In this post, I am sharing with you Class 8 Chapter 7 A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh Summary, Analysis, and all Answers
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A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh Summary
The poem tells the story of a young English soldier who comes to the Rose-red House of Pertab Singh, a nobleman, and soldier in Jodhpore. They quickly become close friends and ride together beneath the stars and sun, sharing tales of love and adventure. They both find joy in the life of a soldier and believe that all good wars are one.
However, their time together is cut short when the soldier dies. Only three others of his kind are present to carry his body, and they ask for a sweeper to assist them. But Pertab Singh refuses, insisting that he will bear his friend’s body himself. He does not care about caste or tradition, only about honoring his fallen comrade.
The next day, a priest comes to Pertab Singh with news that the people of Jodhpore are gossiping about his loss of caste. But Pertab is unbothered, knowing that his true caste is that of a soldier’s faith. He believes that the caste of noble hearts transcends any earthly divisions of rank or creed.
Overall, the poem explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the value of a soldier’s life. It also challenges the notion of caste and suggests that true nobility comes not from birth or social status, but from one’s actions and beliefs.
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A. Read the lines from the poem and answer the questions. (A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh)
1. Beneath the morning stars they rode,
Beneath the evening sun,
And their blood sang to them as they rode
That all good wars are one. (A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh)
- Who are ‘they’?
Answer: ‘They’ refers to the soldiers who are riding beneath the morning stars and evening sun.
b. What do they do together?
Answer: They ride together and feel that all good wars are one as their blood sings to them.
2. Three were there of his race and creed.
Three only and no more:
They could not find to bear the dead
A fourth in all Jodhpore. (A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh)
- Who are being mentioned in the first two lines?
Answer: The first two lines mention “three” people of a particular “race and creed”. It is not specified which race or creed is being referred to.
b. Why were four men required?
Answer: Four men were required to carry the dead body, but they could only find three people of the same race and creed as the deceased. It implies that the fourth person required to carry the dead body could not be found among the people of Jodhpore who shared the same race and creed as the deceased.
3. O Maharaj, of your good grace
Send us a Sweeper here:
A Sweeper has no caste to lose
Even by an alien bier.’ (A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh)
- Why did the other Englishmen ask for the sweeper?
Answer: The other Englishmen asked for a sweeper because they needed someone to help them carry the dead body of their comrade, and no one from their own community was willing to do so.
b. What did the Maharaja decide to do?
Answer: The Maharaja decided to send a sweeper to help the Englishmen carry the dead body, as he believed that everyone deserved respect in death and that it was his duty as a ruler to ensure that the dead were given a proper burial.
4. ‘Maharaj, O passionate heart,
Be wise, bethink you yet:
That which you lose to-day is lost
Till the last sun shall set.’
- What are the courtiers are asking the Maharaja to rethink?
Answer: The courtiers are asking the Maharaja to rethink about carrying the coffin of an Englishman, as it may harm his reputation and caste status.
b. Why are they saying so?
Answer: They are saying so because in the Indian caste system, touching or carrying a dead body is considered impure and can lead to loss of caste status. The courtiers are cautioning the Maharaja that by carrying the coffin, he may be risking his social status and reputation.
5. My caste! Know thou there is a caste
Above my caste or thine,
Brahmin and Rajput are but dust
To that immortal line
- Who says these lines? To whom is it spoken to?
Answer: These lines are spoken by the Englishman to the Maharaja of Jodhpore.
b. What does he say after these lines?
Answer: After these lines, the Englishman explains that the caste of all Earth’s noble hearts is the right soldier’s faith, indicating that he believes in the equality of all human beings regardless of their caste or creed.
6. Wide as the world, free as the air,
Pure as the pool of death-
The caste of all Earth’s noble hearts
Is the right soldier’s faith.
- Who says these lines and to whom?
Answer: These lines are spoken by an unnamed soldier to his fellow soldiers.
- What was happening right then for these lines to be spoken?
Answer: The lines are spoken during the funeral procession of the Englishman, as the soldiers reflect on the universality of noble values that transcend caste and creed.
c. What does the speaker refer to when he says, ‘wide as the world and free as the air’?
Answer: The speaker is referring to the idea that noble values, like the right soldier’s faith, should be unrestricted and all-encompassing, just like the vastness of the world and the freedom of the air.
C. Think and answer the questions. (A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh)
1. Do you think that Maharaja of Jodhpore did the right thing by carrying the coffin? Explain
your answer.
Answer: . It can be argued that Maharaja of Jodhpore did the right thing by carrying the coffin, as it represents a gesture of humanity and compassion towards a fellow human being. However, it is also important to consider the historical context and the caste system prevalent in India during that time, which made it socially unacceptable for a king to perform such a task. Ultimately, the decision to carry the coffin was a personal one made by the Maharaja, and it is up to individual interpretation whether it was the right thing to do or not.
2. Do you think the relationship between Pertab Singh and the Englishman was beyond their times? Explain with reasons.
Answer: . Yes, it can be argued that the relationship between Pertab Singh and the Englishman was beyond their times. The poem highlights how the two men, despite being from different cultural and social backgrounds, were able to find common ground and share stories with each other. This shows a level of mutual respect and understanding that was not always present in the colonial era, where there was often tension and hostility between the colonizers and the colonized. The fact that the Maharaja was willing to carry the Englishman’s coffin also suggests a level of empathy and compassion that transcends cultural differences. However, it is important to note that this relationship may not have been reflective of the broader colonial dynamic in India at the time.
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