THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN
1. Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence, for it had a shrill, unpleasant sound. The 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 broader 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 by a nai (barber), the instrument was named the 'shehnai'.
1. सम्राट औरंगज़ेब ने शाही महल में पुंगी नामक एक वाद्य यंत्र को बजाने पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया था, क्योंकि उसकी आवाज़ तीखी और अप्रिय थी। पुंगी शब्द सरकंडे से बने वाद्य यंत्रों के लिए एक सामान्य नाम बन गया। बहुत कम लोगों ने सोचा था कि एक दिन इसे फिर से लोकप्रिय बनाया जाएगा।
पेशेवर संगीतकारों के एक परिवार से संबंधित एक नाई, जिसे शाही महल में आने-जाने की अनुमति थी, ने पुंगी की ध्वनि की गुणवत्ता में सुधार करने का निर्णय लिया। उसने प्राकृतिक रूप से खोखला तना वाली एक ऐसी नली चुनी, जो पुंगी से अधिक लंबी और चौड़ी थी। उसने उस नली के शरीर पर सात छेद बनाए।
जब उसने उन छेदों में से कुछ को बंद करके और कुछ को खोलकर उसे बजाया, तो उसमें से कोमल और मधुर ध्वनियाँ निकलने लगीं। उसने इस वाद्य यंत्र को राजदरबार में बजाया और सभी लोग इससे बहुत प्रभावित हुए।
यह वाद्य यंत्र पुंगी से इतना अलग था कि इसे एक नया नाम देना आवश्यक था। प्रचलित कहानी के अनुसार, क्योंकि इसे पहली बार शाह के कक्ष में बजाया गया था और इसे एक नाई ने बजाया था, इसलिए इस वाद्य यंत्र का नाम ‘शहनाई’ रखा गया।
2. The sound of 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, the shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional ensemble 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.
2. शहनाई की ध्वनि को शुभ माना जाने लगा। इसी कारण आज भी इसे मंदिरों में बजाया जाता है और यह उत्तर भारत के किसी भी विवाह समारोह का एक अनिवार्य हिस्सा है।
पहले शहनाई नौबत का हिस्सा हुआ करती थी। नौबत नौ वाद्य यंत्रों का एक पारंपरिक समूह था, जो राजदरबारों में पाया जाता था।
कुछ समय पहले तक शहनाई का उपयोग केवल मंदिरों और विवाह समारोहों में ही किया जाता था। इस वाद्य यंत्र को शास्त्रीय संगीत के मंच तक पहुँचाने का श्रेय उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ को जाता है।
3. As a five-year-old boy, 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 ofwhich hewould 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.
3. पाँच वर्ष की उम्र में, बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ बिहार के डुमराँव की प्राचीन रियासत में एक तालाब के पास गिल्ली-डंडा खेला करते थे। वे नियमित रूप से पास के बिहारीजी मंदिर में भोजपुरी गीत ‘चैता’ गाने जाया करते थे। गीत के अंत में उन्हें एक बड़ा लड्डू मिलता था, जिसका वजन 1.25 किलोग्राम था। यह लड्डू स्थानीय महाराजा द्वारा पुरस्कार के रूप में दिया जाता था।
यह घटना लगभग 80 वर्ष पहले की है। उस छोटे से लड़के ने भारत का सर्वोच्च नागरिक सम्मान ‘भारत रत्न’ प्राप्त करने के लिए एक लंबा सफ़र तय किया।
4. Born on 21 March 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 shehnai players.
4. बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ का जन्म 21 मार्च 1916 को हुआ था। वे बिहार के संगीतकारों के एक प्रसिद्ध परिवार से संबंध रखते थे। उनके दादा, रसूल बख़्श ख़ाँ, भोजपुर के राजा के दरबार में शहनाई वादक थे। उनके पिता, पैगंबर बख़्श, और उनके परिवार के अन्य पैतृक पूर्वज भी शहनाई बजाने वाले थे।
5. 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 (now Varanasi), Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncles practise the shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benaras, where Bux was employed to play the shehnai. Ali Bux would play the shehnai, and Bismillah and I would sit captivated for hours. 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 Manga Maiyaiya and the banks of the Ganga became the young apprentice's favourite haunts where he could practise in solitude. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent ragas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai.
