Very Short Questions
Question 1 : Who was Tansen?
Answer : Tansen was the greatest musician of India. He learnt music from Swami Haridas and became a favourite of Emperor Akbar.
Question 2 : What Mukundan Misra’s dying wish?
Answer : Mukundan Misra’s dying wish was that his son Tansen should visit Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior as he was his disciple. Mohammad Ghaus was a holy man.
Question 3 : Why did the courtiers become jealous of Tansen?
Answer : The courtiers became jealous of Tansen because he became favourite of Emperor Akbar. Akbar gave him many presents.
Question 4 : What happens if someone signs Raga Megh properly?
Answer : The sky gets clouded and results in rainfall if someone sings Raga Megh properly. Tansen’s daughter and her friend sing Rag Megh.
Question 5 : What happened after Tansen’s performance?
Answer : Tansen’s life was saved by his daughter and her friend after his performance. But be became very ill after the incident.
Question 6 : What was the reason behind Tansen’s sadness?
Answer : Tansen was told to sing Raga Deepak which he could sing properly, but it can burn him to ashes. So, he was unhappy about it.
Question 7 : Why did Tansen go to Gwalior?
Answer : Tansen went to stay with Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior as his father’s wish that Tansen should go to him.
Short Questions
Question 1 : Do you think Tansen was naughty during his childhood? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer : Yes, Tansen was very naughty during his childhoo. He used to copy the calls of birds and animals. Once, he scared the disciples of Swami Haridas who visited a forest. Tansen roared like a tiger in the forest and scared them.
Question 2 : How did Tansen marry Hussaini?
Answer : Tansen often visited the court of Rani Mrignaini in Gwalior. Rani Mrignaini was a great musician herself. There he met and married one of the ladies of the court. Her name was Hussaini. They had five children.
Long Questions
Question 1 : How did Tansen manage to save his life?
Answer : The courtiers wanted to ruin Tansen. One of the courtiers wanted him to sing Raga Deepak so that he could be burnt to ashes. Tansen knew that his life could be saved if somebody will sing Raga Megh at the same time. He taught his daughter Saraswati and her friend Rupvati to sing Raga Megh. When Tansen started singing , brids fell dead and water in the rivers began to boil. People cried out in terror as flames shot up and lighted the lamps. Then, the two girls began to sing Raga Megh and it started raining. Tansen’s life was saved.
Question 2 : Who was the greatest musician of India? Describe his life.
Answer : Tansen was the greatest musician of India. He was the child of Mukandan Misra and his wife. They lived in Behat near Gwalior. Tansen was a naughtly child and scared visitors in a forest. Swami Haridas told his father that Tansen can be a good signer. Tansen lived with Haridas for eleven years. He became a great singer. He married Hussaini and had five children.
Tansen became famous and sang before Akbar who was impressed with him. He wen to Akbar’s court in 1556. He became Akbar’s favourite. Akbar gave him many presents.
Value Based Questions
Question 1 : How did jealous courtiers learn their lessons?
Answer : The courtiers wanted to ruin Tansen. One of the courtiers Shaukat Mian wanted him to sing Raga Deepak so that he could be burnt to ashes. He approached Akbar to order Tansen to sing it. Tansen knew that his life could be saved if somebody will sing Rag Megh at the same time. He taught his daughter and her friend Rupvati 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 Rag Megh and it started raining. Tansen’s life was saved. Akbar understood the entire plan of the courtiers and punished them.