- Section I (2 Marks)
- Section II (3 Marks)
- Section III (Extracts)
- Section IV (4 Marks)
- Section V (Interactive Quiz)
Q1: How is the natural beauty of India shown by the poet V. K. Gokak in the poem The Song of India?
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What does the poet V. K. Gokak want to sing about his motherland?
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What does the poet V. K. Gokak want to sing about his motherland?
India is covered with Himalayan mountains and snow-born peaks. It is also surrounded on three sides by seas. The poet speaks of clear mornings with golden sun rays that fill the mind with pleasure.
Q2: How does Mother India want the poet to show the negative aspects of India?
Mother India wants the poet to sing about the beggars and lepers who swarm her streets, as well as the filth and dirt that fill her land.
Q3: The poet calls the temples "epics in stone"; justify the statement.
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How are the Indian temples "epics in stone"?
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Why does the poet V. K. Gokak call the temples "epics in stone"?
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How are the Indian temples "epics in stone"?
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Why does the poet V. K. Gokak call the temples "epics in stone"?
Epics are long narrative stories or poems. Because Indian temples have stories from our great epics carved beautifully onto their rock walls, the poet refers to them as "epics in stone".
Q4: What according to the poet is the contribution of seers and prophets?
The seers and prophets have contributed their valuable lessons, wisdom, and spiritual experiences to the people of India.
Q5: India is filled with poverty. With what examples in the poem The Song of India does the poet explain this?
The poet illustrates poverty by mentioning the beggars and lepers that swarm the streets, the millions of people who toil hard with wrinkled faces, and the helpless children born in bleak, dark homes.
Q6: How do you view the technological development in the poem The Song of India?
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How does the poet praise India being developed in industry and technology?
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How does the poet praise India being developed in industry and technology?
The poet praises modern progress by wishing to sing about India's dams, lakes, steel mills, and ship-building yards. He highlights the hard-working people who strive to place India on the page of the Atomic Age.
Q7: Why is the poet V. K. Gokak querulous in The Song of India?
The poet is querulous (complaining/discontented) because Mother India does not wish to hear a song that only praises her physical beauty, temples, dams, and industrial technology while ignoring her inner social sorrows.
Q8: How does Mother India complain about social unrest in the poem The Song of India?
Mother India complains about the strikes, class wars, and mutual conflicts that occur between different classes in society over economic and social status.
Q9: What were the negative aspects of India shown by Mother India in the poem The Song of India?
Mother India directs the poet's attention to the beggars and lepers on her streets, the filth and dirt of her surroundings, and the millions of ignored, hard-working people with wrinkled faces. She also highlights helpless children born in dark, bleak homes, alongside strikes and class wars that cause social unrest.
Q10: What are the achievements and developments of India described by the poet in the poem The Song of India?
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How does the poet describe the progress achieved in our country in the poem The Song of India?
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How does the poet describe the progress achieved in our country in the poem The Song of India?
The poet highlights progress through the construction of high-tech dams and lakes developed for agriculture. He points to industrial expansion through steel mills and ship-building yards. He also praises the scientific advancement of the nation as it strides confidently into the Atomic Age.
Q11: How does the poet V. K. Gokak praise the natural and cultural beauty of India?
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How does the poet wish to praise Mother India?
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How does the poet wish to praise Mother India?
The poet praises India's natural landscape by describing the beautiful snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas and the three seas washing her palms. Culturally, he praises her rock-cut temples ("epics in stone") carving historic deeds. He also honors the sacrifices of her brave soldiers and the contributions of seers and prophets.
Q12: What are the positive aspects of India which have been shown by the poet V. K. Gokak in the poem The Song of India?
The positive aspects include India's breathtaking natural features (Himalayas, golden sunbeams, and the three surrounding oceans). Culturally, he praises the heritage of rock-cut temples, seers, and prophets. Industrially, he celebrates dams, lakes, steel mills, ship-building yards, and the nation's emergence into the Atomic Age.
Q13: Sum up the conversation between the poet and Mother India in your own words.
The poem is a dialogue where the poet offers to sing of India's glorious nature, temples, soldiers, and industrial achievements. However, Mother India repeatedly intervenes, telling him to sing of beggars, lepers, hard-working poor, class wars, and strikes. Finally, she grants him an optimistic vision of the future, where she sits on the waves writing a bright destiny.
Q14: Write the vision of the future India according to V. K. Gokak.
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Describe the vision of poet V. K. Gokak about his motherland.
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Describe the vision of poet V. K. Gokak about his motherland.
Mother India is seen draped in a blue sky, frilled with the waves of a milky-white ocean. She sits majestically on shining waves, writing a glorious destiny in the "Book of Morrow". Her powerful vision represents a new dawn that cancels the sorrows of her people and promises a clear, bright future.
Q15: "What song shall I sing of you my mother"
a) Who does "I" refer to?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Who is the mother here?
Mother India.
c) What did the speaker wish to do?
The poet wished to sing a song in praise of his motherland.
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Who is the mother here?
Mother India.
c) What did the speaker wish to do?
The poet wished to sing a song in praise of his motherland.
Q16: "Sing the beggar and leper"
a) Who is the speaker?
Mother India.
b) Who has to sing about them?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
c) Where do we see these people?
Swarming the streets of India.
Mother India.
b) Who has to sing about them?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
c) Where do we see these people?
Swarming the streets of India.
