Chapter 12: Where the Mind is without Fear Textbook Solutions

NIOS Class 12 English Chapter 12 Question Answer

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.1

1. What is meant by “mind is without fear and head is held high”. Tick the correct answer.

(i) to be fearless and self-respecting.

(ii) to be proud of one’s high position.

(iii) to stand straight and be carefree.

Ans: (i) to be fearless and self-respecting

2. The ‘domestic walls’ are usually associated with safety, comfort, and love. Are these the feelings evoked by the phrase ‘narrow domestic walls’? If not, choose the correct answer from the ones given below:

(i) small houses which make us feel cramped.

(ii) ideas which are petty and narrow-minded.

(iii) a house divided into rooms by walls.

Ans: (ii) ideas which are petty and narrow-minded

3. Why has the word ‘tireless’ been used to describe ‘striving’?

Ans: Perfection is not an absolute endpoint. It is something towards which we work incessantly but never achieve completely. Hence, the ‘striving’ to try to reach it is a continuous process, in which one cannot afford to get tired.

4. What are we striving for?

Ans: We are striving for the perfection of our inner beings to realise our true selves, which is an essential prerequisite in shaping our destinies and claiming independence and liberation.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.2

1. Why is reason compared with ‘clear stream’?

Ans: Clarity of logical thought is compared with a clear stream.

2. Where has reason lost its way?

Ans: Reason has lost its way in our mindless adherence to outdated customs, superstitious beliefs, and cultural dogmas, which the poet metamorphoses as “the dreary desert sand of dead habit.”

3. “Where the mind is led forward by thee…” Who is being referred to as ‘thee’? What is the poet’s purpose over here?

Ans: The poet is referring to the Almighty as “thee.” He seeks divine guidance for his countrymen to be able to think and act progressively. Tagore perceives thought and action as being complementary – neither thoughtless action nor actionless thought has a role in the nation he envisaged. Only this can allow individuals and a nation to move away from entrenched dogmas and institutions, mindless habits and customs, and the stagnation that results in intellectual and spiritual death.

4. What does the poet mean by “heaven of freedom”? How can that be achieved?

Ans: “Heaven of freedom” is a reference to that future state of India gaining independence, having broken out from the shackles of her colonial oppressors, where there is absolute freedom, dignity, the right to decide on our own fate, and individual liberty. It is this state that the poet compares to the divine bliss and magnificence of being in “heaven.”

It can be achieved by ensuring all of the conditions mentioned by the poet, like getting rid of discriminatory practices and doing away with divisive social hierarchies, being guided by rational thinkin,g and not being servile to outdated customs and ritualistic beliefs, etc.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.3

1. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice:

i. The students performed the experiment.

Ans: The experiment was performed by the students.

ii. The waiter served the customers.

Ans: The customers were served by the waiter.

iii. The gardener pruned the bushes.

Ans: The bushes were pruned by the gardener.

iv. The chef cooked the meal.

Ans: The meal was cooked by the chef.

v. The artist painted the portrait.

Ans: The portrait was painted by the artist.

2. Rewrite the following sentences in the active voice:

i. The decision was made by the committee.

Ans: The committee made the decision.

ii. The project was completed by the team members.

Ans: The team members completed the project.

iii. The rules were enforced by the authorities.

Ans: The authorities enforced the rules.

iv. The problem was solved by the mathematician.

Ans: The mathematician solved the problem.

v. The proposal was rejected by the board.

Ans: The board rejected the proposal.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.4

1. Pick out metaphors and similes from the lines given below:

i. ‘But swift as dreams myself I found within the pilot’s boat’.

Ans: “swift as dreams” – simile

ii. ‘The wind was a torrent of darkness/ the road was a ribbon of moonlight’

Ans: “The wind was a torrent of darkness” – metaphor

iii. ‘The ship went down like lead.’

Ans: “The ship went down like lead.” – simile

iv. ‘I pass like night from land to land.’

Ans: “I pass like night from land to land.” – simile

2. Can you pick out two lines where letter and sound are repeated?

Ans: “head is held high,” and “dreary desert sand of dead habit”

LET’S DO

Fill in the blanks using the Passive form of the verbs given in brackets.

1. How butter is made Cream _______ (churn) and milkfat ______ (collect). The remaining liquid is called buttermilk. The milk fat _____ (whip) and the water in it, if any ______ (throw) away. A pinch of salt ______ (add) to the ball of whipped fat and ______ (keep) in a butter dish.

Ans: i) is churned, ii) is collected, iii) is whipped, iv) is thrown, v) is added, vi) is kept.

2. How an electric iron is repaired To replace the heating element of an iron, the handle along with the top cover _____ (remove). In modern automatic irons, these are often removable in one piece, but in other designs two nuts secure the handle and when these _____ (remove), the handle can be removed. Then the

cover ____ (withdraw) and the iron weight _____ (disclose), which can be raised to find the heating element. The heating element ______ (contain) between two layers of a mica sheet.

Ans: i) is removed ii) are removed iii) is withdrawn iv) is disclosed v) is contained

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. How does the poet describe ‘heaven of freedom’?

Ans: The poet describes the heaven of freedom as a place where there is absolute freedom, dignity, the right to decide on our own fat,e and individual liberty. It is this state that the poet compares to the divine bliss and magnificence of being in “heaven.” It can be achieved by ensuring all of the conditions mentioned by the poet, like getting rid of discriminatory practices and doing away with divisive social hierarchies, being guided by rational thinking, and not being servile to outdated customs and ritualistic beliefs, etc.

2. What does the poet mean by “where knowledge is free”?

Ans: Tagore wanted knowledge to be shared by everyone, but the truth is that people have been treated unfairly since ancient times, and there is a traumatic history of such injustices that restrict access to knowledge. Throughout history, knowledge has been seen as a right only afforded to a select few and has been used to oppress and harm those without access. The majority of people were purposely denied knowledge, resulting in far-reaching negative consequences.

3. Who does the poet address as ‘thee’ and my father?

Ans: He is referring to God.

4. What does the poet describe as ‘ever widening thought and action’?

Ans: Tagore perceives thought and action as being complementary – neither thoughtless action nor actionless thought has a role in the nation he envisaged. As individuals as well as a nation, we can move towards ethical and divinely inspired action only through words and ideas that are grounded in and born out of truth. They must embrace change and accept fresh perspectives to stimulate intellectual and personal development. The poet implores his countrymen to be liberal, tolerant, and open-minded. Every person in the country should be able to exercise their right to freedom of thought.

5. Why does the poet end the poem with the verb ‘awake’? What is its significance?

Ans: The poet is praying for the inner awakening of his countrymen so that they can cast aside the yoke of servitude to the British colonisers, unshackle their minds, and resolutely claim the long-denied emancipation. This would enable his countrymen to finally shake off the mantle of ignorance, biases, distrust, and selfishness, to assert their true independent identity and experience the divine feeling of actual freedom.