The question and answers, summary, meanings of the poem ‘One World’ by Safdar Hashmi, are given together with the difficult word meanings and summary. Students can in this English Book Wind Chimes Class 6. Click here for stanza wise explanation of ‘One World’ poem.
Word Meanings: Poem One World
| Words | Contextual Meaning | Hindi Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Cross his path | Encounter or meet | टकरा जाना, सामने पड़ना |
| Torrent of words | A rapid, continuous flow of words | शब्दों की बारिश, बोलना शुरू कर देना तो रुकने का नाम न लेना |
| Wild | exciting, whole or entire | पूरा |
| Gleam | Shine or shimmer | चमकना |
| Give me | Expression of command or desire for something | मुझे पसंद है या अच्छा लगता है, |
| Wheels of politics | Processes and changes in political situations | राजनीति की प्रक्रियाएँ, राज-पाठ का बदलना |
| Sinner | A person who commits sins or violates moral rules | पापी |
| As far as | Up to the extent of | जहां तक |
| Play the game | Be skilled at navigating situations or challenges | खेलना, चाल चलना |
| Sharp | Clever and intelligent | तेज़ |
| Stroll | A leisurely walk | सैर, चहलकदमी |
| Rambling | Extensive and sprawling | फैला हुआ |
| Trip | To stumble or encounter unexpectedly | अटक कर लड़खड़ाना |
| Unleash | Release with force | शुरू ही जाना, छोड़ना |
| Mighty | Powerful or strong | शक्तिशाली |
| Jab | A sudden, forceful poke or hit | घूसा या लात जमाना |
| Gab | Talk or chatter | बकबक, बकवाद |
| Blade of grass | Individual leaves of grass | घास की पत्ती, तिनका |
| Twitch | Sudden, quick movement | झटकना, खींचना |
| Cracked knuckles | To flex one’s knuckles so that they make a cracking sound | अंगुलियों की गांठ फोड़ना |
| Deluded | Misguided or deceived | भ्रमित |
| Make sore | Cause annoyance or irritation | चिढ़ाना, नाराज करना |
| Grit and grime | Dirt and filth | धूल के कण ओर कीचड़ |
| Stroke | To gently move a hand over something | हाथ से सहलाना |
| Parted | Separated or moved aside | अलग करना |
| Pursed | Closed tightly, often in disapproval or thought | होंठ सिकोड़ना |
| Trumpet sounded | Announced with great fanfare or celebration | तुरही बाजे का बजना |
| Dumb | Silent or speechless | मूक, मूर्ख , भोला-भाला |
| Dumbfounded | Astonished or speechless due to surprise | मूकदर्शक, डर या आश्चर्य से मुह से बोल न निकालना |
| Key of life | Fundamental understanding or knowledge of life | जीवन की चाबी यानि ज्ञान |
| Disguise | Concealment of one’s true identity | बदल हुआ भेष |
| Shed | To remove or cast off, like a disguise | छोड़ दिया, गिर दिया |
| Take for a ride | Deceive or trick someone | छल करना |
Summary
In an imagined conversation between Akbar and Birbal, Safdar Hashmi shares his perspective on the follies of vanity and the fleeting nature of material possessions and accomplishments. Akbar, the great Mughal emperor, had grown conceited and haughty, surrounded by immense power and luxury, believing himself wiser than all. He boasted of having experienced and achieved everything there was to offer. However, Birbal, his wise confidante, grew concerned and devised a plan to cure Akbar of his arrogance.
While strolling through the Fatehpur Sikri palace grounds, Akbar stumbled upon a dishevelled sadhu resting. Enraged, he launched into a boastful tirade, demeaning the sadhu and ordering him to leave. The sadhu, unfazed by Akbar’s tantrum, requested permission to ask a single question. In their ensuing conversation, the sadhu reminded Akbar that the imperial power and glory he possessed were once held by his father and grandfather. None of them could maintain it forever, and nor could he. He compared mortal life to a traveller’s inn, where one stays briefly before moving on, emphasizing the foolishness of pride in temporary worldly achievements.
As realization dawned on Akbar, he was left speechless. The sadhu then revealed himself to be Birbal, earning Akbar’s gratitude for imparting another crucial life lesson.
Textbook Exercise Solutions
A. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
1. He saw the bug his king had caught,
He was sharp, not one to miss,
Pride it was he knew for sure
That made the badshah speak like this.
a. Who is ‘he’ in these lines?
b. What ‘bug’ is he talking about?
c. What reason does he give for the king speaking like this?
2. Akbar growled and growled some more
‘Get up, you—! You make me sore!’
a. What made Akbar growl?
b. Why does Akbar say, ‘Get up, you—’?
c. Explain what Akbar means by ‘you make me sore’.
3. ‘You took me for a ride,
The sadhu has my grateful thanks
For puncturing my pride.‘
a. Whom do ‘you’ and ‘my’ refer to?
b. Are ‘you’ and ‘the sadhu’ the same?
c. What does ‘puncturing my pride’ mean?
Answers:
- a. ‘He’ is Birbal.
b. The ‘bug’ is Akbar’s vanity.
c. Birbal reasons that Akbar has been afflicted by pride and arrogance. - a. The casual manner of the sadhu made Akbar growl.
b. Akbar exclaimed because the sadhu continued to lie down and not pay his respects to the king.
c. Akbar meant that the sadhu made him angry. - a. ‘You’ refers to Birbal and ‘my’ refers to Akbar.
b. ‘You’ and ‘the sadhu’ both refer to Birbal.
c. By ‘puncturing my pride’, Akbar means that Birbal has made him aware of his human fallibility. Akbar has realised the foolishness of his past conceit.
B. Answer these questions.
- What happened one day when Akbar was walking in the palace grounds?
- How did the sadhu show that he did not fear anyone? Give examples from
- the text.
- Why do you think that the sadhu called the king ‘Akbarbhai’?
- What did the sadhu mean when he said, ‘your fortress is an inn, my friend’?
- Why does the sadhu ask Akbar questions about his father and grandfather?
- What was the ‘key of life’ that Akbar discovered?
Answers:
- While walking in the palace grounds, Akbar stumbled over a sleeping sadhu.
- Despite Akbar’s status as king, the sadhu remained composed and did not offer him formal salutations, instead addressing him as “Akbarbhai” and even daring to question him.
- The sadhu’s use of “Akbarbhai” demonstrates his belief in the equality of all human beings.
- Like an inn, which provides temporary rest for its guests, the world is a temporary home for every individual, including the greatest of kings. The sadhu’s words serve as a reminder of this inevitable reality.
- By acknowledging that Akbar’s forefathers once held the same positions of power that he currently holds, the sadhu emphasizes the temporary nature of worldly possessions, including dominion and wealth.
- Akbar’s “key of life” was the realization that the blessings of human existence are meant to be shared among all individuals, rather than being owned by any one person.
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