Question

What impressions of Shahid do you gather from the piece?

Answer 1

A model answer has been provided for students' reference.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

As the text is a very brief description of Agha Shahid Ali, we can never judge his character completely. However, it can be said from the text that, even after he realised that he was dying, Shahid remained an extremely lucid person and didn't lack enthusiasm of life. Just like any other normal man, he was afraid of dying. He ignored reassurances given by people and lived his life fully till his last breath. He was a man who wanted to stay alive in people's memories not through spoken recitatives of friendship but of written word. Even when he reached a very serious stage of his illness, Shahid did not let his illness impede the progress of the friendship between him and the author. He had the extra-ordinary ability to transmute the mundane into the magical. He was very fond of company. His social live included festivity at home every day. He could be awarded for his prowess in the kitchen. He was a believer of exactitude and authenticity and thus, could not tolerate any deviation from the traditional methods of cooking. Shahid worked his way through poetry in almost all spheres of his life.