’s chamber and was invented by a ‘nai’ (barber). There is another story about the origin of Shehnai. It is said that a doctor of Iran invented it. His name was I laquim Bu All Saina and the instrument was named after him.

2. What are the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music and how did they originate?

Answer:  At the age of flute, Bismillah Khan went to Benaras. Here his maternal uncle taught him the nuances of the Shehnai. the lie used to practice in the temple of Balaji and Mangla Maiya. He also practiced on the banks of the Ganga. There is practiced for hours in complete solitude. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise his music. There he invented the ‘ragas’ that were earlier considered beyond the range of Shehnai. The atmosphere of the temple and the solitude of the banks of the Ganga had a great effect on him. They influenced the themes of his music also. One such theme was the ethos of the temple. The other theme was the relationship between human beings based on the tune of the flowing river. These became the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music.

3. Why is Benaras so important to Bismillah Khan?

Answer:  Mr Bismillah Khan is fondly called Khansaab. He has travelled all over the world. He got honours in every country. In Tehran, an auditorium was named after him. He has seen many cities, but he remains very fond of Benaras and Dumraon. He calls them the most wonderful towns in the world. He has a special fascination for Benaras because of the Ganga there. In his youth, he used to practice Shehnai in solitude on the banks of the Ganga. Once one of his students in the USA requested him to head a Shehnai school there. He said that he would recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by building similar temples there. But the Ustad asked him whether he would bring the Ganga also there. Once he said, “Whenever I am in Mumbai, I think of only Varanasi and the holy Ganga”.

4. Write a note on the life and achievements of Bismillah Khan as a ‘shehnai vaadak’. What values of life do you derive from his story?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan’s journey as a ‘shehnai vaadak’ carries in itself deep moral values of dedication, simplicity, and patriotism. It started at the young age of three and continued up to the age of ninety. The journey ranged from playing the instrument in the temples to getting international fame.

Hailing from a family of musicians, Bismillah Khan inherited an interest in the shehnai. At a young age of three, he started accompanying his maternal Uncle Ali Bux to the Vishnu temple in Benaras and learned a lot from him. He would sing scriptures like the Bhojpuri  chaita’ .

Bismillah Khan got a significant break when he started playing for the All India Radio, Lucknow in 1938. His music was so admired that he was invited to play at the historic moment of Indian independence on 15 August 1947. In recognition of his talent, he was conferred upon with the greatest awards of India – the Padma shri, the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 2001.

Bismillah Khan ventured into the film world but abandoned it after he found it to be too artificial and glamorous. On the international level, he mesmerized the King of Afghanistan with o his shehnai music. He was the only Indian to be invited to play shehnai in the Lincoln Central Hall, USA. He also played in international events like the World Exposition, Montreal, the Cannes Art Festival and the Osaka Trade Fair. As a token of appreciation, the Teheran government has named an auditorium after Bismillah Khan.

Bismillah Khan has a deep devotion to his motherland and is proud of its heritage of music. Hence, he declined the offer to settle down in foreign countries. F His journey teaches the values of dedication to one’s talent and persistent efforts to reach the greatest heights of excellence.

5. How does the author of The Sound of Music” portray Bismillah Khan as a great patriot? Or Bismillah Khan, on receiving the Bharat Ratna, remarked, “Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition; even the West is now coming to learn our music.” What does it reveal about his sentiments towards India?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan, in “The Sound of Music”, emerged as a person imbued with intense and strong patriotic emotions. He had a profound and passionate love for his birthplace, Dumraon in Bihar and for Benaras where he took training to play the shehnai. He feels a deep bond with the Ganga because the flowing waters of the holy river made him improvise and spontaneously play new raagas – the ones which were earlier regarded to be beyond the range of the shehnai. Such was Bismillah Khan’s love for his country and the Ganga that he refused to settle down in America to head a-school for the shehnai. His strong attachment with the sacred river made him miss Banaras when he was in Mumbai or elsewhere. Equally strong was his bonding with his birthplace Dumraon.

Bismillah Khan had great regard for the Hindustani music which, for him, is the richest cultural heritage of India. He wanted the tradition of Indian music to be carried on from generation to generation. That is why he advised the people of India to teach music to their children and felt proud that this music fascinated even the people of the west.

6. 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? Or Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan shared the values of hard work and perseverance. Discuss. Or What important lesson does the life of Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan teach us?

