Q: Why did Swami Haridas say Tansen was ‘talented’?
A: Swami Haridas recognized Tansen’s talent due to his remarkable ability to perfectly imitate the calls of birds and animals. This demonstrated his exceptional musical aptitude and potential as a musician.
Q: Why did Akbar ask Tansen to join his court?
A: Akbar asked Tansen to join his court because he was immensely impressed by Tansen’s singing abilities and wanted him to perform for him regularly.
Q: How do we know that Akbar was fond of Tansen? Give two reasons.
A: We know that Akbar was fond of Tansen due to two reasons:
Akbar would often summon Tansen to sing at any time, even during unconventional hours, showing a strong desire to hear his performances and enjoy his music.
Akbar personally visited Tansen’s house to listen to his practice sessions, indicating a deep interest in Tansen’s musical abilities and a close bond between the emperor and the musician.
Q: What did the other courtiers feel about Tansen?
A: The other courtiers at Akbar’s court had mixed feelings about Tansen. While Tansen had gained immense popularity and favor with Emperor Akbar, this led to some courtiers feeling envious and resentful towards him. They saw Tansen’s growing influence and recognition as a threat to their own positions and sought ways to undermine him. Some courtiers even conspired against Tansen, leading to the plot of making him sing Raga Deepak, which was believed to have fatal consequences for the singer.
Q: What happens if Raga Deepak is sung properly?
A: According to the belief, if Raga Deepak is sung properly, it creates intense heat in the air, which can result in the singer being burned to ashes. It is believed to have a powerful and potentially dangerous effect on the environment and the performer.
Q: Why did Tansen’s enemies want him to sing the Raga?
A: Tansen’s enemies wanted him to sing Raga Deepak because they believed that if it was sung properly, the intense heat generated by the raga would cause Tansen’s demise. They saw this as an opportunity to get rid of Tansen, who had gained immense fame and favor with Emperor Akbar, and saw him as a threat to their own positions and ambitions at the court. Singing Raga Deepak was considered a risky proposition, and they hoped that it would lead to Tansen’s downfall.
Q: Why did Tansen agree to sing Raga Deepak?
A: Tansen agreed to sing Raga Deepak because he couldn’t disobey the command of Emperor Akbar, who requested him to perform it. Despite his fear and awareness of the potential danger, Tansen’s loyalty to the king compelled him to fulfill the request.
Q: What steps did he take to save himself?
A: To save himself from the potentially fatal effects of singing Raga Deepak, Tansen devised a plan. He taught his daughter Saraswati and her friend Rupvati to sing Raga Megh, a raga associated with bringing rain. Tansen instructed them to start singing Raga Megh at the same time when the lamps began to burn during his performance of Raga Deepak. By doing so, the rain induced by Raga Megh would counteract the intense heat of Raga Deepak, protecting Tansen from harm.
Q: Did his plan work? How?
A: Yes, Tansen’s plan worked successfully. As he sang Raga Deepak and the air became increasingly hot, his daughter and her friend began singing Raga Megh at the right moment. The combined effect of Raga Megh brought about rain, cooling down the environment and neutralizing the intense heat generated by Raga Deepak. This prevented Tansen from being harmed and saved him from the potential danger of singing Raga Deepak.
Class 6 English Tansen extra question answer
Q: What was Tansen’s father’s dying wish for him?
Answer: To visit Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior
