Tansen
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Pick out Archaic words from the poem and give their modern equivalents.
| Archaic Word | Modern Equivalent |
|---|---|
| thy | your |
| thine | yours |
| twere | it were (would be) |
| hither | here |
| lo | look |
2. Who said the following, to whom, and when?
(a) “Mighty thy Teacher must be and divine.”
- Said by Akbar to Tansen, when Tansen recovered from singing Deepak Raga and spoke of his teacher.
(b) “He dwells within a cave of Himalay.”
- Said by Tansen to Akbar, when explaining where his teacher lived.
(c) “As you desire, Huzoor.”
- Said by Tansen to Akbar, when Akbar expressed his wish to meet Ostad.
(d) “O Holy Master, bless us with thy song!”
- Said by Akbar and Tansen to Ostad, when they knelt before him in the cave.
(e) “Ah no, to thee I sing: he sings to God.”
- Said by Tansen to Akbar, when Akbar asked if Tansen could sing like Ostad.
3. Rearrange the following in their proper order as in the poem. Write the serial number against each line:-
(1) (f) One day, the singer sang Deepak Raga in the court.
(2) (j) She sang Raga Malhar, which had a cooling effect.
(3) (g) Akbar expressed his wish to meet the Teacher.
(4) (b) Akbar followed Tansen, dressed miserably.
(5) (e) O Divine Teacher, please gift us the joy of your song.
(6) (a) The Ostad sang the Malkous Raga enchantingly.
(7) (h) He experienced heavenly delight.
(8) (d) Ostad was nowhere to be seen.
(9) (c) I request you to sing such a song that will I experience unmatched joy.
(10) (i) Tansen sings to please the earthly king but Ostad devotes his songs to God.
4. Write the reason in your own words.
(a) Akbar strongly desired to hear Ostad sing.
- Akbar was amazed by Tansen’s skill and wanted to hear the even greater talent of his teacher, Ostad, who Tansen praised highly.
(b) Akbar had to dress like a slave.
- Ostad didn’t sing for kings or rich people, so Akbar had to disguise himself as a poor slave to humbly approach him.
(c) After the song Ostad had vanished.
- Ostad disappeared mysteriously before Akbar could thank him, showing his divine and humble nature.
(d) Ostad’s song was more elating than Tansen’s songs.
- Ostad sang for God with pure devotion, while Tansen sang for Akbar, making Ostad’s music more heavenly and joyful.
5. What message does the poet wish to convey through this narrative poem, ‘Tansen’?
- The poet wants to show that true greatness lies in humility and devotion, not wealth or power. Ostad’s divine singing, offered to God, was more powerful than Tansen’s, which was for an earthly king. The poem teaches that real talent shines through simplicity and a higher purpose, as seen in Ostad’s effect on Akbar.
6. Summarise this poem in your own words in 8 to 10 lines, highlighting only the main points.
- Tansen, a great singer in Akbar’s court, impressed the king with his voice. One day, he sang Deepak Raga, which set him on fire, but a girl cured him with Malhar Raga. Akbar, amazed, wanted to meet Tansen’s teacher, Ostad, who lived in a Himalayan cave. Akbar dressed as a slave to humbly visit him, as Ostad avoided kings. They begged Ostad to sing, and he performed the Malkous Raga, enchanting everyone, including animals. Akbar felt heavenly joy, but Ostad vanished before he could speak. Akbar asked Tansen to sing like that, but Tansen said he sang for the king, while Ostad sang for God, showing the difference in their music’s power.
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