5. छोटे बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ को बचपन से ही संगीत में रुचि हो गई थी। जब वे केवल तीन वर्ष के थे, तब उनकी माँ उन्हें बनारस (वर्तमान वाराणसी) में उनके मामा के घर ले गईं। वहाँ बिस्मिल्लाह अपने मामाओं को शहनाई का अभ्यास करते हुए बड़े ध्यान से देख रहा था। शहनाई बजाते हुए अपने मामाओं को देखकर वे बहुत आकर्षित हुए।
जल्द ही बिस्मिल्लाह अपने मामा अली बख़्श के साथ बनारस के विष्णु मंदिर जाने लगा। वहाँ अली बख़्श शहनाई बजाने का काम करते थे। अली बख़्श शहनाई बजाते थे और बिस्मिल्लाह मंत्रमुग्ध होकर घंटों तक बैठकर उन्हें सुनते रहते थे।
धीरे-धीरे उन्होंने शहनाई बजाने की शिक्षा लेना शुरू कर दिया और पूरे दिन बैठकर इसका अभ्यास करने लगे। आने वाले कई वर्षों तक बालाजी और मंगला मैया के मंदिर तथा गंगा नदी के किनारे उस युवा शिष्य के पसंदीदा स्थान बने रहे। वहाँ वे एकांत में शहनाई का अभ्यास कर सकते थे।
गंगा नदी के बहते हुए जल ने उन्हें नए प्रयोग करने और नई राग-रागिनियाँ विकसित करने की प्रेरणा दी। उन्होंने ऐसी राग-रागिनियाँ बनाईं, जिन्हें पहले शहनाई पर बजाना असंभव माना जाता था।
6. 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 All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah's big break. He soon became an often-heard shehnai player on the radio.
6. जब बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ 14 वर्ष के थे, तब वे अपने मामा के साथ इलाहाबाद संगीत सम्मेलन में गए। उनकी प्रस्तुति समाप्त होने के बाद, उस्ताद फ़ैयाज़ ख़ाँ ने उस छोटे लड़के की पीठ थपथपाई और कहा, “कड़ी मेहनत करो, तुम अवश्य सफल हो जाओगे।”
1938 में लखनऊ में ऑल इंडिया रेडियो (आकाशवाणी) की शुरुआत के साथ ही बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ को अपने जीवन का एक बड़ा अवसर मिला। जल्द ही वे रेडियो पर अक्सर सुनाई देने वाले शहनाई वादक बन गए।
7. When India gained independence on 15 August 1947. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raga Kali from the Red Fort to an audience that included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous Tryst with Destiny speech.
7. जब 15 अगस्त 1947 को भारत स्वतंत्र हुआ, तब बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ अपनी शहनाई के माध्यम से देश का अभिवादन करने वाले पहले भारतीय बने। उन्होंने लाल किले से राग काफ़ी को पूरे दिल से बजाया। उस समय उनके श्रोताओं में पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू भी शामिल थे, जिन्होंने बाद में अपना प्रसिद्ध भाषण ‘ट्रिस्ट विद डेस्टिनी’ (भाग्य के साथ वादा) दिया।
8. 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 was 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 the celluloid gaya...." turned out to be a nationwide chartbuster! Despite this huge success in the world, Bismillah Khan's success in film music was limited to two: Vijay Bhatt's Gunj Uthi Shehnai and VikramSrinivas's Kannada venture, Sanadhi Apanna. With "I just can't come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world," he says with emphasis.
8. बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ ने भारत और विदेशों में अनेक यादगार प्रस्तुतियाँ दीं। उनकी पहली विदेश यात्रा अफ़गानिस्तान की थी। वहाँ के राजा ज़हीर शाह महान शहनाई वादक बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ से इतने प्रभावित हुए कि उन्होंने उन्हें बेशकीमती फ़ारसी कालीन और अन्य यादगार उपहार भेंट किए।
अफ़गानिस्तान के राजा ही अकेले ऐसे व्यक्ति नहीं थे, जो बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ के संगीत से प्रभावित हुए थे। फ़िल्म निर्देशक विजय भट्ट भी एक संगीत समारोह में बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ की शहनाई सुनकर बहुत प्रभावित हुए। उन्होंने इस वाद्य यंत्र के नाम पर एक फ़िल्म का नाम ‘गूँज उठी शहनाई’ रखा।
यह फ़िल्म बहुत सफल रही। बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ की एक रचना, ‘दिल का खिलौना हाय टूट गया…’, पूरे देश में बहुत लोकप्रिय हुई और चार्ट पर हिट साबित हुई।
विश्व स्तर पर इतनी बड़ी सफलता मिलने के बावजूद, फ़िल्मी संगीत में बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ का योगदान केवल दो फ़िल्मों तक सीमित रहा—विजय भट्ट की गूँज उठी शहनाई और विक्रम श्रीनिवास की कन्नड़ फ़िल्म सनाधि अपन्ना।
वे ज़ोर देकर कहते हैं, “मैं फ़िल्मी दुनिया के बनावटीपन और चकाचौंध के साथ तालमेल नहीं बिठा पाता हूँ।”
9. Awards and recognition came thick and fast. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States of America. He also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, in the Cannes Art Festival and in the Osaka Trade Fair. So well known did he become internationally, Ustaa,d that an auditorium in Teheran was named after him -Tahar Mosiquee Bismillah Khan.
9. बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ को लगातार अनेक पुरस्कार और सम्मान मिलने लगे। वे संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका के प्रसिद्ध लिंकन सेंटर हॉल में प्रस्तुति देने के लिए आमंत्रित किए जाने वाले पहले भारतीय बने।
उन्होंने मॉन्ट्रियल में आयोजित विश्व प्रदर्शनी, कान फ़िल्म महोत्सव के कला समारोह और ओसाका व्यापार मेले में भी भाग लिया।
वे अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर इतने प्रसिद्ध हो गए कि तेहरान में उनके नाम पर एक सभागार का नाम रखा गया—‘ताहार म्यूज़िक बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ’ (Tahar Mosiquee Bismillah Khan)।
10. National awards like the Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him.
10. उन्हें पद्मश्री, पद्म भूषण और पद्म विभूषण जैसे राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कारों से सम्मानित किया गया।
11. In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. With the coveted award resting on his chest and his eyes glinting with rare happiness, he said, "All I would like to say is: Teach your children music, this is Hindustan's richest tradition; even the West is now coming to learn our music."
11. वर्ष 2001 में उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ को भारत के सर्वोच्च नागरिक सम्मान ‘भारत रत्न’ से सम्मानित किया गया।
जब यह प्रतिष्ठित पुरस्कार उनके सीने पर सुशोभित था और उनकी आँखों में अनोखी खुशी चमक रही थी, तब उन्होंने कहा, “मैं केवल इतना कहना चाहूँगा कि अपने बच्चों को संगीत सिखाइए। यह हिंदुस्तान की सबसे समृद्ध परंपरा है। अब तो पश्चिमी देश भी हमारा संगीत सीखने आ रहे हैं।”
12. Despite 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. A student of his once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A., and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Later,r he is remembered to have said, "That is why whenever I am in a foreign country I think of only Benaras and the holy Ganga. And while in Benaras, I miss the unique mattha of Duraon.
12. पूरी दुनिया की यात्रा करने के बावजूद, ख़ान साहब, जिन्हें लोग प्यार से इसी नाम से बुलाते हैं, बनारस और डुमराँव से बहुत अधिक लगाव रखते थे। उनके लिए ये दोनों शहर दुनिया के सबसे अद्भुत शहर थे और आज भी उनके दिल के सबसे करीब बने रहे।
एक बार उनके एक शिष्य ने उनसे अमेरिका में शहनाई विद्यालय का प्रमुख बनने का अनुरोध किया। उस शिष्य ने वादा किया कि वह वहाँ मंदिरों की प्रतिकृतियाँ बनाकर बनारस जैसा वातावरण तैयार कर देगा।
लेकिन ख़ान साहब ने उससे पूछा कि क्या वह गंगा नदी को भी वहाँ ले जा सकेगा।
बाद में, उन्हें यह कहते हुए याद किया जाता है, “इसीलिए जब भी मैं किसी विदेशी देश में होता हूँ, तो मुझे केवल बनारस और पवित्र गंगा की याद आती है। और जब मैं बनारस में होता हूँ, तो मुझे डुमराँव का अनोखा मट्ठा याद आता है।”
13. Shekhar Gupta: When partition happened, didnyou andand your family think of
moving to Pakistan?
