Tansen - Solutions
CBSE Class 06 English
NCERT Solutions
A Pact With The Sun Chapter 05
Tansen
1. Why did Swami Haridas say Tansen was ‘talented’?
Ans: Tansen,as a child had learnt to imitate the calls of birds and animals.One day Tansen saw Swami and his disciples resting in the forest .He hid behind a tree and roared like a tiger and managed to frighten his disciples.Swami Haridas was impressed by his skill, so said that Tansen was 'talented'.
2. Why did Akbar ask Tansen to join his court?
Ans: Tansen learnt music from Swami Haridas for eleven years.When Akbar heard him singing,he was impressed so asked him to join his court.
3. How do we know that Akbar was fond of Tansen? Give two reasons.
Ans: Akbar would call upon Tansen to sing for him at any time during the day or night. At times, he would just walk into Tansen’s house to hear him practice and gave him many presents too. These reasons tell us that Akbar was fond of Tansen.
4. What did the other courtiers feel about Tansen?
Ans: Some of the other courtiers were jealous of Tansen because Akbar was fond of him and often gave him gifts. They felt bad of his popularity and decided to ruin him anyhow.
5. (i) What happens if Raga Deepak is sung properly?
(ii) Why did Tansen’s enemies want him to sing the Raga?
Ans: (i) If Raga Deepak is sung properly, it makes the air so hot that the singer is burnt to ashes.
(ii) Tansen’s enemies wanted him to sing the Raga because they knew he was a good singer. and If he sang it well, he would die as he would be burnt to ashes and they would be able to get rid of him.
6. Why did Tansen agree to sing Raga Deepak?
Ans: Tansen agreed to sing Raga Deepak because he could not disobey the king who was convinced that he was a great singer and could sing anything and he also wanted to prove his ability.
7. (i) What steps did he take to save himself?
(ii) Did his plan work? How?
Ans: (i) Tansen was unhappy because he knew that the heat given off by singing the Raga Deepak would burn him to ashes. He then had an idea to save himself. If someone sang the Raga Megh at the same time, it would bring rain.So he decided to teach his daughter, Saraswati, and her friend, Rupvati . They practiced day and night for two weeks. Tansen told them that they must wait till the lamps started burning, and only then start singing.To do his preparations ,he asked Akbar to give him some time.
(ii) Yes, his plan worked. On the appointed day, as Tansen began to sing Raga Deepak ,the air became warm and the people in the audience were bathed in perspiration. The leaves on the trees dried up and fell on the ground, birds fell dead, and the water in the rivers began to boil. Soon the flames shot up and lighted the lamps .Just then ,Saraswati and Rupvati began to sing Raga Megh. The sky clouded over and the rain came down and saved Tansen.
