SEBA Class 9 English The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Important MCQs (2026–27) | Assam Eduverse

Q1. Who banned the playing of the musical instrument pungi in the royal residence?
a) Shah Jahan
b) Akbar
c) Aurangzeb
d) Bahadur Shah
Answer: c) Aurangzeb

Explanation: Emperor Aurangzeb banned the pungi because he found its sound shrill and unpleasant, which led to the development of the improved instrument called the shehnai.

Q2. Why was the pungi banned?
a) It was too expensive
b) It had a shrill unpleasant sound
c) It was difficult to play
d) It was broken
Answer: b) It had a shrill unpleasant sound

Explanation: The pungi was banned mainly due to its harsh and unpleasant sound, which was not suitable for royal settings.

Q3. Who improved the tonal quality of the pungi?
a) A king
b) A barber from a family of musicians
c) A temple priest
d) A British officer
Answer: b) A barber from a family of musicians

Explanation: A barber (nai) from a family of musicians modified the pungi to create a more melodious instrument, later known as the shehnai.

Q4. What changes were made to improve the pungi?
a) It was shortened
b) It was made of gold
c) A longer and broader pipe with seven holes was made
d) It was played with strings
Answer: c) A longer and broader pipe with seven holes was made

Explanation: The improved design of the instrument with a longer pipe and finger holes produced a richer and more pleasant sound.

Q5. Why was the new instrument named shehnai?
a) It was played in temples
b) It was played in the Shah’s chambers by a nai (barber)
c) It was invented by a king
d) It was made of silver
Answer: b) It was played in the Shah’s chambers by a nai (barber)

Explanation: The shehnai is considered auspicious and is commonly played during weddings and religious ceremonies in India.

Q6. The sound of the shehnai is considered:
a) Harsh
b) Ordinary
c) Auspicious
d) Unpleasant
Answer: c) Auspicious

Explanation: The shehnai is considered auspicious and is commonly played during weddings and religious ceremonies in India.

Q7. Earlier, the shehnai was mainly played in:
a) Cinema halls
b) Schools
c) Temples and royal courts
d) Markets
Answer: c) Temples and royal courts

Explanation: Before gaining classical status, the shehnai was mainly used in temples and royal courts for ceremonial purposes.

Q8. Who brought the shehnai onto the classical stage?
a) Ali Bux
b) Ustad Faiyaz Khan
c) Ustad Bismillah Khan
d) Rasool Bux Khan
Answer: c) Ustad Bismillah Khan

Explanation: Ustad Bismillah Khan popularized the shehnai and brought it to the stage of Indian classical music through his dedication and performances.

Q9. Bismillah Khan played the shehnai near which river as a child?
a) Yamuna
b) Ganga
c) Godavari
d) Narmada
Answer: b) Ganga

Explanation: Bismillah Khan practiced near the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, which deeply influenced his music.

Q10. Bismillah Khan was born on:
a) 15 August 1947
b) 21 March 1916
c) 2 October 1869
d) 26 January 1950
Answer: b) 21 March 1916

Explanation: Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, into a family of musicians.

Q11. Bismillah Khan belonged to a family of:
a) Farmers
b) Soldiers
c) Musicians
d) Teachers
Answer: c) Musicians

Q12. Who was Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle and teacher?
a) Rasool Bux Khan
b) Ali Bux
c) Paigambar Bux
d) Faiyaz Khan
Answer: b) Ali Bux

Q13. At what age did Bismillah Khan accompany his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 14
d) 18
Answer: c) 14

Q14. Who encouraged Bismillah Khan at the Allahabad Music Conference?
a) King Zahir Shah
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Ustad Faiyaz Khan
d) Vijay Bhatt
Answer: c) Ustad Faiyaz Khan

Q15. Bismillah Khan’s big break came with the opening of:
a) Doordarshan
b) All India Radio, Lucknow
c) BBC
d) Radio Ceylon
Answer: b) All India Radio, Lucknow

Q16. When India gained independence, Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at:
a) India Gate
b) Rashtrapati Bhavan
c) Red Fort
d) Parliament House
Answer: c) Red Fort

Q17. Which raag did Bismillah Khan play on 15 August 1947?
a) Raag Bhairav
b) Raag Yaman
c) Raag Kafi
d) Raag Malhar
Answer: c) Raag Kafi

Q18. Bismillah Khan’s first foreign trip was to:
a) U.S.A.
b) Afghanistan
c) Canada
d) Pakistan
Answer: b) Afghanistan

Q19. Which king was impressed by Bismillah Khan in Afghanistan?
a) King George
b) King Zahir Shah
c) King Akbar
d) King Faisal
Answer: b) King Zahir Shah

Q20. In which film did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai?
a) Mughal-e-Azam
b) Gunj Uthi Shehnai
c) Sholay
d) Pakeezah
Answer: b) Gunj Uthi Shehnai

Q21. Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna in:
a) 1995
b) 2001
c) 1987
d) 1961
Answer: b) 2001

Q22. Which award is India’s highest civilian award?
a) Padma Shri
b) Padma Bhushan
c) Padma Vibhushan
d) Bharat Ratna
Answer: d) Bharat Ratna

