Question 2:
In spite of her towering success Evelyn Glennie does not accept any hint of heroic achievement.Explain. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie had a hearing loss and was discouraged by most of the teachers but she did not give up. Ron Forbes guided her to listen through her body not ears. Eventually, Evelyn learnt to open her body and mind to sound and vibrations. She scored the highest marks in the history of Royal Academy of Music. She also captured many top awards and brought percussion to the front of the orchestra. She has given pleasure to millions and in spite of this towering success she does ,
not accept any hint of heroic achievement and is a very simple person.

Question 3:
Evelyn’s determination to overcome her disability has made her source of inspiration for deaf children. Comment. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-029)
Answer:
When Evelyn became deaf, she was determined to lead a normal life. She was encouraged by her percussion teacher. She learned to sense music through different parts of the body and opened her mind and body to vibrations. She could feel higher drum from waist up and xylophone music through fingertips. She used to remove her shoes on the wooden floors. She was the master of a thousand instruments and most sought after as a multi – percussionist.

Question 4:
How is Evelyn Glennie helping other with her popularity and skill ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-034)
Answer:
Inspite of Evelyn’s deafness she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and won the “Soloist of the Year” award. Evelyn used to practice for hours learning languages such as Japanese and French. She earned a lot but was kind at heart. She used to give free performances in prisons and hospitals and also proved a personal example of tireless hard work and firm determination.

Question 5:
How did Evelyn succeed in pursuing her interest in music ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
Evelyn decided not to give up. It was Ron Forbes who recognized her potential and supported her. He advised her not to listen through her ears but to open her body and mind to the vibrations. She mastered the art of interpreting different vibrations of sound on her body to different notes. She could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. After the practice she could sense music in different parts of her body. And by this, Evelyn succeeded in pursuing her interest in music.

Value Based Question (4 marks)

Question 1:
“A problem is only as big as we make it.” This thought has been very beautifully brought out in the lesson. Discuss.
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie is profoundly deaf and cannot hear a word. Thus, she overcame this difficulty and learnt to listen music from her body. She not only scored highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music but also became a renowned musician. She is an idol for a lot of people and a source of inspiration for. them. Her sfory tells us that no problem is so great that it cannot be overcome.

Part 2
Bismillah Khan Summary

•This chapter throws light on the origin of Shehnai and the life of all time great Shehnai Vadak – Bismillah Khan. The winner of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, his dedication to music and his love for India.
•”Pungi” a musical instrument, was banned by Emperor Aurangzeb, because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. In fact, it was regarded more as a noise maker rather than a musical instrument. It was modified and perfected by a barber who belonged to a family of professional musicians. He played it in the chamber of the king. Its sound was so appreciated by the emperor that it was made a part of Naubat. Since it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as Shehnai.
•Traditionally, it was played in the temples and on every auspicious domestic occasions also. Its sound was regarded as auspicious. But it was treated as an incomplete musical instrument, not capable of creating independent pages. But Bismillah Khan broke this myth.
•Bismillah belongs to the Benares Gharana. He was bom in 1916 at Dumraon, in Bihar. As a 5 year old, he used to visit the Bihariji Temple and sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya” there. For his melodious singing he used to earn a big Laddu from the local Bhojpuri King. At the age of 6, he moved to Benares. There under the guidance and training of his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, he started picking up the finer nuances of shehnai. He used to spend most of his time practicing on the banks of the River Ganges. The themes of his music were deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga.
•He got the best performer award at All India Music Conference in Allahabad in 1930. In 2001, he won 3 awards’the Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan. He was invited to play the shehnai from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 194?, becoming the first to greet the independent India. He won many international awards also. He became the first Indian to perform at titje Lincoln Central Hall, in USA. An auditorium in Tehran was named after him-Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.
•Bismillah was very fond of Benares and Dumraon. He declined an offer from one of his students to settle in the USA, as he was not willing to stay away for long from Benaras and its holy river Ganga. He ventured into film world also. He gave his music in 2 movies. His composition “Dil ka khillonahai ” for movie “Goonj Uthi Shehnai”, was a chartbuster. But he could not associate himself with the artificial glamour of die film world. For him, music was his soul, his life.

Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. 

Question 1:
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 Benares (now Varanasi); Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncles practice the shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benares where Ali Bux was employed to the play the Shehnai. Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end.

1. Where did the young boy spend his life at the age of three ? .
2. What fascinated the young boy ?
3. Who was Ali Bux and where was he employed ?
   (Board Tenn, Sept, 1,2013,9KK73AP) (Board Term 1,2012, EL.1-025)

Answer:

1. At the age of three, the young boy spent his life at his maternal uncle’s house in Benares.
2. Shehnai and the practice of shehnai by his uncles fascinated the little boy.
3. Ali Bux was Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle. He was employed at the Vishnu Temple of Benares.

Question 2:
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 that an auditorium in Tehran was named after him. Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

1. What special recognition did Bismillah Khan achieve ?
2. Bismillah Khan promoted Shehnai to international level. How ?
3. The word in the passage means “prominent”. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)

Answer:

1.  The special recognition that Bismillah Khan achieved was to be the first Indian to perform at
   Lincoln Central Hall.
2. Bismillah Khan promoted Shehnai to international levels by participating in the World Exposition, Cannes Art festival and Osaka Trade Fair.
3. prestigious.

Question 3:
When India gained independence On 15th August, 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his* Shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience which included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech.

1. How did Bismillah Khan greet the nation ? ’
2. Who delivered the speech “Tryst with Destiny” ?
3. Find a word from the passage that means “gathering of persons for the purpose of hearing a speaker”. (Board Term 1,2012, EL 1-023)

Answer:

1. Bismillah Khan greeted the nation by playing Raag Kafi on his Shehnai.
2. Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. Audience.

Question 4:
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.

1. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to which country ?
2. What did Zahir Shah present Bismillah Khan ?
3. Find word from the passage which has the same meaning as “momenta”(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-034)

Answer:

1. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.
2. Zahir Shah presented Bismillah Khan priceless Persian carpets and souvenirs.
3. Souvenirs

Question 5:
When India gained independence on August 15,1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from Red – Fort to an audience which included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

1. When did India gain Independence ?
2. Which Raag did Bismillah Khan play from Red Fort ?
3. What do the words “poured his heart out” here refer to ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)

Answer:

1. India gained independence on 15th August, 1947.
2. Bismillah Khan played the Raag Kafi from the Red Fort.
3. Played from the depth of his heart

Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
How did ‘pungi’ transform into a Shehnai ?(SA-1,2014-15)
Answer:
‘Pungi’ a musical instrument was banned because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. But a nai modified and perfected it and played it for the first time an Shah’s chamber, thus it came to be known as ‘Shehnai’.

Question 2:
Who had brought shehnai to the classical Stage ? What was he honoured with ?
(Board Term 1, Sept, 2013, K2G41GH)
Answer:
Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He started picking up the finger nuances of Shehnai under the guidance of his maternal uncle Ali Bux. He had been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan.

Question 3:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. ?
(Board Term, Sept, 1,2013,9KK73AP)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not live outside India. He was in love with Benares and Dumraon and missed it whenever he was in abroad.

Question 4:
Why did emperor Aurangazeb ban the playing of Pungi in the royal residence?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
Aurangazeb banned the playing of the Pungi in the royal residence because of its shrill unpleasant sound. It was regarded more as a noise maker than a musical instrument. –

Question 5:
What is the difference between a Pungi and a Shehnai ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
The difference between a Pungi and Shehnai can be noticed by the difference in their shapes and the sound produced by them. A Shehnai is longer than a Pungi. The latter has a shrill, unpleasant sound whereas, the former has a soft, melodious sound.

Question 6:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he was a true patriot and loved India a lot specially the banks of the river Ganga.

Question 7:
How do we know that sound of Shehnai is considered auspicious ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
We know that the sound of the Shehnai is considered auspicious because it is played in temples, and is a must for all happy occasions like marriages.

Question 8:
What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
The recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music was the relationships between the human beings and the flowing waters of the Ganga. He thought that Benares and Dumraon were the most wonderful towns of the world.

