Bismillah Khan: The Shehnai Maestro | Class 8 | English | C17


MP Board Class 8 English Chapter 17 Bismillah Khan: the Shehnai Maestro

Online Lecture




Lesson - 17

Bismillah Khan: The Shehnai Maestro

Textual Exercis

Word Power

(A) We sometimes affix ‘dis’ or ‘non’ to indicate negation. (Consult the dictionary to know the meanings.)

Example :

appear – disappear

availability – non-availability

Now and either ‘dis’ or ‘non’ whichever is correct to the following words:

Answer :

  1. approve – disapprove
  2. technical – non-technical
  3. believe – disbelieve
  4. engage – disengage
  5. order – disorder
  6. violence – non-violence

(B) Study these sentences and fill in the blanks below with appropriate words derived from the underlined words.

Example:

Gandhi is the Father of the Nation. Our nationality is Indian.

(a) We are proud of Lidia’s ancient culture. Children have gone to participate in a ................ programme.

(b) Kathakali is a performing art. The expressions in a ................ of Kathakali are praiseworthy.

(c) Yesterday I had to go to the Principal’s residence. Kishore Nagar is a large ............ colony.

(d) Herbal medicines are of great benefit. Fried food is not .............. for health.

(e) 15th August is an auspicious occasion for all Indians. We ................ get rains on this day.

Answer:

(a) cultural

(b) performance

(c) residential

(d) beneficial

(e) occasionally

Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

(i) ‘Ustad was the undisputed jewel in the crown of Indian music’. Explain.

Ans. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai player. He elevated the Shehnai from an instrument heard only in weddings and naubat khanas to one that was appreciated in concert halls across the world. He was a matchless figure in the field of music.

(ii) Describe Bismillah Khan as an example of communal harmony.

Ans. Bismillah Khan always encouragged commmunal harmony. He was a practicing Muslim, who offered ‘namaaz’ five times a day, yet he had immense faith in Baba Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan Hanuman and Ganga Maiyya. He used to lead the Muharram procession as well as that of the Ganga Puja in Banaras, playing the shehnai while walking. In his opinion, all religions are one.

(iii) When and where was Ustad Bismillad Khan born?

Ans. Bismillah Khan was born in Bihar on March 21, 1916.

(iv) Who was his first master to train him as a shehnai player?

Ans. His uncle was his first master to train him as a shehnai player.

(v) How did he personify real secularism?

Ans. He was a practising Muslim, who offered ‘namaaz’ five times a day. Yet he had immense faith in Baba Viswanath, Sankat Mochan Hunuman and Ganga Maiyya.

(vi) How can you say that Ustad preferred to live a spartan life?

Ans. Ustad always preferred to live a spartan life. His room, on the top floor of his house, had only a few things like a cot, a chair, an earthen pot for water and is shehnai.

(vii) Write God’s wish for the shehnai maestro?

Ans. God wished that instead of at India Gate, the notes of the shehnai should reverberate at the doors of Heaven.

Let’s Learn

Study these sentences:

The man who helped me cross the road is my friend.

Rattan works in a factory which produces steel tumblers.

The clauses underlined in the above sentences are relative clauses.

A clause is a part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us more about a person or thing the speaker is referring to. A relative clause begin with ‘who’, ‘that’ or ‘which’, whom and where. ‘Who’ and ‘that’ refer to human beings, whereas ‘that’ and ‘which’ refer to things and animals.

(a) Now match the columns A & B.

Rewrite them combining with ‘who’, ‘which’, ‘that’:

    A                             B

architect.        pays rent to live in a house

soldier.           designs buildings

customer       knows a lot about a 

                        particular subject

tenant            defends the country from enemy

scholar.          treats patients

doctor            buys things from a shop 

Example:

A doctor is a person who treats patients.

Ans. 

  1. An architect is a person who designs buildings.
  2. A soldier is a person who defends the country from enemies.
  3. A customer is a person who buys things from a shop.
  4. A tenant is a person who pays rent to live in a house.
  5. A scholar is a person who knows a lot about a particular subject.

(b) Two sentence are given below. Join them using who/which or that

Example:

This blue frock is mine. It has a golden border.

This blue frock which has a golden border is mine.

1. Radha is a famous dancer. She has gone to Jaipur to give a performance.

2. The Samrat hotel was destroyed by fire. It has now been rebuilt.

3. There are the story books. You were looking for them.

4. I have heard your talk. It was very interesting.

5. I met a woman. She writes exciting detective stories.

Answer:

1. Radha is a famous dancer who has gone to Jaipur to give a performance.

2. The Samrat hotel was destroyed by fire which has now been rebuilt.

3. These are the story books which were looking for them.

4. I have heard your talk which was very interesting.

5. I met a woman who writes exciting detective stories.

(c) Fill in the blanks with who/where/ that/which.

1. This is the place ............. I met an accident.

2. Where are the apples ......... I bought yesterday?

3. The speech ........... the saint delivered yesterday was very inspiring.

4. Why do you blame me for everything ......... goes wrong?

5. We should help people are .......... in need.

Ans.

1. where

2. that

3. which

4. that

5. who

Let’s Write

Write a letter to a friend describing your close relationship with your grand-mother who is very old and often remains unwell. She tells you stories, but would often prefer to hear one from you. She eats little, and is unhappy about the number of pills she has to take everyday. She needs help in coming out of or going into the room. She is very interesting person.

Remember that you are writing an informal letter, talking about personal matters and sharing your Thoughts with a close friend.

In personal letter, the language you use should by informal, simple but grammatically correct.

Use words and phrases appropriate to the idea you want to express.

Ans. 

Indore

9th Sept. 2020

Dear Friend

Hello

        How are you? I am fine and enjoying great time with my grand-mother, who is a very interesting person. She tells me stories but would often prefer to hear one from me. She is very old and often remains unwell. She eats little and is unhappy about the number of pills she has to take everyday. I feel greatly attached to my grand-mother. May God give her a healthy life. How is your grand-mother? Please write back soon.

Yours affectionately.

Ashwini


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