Q17: "Shall I sing of your rock cut temple epics in stone"
a) Why does the poet call the temples "epics in stone"?
Because the temple walls have stories from our great epics carved on them.
b) What figure of speech is used here?
Metaphor.
c) What do you mean by an "epic"?
An epic is a heroic narrative poem.
Because the temple walls have stories from our great epics carved on them.
b) What figure of speech is used here?
Metaphor.
c) What do you mean by an "epic"?
An epic is a heroic narrative poem.
Q18: "Of your children that died to call you their own their very own."
a) Who is "you" addressed to?
Mother India.
b) Who are the children here?
The freedom fighters and soldiers.
c) Why did the children die?
They sacrificed their lives for the cause of their motherland.
Mother India.
b) Who are the children here?
The freedom fighters and soldiers.
c) Why did the children die?
They sacrificed their lives for the cause of their motherland.
Q19: "That beat into my ears like gong"
a) Who is the speaker?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) What does the word "that" refer to?
The indignant, demanding words spoken by Mother India.
c) What is the figure of speech used here?
Simile.
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) What does the word "that" refer to?
The indignant, demanding words spoken by Mother India.
c) What is the figure of speech used here?
Simile.
Q20: "Is there no song that I can sing of you"
a) Who does "I" refer to?
Poet V. K. Gokak.
b) What feeling does the speaker express here?
He expresses a querulous (complaining/sad) feeling.
c) What type of song does he want to sing?
He wants to sing an unalloyed, pure song in praise of Mother India.
Poet V. K. Gokak.
b) What feeling does the speaker express here?
He expresses a querulous (complaining/sad) feeling.
c) What type of song does he want to sing?
He wants to sing an unalloyed, pure song in praise of Mother India.
Q21: "Nervous, I yet would ask deeming it my task"
a) Who made this statement?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Why was the speaker nervous?
Because Mother India had rejected most of his initial suggestions for the song.
c) What is his task?
To sing a song in praise of Mother India through his poetry.
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Why was the speaker nervous?
Because Mother India had rejected most of his initial suggestions for the song.
c) What is his task?
To sing a song in praise of Mother India through his poetry.
Q22: "She sat and wrote the book of Morrow"
a) Who says this?
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Who wrote the book of Morrow?
Mother India.
c) What does the book of Morrow symbolize?
It symbolizes a bright, prosperous, and hopeful future for India.
The poet, V. K. Gokak.
b) Who wrote the book of Morrow?
Mother India.
c) What does the book of Morrow symbolize?
It symbolizes a bright, prosperous, and hopeful future for India.
Q23: How does the poet V. K. Gokak want to praise Mother India?
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Which are the positive aspects that V. K. Gokak wished to sing about Mother India in the poem The Song of India?
OR
Which are the positive aspects that V. K. Gokak wished to sing about Mother India in the poem The Song of India?
The poet wants to praise India's natural majesty, starting with the grand Himalayas and their snow-born peaks, and the three oceans washing her palms. He wishes to sing of the golden sunbeams that brighten her mornings and the rock-cut temples that immortalize our epics in stone. Furthermore, he wants to celebrate the historical sacrifices of her soldiers and freedom fighters, alongside the wisdom of her seers and prophets. Finally, he points to modern progress, wanting to praise industrial steel mills, ship-building yards, agricultural dams, and the nation’s technological advancement in the Atomic Age.
Q24: Narrate the conversation between the poet V. K. Gokak and Mother India.
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Write about the vision of the future India, according to V. K. Gokak.
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Write about the vision of the future India, according to V. K. Gokak.
The poem is structured as an intense dialogue. The poet eagerly proposes to sing of India's glorious natural beauties, ancient temples, historical soldiers, and seers. However, Mother India intervenes, demanding that his song instead highlight the harsh, painful realities: the beggars, lepers, filthy streets, class wars, and helpless children living in dark homes. When the nervous poet offers to sing about modern progress, such as dams, steel mills, and atomic developments, she reminds him to include the strikes and social unrest. Ultimately, as the poet despairs of finding an unalloyed song, Mother India reveals a glorious vision of the future. She appears draped in a blue sky on the waves of a white ocean, writing a bright, sorrow-free destiny in the "Book of Morrow", leaving the poem on an optimistic note.
1. In the poem, the poet speaks of "Epics in Stone", where he wants to sing about:
A. The modern industrial steel mills.
B. The ancient temples and architectural marvels carved in rock.
C. The books written by freedom fighters.
D. The stories of common people working in fields.
2. When the poet wants to praise the country's achievements, the Mother asks him to look at the harsh realities like:
A. The high-tech dams and clean lakes
B. The beautiful snow-clad mountains
C. The beggars, lepers, and ignorant, helpless children
D. The soldiers guarding the borders
3. According to the Mother's message, a song about the nation:
A. should only celebrate future technology.
B. must sing of progress while acknowledging the sorrows and struggles of the people.
C. should focus exclusively on historical wars.
D. must look away from modern industries to focus on nature.
4. The "Book of the Morrow", being written by the figure of hope, symbolizes:
A. A record of past mistakes made during wars
B. A diary detailing daily weather patterns
C. A bright future and destiny that will erase the country's sorrows
D. An account book for industrial steel mills
5. The central theme of the dialogue between the Poet and Mother India is:
A. A disagreement about which language should be used for national songs
B. A realization that true patriotism involves celebrating development while actively addressing social evils and poverty