Q23. Bismillah Khan was deeply attached to which two places?
a) Delhi and Mumbai
b) Banaras and Dumraon
c) Lucknow and Agra
d) Patna and Kolkata
Answer: b) Banaras and Dumraon

Q24. Assertion (A): Bismillah Khan refused to settle in the U.S.A.
Reason (R): He was deeply attached to Banaras and the Ganga.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

Q25. Assertion (A): The shehnai was earlier not considered fit for classical music.
Reason (R): It was mainly played in temples and royal courts.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q26. Bismillah Khan’s grandfather was a shehnai player in the court of:
a) The Mughal emperor
b) The Bhojpur king
c) The British governor
d) The Nawab of Awadh
Answer: b) The Bhojpur king

Q27. What prize did young Bismillah Khan receive for singing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’?
a) A gold medal
b) ₹500
c) A laddu weighing 1.25 kg
d) A silver trophy
Answer: c) A laddu weighing 1.25 kg

Q28. For how many years did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai?
a) 50 years
b) 60 years
c) 70 years
d) 80 years
Answer: d) 80 years

Q29. The temple where Bismillah Khan regularly practised was:
a) Kashi Vishwanath Temple
b) Vishnu Temple of Benaras
c) Balaji Temple
d) Somnath Temple
Answer: b) Vishnu Temple of Benaras

Q30. The flowing waters of which river inspired Bismillah Khan to improve his music?
a) Yamuna
b) Godavari
c) Ganga
d) Narmada
Answer: c) Ganga

Q31. Who was present when Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on 15 August 1947?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Sardar Patel
c) Jawaharlal Nehru
d) Subhash Chandra Bose
Answer: c) Jawaharlal Nehru

Q32. The auditorium in Teheran was named after:
a) Ali Bux
b) Ustad Faiyaz Khan
c) Ustad Bismillah Khan
d) King Zahir Shah
Answer: c) Ustad Bismillah Khan

Q33. Which of the following awards was conferred on Bismillah Khan?
a) Padma Shri
b) Padma Bhushan
c) Padma Vibhushan
d) All of these
Answer: d) All of these

Q34. Bismillah Khan’s music was appreciated at the Cannes Art Festival in:
a) France
b) Germany
c) Italy
d) Japan
Answer: a) France

Q35. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to open a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
a) He did not like teaching
b) He disliked foreign countries
c) He could not live away from Banaras and the Ganga
d) He was too busy
Answer: c) He could not live away from Banaras and the Ganga

Q36. Assertion (A): Bismillah Khan was a devout Muslim.
Reason (R): He played the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q37. Assertion (A): The shehnai is an indispensable part of North Indian weddings.
Reason (R): Its sound is considered auspicious.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q38. What message did Bismillah Khan give to Indians about music?
a) Only professionals should learn music
b) Music is only for entertainment
c) Teach your children music as it is India’s rich tradition
d) Western music is superior
Answer: c) Teach your children music as it is India’s rich tradition

Q39. In which year did Bismillah Khan pass away?
a) 2001
b) 1997
c) 2006
d) 1985
Answer: c) 2006

Q40. The Government of India declared how many days of national mourning after his death?
a) Two days
b) One day
c) Three days
d) Seven days
Answer: b) One day

Q41. Which of the following best describes Bismillah Khan’s personality?
a) Proud and arrogant
b) Simple and devoted
c) Careless
d) Selfish
Answer: b) Simple and devoted

Q42. The credit for bringing the shehnai to the classical stage goes mainly to:
a) Ali Bux
b) Rasool Bux Khan
c) Ustad Bismillah Khan
d) King Zahir Shah
Answer: c) Ustad Bismillah Khan

Q43. Assertion (A): Bismillah Khan’s first foreign performance was highly successful.
Reason (R): King Zahir Shah gifted him precious Persian carpets.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q44. What does the story of the shehnai’s origin show?
a) Musical instruments never change
b) Innovation can improve tradition
c) Kings disliked music
d) Barbers were not talented
Answer: b) Innovation can improve tradition

Q45. Which quality helped Bismillah Khan master the shehnai?
a) Luck
b) Wealth
c) Continuous practice and dedication
d) Political support
Answer: c) Continuous practice and dedication

Q46. Bismillah Khan felt restless when away from:
a) Mumbai
b) Delhi
c) Banaras and the Ganga
d) Lucknow
Answer: c) Banaras and the Ganga

Q47. Assertion (A): Bismillah Khan was proud of India’s cultural heritage.
Reason (R): He believed music was India’s richest tradition.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q48. The shehnai became popular in classical music mainly because of:
a) Royal support
b) Temple rituals
c) Bismillah Khan’s efforts
d) Film industry
Answer: c) Bismillah Khan’s efforts

Q49. Bismillah Khan’s life is an example of:
a) Wealth and luxury
b) Cultural harmony and dedication
c) Political success
d) Modern lifestyle
Answer: b) Cultural harmony and dedication

Q50. What is the main theme of the chapter?
a) The history of Mughal emperors
b) The invention of musical instruments
c) The life, dedication and achievements of Ustad Bismillah Khan
d) The importance of film music
Answer: c) The life, dedication and achievements of Ustad Bismillah Khan