Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:-
1. The Gonds are highly cultured people and a great tribe. They are distributed all over central
India, now Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Their culture survives in their memories of the
past, for they have an extensive mythology, in the legendary history of their old kings and
heroes, and in the dance and song at which they are still expert. They have royal blood in their
veins and even the poorest and simplest of them has a strength of purpose, a dignity, a
redeeming sense of humour. They have a courage in face of the disasters of life that anyone
may envy. The honest peasant in his field, the devotee of Mother Earth, drawing strength from
the elemental forces of Nature, is in this sense as truly cultured as the most sophisticated
intellectuals. Gonds are known for their art and culture, and for their simplicity.
2. Gond poetry is simple and symbolic, free of all literary conventions and allusions. It is a
poetry of earth and sky, of forest, hill and river, of the changing seasons and the varied
passions of men, a poetry of love, naked and unashamed, unchecked by any inhibition or
restraint. The bulk of the poems are songs of the dance and the most poetic of them are
perhaps the songs of the great Karma dance, which is common to many of the primitive
tribes of central India. This dance symbolizes the growth of the green branches of the forest
in the spring; sometimes a tree is set up in the village and the people dance round it. The
men leap forward to the rapid roll of drums and the women sway back before them. Then
bending low to the ground the women dance, their feet moving in perfect rhythm, until the
group of singers advances towards them like the steady urge of wind coming and going
among the tree-tops, and the girls swing to and fro in answer. This is the one great cultural
interest of the people. A girl dance is compared by the Gonds to a lovely tree moving to the
unseen power of nature.
A. Choose the most appropriate option out of the following:- (1x5=5)
i) The Gonds in Madhya Pradesh are mostly-
a) illiterate b) literate c) cultured d) boorish
ii) They are by nature--
a) dare-devilsb) timid c) peaceful d) lethargic
iii) The Gond poets are greatly inspired by-
a) their past b) their present c) nature d) their ancestors
iv) The Gond dances reveal that the Gonds are-
a) dull people b) humorous c) satirical d) lively and energetic
v) The Gond dance has a rhythm which is reminiscent of-
a) rhythm in different objects of nature c) our common life
b) rhythm in seasons d) advanced civilization
B. Complete the following Statements :- (1*5=5)
i. The Gonds have royal blood_________.
ii. The Gonds are known for their_____.
iii. Gond poetry generally deals with______.
iv. Karma dance symbolizes_________.
v. The Gonds compare a girl dancer ____________
Answers
Answer:
1. The Gonds are highly cultured people and a great tribe. They are distributed all over central
India, now Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Their culture survives in their memories of the
past, for they have an extensive mythology, in the legendary history of their old kings and
heroes, and in the dance and song at which they are still expert. They have royal blood in their
veins and even the poorest and simplest of them has a strength of purpose, a dignity, a
redeeming sense of humour. They have a courage in face of the disasters of life that anyone
may envy. The honest peasant in his field, the devotee of Mother Earth, drawing strength from
the elemental forces of Nature, is in this sense as truly cultured as the most sophisticated
intellectuals. Gonds are known for their art and culture, and for their simplicity.
2. Gond poetry is simple and symbolic, free of all literary conventions and allusions. It is a
poetry of earth and sky, of forest, hill and river, of the changing seasons and the varied
passions of men, a poetry of love, naked and unashamed, unchecked by any inhibition or
restraint. The bulk of the poems are songs of the dance and the most poetic of them are
perhaps the songs of the great Karma dance, which is common to many of the primitive
tribes of central India. This dance symbolizes the growth of the green branches of the forest
in the spring; sometimes a tree is set up in the village and the people dance round it. The
men leap forward to the rapid roll of drums and the women sway back before them. Then
bending low to the ground the women dance, their feet moving in perfect rhythm, until the
group of singers advances towards them like the steady urge of wind coming and going
among the tree-tops, and the girls swing to and fro in answer. This is the one great cultural
interest of the people. A girl dance is compared by the Gonds to a lovely tree moving to the