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New Mulberry Coursebook

New Mulberry Coursebook

Ashima Bath, Saswati Dasgupta, OXFORD

ICSEClass 7
English

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad

Sarojini Naidu

About Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu(1879-1949) was one of India's best-known political figures and a freedom fighter closely involved with the Indian Independence Movement. She was also a great orator and one of India's most talented poets, known for the diversity of her writings. Naidu was given the title of the Nightingale of India. 'The Palanquin Bearers' is one of her noted works.

What do you sell, O ye merchants?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and silver,
Tunics of purple brocade,
Mirror with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade.

 

What do you weigh, O ye vendors?
Saffron and lentil and rice.
What do you grind, O ye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna, and spice.
What do you call, O ye pedlars?
Chessman and ivory dice.

 

What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?
Wristlet and anklet and ring,
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons,
Frail as a dragon-fly's wing,
Girdles of gold for the dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king.

 

What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?
Citron, pomegranate and plum.
What do you play, O musicians?
Cithar, sarangi and drum.
What do you chant, O magicians?
Spells for the aeons to come?

 

What do you weave, O ye flower-girls
With tassels of azure and red?
Crowns for the brow of a bridgegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed.
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead.

Summary
Set in Hyderabad the poem gives the reader a panoramic view of a traditional Indian bazaar crowded with merchants vendors peddlers goldsmiths fruit and flower sellers musicians magicians and goldsmiths The poem is rich in imagery and description evoking the sights fragrances and sounds of a bazaar Line by Line The speaker asks what the merchants sell The articles they have for sale are plentiful and beautifully displayed There are turbans in colours deep red and silver loose wide sleeved garments made of purple cloth interwoven with silver and gold threads mirrors that have panels made of ...

Available Answers

  1. 1.

    What are the vendors, maidens and pedlars doing in the bazaar?

  2. 2.

    Name the fruits and musical instruments displayed in the bazaar?

  3. 3.

    "Where do you sell, O ye merchants?"

    1. The stanza that this line is taken from describe different things being sold. What are the things mentioned?
    2. Who is selling the wares?
    3. What are the colors and shades mentioned in this stanza?
    4. Why do you think the poet has used these colors to describe the wares?
  4. 4.

    "Bells for the feet of blue pigeons
    Frail as a dragon-fly's wing
    Girdles of gold for the dancers,
    Scabbards of gold for the king.    "

    1. Who is the speaker addressing in these lines?
    2. Apart from a girdle and scabbards, what else is made from gold?
    3. Pick out a simile from the above lines.
  5. 5.

    "Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
    Chaplets to garland his bed,
    Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
    To perfume the sleep of the dead.    "

    1. What floral ornaments are woven for the bridegroom?
    2. What is the significance of the white blossoms?
    3. The lines talk about two contrasting events in human life. What are these events?
  6. 6.

    Mention two things that fascinate the poet about the bazaar of Hyderabad. What fascinates you when you go to a bazaar?

17 more answer(s) available.

Comments
Where is the ans
13 Jul 2020Jyotiprakash
I couldn't get The Ramphious Story question answers. Ameya Kakade
21 Jul 2020Ameya K.
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