13. शेखर गुप्ता: जब भारत का विभाजन हुआ, तो क्या आपने और आपके परिवार ने पाकिस्तान जाने के बारे में नहीं सोचा था?
14. Bismillah Khan: God forbid! Me, leave Benaras? Never! I went to Pakistan onсе-1 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.
14. बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ: भगवान ऐसा कभी न करे! मैं बनारस छोड़ दूँ? कभी नहीं! मैं एक बार पाकिस्तान गया था। मैं केवल यह कहने के लिए सीमा पार करके गया था कि मैं पाकिस्तान जा चुका हूँ।
मैं वहाँ लगभग एक घंटे तक रहा। मैंने पाकिस्तानियों को ‘नमस्कार’ कहा और भारतीयों को ‘सलाम वालेकुम’ कहा! मुझे इस बात पर खूब हँसी आई।
15. Ustad Bismillah Khan's life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of
India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like hun can very naturally
play the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
15. उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ाँ का जीवन भारत की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत का एक आदर्श उदाहरण है। भारत की संस्कृति सभी धर्मों को सहजता से स्वीकार करती है। इसका उदाहरण यह है कि एक सच्चे और समर्पित मुसलमान होने के बावजूद, वे हर सुबह काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर में बहुत स्वाभाविक रूप से शहनाई बजाते थे।
Bihar Board Class 9 English Chapter 6 Solutions - Questions and Answers
A. Work in small groups and discuss the following:
1. Have you ever heard a shehnai being played in marriage ceremonies or festivals?
Ans - Yes, I have heard a shehnai being played at marriage ceremonies and festivals. Its sweet and melodious sound makes the occasion joyful and auspicious.
2. How do you like this instrument?
Ans - I like the shehnai very much because its sound is sweet, melodious, and soothing. It creates a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.
3. Discuss any pipe instrument that is played in your locality in marriage ceremonies or festivals.
Ans - In my locality, the flute and shehnai are played during marriage ceremonies and festivals. Their melodious sounds make these occasions more joyful and pleasant.
4. Do you know that it was Bismillah Khan, the great Shehnai maestro, who made this instrument a reality? Can you name some leading players of other popular musical instruments?
Ans - Yes, Ustad Bismillah Khan was the great shehnai maestro who made the shehnai famous on the classical music stage. Some leading players of other popular musical instruments are Pandit Ravi Shankar (sitar), Ustad Zakir Hussain (tabla), Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute), and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (santoor).
B.1.1. Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements:
1. Bismillah Khan belongs to a family of musicians from Uttar Pradesh.
2. Bismillah Khan's ancestors were also great shehnai players.
3. The flowing water of the Ganga gave inspiration to Bismillah to create
ragas.
4. He learnt shehnai from his parents and grandfather.
Ans - (i) F
(ii) T
(iii) T
(iv) F
B.1.2. Complete the sentences based on the unit you have just
studied.
B.1.2. Complete the sentences.
1. The pungi is a reed instrument.
2. The pungi became the generic name for reed 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. Paigambar Bux was the Shehnai nawaj of the Bhojpuri king's court.
6. Rasool Bux Khan was Bismillah's grandfather.
7. Bismillah accompanied his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benaras.
8. Bismillah played at the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and at the banks of the 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 pungi.
2. What generic name did the pungi come to acquire?
Ans - The pungi came to be known as a generic name for reed noise makers.
3. Who revived the pungi?
Ans - A barber, who was also a musician, revived the pungi.
4. Where was the Shehnai played for the first time?
Ans - The shehnai was first played in the royal court.
5. Who played the instrument for the first time, so different from the pungi?
Ans - A barber played the shehnai for the first time.
6. What is naubat called?
Ans - Naubat is a traditional ensemble of nine musical instruments.
7. Who brought the Shehnai on the classical stage?
Ans - Ustad Bismillah Khan brought the shehnai onto the classical stage.
8. Which sport did Bismillah Khan play in his childhood?
Ans - He played gilli-danda.
9. Where did he play the sport?
Ans - He played it near a pond in Dumraon.
10. Where did he go to sing the Bhojpuri "Chaita"?
Ans - He went to the Bihariji temple in Dumraon to sing the Bhojpuri “Chaita.”
