Question

…Khana was a smart and intelligent girl who did not spend her time playing games like the other

children. In a short period, she acquired a complete knowledge of astronomy! Her adoptive

father admired her diligence and taught her all that he knew in the subject…In the village where

Khana lived, a brahmin boy, Mihira by name, was also being brought up by another family…

Though we know nothing regarding the parentage of Khana, we know a little about the family

roots of Mihira. He was the son of Varaha, an astronomer royal and one of the nine great

scholars in the court of the famous emperor Vikramaditya. Varaha was the author of many greattreatises on astronomy. When a son, Mihira, was born to him, he drew up the horoscope of the

child calculating the positions of the different planets following the mathematical rules for them.

Due to an unrecognized error that crept into his calculations, Varaha thought that the child‟s life

span would be only ten years, though in reality it was a hundred years...He visualized the misery

and sadness he would suffer at the loss of his dear child after bringing him up affectionately for

ten years, and he preferred to abandon the child straightaway. Accordingly, the child was laid in

a box and put into a flowing river. A family of tribal people found him, adopted him, and trained

him to be a master in their learning.

After their marriage, Khana and Mihira wanted to rejoin their elite Aryan community…Their

protectors conceded the request, and chose a tribal woman as a guide to accompany Khana and

Mihira, so that they could safely cross over into the Aryan territory…An opportunity to test their

(astrology) skills occurred just when the party was nearing its destination. A cow was about to

deliver its calf. With a view to testing the ability of the new scholars, the guide wanted them to

predict whether the calf to be born in a short time would be brown or white in color. Mihira

made a quick calculation and declared that the calf would be white. But in a few minutes the cow

delivered a brown calf…

…King Vikramaditya was camping in the village next to a forest, along with his party of hunters.

Mihira met the king holding court, and exhibited his skill and scholarship. Vikramaditya was

pleased, and appointed him scholar to his royal court. The hunting party returned to the capital.

The king sent word to Varaha and entrusted to him the young couple, who were to be his guests

of honor...Varaha accepted the pleasant duty, and in a short time found out that the child he had

abandoned years ago had come back to him as a grown young man along with his scholarly wife.

One day, King Vikrama became curious to know the number of stars in the sky, and posed the

question to Varaha: “Count the stars in the sky and let me know their number.” Varaha realized

that he was facing an insurmountable problem, and though he attempted to refer to books he had,

he could not obtain the information. Counting the stars in the sky was plainly not possible! He

consulted Mihira…His skill and intuitive ability too were of no use in finding a solution…On

learning of the problem, (Khana) immediately set to work. She worked for a little while and gave

them the result of her calculations along with the basis of the formula she used. They felt

relieved and with confidence went back to the royal court…The courtiers assembled there also

praised the excellence of Khana‟s scholarship. Vikramaditya announced that she, a scholar of

such magnitude, would adorn his royal court forthwith as the tenth jewel, along with the nine

scholars who were called the navaratna of his court…

The royal orders created a panic in Varaha. He felt women should live a secluded, sheltered life

in their homes. Making their presence felt in public only degraded them. But if his daughter-in-

law was not taken to the court, he would have to face the fury of the king...He ordered his son to cut Khana‟s tongue off.
1. This question has two subparts, A+B. Both have to be answered:

A. In the biographical account of the astronomer Khana in passage 1, we learn that Khana and

Mihira lived in a society where women were not treated as being equal to men. Do you agree

with the given statement? Give reasons for your answer (in about 250-300 words). (10 marks)

B. Imagine you are a journalist in the court of King Vikrama, and the king has commissioned

you to write a report for the royal newspaper about the appointment of Khana to the royal court.

In your 350-500 word report, please outline the reasons for the appointment, and remark upon

the fact that the appointment is unusual because Khana is a woman. Your report should show

your awareness of the facts about Khana and the society in which she lived. (15 marks)

2. This question has two subparts, A+B. Both have to be answered:

A. In passage 1, why does Varaha order for Khana's tongue to be cut off? Do you think his

reasons were convincing? Write a reasoned answer in about 250-300 words. ​

Answer 1

Answer:

idk

lolthis is so hard