26. USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN || NIOS - SECONDARY COURSE || ENGLISH-202 CLASS-X

 Chapter-26 

USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN

INTEXT QUESTIONS 26.1

 Answer the following questions.

 1. Tick the correct option. 

a. Ustad Bismillah Khan was born in: 

(i) Varanasi (ii) Kolkata (iii) Delhi (iv) Dumraon✅

 b. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s father’s name was:

 (i) Paigambar Khan✅ (ii) Ali Baksh (iii) Rasool Baksh Khan (iv) Sajid Khan

 c. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle’s name was: 

(i) Paigambar Khan (ii) Qamaruddin (iii) Shamsuddin (iv) Ali Baksh ✅

d. Bismillah Khan moved to Varanasi at the age of:

 (i) 18 (ii) 6✅ (iii) 10 (iv) 22

 e. Which musical instrument did Ustad Bismillah Khan play? 

(i) flute (ii) sitar (iii) shehnai ✅  (iv) veena 

2. Read the statements given below. Write T for the true statements and F for the false ones. Also, correct the incorrect statements and rewrite them in the space provided. 

a. Ustad Bismillah Khan received the Bharat Ratna in 2001. __T__

 b. Ustad Bismillah Khan was the third son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan. __F__ Ustad  Bismillah Khan was the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan.

 c. Ustad Bismillah Khan often played the shehnai at the Vishwanath Temple located in Varanasi. __T_

d. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s father was a soldier in the army of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon. __F_  Ustad Bismillah Khan’s father was a musician in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon.

e. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom and arts.

_T__

3. What was Bismillah Khan named earlier? Why was his name changed? 

Ans: Bismillah Khan was earlier named Qamaruddin. However, when his grandfather Rasool Baksh Khan saw him as a baby, he uttered the word ‘Bismillah’, and hence he came to be known as Bismillah Khan.

4. Who was Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’? What role did he play in Bismillah Khan’s life? 

Ans:Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’ was Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle. He was the official shehnai player at the famous Vishwanath Temple. Ali Baksh noticed Bismillah Khan’s interest in the shehnai, so he started teaching him. Bismillah Khan accompanied his uncle to the Vishwanath Temple where he was the official shehnai player and then to the temple rooms at Balaji Ghats where he practised. Under Ali Baksh’s guidance, Bismillah Khan learnt to play the instrument for which he earned many laurels later. Thus, as a mentor and guide to Bismillah Khan, Ali Baksh played a very important role in his life. 

5. How did the flowing waters of the River Ganga inspire Bismillah Khan?

Ans:The flowing water of the River Ganga inspired Bismillah Khan to improvise and invent 'ragas' that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai. 

 6. What were the top four civilian awards that Bismillah Khan received? 

Ans:The top-four civilian awards that Bismillah Khan received were: Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

7. Have you heard the adage: ‘Practice makes a man perfect’? Does it hold true for Bismillah Khan? Do you think one can achieve success in life without working hard? Justify your answer giving an example from your life. 

Ans:Yes, the adage ‘practice makes a man perfect’ holds true for Bismillah Khan. Ustad Bismillah Khan practised and practised playing the shehnai till he became perfect. He was just a young boy when he started playing the shehnai, but for hours together, he practised. He was so committed that many times, he even went without play and regular food. His aim was clear – play till you are perfect. In any field in life, success can be achieved only through hard work. Hard work is the key to success. Bismillah Khan worked hard to learn how to play the shehnai. Similarly, if any student worked hard, he or she would definitely do very well in exams. Individual responses. Accept all responses for examples from personal life.

 INTEXT QUESTIONS 26.2 

Answer the following questions. 

1. Tick the correct option.

 

a. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s favourite mode of transport was: 

(i) car (ii) motorycle (iii) cycle rickshaw ✅(iv) aeroplane

 

b. On the eve of India’s independence in 1947, Ustad Bismillah Khan performed at the: 

(i) Qutub Minar (ii) Taj Mahal (iii) Gateway of India (iv) Red Fort✅ 

c. He was buried under a ________ tree. 

