NCERT Class 9 English (Kaveri) – Poem: "Bharat Our Land" – Complete Solution
Poet: Subramania Bharati
Theme: The poem is a tribute to India's natural beauty, rich spiritual heritage, glorious history, and cultural greatness. It inspires a feeling of deep pride and patriotism.
Poem Summary (Easy to Understand)
The poet proudly praises India. He says our land has:
Mighty mountains (the Himalayas) that are unmatched in the world.
Holy rivers (the Ganga) that are generous and graceful.
Sacred scriptures (the Upanishads) that are full of ancient wisdom.
Brave warriors and wise sages who made this land great.
The knowledge of God (Brahma-knowledge) and the teachings of Gautama Buddha are rooted here.
The poet repeatedly says that India is "peerless" (the best/no equal), so we should all praise our motherland with pride.
Check Your Understanding (Page 45)
I. Fill in the blanks to complete the summary of the poem:
Using the words from the box: warriors, peerless, Upanishads, Ganga, Buddha, Himavants, sages, praise, historical greatness, Brahma-knowledge
historical greatness
Himavants (the Himalayas)
Ganga
Upanishads
warriors
sages
Brahma-knowledge
Buddha
peerless
praise
II. Complete the following features about the poem:
Impact on readers (mood): Proud, respectful, and inspired.
Poet's attitude (tone): Celebratory, reverent (showing deep respect), and patriotic.
Rhyme scheme: The poem does not have a strict rhyme scheme (it is written in free verse).
Examples of personification:
"She's peerless" (India is described as 'she').
"generous Ganga" (the river is given the human quality of generosity).
Critical Reflection (Page 46-49)
I. Read the extract and answer the questions:
Extract:
The mighty Himavant is ours
there's no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours
what scriptures else to name with them?
The word 'mighty' refers to the strength/greatness of the Himavant.
The question mark is used to (ii) emphasise a point.
The poet calls the Ganga 'generous' because it gives life and water to everyone without any selfishness.
The movement of the river is described as graceful because it flows smoothly and beautifully, like a dancer.
The Upanishads are unmatched in their wisdom.
II. Answer the following questions (Long Answer Type):
1. How does the poem reflect a strong connection to cultural identity and heritage?
The poem connects us to our heritage by mentioning our holy rivers (Ganga), sacred texts (Upanishads), great teachers (Buddha), and brave warriors. These are the pillars of India's ancient culture. By proudly saying "ours" for these things, the poet reminds us that they are our shared treasure, which builds a strong sense of who we are as Indians.
2. What can you infer about the poet's attitude towards India from the repeated phrase 'she's peerless, let's praise her!'?
The poet's attitude is one of deep love, pride, and admiration. By repeating this line, he strongly believes that India is the best ("peerless") and wants everyone to not just feel proud but also actively express that pride by praising our motherland.
3. What does the line 'many a sage has sanctified this land' suggest about India's spiritual heritage?
This line means that many wise saints and sages did prayer, meditation, and good deeds here, which made the land holy and pure ("sanctified"). It suggests India has a very old and deep spiritual history where wisdom has been practiced for thousands of years.
4. How does the poet connect warriors and music to India's greatness?
The poet connects them by saying both are part of India's rich culture. Warriors show our strength and bravery in protecting the land, while music represents our soft power, creativity, and art. A great country needs both strength and beauty.
5. How does this poem foster a sense of national pride?
The poem makes us feel proud by listing all the wonderful things we have—from the tall Himalayas to the holy Ganga and the wise Upanishads. It uses proud words like "mighty," "peerless," and "ours" to create a feeling of belonging and greatness. It reminds us that our country is special and worthy of our love and respect.
Vocabulary in Context (Page 49-50)
I. Complete the table by choosing words from the poem:
| Suffix | Meaning | Example from poem |
|---|---|---|
| -ous | full of, having the qualities of | glorious (from 'glory') |
| -ity | the state of being very old or ancient | antiquity |
| -est | superlative form (the most) | peerless (ends with 'less' but is superlative in meaning; or 'mightiest' - implied) |
| -less | without something | peerless (means 'without an equal') |
II. Adding suffixes to form new words:
| Suffix | Meaning | New Word | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ive | quality or nature of | create → creative | She is a creative artist. |
| -ment | the action or result of | improve → improvement | There is room for improvement in my handwriting. |
| -ed | past-tense version of a verb | praise → praised | The teacher praised the student for good work. |
Listen and Respond (Page 50-51)
(The transcript is for the teacher. The answers are based on the audio script provided in the book's appendix on page 260.)
I. Identify the speaker for the two pictures:
(Assuming the pictures show a river and a desert)
Picture 1 (River): Speaker 1
Picture 2 (Desert): Speaker 3
II. Match the statements to the speaker:
Green surroundings look beautiful - Speaker 4
Group visits make difficult areas easy - (Not needed)
Quietness leads to peace - Speaker 1
Risk and thrill are most appealing - Speaker 2
Dry expanse promises exploration - Speaker 3
Sight of beauty is inviting - (Not needed)
Speaking Activity (Page 51-52)
I. Talk about the assets of your village/town/city.
Example Answer for a student from Delhi:
"One thing that I find truly wonderful about my city, Delhi, is its rich history. If I had to describe Delhi in one word, it would be 'amazing' because you can see old forts from hundreds of years ago and also modern skyscrapers. When it comes to the food, my city truly shines because we have famous street food like 'chole bhature' that everyone loves. I feel a deep sense of pride when I think about how people from all over India live here together in harmony."
Writing Task (Page 52)
I. Write a paragraph about a memorable place you visited.
Example Answer (Ooty - a hill station):
"Last year, I went to Ooty with my family during my summer vacation. We travelled by car, and I packed my bags with warm clothes because it is cold there. We stayed in a small hotel near the lake. Every day, we went for walks through beautiful green tea gardens. The best activity was riding the toy train, which gave us a stunning view of the mountains and valleys. The air was so fresh and clean. This trip has stayed in my memory because the natural beauty was so peaceful and calming."
Learning Beyond the Text (Page 52)
I. Search for poems/songs dedicated to India in your regional language.
(This is an activity for the student. For example, a Hindi student can find the poem "Jhansi Ki Rani" by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.)
II. Interdisciplinary project on India's major geographical features.
(This is a group project idea. Example for one feature:)
Mountain: Himalayas. Region: North India. Importance: Source of rivers (Ganga, Yamuna), protects from cold winds. Languages: Hindi, Garhwali, Ladakhi.