Important Questions For All Chapters – English Class 9
1. Who was Kabir and what did he believe about the caste system?
Answer:
Kabir was a prominent poet of the Bhakti Era, born into a humble family and raised by a Muslim couple. He opposed the caste system and the division of humanity based on sects, advocating for unity and equality among all people, irrespective of their social or religious standing.
2. Why did Hindu priests and Maulavis dislike Kabir?
Answer:
Hindu priests and Maulavis disliked Kabir because he criticized their orthodoxy, superstitions, and social elitism. Kabir opposed the rituals, ceremonies, and caste-based divisions in both Hinduism and Islam, making him a target of their hostility.
3. What was Kabir’s core teaching, and whom did he appeal to?
Answer:
Kabir’s core teaching was that all people, regardless of their religion or caste, are equal before God. He appealed to the non-literate masses, emphasizing love, compassion, and the rejection of religious divisions. His message resonated deeply with common people.
4. What happened to Kabir’s body after his death?
Answer:
After Kabir’s death, both Hindus and Muslims claimed his body. However, when the shroud was lifted, only flowers were found. These flowers were divided between the two communities, symbolizing unity and brotherhood even after his death.
5. Why is Kabir remembered even today?
Answer:
Kabir is remembered today for his messages of equality, unity, and social reform. His teachings against caste discrimination, religious extremism, and social divisions continue to inspire people in modern times, especially in the face of communal violence and inequality.
6. What kind of social order did Kabir want to establish?
Answer:
Kabir aimed to create a social order based on equality, where there would be no caste or religious divisions. He envisioned a society that embraced brotherhood, love, and compassion, free from the control of priests and religious authorities.
7. What does tolerance mean, according to Kabir?
Answer:
For Kabir, tolerance meant responding to hatred and hurt with love and kindness. He preached that one should offer flowers in return for pain and sorrow, symbolizing his belief in compassion and forgiveness as the foundation of human relations.
8. Summarize Kabir’s teachings and their relevance in contemporary society.
Answer:
Kabir’s teachings emphasize unity, equality, love, and rejection of caste and religious divisions. In today’s society, these principles are still relevant as we face issues of communal violence, caste conflicts, and social inequality, calling for a return to tolerance and compassion.
9. What role did Saint Ramananda play in Kabir’s life?
Answer:
Saint Ramananda was Kabir’s mentor, who introduced him to the Vaishnava tradition and a personal God. Under Ramananda’s influence, Kabir adopted a liberal social outlook and a deep concern for the marginalized sections of society.
10. How did Kabir view religious scriptures and rituals?
Answer:
Kabir rejected the authority of religious scriptures and rituals. He believed that blind faith in them led to pride and divisiveness, rather than spiritual enlightenment. Kabir’s focus was on personal devotion and practical spirituality.
11. What was Kabir’s attitude towards idol worship?
Answer:
Kabir was strongly opposed to idol worship. He criticized both Hindu and Muslim practices that involved the external display of religious beliefs, focusing instead on the inner purity of heart and direct devotion to God.
12. How did Kabir earn his livelihood?
Answer:
Kabir was a weaver by profession and continued working at his loom throughout his life. Despite his humble occupation, he remained committed to his spiritual path and social reform, emphasizing the dignity of labor.
13. What message did Kabir convey through his declaration of standing in the marketplace with a burning stick?
Answer:
This declaration symbolizes Kabir’s determination to eradicate social evils and religious hypocrisy. He was ready to challenge societal norms and bring about a new social order based on equality and genuine spirituality.
14. What influence did Sufi thought have on Kabir?
Answer:
Kabir was influenced by Sufi mysticism through his contact with Shaikh Taqqi. This connection deepened his belief in love, tolerance, and the rejection of religious formalism, as both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxies conflicted with his personal experience of divine unity.
15. What were Kabir’s views on yogis and their practices?
Answer:
Kabir condemned the practices of yogis, especially their emphasis on showing off their spiritual powers (siddhis). He believed that such practices were distractions from true devotion and inner spiritual growth.
16. How did Kabir challenge both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxies?
Answer:
Kabir challenged the orthodoxies of both Hinduism and Islam by pointing out the inconsistencies and contradictions in their religious practices. He criticized the social divisions and rituals that alienated people from one another and from God.
17. What is Kabir Panth, and how does it relate to Kabir’s teachings?
Answer:
Kabir Panth is a sect that follows Kabir’s teachings, though Kabir himself did not formally establish it. The sect upholds his values of equality, love, and rejection of religious divisions, continuing to spread his message to this day.
18. How did Kabir’s teachings influence Guru Nanak and Sikhism?
Answer:
Kabir’s teachings greatly influenced Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Many of Kabir’s verses are included in the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, reflecting the shared emphasis on equality, love, and rejection of caste distinctions.
19. What did Kabir think about the role of priests and Maulavis in religion?
Answer:
Kabir rejected the special status given to priests and Maulavis, believing that no one had the exclusive right to mediate between God and individuals. He advocated for a direct, personal relationship with the divine, free from the control of religious authorities.
20. How did Kabir’s life symbolize unity between Hindus and Muslims?
Answer:
Kabir’s life and death symbolized the unity between Hindus and Muslims. Both communities revered him and claimed his body after his death. His message of brotherhood transcended religious boundaries, promoting harmony between different faiths.
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