(i) peepal (ii) neem ✅ (iii) gulmohar (iv) banyan 

2. Select words from the box and fill in the blanks to complete the paragraph. caste, perished, brotherhood, survive, Hindu-Muslim Ustad Bismillah Khan always believed that music would 

(a) Survive even if the world (b) perished. He also believed in (c) Hindu-Muslim unity and spread the message of (d) Brotherhood through his music. He often said, “Music has no (e) caste”.

 3. After which concert did the shehnai come into the limelight and find appreciation among music lovers? 

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan’s concert at the All India Music Conference (1937) in Calcutta (now Kolkata) brought the shehnai into the limelight, and was hugely appreciated by music lovers.

4. How can we say that Bismillah Khan had a special bond with his shehnai? 

Ans:The shehnai was Ustad Bismillah Khan’s constant companion. We can say that he shared a special bond with it because he called it ‘begum’ after his wife died. (The Urdu word ‘begum’ means ‘wife’ in English.) When Ustad Bismillah Khan died, his shehnai was buried with him.

5. Bismillah Khan was a simple man but had strong beliefs. What did he believe in?

Ans:i) Ustad Bismillah Khan believed that music would survive even if the world perished.

 ii) He also believed in Hindu-Muslim unity. He said that music had no caste.

 6. Where was Bismilah Khan buried? How was he honoured at the time of his death?

Ans: Bismillah Khan was buried in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) under a neem tree. In honour of this great musician, the Government of India declared a one-day national mourning on his death. He was given a 21-gun salute by the Indian Army as he was being buried.

 7. From Japan to Europe to USA, Ustad Bismillah Khan played in many countries of the world. Why do you think his music was enjoyed by people in different countries?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan played the shehnai really well, and hence was appreciated the world over. Moreover, music transcends (crosses) all boundaries, especially political boundaries, such as those between different states or countries. For example, ‘Rabindra sangeet’ from west India, ‘Carnatic music’ from south India, folk songs of various regions, are liked by people in all states of India. Similarly, music of the Western countries (Western music) is very popular in India, especially with youngsters.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS 

1. Who was Bismillah Khan? Why was he famous? 

Ans: Ustad Bismilllah Khan was one of India’s finest Indian classical musicians. He attained mastery over the shehnai and became famous the world over. He was often called the shehnai maestro. He’s also famous because he had the rare honour of being awarded all the top-four civilian awards, including the Bharat Ratna.

2. “Such was his love for his city and motherland that he declined an offer of permanent citizenship for settling in the United States of America.” Read this line carefully and answer the following questions. 

a. Which city is being referred to here? 

b. Look up a dictionary and find the meaning of the word ‘motherland’. 

c. Bismillah Khan loved the city he lived in. What do you like most about your city/ town/village? (write down at least three points). 

Ans:. a. The city of Varanasi is being referred to here. b. motherland: a person’s native country c. Individual responses. Accept all responses.

3. What did Bismillah Khan mean when he said, "Music has no caste"?

Ans:When Ustad Bismillah Khan said that ‘music has no caste’, he meant that in music there are no barriers of caste, creed or religion. Music is universal. One does not think of the caste or religion of the musician when one is enjoying his/ her music. For example, ‘Sufi music’ and ‘Bhakti sangeet’ is sung and enjoyed by people of all religions.

 

4. What qualities did Bismillah Khan have? Which two qualities do you appreciate the most and why?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan had many qualities. He was hardworking, innovative and dedicated to his art form. He was very passionate about his music. Due to his efforts, shehnai was recognised as a classical music instrument. He gained national and international recognition. He won many awards. Ustad Bismillah Khan was simple and humble. He remained unaffected by success. He never accumulated wealth and other material possessions. He was patriotic, and loved his city and motherland. He even declined an offer of permanent citizenship of the United States of America. Ustad Bismillah Khan believed in Hindu-Muslim unity. He often played the shehnai at the Vishwanath Temple on the banks of River Ganga. He was also a devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom and arts. He spread the message of brotherhood through his music.