Poem: Bharat Our Land
Reflect and Respond
I. Recall the lines of the National Anthem and complete the table given below with the names of the states, mountain ranges, and rivers mentioned in it.
| States/Provinces | Mountain Ranges | Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida (South India), Utkala (Odisha), Banga (Bengal) | Vindhya, Himachala (Himalayas) | Yamuna, Ganga |
II. Work in pairs. Discuss what the words ‘जय हे' (Jaya he) in the last two lines of the National Anthem convey. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.
III. Read the underlined words in the given lines of the poem. Choose the odd one out that does not correspond with the meaning of the underlined word.
1. She's peerless, let's praise her! (valuable, incomparable, unmatched)
Odd one out: valuable
2. Many a sage has sanctified this land. (blessed, purified, applauded)
Odd one out: applauded
3. And here all auspicious things are found. (fortunate, fantastic, favourable)
Odd one out: fantastic
4. Of hoary antiquity is Bharat, (ancient times, recent past, time immemorial)
Odd one out: recent past
Check Your Understanding
I. Fill in the blanks by choosing appropriate words from the box given below to complete the summary of the poem.
The poem is a tribute to India, celebrating its natural beauty, spiritual heritage, and 1. historical greatness. The poet praises the 2. Himavant, describing it as mighty and unparalleled. The 3. Ganga is depicted as generous and graceful, while the 4. Upanishads are honoured as sacred and unmatched. The poem highlights the contributions of 5. warriors and 6. sages who have enriched the land with their bravery and wisdom. It also acknowledges the presence of 7. Brahma-knowledge and the teachings of 8. Buddha, highlighting India's deep-rooted spiritual and philosophical traditions. The poet repeatedly asserts that India is 9. peerless, urging everyone to 10. praise her.
II. Complete the following features about the poem.
1. The impact on the readers (mood): Patriotic, proud, and inspiring.
2. The poet's attitude (tone): Reverent, celebratory, and deeply admiring.
3. The rhyme scheme: Free verse (it does not follow a strict rhyming pattern, though it uses a powerful refrain).
4. Examples of personification: "generous Ganga", "match her grace".
III. What is the impact of the refrain, 'she's peerless, let's praise her!'?
IV. Complete the following sentence appropriately.
India is metaphorically described as 'this sunny golden land,' suggesting that it is ________________________.
V. The poet uses symbolism. Match the symbols in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2.
1. Himavant - (v) strength and permanence
2. Ganga - (iii) purity and generosity
3. Upanishads - (ii) spiritual and philosophical legacy
4. Gallant warriors and sages - (vi) courage and wisdom
5. Brahma-knowledge and Buddha's Dhamma - (i) knowledge and enlightenment
6. Sunny golden land - (iv) richness and glory
VI. The poet uses imagery (descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures that appeal to the senses). Give any two examples from the poem.
1. "mighty Himavant" (Visual imagery evoking the towering, majestic, and snow-capped Himalayan peaks).
2. "divinest music has been heard" (Auditory imagery that makes the reader imagine pure, soul-stirring traditional melodies).
VII. What is the impact of the use of hyphens in the first stanza? Select the options that are true.
1. Creates deliberate pauses to reinforce the sense of admiration and pride.
5. Presents a key element of India's greatness before the hyphen and makes a strong assertion about its uniqueness after the hyphen.
VIII. The poet uses hyperbole in the poem. [Explanation of hyperbole provided in textbook].
IX. The poem is an ode. [Explanation of ode provided in textbook]. Now, identify examples from the poem that correspond to it being an ode.
- "she's peerless, let's praise her!"
- "The mighty Himavant is ours- there's no equal anywhere on earth."
X. The poet uses allusion in the poem. [Explanation of allusion provided in textbook]. Now, read the explanations and identify the matching allusions from the poem for the following.
1. An allusion to the ancient Indian scriptures that form the philosophical core and symbolise deep wisdom and enlightenment. ➡ "The sacred Upanishads"
2. An allusion to the concept of spiritual knowledge associated with self-realisation and ultimate truth. ➡ "Brahma-knowledge"
3. An allusion to Gautama Buddha's teachings, which include compassion, non-violence, and enlightenment. ➡ "the Buddha preached his dhamma here."
