Question

India, my India, where the first human eyes awoke to heavenly light! All Asia’s holy place of pilgrimage, great Motherland of might! World – mother, first giver to humankind of philosophy and sacred lore, knowledge thou gav’st to an, God – love, works, art, religion’s opened door.
O even with all that grandeur dwarfed or turned and can vaunt thy mighty name?
Before us still there floats the idea of those splendid days of gold; a new world in our vision wakes, Love’s India we shall rise to mould. India, my India, who dare call thee a thing for pity’s grace today? Mother of wisdom, worship, works nurse of the spirit inward ray!

(1) The poem is a ……………………
    (a) Praise
    (b) Prayer
    (c) Story in the form of poem
    (d) Song of condolence [Choose the correct alternative]
(2) What has India given to the world?
(3) How does the poet visualize New India?
(4) Give the rhyme scheme of the first four lines.
(5) Name and explain the figure of speech that dominates the poem.

Answer 1

(1) The poem is a (a) praise.
(2) India has given the world the gift of philosophy and sacred lore.
(3) The poet visualises a new India that would be a representation of love and strength.
(4) The rhyme scheme of the first four lines is aabb.
(5) The figure of speech used predominantly in the poem is hyperbole. Lines such as ‘World-mother, first giver of humankind of philosophy and sacred lore’, ‘Before us still there floats the ideal of those splendid days of gold’ are exaggerations.