Answer:  Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan, the two eminent music maestros, through their achievements, have proved to the world that the values of hard work and unstaggering efforts are always rewarded. Evelyn Glennie became an internationally admired multi-percussionist only because of her untiring work which could conquer even her handicap. Instead of yielding to her deafness, she made all-out efforts to sense the sounds of music through different parts of her body and never looked back. With her persistent efforts, she made it to the Royal Academy of Music, London and bagged the most prestigious awards. Her sincere devotion to her art has given percussion a new place on the international stage.

Bismillah Khan, like Evelyn, was dedicated to his art and attained greatest heights as a ‘shehnai vaadak’. He too worked diligently and transformed the shehnai into a classical instrument. He added enormously to what he had inherited by widening the range of the shehnai. He invented many new raagas spontaneously. Starting with playing in the temples of Benaras and on the banks of Ganga, he reached the stage of international acclaim. His hard work enabled him to win the most prestigious awards in India and in the world. Thus, the lives of both Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan are perfect examples of how dedicated efforts and persistent hard work lead to grand achievements.

7. Write a note on some of the most memorable performances of Ustad Bismillah Khan as described in the feature “The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan”.

Answer:  During his illustrious career spanning over 80 years, Bismillah Khan gave countless music performances, but a few of them stand out as milestones in his career. For example, his performance of the Bhojpuri  ‘chaita’  at the Bihariji temple at the age of five indicated the signs of a maestro he was to evolve into. For every recital, he would get a 1.25 kg laddu as a reward from the local king. At the age of 14, he was patted for his performance at the Allahabad Music Conference by Ustad Faiyaz Khan. In 1938, Bismillah Khan got perhaps the biggest break of his career when he got to perform on the All India Radio, Lucknow. Equally remarkable was the opportunity to usher in the Independence of the country from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. His first foreign performance in Afghanistan got him rich accolades and honours. He also had the chance to provide music to two films – Vijay Bhatt’s “Gunj Uthi Shehnai” and Srinivas’s Kannada movie “Samadhi Apanna”. Then followed a string of international performances, notable among them being the performances at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall (USA), World Exposition (Montreal), Cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade fair.

8. “Music has no religion.” How did Bismillah Khan’s Shehani prove it?

Answer:  Music is the voice of the soul. It is sacred beyond the religions. It is eternal and acts as a source of inspiration for everyone. A musician never plays music for any particular religion. Bismillah Khan who belonged to the Muslim community played Shehnai in temples. He was deeply attached to the holy city of Benaras and the holy river Ganga. The river Ganga and its flowing water were the main source of inspiration for him. He could never think of leaving Benaras and holy river Ganga. Since his childhood, he was fond of music. As a five-year-old child, he used to visit Bihariji temple at Dumraon to sing Bhojpuri Chaita. His love for music was so deeply influenced by Benaras and Ganga that once a student from the USA wanted him to head a Shehnai school there. He promised him to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the USA by replicating the temple. But Bismillah Khan refused to say that he couldn’t take the Ganga there.

9. Describe the life and character of Ustad Bismillah Khan with emphasis on values of his character you should imbibe.

Answer:  Ustad Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai player. He was born in a village of Bihar state. He belonged to a family of professional musicians. He made Shehnai a famous musical instrument in the world. The government of India gave him the greatest civilian award —” Bharat Ratna”. He was a true patriot. He never showed his desire to settle abroad when he was offered several chances. Bismillah had a great passion for Shehnai. He took lessons from his maternal uncle Ali Bux and practiced hard on the peaceful banks of the river Ganga. Infect his life is motivating for students. He teaches them that human beings should give up narrow mindedness. They should take values from different religions.

10. Why did Emperor Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi and how it was improved and called Shehnai?

Answer:  Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi in the royal residence because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound. But a barber of a professional family of musicians was able to improve it. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi. He made seven holes on the body of the pipe. He played the instrument before the king and everyone was impressed. Since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by an’ (barber), the instrument was named the ‘Shehnai’

11. What important lesson does the life of Bismillah Khan teach us?

Answer:  Bismillah Khan teaches us a very remarkable lesson of life. People make advancement in life by dint of hard work and devotion. He was very interested in music as he was born in the family of a musician. He used to sing Chaita in the Biharji temple. When he was in Benaras, he was greatly influenced by his maternal uncle, who was a great Shehnai player. He copied his uncle in the true spirit and practiced Shehnai in the peaceful environment of the Ganga. His hard work and devotion brought him good fruits. He was awarded the greatest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.