Introduction of the Characters
1-ustad Bismillah Khan -----A famous Indian Shehnai Maestro.
2-Aurangzeb ---------- A staunch Sunni Moghol Emperor.
3-Rasool Bux Khan --Bismillah's grand father.
4-Ali Bux------. Maternal uncle of Bismillah Khan .
5-Paigambar Bux--Bismillah khan's Father .
6-Jawaharlal Nehru--The First Prime Minister of India .
Difficult words-----
Shehnai maestro-- शहनाई वादक
Staunch ---- कट्टर
Maternal uncle -- मामा।
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Question 1
Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi ?
Answer
Pungi was a reeded musical instrument . It produced shrill and unpleasant Sound . Aurangzeb did not like it. So he banned it's playing in his palace .
Question -2
How is a Shehnai different from a pungi ?
Answer
Both pungi and Shehnai are made from a hollow stem . But Shehnai is made from a broader and longer one . Shehnai has seven holes . Unlike the pungi, Shehnai produces sweet and melodious music .
Question-3
Where was the Shehnai played traditionally ? How did Bismillah Khan change this ?
Answer
Traditionally Shehnai was played in temples and at weddings because it is considered auspicious. Bismillah Khan made new experiments .He produced new raagas that were earlier thought to be beyond the Shehnai:s scope. He raised its playing to the classical level .
Question 4
When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break ?
Answer
Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 . All India radio was opened in Lucknow. He got a chance to play Shehnai on radio .His melodious music could be frequently heard on the radio . This brought him new opportunities .
Question 5
Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15th August 1947 ? Why was the event historic ?
Answer
India became free on August 15th, 1947. On this happy occasion Bismillah Khan played Shehnai from the Red Fort .He was the first Indian to greet the nation and congratulate his fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion in the traditional Indian style .
Question-6
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
Answer
Bismillah Khan visited many countries but he always yearned to come back to India .He loved Banaras the Ganga, the temples and the mattha of his native Dumraon .
Question-7
Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras ?
Answer
Bismillah Khan is a great patriot. He loves India and Banaras. He has refused to settle any other country. He always comes back to India. Even during partition he remained in India . But his love for Banaras is so deep that when he is in India he yearns to reach there as quickly as he can .
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