Chapter 5 Tansen Important Questions Class 6 A Pact with the Sun English
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What idea did Tansen has?
Answer
Tansen said that if someone sings Raga Megh at the same time, it would bring rain.
Question 2. Why was Tansen ‘downcast’ and ‘unhappy’?
Answer
Tansen was ‘downcast’ and ‘unhappy’ because he knew that it was the evil design of some jealous courtiers to kill him.
Question 3. What did Akbar often do to hear Tansen?
Answer
Emperor Akbar often would walk into Tansen’s house to hear him practice.
Question 4. What did Swami Haridas say to his father?
Answer
Swami Haridas went to his father and said, “Your son is very naughty. He is also very talented.”
Question 5. Where did Tansen hide and what did he do?
Answer
Tansen hid behind a tree and roared like a tiger.
Question 6. Why did the people cry?
Answer
People cried out in terror as flames shot up out of somewhere and lighted the lamps.
Question 7. Who was Tansen?
Answer
Tansen was a famous musician that our country has produced.
Question 8. Who consoled them and what did he say?
Answer
Swami Haridas consoled them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Tigers are not always dangerous. Let us look for this one.”
Question 9. What was the last wish of Tansen’s father?
Answer
Tansen’s father’s last wish was that Tansen should visit Mohammad Gaus of Gwalior.
Question 10. Why did other courtiers become jealous?
Answer
Other courtiers became jealous because Tansen was Akbar’s favorite.
Question 11. What do you know about Tansen’s family?
Answer
Tansen married Hussaini. She was one of the ladies in the court of Rani Mrignaini. The couple had five children who were all musicians.
Question 12. What did Shaukat Miyan say to Akbar?
Answer
Shaukat Miyan went to Akbar and said, “We don’t think Tansen is great singer. Let us test him, tell him to sing Raga Deepak. Only the great singers can sing it properly.”
Question 13. Why did Akbar ask Tansen to join his court?
Answer
Tansen learnt music from Swami Haridas for eleven years. He himself became a famous singer. Sometimes he sang before Emperor Akbar. Akbar was so impressed that he asked Tansen to join his court in 1556.
Question 14. What did Tansen finally say to his daughter and her friend?
Answer
Tansen told them to sing the Raga Megh only when lamps started burning.
Question 15. What was Tansen famous for?
Answer
Tansen was famous for his singing talent. He was the greatest musician India has ever produced.
Question 16. How did the jealous courtiers of Akbar plan to ruin Tansen?
Answer
Shaukat Mian had a bright idea. The courtiers made Tansen sing Raga Deepak. If the Raga was sung properly, it made the air hot and even burnt the singer to ashes.
Question 17. Who was passing through a jungle with his students?
Answer
Famous singer Swami Haridas was passing through a jungle with his disciples.
Question 18. Why did Swami Haridas not punish him?
Answer
Swami Haridas did not punish Tansen because he found him talented.
Question 19. Why did Swami Haridas say Tansen was ‘talented’?
Answer
Swami Haridas said Tansen was ‘talented’ because he frightened the little group by roaring exactly like a tiger and even Swami Haridas was not able to differentiate between the sound.
Question 20. When did Tansen go to Akbar’s court?
Answer
Tansen went to Akbar’s court in 1556.
Question 21. What bright idea did Shaukat has?
Answer
Shaukat Miyan wanted Tansen to sing Raga Deepak because it could burn the singer to ashes.
Question 22. How did Tansen’s life change?
Answer
Tansen was born to Mukandan Misra and his wife in Gwalior. His talent was spotted by Swami Haridas. He lived with his guru for eleven years. He joined Mohammad Ghaus who took him to the court of Rani Mrignaini. Tansen married Hussaini. He impressed Emperor Akbar with music.
Question 23. What was Shaukat Miyan’s bright idea?
Answer
Shaukat Miyan’s bright idea was to make Tansen sing Raga Deepak because he knew that if sung properly, it could make the air so hot that the singer is burnt to ashes.
Question 24. How do we know that Akbar was fond of Tansen? Give two reasons.
Answer
Akbar was fond of Tansen is clear as
(i) Akbar would call upon Tansen to sing at any time.
(ii) Often Akbar went to Tansen’s house to hear him practice.
Question 25. What did Tansen say to his wife?
Answer
Tansen told his wife that he could sing but the heat it gives off would not only set the lamp alight, it would also burn him to ashes.
Question 26. Why was Tansen worried when he was asked to sing raga Deepak?
Answer
Tansen was a famous singer. But his fear was that the song would give off a lot of heat. It would set the lamps alight and would also burn him to ashes.
Question 27. Why did the people of the town assemble in the court?
Answer
The people of the town assembled to hear Tansen’s sing Raga Deepak.
Question 28. It is said that Tansen was a naughty child. What prank did he play?
Answer
Tansen, as a child, used to play in the forest. He learnt to copy the calls of birds and animals. Once he frightened Swami Haridas and his pupils by producing the roar of a tiger.
Question 29. Why was Tansen afraid of singing Raga Deepak?
Answer
Tansen could sing the Raga all right. But his fear was that the song would give off a lot of heat. It would set the lamps alight and would also burn him to ashes.
Question 30. What were the distinctive qualities of Tansen as a child?