11. What is the highest civilian award in India?
Ans - The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India.
12. Who was Bismillah's father?
Ans - His father's name was Paigambar Bux.
13. Who was Bismillah's maternal uncle?
Ans - His maternal uncle was Ali Bux.
B.2.1. Complete the sentences based on this unit you have just studied:
1. At the age of fourteen, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference.
2. In 1938, came Bismillah's first break at All India Radio, Lucknow.
3. He played the shehnai on 15th August 1947.
4. His first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.
5. Film director Vijay Bhatt named his film “Gunj Uthi Shehnai”, impressed by the shehnai.
6. National awards like the Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him.
7. Bismillah Khan was also referred to as the shehnai maestro after being awarded the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
8. An auditorium in Tehran named after him is called “Tahar Mosiquee Bismillah Khan.”
B.2.2. Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements:
1. An auditorium in Tehran was named after Bismillah Khan.
2. Bismillah Khan was fondly called 'Khansaab
3. Khansaab was a shehnai player of international repute; even the nen no
National Awards were conferred on him.
Ans - (i) T
(ii) T
(iii) F
B.2.3 Answer the following questions very briefly:
1. When was Bismillah Khan awarded India's highest civilian award?
Ans - Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001.
2. In which two cities was he most famous?
Ans - He was most fond of Benaras and Dumraon.
C.1. LONG ANSWER 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 the pungi in the royal residence because he disliked its shrill and unpleasant sound. In my opinion, banning a musical instrument simply because someone dislikes its sound goes against freedom of expression. Music is an important form of art, and everyone should have the freedom to express themselves through it, as long as they do not harm others.
2. Ustad Khan refused the celluloid world after two films. Was it a loss to
the cinema world or a gain to Hindustani Music? Discuss.
Ans - Ustad Bismillah Khan worked in only two films, Gunj Uthi Shehnai and Sanadhi Apanna. He did not like the artificiality and glamour of the film world. He believed that music should be pure and meaningful. His decision may have been a loss to the cinema world, but it was a great gain to Hindustani classical music because he devoted his life to the shehnai and made it famous throughout the world.
3. Capture in your own words the feelings of the Ustad when he received the Bharat Ratna.
Ans - Ustad Bismillah Khan must have felt extremely proud and happy when he received the Bharat Ratna in 2001. It was the highest recognition of his lifelong dedication to music. However, he remained humble and connected to his roots. He loved Benaras and Dumraon deeply and believed that India's rich musical tradition should be passed on to future generations.
4. 'Only in India is it possible that a devout Muslim like Khan Saheb 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 - This statement highlights India's rich cultural heritage, religious tolerance, and unity in diversity. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a devout Muslim, yet he played the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. He respected different religious traditions and believed in the power of music to unite people. His life shows that people belonging to different religions can live together peacefully and respect one another's beliefs. Thus, he represents the spirit of India's composite culture.
5. Describe the incident of Ustad Khan visiting Pakistan.
Ans - When India was partitioned, Ustad Bismillah Khan did not want to leave Benaras. He loved Benaras and its culture deeply. He visited Pakistan only once and stayed there for about an hour. He crossed the border just to say that he had visited Pakistan. During his visit, he greeted the Pakistanis with “Namaskar” and the Indians with “Salaam Alaikum.” He found the incident amusing and had a good laugh.
6. How did the shehnai get its name? Describe in your own words the process
how the Pungi became the shehnai.
Ans - Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi in the royal residence because he disliked its shrill and unpleasant sound. A barber from a family of musicians decided to improve the instrument. He took a hollow pipe that was longer and wider than the pungi and made seven holes in it. When he played the instrument, it produced soft and melodious sounds. Since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers by a nai (barber), it came to be known as the shehnai.
C. 2. GROUP DISCUSSION
Discuss the following in groups or pairs:
1. Composite culture of our country
2. Musical instruments of your area
C.3. COMPOSITION
1. Imagine yourself as young Bismillah and write in 10 lines about your attachment to Benaras (Varanasi).
2. Write in about 100 words the achievements of Ustad Bismillah Khan.
D. WORD STUDY
D.1. Dictionary Use:
Ex. 1. Correct the spelling of the following words:
mucisal awardeb conapnoin
auditorium instrument
