UNIT 7 – COLOURS OF SILENCE
Highlights
One holiday Satish, a boy of eight years old was hiking with his father and brother Inder.
While crossing a rickety bridge, he lost his balance and fell into the rapids. As a result, his legs
were injured.
He suffered from frequent bouts of fever and infections. He could not hear properly.
Due to this, schools did not give him admission. He was compelled to stay at home.
His father and brother helped him to read and write.
One day Satish saw a beautiful bird. It had a longish tail and black crest.
Satish started sketching the bird from his memory. His father disliked it. Later he agreed and
admitted him to the best School of Arts.
Today, Satish is one of the best artists in India. His paintings are exhibited all over the world.
He was honored with the Padma Vibhushan.
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2 – 3 sentences each: (2/3 Marks)
1. How did the bird inspire Satish to become a great artist? OR How did the bird trigger Satish’s
creativity? OR ‘The bird changed Satish’s career.’ Justify the statement.
Ans: Satish saw a beautiful bird with restless energy. After it flew away, Satish drew the bird from his
memory. He started sketching from then. He joined the best school of arts. He became a great artist.
2. ‘Physical disability is no barrier to success.’ Substantiate this statement with examples from the
life of Satish. OR ‘Physical disability is no barrier to success.’ Justify the statement with
reference to the life of Satish Gujral.
Ans: Satish met with an accident. He lost his hearing. He could not go to school. One day he saw a bird
and was inspired. He began to draw. He soon became a great artist. He exhibited his works all over the
world. He got many awards like the Padma Vibhushan.
3. What were the achievements of Satish Gujral? OR
How can you say that Satish Gujral was a famous artist?
Ans: Satish Gujral was famous in painting, sculpture, and architecture. He was also a writer. He
published four books. He exhibited his works all over the world. He won many awards like the Padma
Vibhushan.
4. How did Satish meet with an accident? OR
Narrate the accident that confined Satish to bed.
Ans: Satish, his father and brother went hiking to Kashmir. They were crossing a rickety bridge. The
boys stopped to look at the swirling waters under the bridge. Satish’s foot slipped. He fell into the
rapids. When he regained consciousness, he was in the hospital.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
1. “He fell into the rapids.”
a) Who is the ‘he’? Ans: Satish
b) Why did he fall into the rapids? Ans: When Satish was looking down at the swirling water, his foot
slipped and he fell into the rapids.
c) What was the effect of this accident on him? Ans: His legs and head was badly injured. He had to
undergo several operations. He became deaf.
2. ‘He took away all his note books he had drawn on.’
a) Who is the ‘he’? Ans: Satish’s father.
b) Whose note books were taken away? Ans: Satish’s note book.
c) What had he drawn in his note books? Ans: Doodles.
d) Why did the speaker take away the note books?
Ans: Satish’s father did not like his son to become an artist, because it wouldn’t help him to make a
living.
3.” Why do you take away his source of entertainment?”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s mother.
b) Who is the ‘you’ referred to? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
c) Whose source of entertainment was it? Ans: Satish.
d) What was his source of entertainment?
Ans: Drawing and painting.
e) Why did he take away his source of entertainment?
Ans: Satish’s father did not like his son to become an artist, because it wouldn’t help him in making a
living.
f) Why was it a source of entertainment for him?
Ans: Because he had found a good pastime in it.
4. “It is no career for a bright boy.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Who is the ‘bright boy’ referred here? Ans: Satish.
c) What does ‘it’ refer to? Ans: Drawing and painting.
d) What made the speaker think so? Ans: Satish’s father did not like his son become an artist,
because it wouldn’t help him in making a living.
5. “He saw a bird that was unlike any he had ever seen before.”
a) Who is the ‘he’? Ans: Satish.
b) When did he see the bird?
Ans: One day when Satish was looking gloomily into the far corner of the garden.
c) What was the most interesting thing about the bird? Ans: The bird’s restless energy.
d) What did he do soon after the bird flew away?
Ans: He took out a note book and sketched the bird from his memory.
6. “They are for you Satish. I will find out the best school of arts for you.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) What does ‘they’ refer to?
Ans: Painting materials such as palette, colours, brushes, drawing sheets etc.
c) Why did the speaker allow Satish to continue painting?
Ans: Because he understood that his son’s destiny lay in canvas and paint.
7. “If you want to get on in life, you have to read a lot. You can learn a great deal of things by
reading.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Who is the ‘you’ referred to? Ans: Satish.
c) How did the speaker encourage reading? Ans: By giving him arm full of books.
8. “You will learn arts and make your life in your chosen field.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Who is the ‘you ’referred to?
Ans: Satish.
c) What did he want to become? Ans: An artist.
d) Why was the speaker not happy with his son becoming an artist at first?
Ans: Satish’s father did not like his son to become an artist because it wouldn’t help him in making a
living.
e) How did the speaker encourage his son later?
Ans: The speaker bought his son painting materials such as palette, colours, brushes, drawing
sheets etc. and also admitted him to the best school of arts.
9. “This is an idle pastime. You would do better to read and get some knowledge.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Who is the ‘you’ referred to? Ans: Satish.
c) What was his pastime? Ans: Drawing and painting.
d) Why did the speaker not like this pastime?
Ans: According to the speaker, artists live in poverty.
e) Why did the speaker give more importance to reading?
Ans: He wanted his son to study and come up in life.
10. “We will have to look for a new school.”
a) Who is the speaker?
Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Why did the speaker had to look for a new school?
Ans: Due to Satish’s absence to the school and hearing problem, the Principal of the school refused to
keep Satish in the school.
c) Whom do they need to look for a new school?
Ans: Satish
11. “My son is not dumb, Sir.”
a) Who made this statement?
Ans: Satish’s father / Avtar Narain.
b) Who was this said to?
Ans: The headmaster
c) What made the speaker say so?
Ans: The headmaster asked the speaker to admit his son to the deaf and dumb school.
12.“Satish! Why didn’t you come to school today?”
a) Who asked this question/ Who is the speaker?
Ans: Surender
b) Why did the speaker ask this question?
Ans: Satish was absent from school.
c) What reply did the speaker get?
Ans: He was not well.
13.“This is the school for normal boys. Why don’t you take your son to the school for deaf and
dumb children?”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: The Head Master of the school.
b) When did the speaker say so? Ans: When the headmaster refused to keep Satish in the school
because he was deaf and frequently absent.
c) Why did he refuse to admit the boy to his school?
Ans: Because Satish was deaf.
14.“Satish’s eyes filled with tears and he did an uncharacteristic thing.”
a) When did Satish’s eyes fill with tears?
Ans: When his father said that he would get him admitted to the best school of arts.
b) What does ‘uncharacteristic’ mean in the context?
Ans: Not typical/unusual
c) What uncharacteristic thing did he do?
Ans: He hugged his father tightly.