Chapter 2 of 7

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Rajasthan (RBSE)Class 9 English★ 5–7 marks · RBSE Class 9 English board (Beehive — Prose)

The Sound of Music

RBSE Class 9 English (Beehive) Chapter 2 — two true stories of musical genius. Part I follows Evelyn Glennie, the profoundly deaf Scottish girl who became the world's greatest solo percussionist; Part II celebrates Ustad Bismillah Khan, who made the shehnai a concert instrument. Summary, themes, character notes and RBSE board-pattern questions with model answers. Paired poem: "Wind" by Subramania Bharati.

⏱ 22 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Narrate how Evelyn Glennie overcame deafness to become a great percussionist
2Explain how Bismillah Khan elevated the shehnai and his bond with Varanasi
3Identify themes of perseverance, devotion and India's composite culture
4Answer board-pattern short and value-based questions with textual support

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Why this chapter matters

A two-part true-story chapter rich in value-based questions (perseverance, secularism, devotion). Both parts give ready material for short answers and a long value-based question, making it a dependable scorer.

The Sound of Music — RBSE Class 9 English (Beehive)

Two musicians, two worlds — a deaf girl in Scotland and a shehnai master on the banks of the Ganga. Both prove that music is less about the ears than about the heart, discipline and devotion.

RBSE note (2026-27). Class 9 English follows the NCERT Beehive reader; BSER (Ajmer) sets the exam.

Part I — Evelyn Glennie: "The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan" begins with a quieter miracle

Evelyn Glennie lost her hearing gradually; by eleven her hearing was severely impaired and doctors confirmed deafness caused by nerve damage. Determined not to let it stop her, she learned to "hear" music through her body — feeling vibrations through her hands, feet and even her hair. Encouraged by percussionist Ron Forbes, she sensed different notes through different parts of her body. She mastered some thousand instruments, topped her class at the Royal Academy of Music, and became the world's greatest solo percussionist — an inspiration to the deaf and to all who chase a dream against the odds.

Part II — The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

The shehnai belonged to the naubat (temple/wedding music) until Ustad Bismillah Khan turned it into a respected classical concert instrument. Born in Dumraon, Bihar, he practised by the Ganga in Varanasi, drawing inspiration from the river and temples. He played at the Red Fort on Independence Day (15 Aug 1947), won the Bharat Ratna and other top honours, and — though invited abroad — refused to leave India, saying he could never live without the Ganga and Varanasi. A devout Muslim devoted to a Hindu goddess of music, he embodied India's composite, secular culture.

Themes

Triumph over disability / perseverance (Evelyn) — talent + grit beats any handicap.
Devotion to art and to one's roots (Bismillah Khan) — and India's secular harmony.
Music as a universal language that transcends the ears and religion.

Characters

Evelyn Glennie — deaf Scottish percussionist; feels music through her body.
Ron Forbes — the teacher who helped her sense notes through vibration.
Ustad Bismillah Khan — shehnai maestro; Bharat Ratna; lover of Varanasi and the Ganga.

Quick recap

Evelyn Glennie: deaf by 11 → "hears" through her body → world's top solo percussionist (perseverance).
Bismillah Khan: raised the shehnai to classical status; devoted to Varanasi/the Ganga; Bharat Ratna; symbol of secular India.
Paired poem "Wind" (Subramania Bharati): the wind tests the weak and befriends the strong — be firm.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Authors

Part I by Deborah Cowley; Part II adapted from a profile of Bismillah Khan

Two linked true stories.

Part I subject

Evelyn Glennie — deaf Scottish solo percussionist

Teacher: Ron Forbes.

Part II subject

Ustad Bismillah Khan — shehnai maestro, Bharat Ratna

Born in Dumraon, Bihar; lived in Varanasi.

Theme

Perseverance; devotion to art and roots; secular harmony

Music as a universal language.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying Evelyn could hear normally

✓ She was profoundly deaf by 11; she sensed music as VIBRATIONS through her body, not by hearing.

WATCH OUT

✗ Calling the shehnai a string instrument

✓ The shehnai is a wind (reed) instrument; Bismillah Khan made it a classical concert instrument.

WATCH OUT

✗ Writing that Bismillah Khan settled abroad

✓ He refused to leave India, saying he could not live without the Ganga and Varanasi.

WATCH OUT

✗ Mixing up the two parts

✓ Part I = Evelyn Glennie (percussion, Scotland); Part II = Bismillah Khan (shehnai, Varanasi). Keep them separate.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Oral comprehension checks

In-text questions for both parts

Questions

Thinking about the Text

Evelyn's struggle; the shehnai's rise; Bismillah Khan's values

Questions

Thinking about Language / Writing

Word study; a short biographical paragraph

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Fact-recall

How did Evelyn Glennie 'hear' music?