Question 9:
How did “Pungi” get its new name ? What was it ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-031)
Answer:
Pungi was modified and perfected by a barber which was very much appreciated by the emperor.
Since, it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as ‘Shehnai.’

Question 10:
What place did Shehnai have in the past ? What place has it now ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-035)
Answer:
In the past, the Shehnai was a part of the traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts. Then, it was used in temples and weddings but now it is used also in the classical concerts.

Question 11:
When and how did Bismillah Khan get the break ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-036)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan, at the age of 14, accompanied his uncle to Allahabad Music Conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder. He got encouraged and worked hard and got a big break from the All India Radio in 1938.

Question 12:
Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15th Aug 1947 ? Why was the event historic ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-037)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was the first Indian to greet the nation with Shehnai and played ‘Raag Kafi’ from the Red Fort. The event was historic because the audience included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who gave the famous speech – Tryst with Destiny. .

Question 13:
Why did Bismillah Khan regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple in his childhood and what did he earn ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-045)
Answer:
At the age of 5, Bismillah Khan would regularly visit the Bihariji temple to sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya”, For his melodious singing he used to earn a laddu weighing 1.25 kg. from the local Bhojpuri King.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words each)

Question 1:
“There is always a teacher to bring out the latent potential of a pupil/’ Justify with reference to the role played by Ron Forbes and Ustad Faiyaz Khan in the lives of Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan. (100 words) (Board Term 1,2013,K2G41GGH)
Answer:
Teachers craft us to become better individuals both personally and professionally. Ron Forbes understood Evelyn’s passion for music. He taught Evelyn the nuances of hearing music not through her ears but through her body. He taught her to feel the vibrations in her hands and parts of legs to get the pitch. So, he crafted her to be more musical and confident.
Bismillah Khan’s teacher and mentor was his maternal uncle Ali Bux. Bismillah used to be transfixed when Ali Bux used to play Shehnai. As a child, Bismillah used to accompany his material uncle to Vishnu Temple of Benares where Ali Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. He attained perfection only because of his uncle and mentor.

Question 2:
Give a brief character sketch of Ustad Bismillah Khan. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)
Answer:
Ustad Bismillah Khan was a Shehnai master of great national and international fame. He was a great musician. Ali Bux, his maternal unde perfected him in music. Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He practiced for hours and worked very hard to attain perfection. It was his melodious music that made him the first Indian to greet tire independent India. Ustad Bismillah Khan created many new rags. He was given many awards and he even received the “Bharat Ratna”. He was a true patriot who declined many offers to settle aborad. He was a true artist but a simple man. He had great regard for Hindustani Classical Music.

Question 3:
How did the young Bismillah develop his interest in Shehnai ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-044)
Answer:
Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncle practice the Shehnai when he was only three. He was deeply fascinated by the music of Shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux, to the Vishnu Temple of Benares where Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. The themes of his music deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga. At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to Allahabad music conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder which inspired and encouraged him to work harder.

Question 4:
How was Bismillah Khan’s music recognized internationally ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-050)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was not only renowned in India iMt also internationally. He promoted Shehnai to international levels of participating in the world exposition, Cannes Art festival and Osaka Trade Fair. He became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Central Hall in the United States of America. So well known did he become internationally that an auditorium in Tehran was named after him, “Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.”

Question 5:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.? ,
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-055)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was exceedingly fond of Benares and Dumraon. They were the most wonderful towns of the world for him. The students promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benares, but he asked if they would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Whenever, he was in a foreign country he yearned for Hindustan. In Mumbai also he thought of only Benares and the holy Ganga. Thus, herefused to start a Shehnai School in the U.S.A.

Value Based Question (4 marks)

Question 1:
Do you think Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep feelings for India ?
Answer:
Yes, Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep rooted feelings for India especially for thfe banks of River Ganga and Benares. His love was so profound that he even refused to go to the U.S.A. to start up a schooL He did not even enjoy in Mumbai as he found the life to be very artificial. He was deeply connected to the banks of River Ganga and Benares.