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I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The mighty Himavant is ours-
there’s no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours-
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours-
what scriptures else to name with them?
there’s no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours-
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours-
what scriptures else to name with them?
1. Complete the sentence. The word ‘mighty’ refers to the _______ of the Himavant.
See Lines 1-2
The word “
mighty
” refers to the
strength, power and greatness
of the
Himavant
— it shows how huge and powerful the
Himalayas
are.
2. The question mark at the end of the fourth and sixth line of the extract is used to _______.
Correct:
(ii) stress a point
.
Why:
These are
rhetorical questions
— not asked for an answer but to stress that no river matches the
Ganga
and no scripture matches the
Upanishads
. The poet shows pride, not doubt.
3. The poet uses the word ‘generous’ to describe the Ganga. Why?
See Lines 3-4
The
Ganga
gives water, food and life to millions every day, asking nothing in return — like a giving, caring mother. Calling the river “
generous
” is also
personification
.
4. Why has the movement of the river been described as graceful?
See Lines 3-4
The
Ganga
flows smoothly, gently and elegantly across the land. “
Grace
” gives the river the dignity of an elegant figure, so its calm, flowing movement seems
graceful
. This too is
personification
.
5. Fill in the blank with the correct option from the words given in the brackets. The poet is implying that the Upanishads are _______ (unmatched/abundant) in their wisdom and spiritual depth.
See Lines 5-6
The
Upanishads
are
unmatched
.
Why:
The
rhetorical question
“what scriptures else to name with them?” shows no other holy books can be placed beside them.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. How does the poem reflect a strong connection to cultural identity and heritage?
The repeated word
“ours”
binds every Indian to the land’s mountains, rivers, scriptures, warriors and sages. By naming the
Upanishads
,
Brahma-knowledge
and the
Buddha’s dhamma
, the poem roots itself firmly in India’s spiritual and cultural traditions, building a shared sense of identity and pride.
2. What can you infer about the poet’s attitude towards India from the repeated phrase ‘she’s peerless, let’s praise her!’?
See Lines 7-8
We can infer
deep love, pride and respect
. The poet is fully sure India is unmatched and wants
every reader
to share his respect and join in praising the
motherland
.
3. What does the line ‘many a sage has sanctified this land’ suggest about India’s spiritual heritage?
See Lines 9-10
It shows that
countless wise and holy people
have lived in India over the ages and, through their prayers and teachings, made the very
soil sacred
— showing a long, rich tradition of spirituality.
4. How does the poet connect warriors and music to India’s greatness?
See Lines 9-10
The
“gallant warriors”
stand for India’s courage and heroic past, while the
“divinest music”
stands for its refined culture and art. Placing them together shows India is great in both
strength and culture
.
5. How does this poem foster a sense of national pride?
It lists India’s natural, spiritual and cultural treasures and calls them all
peerless
; the word
“ours”
makes this greatness feel personal; the grand language and chant-like
refrain
stir respect; and the ending reminds us India is
“of
hoary antiquity
”
— part of a long, proud history.