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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.
2. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence given below.
The question mark at the end of the fourth and sixth line of the extract is used to _______________.
3. The poet uses the word 'generous' to describe the Ganga. Why?
4. Why has the movement of the river been described as graceful?
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.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. How does the poem reflect a strong connection to cultural identity and heritage?
2. What can you infer about the poet's attitude towards India from the repeated phrase 'she's peerless, let's praise her!'?
3. What does the line 'many a sage has sanctified this land' suggest about India's spiritual heritage?
4. How does the poet connect warriors and music to India's greatness?
5. How does this poem foster a sense of national pride?
Vocabulary in Context
I. Complete the table by choosing words from the poem.
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples (from poem) |
|---|---|---|
| -ous | full of, having the qualities of | 1. generous |
| -ity | the state of being | 2. antiquity |
| -est | superlative form | 3. divinest |
| -less | without something | 4. peerless |
II. Complete the following table by adding a different suffix to form new words. Also, create a sentence using the created word. One example has been done for you.
| Suffix | Meaning | Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| -tion | the action or process of | Example: indicate-indication The dark clouds were an indication that it would rain soon. |
| -ive | quality or nature of | 1. act - active He is a very active member of the school's sports club. |
| -ment | the action or result of | 2. achieve - achievement Winning the science fair was a proud achievement for her. |
| -ed | past-tense version of a verb | 3. play - played The children played happily in the garden until sunset. |
Listen and Respond
I. You will listen to four people talk about the places they like to travel to. As you listen, write the speaker number for the two pictures given.
- If the picture shows a serene Riverside: Speaker No. 1
- If the picture shows Mountains/Adventure: Speaker No. 2
- If the picture shows a Desert: Speaker No. 3
- If the picture shows a Forest/Greenery: Speaker No. 4
II. You will once again listen to the four speakers. As you listen, match the given statements to the speaker. There are two statements that you do not need.
| Statement | Speaker |
|---|---|
| 1. The green surroundings look beautiful visually. | Speaker 4 |
| 2. The group visits make even the difficult areas seem easy. | (Not needed) |
| 3. The quietness of the environment here leads to a peaceful experience. | Speaker 1 |
| 4. The risk and thrill in such an area is what is most appealing. | Speaker 2 |
| 5. The dry expanse promises to appeal to the spirit of exploration. | (Not needed) |
| 6. The sight of such beauty is very inviting and has to be captured. | Speaker 3 |
Speaking Activity
I. In pairs, take turns to speak about the aspects of your village/town/city that you feel are an asset. It could be about geographical, cultural, traditional features, or even its history.
Writing Task
I. Write a paragraph about a place that you have visited which has stayed in your memory.
A place that has truly stayed in my memory is the breathtaking hill station of Manali. Last summer, I travelled there with my parents and younger sister to escape the scorching city heat. We packed warm clothes and booked a cozy wooden cottage facing the snow-capped peaks. During our stay, we did many exciting activities like trekking through the tall pine forests and experiencing the thrill of river rafting in the icy waters of the Beas River. The crisp mountain air, the majestic views, and the quality time spent with my family made this trip an unforgettable adventure.
Learning Beyond the Text
I. Search for poems or songs dedicated to India, your motherland, in your regional language. Share them with your classmates and explain their meaning too.
II. In groups of six, prepare an interdisciplinary project on India's major geographical features. Include one example of each of the following: Mountains, Rivers, Deserts, Valleys, Islands, Plateaus.
- Mountains: The Himalayas (Protects the northern borders, source of major rivers, influences the monsoon).
- Rivers: The Ganga (The lifeline of northern India, spiritually significant, supports vast agriculture).
- Deserts: The Thar Desert (Located in Rajasthan, unique ecosystem, vibrant local culture and resilient lifestyle).
- Valleys: The Kashmir Valley (Known as 'Paradise on Earth', famous for its scenic beauty, apple orchards, and saffron).
- Islands: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Rich biodiversity, beautiful coral reefs, significant maritime location).
- Plateaus: The Deccan Plateau (Rich in minerals, unique black soil excellent for cotton cultivation, covers a vast area of South India).