▶ Show solution

She felt the vibrations of the music through her body — hands, feet and even her hair.

✦ Answer: through body vibrations.

Q2EASY· Fact-recall

Which instrument did Bismillah Khan make famous, and what honour did he receive?

▶ Show solution

The shehnai; he was awarded the Bharat Ratna.

✦ Answer: the shehnai; Bharat Ratna.

Q3EASY· Detail

Who helped Evelyn realise she could sense different notes?

▶ Show solution

Percussionist Ron Forbes, who taught her to feel notes through different parts of her body.

✦ Answer: Ron Forbes.

Q4MEDIUM· Comprehension

How is Evelyn Glennie's achievement an inspiration?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Despite profound deafness she mastered many instruments and topped the Royal Academy of Music.

Step 2 — She became the world's leading solo percussionist, showing that determination can overcome any handicap.

✦ Answer: she turned a severe disability into world-class success through perseverance.

Q5MEDIUM· Comprehension

Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to settle abroad despite invitations?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — He was deeply attached to Varanasi and the river Ganga, his source of inspiration.

Step 2 — He said he could not live without them, so he chose to stay in India.

✦ Answer: his devotion to Varanasi and the Ganga kept him in India.

Q6MEDIUM· Theme

How does this chapter reflect India's composite culture?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Bismillah Khan, a devout Muslim, devoted his life to music associated with Hindu temples and a goddess of learning.

Step 2 — He played at temples and on Independence Day, embodying religious harmony.

✦ Answer: a Muslim maestro steeped in a shared Hindu-Muslim musical tradition — secular India in one life.

Q7HARD· Value-based

What values can students learn from Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — From Evelyn: perseverance, courage and not letting a handicap define you.

Step 2 — From Bismillah Khan: devotion to one's art, humility, love of one's roots and respect for all faiths.

Step 3 — Together: single-minded dedication turns talent into greatness.

✦ Answer: perseverance, dedication, humility and harmony.

Q8HARD· Long-answer

Both musicians faced challenges. Compare how each rose above them.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Evelyn's challenge was physical (deafness); she adapted by sensing vibrations and practising relentlessly.

Step 2 — Bismillah Khan's challenge was to win respect for a 'lesser' folk instrument; he did so through mastery and devotion.

Step 3 — Both succeeded by sheer dedication and love of music.

✦ Answer: different obstacles, the same answer — discipline and devotion.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Part I — Evelyn Glennie: deaf by 11; 'hears' via vibrations (helped by Ron Forbes); world's top solo percussionist.
•Part II — Bismillah Khan: raised the shehnai to classical status; born in Dumraon, lived in Varanasi.
•Played at the Red Fort on 15 Aug 1947; awarded the Bharat Ratna.
•Refused to settle abroad — devotion to the Ganga and Varanasi.
•Themes: perseverance, devotion to art and roots, India's secular/composite culture.
•Paired poem 'Wind' (Bharati): be strong; the wind befriends the firm.

Rajasthan (RBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 5–7 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / extract-based	1	1–2	Facts about both musicians
Short answer	2	2	Evelyn's method; Bismillah Khan's values; composite culture
Long / value-based	3	1	Lessons and comparison of the two lives

Prep strategy

Keep the two parts and their key facts clearly separated
Prepare one strong value-based answer on perseverance + harmony
Memorise Bismillah Khan's link to Varanasi/the Ganga and the Bharat Ratna
Note Ron Forbes and the 'vibration' method for Evelyn

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Inclusive role models

Evelyn Glennie is a global icon for differently-abled achievers.

Cultural heritage

Bismillah Khan's life teaches India's shared musical and secular traditions.

Biographical writing

Great material for the exam's biography/paragraph writing tasks.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Label which part a question refers to before answering.
Support value-based answers with one concrete fact from each life.
Spell names/places correctly: Evelyn Glennie, Ron Forbes, Bismillah Khan, Varanasi.
For comparison questions, give parallel points for both musicians.

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Biography vs autobiography as forms of life-writing.
How writers structure a two-part profile around a common theme.
Music and identity — art as an expression of culture.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

RBSE Class 9 Annual (BSER Ajmer)High — value-based and short-answer questions

NTSE / NMMSLow–Medium — comprehension

CBSE / other boards (Beehive)High — same prescribed text

English Olympiad (IEO)Medium — comprehension and inference

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Yes — RBSE English-medium follows the NCERT Beehive reader. 'The Sound of Music' is Chapter 2. BSER (Ajmer) sets the RBSE paper.

'Wind' by Subramania Bharati — it tells us the wind crushes the weak but befriends the strong, urging us to build firm bodies and hearts.

A double-reed wind instrument traditionally played at weddings and temples; Bismillah Khan elevated it to a solo classical concert instrument.

She removed her shoes to feel the vibrations of the music through the floor and her body, sensing pitch through different body parts.

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