Answer
Tansen as a child, used to play in the forest. He learnt to copy the calls of birds and animals. Once he frightened Swami Haridas and his pupils by his producing the roar of a tiger.
Question 31. What did the other courtiers feel about Tansen?
Answer
The other courtiers felt jealous of Tansen. They became his enemies. They had made up their mind to ruin Tansen.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. (i) What steps did he take to save himself?
(ii) Did his plan work? How?
Answer
(i) Tansen was a little worried as well as afraid. He took two steps for his safety. He requested the king to give him some time. Next, he taught his daughter and her friend to sing Raga Megh.
(ii) Yes, Tansen’s plan worked. His singing made the environment hot. Flames shot up and lighted the lamps. Just then, the two girls started singing Raga Megh. The rains came down suddenly and saved Tansen’s life.
Question 2. (i) What happens if Raga Deepak is sung properly?
(ii) Why did Tansen’s enemies want him to sing the raga?
Answer
(i) If Raga Deepak is sung properly, the air becomes so hot that the lamps are lighted. The heat bums the singer also to ashes.
(ii) Tansen’s enemies were jealous of him. Therefore, they wanted him to sing the Raga and die of heat.
Question 3. How did the jealous courtiers plan to harm Tansen? How did the great musician save his honour as well as official position?
Answer
Tansen was a talented musician. He came to the notice of Emperor Akbar. Tansen was honored with a place in Akbar’s court. The jealous courtiers decided to ruin him. They demanded that Tansen should sing Raga Deepak. They knew that the Raga would burn him to ashes. However, Tansen accepted the challenge. He trained two girls to sing Raga Megh to bring rain and put out the fire. Tansen was thus saved wisely.
Question 4. “Very well, my lord, but give me time to prepare myself.” Who wanted to prepare and for what?
Answer
Tansen had requested Emperor Akbar to give him time to prepare. He wanted time to train his daughter Saraswati and her friend Rupwati to sing Raga Megh which would bring rain and extinguish the fire caused after singing Raga Deepak. Thus, Tansen would be saved from burning to ashes.
Question 5. Tansen’s patience and perseverance saved his life. How?
Answer
Tansen presented himself as a man who was passionate about his music. He didn’t fight with anyone. His status grew in the eyes of Emperor Akbar. His patience made him win in every situation. The promptness and wisdom saved him from evil plans. His works in the field of music are admired till date. No one has ever equalled in his brilliance and perseverance.
Question 6. What do you know about Tansen’s childhood?
Answer
Tansen was the son of a singer Mukundan Misra. The singer and his wife lived in Behat, a village near Gwalior. Tansen was the only child of his parents and was very naughty in his childhood. He used to play in the forest where he learnt to imitate the calls of birds and animals perfectly.
Question 7. Whom do you think to be the greatest musician of India? Give details about him.
Answer
We think Tansen to be the greatest musician of India. He was the only child of Mukandan Misra and his wife. They were the residents of Behat near Gwalior. Tansen was a naughty and mischievous child and scared visitors in a forest when they were passing through the forest. Swami Haridas a great saint told his father that Tansen could be a good singer. Tansen lived with Haridas for eleven years. He became a great singer. He married Hussaini and had five children. Tansen became famous and his glory spread far and wide. He sang before Akbar who was impressed with him. He went to Akbar’s court in 1556. He became Akbar’s favourite.
Question 8. Discuss ‘nature is a perfect teacher’ for a child.
Answer
Tansen was a legendary singer. He observed nature so closely and learnt various sounds in the forest. He imitated them so perfectly that he scared Swami Haridas and his disciple. The experience laid foundation stone of his successful career. He prepared his daughters to sing Raga Megha to counter the burning impact of Raga Deepak and they became his savior. Therefore we can say that co-existence, peaceful mind and wisdom can be earned when a person lives close to the nature.
Question 9. What do you know about Tansen’s life before he joined Akbar’s court?
Answer
Tansen was the son of Mukandan Misra and his wife. The family lived near Gwalior. His talent was spotted by Swami Haridas. He lived with his guru for eleven years. He joined Mohammad Ghaus who took him to the court of Rani Mrignaini. Tansen married Hussaini. He impressed Emperor Akbar with music.
Question 10. What do you know about Tansen and his family? What quality was he gifted with?
Answer
Tansen is remembered as the greatest musician of India. His father was also a singer. The family lived in Gwalior. He learnt to copy the calls of birds and animals. Swami Haridas noticed his talent and taught him music for eleven years. He became a great favourite of Emperor Akbar. Some of the jealous courtiers made a vain attempt to ruin Tansen.
Question 11. What was the plan of jealous courtiers and how did they learn their lesson?
Answer
The courtiers were extremely jealous of Tansen and they wanted to ruin Tansen. One of the courtiers Shaukat Miyan wanted him to sing Raga Deepak so that he could be burnt to ashes. For this purpose, he approached Akbar to order Tansen to sing Raga Deepak. Tansen knew that his life could be saved if somebody would sing Raga Megh at the same time. He taught his daughter and her friend Rupwati to sing it. When Tansen started singing, people cried out in terror as flames shot up and lighted the lamps. The two girls began to sing Raga Megh and at once it started raining. Tansen’s life was saved. Akbar understood the entire plan of the courtiers and punished them. Thus, the courtiers learnt their lessons.