Question Bank — The Ghat of the Only World

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. Who requested Amitav Ghosh to write about him after his death?
   a) Sameetah
   b) Agha Shahid Ali
   c) Iqbal
   d) Suketu Mehta

2. On which date did Shahid first speak to the author about his approaching death?
   a) 25 April 2001
   b) 21 May 2000
   c) 7 May 2000
   d) 8 December 2001

3. Which poetic collection of Shahid made a powerful impression on Amitav Ghosh?
   a) Barcelona Airport
   b) The Country Without a Post Office
   c) I Dream I Am At the Ghat of the Only World
   d) Kashmir: The Shadowed Routine

4. Shahid’s favourite ghazal singer was:
   a) Roshanara Begum
   b) Begum Akhtar
   c) Kishore Kumar
   d) Emily Dickinson

5. Assertion (A): Shahid wanted to return to Kashmir to die.
   Reason (R): He believed there would be strong family support and he did not want to burden his siblings.
   a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   c) A is true but R is false.
   d) A is false but R is true.

6. Shahid’s apartment in Brooklyn overlooked:
   a) Manhattan skyline across the East River
   b) Pratt Institute
   c) Baruch College
   d) The ghat of the only world

7. Assertion (A): Shahid refused to become a political poet despite the turmoil in Kashmir.
   Reason (R): He believed one must respect art and form as much as the subject.
   a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   c) A is true but R is false.
   d) A is false but R is true.

8. The line “Mad heart, be brave” is associated with:
   a) James Merrill
   b) Agha Shahid Ali
   c) Amitav Ghosh
   d) Garcia Lorca

9. Shahid’s mother helped him create a ______ in his room in Srinagar.
   a) mosque
   b) Hindu temple
   c) library
   d) kitchen garden

10. Shahid died peacefully at 2 a.m. on:
    a) 25 April 2001
    b) 27 October 2001
    c) 8 December 2001
    d) 5 May 2001

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“When it happens I hope you’ll write something about me.”

i. Who is the speaker and to whom is he speaking?
ii. What does the speaker want the listener to do?
iii. Identify the figure of speech in “When it happens”.
iv. What does this request reveal about Shahid’s character?

Extract 2

“Spanish! I always wanted to learn Spanish. Just to read Lorca.”

i. Who said these words and where?
ii. What was the context of this remark?
iii. Name the literary device used in the sudden exclamation.
iv. What does this incident show about Shahid’s attitude to life?

Extract 3

“Ah! Khana ka kya mehek hai!”

i. Who is speaking and on what occasion?
ii. What does the exclamation indicate about Shahid?
iii. Identify the sensory imagery used.
iv. How does this habit reflect Shahid’s personality even in illness?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. How did Shahid react when he first spoke about his approaching death?
2. Why did Shahid move to Brooklyn?
3. What common interests strengthened the friendship between Shahid and Amitav Ghosh?
4. Describe Shahid’s attitude towards food and cooking.
5. How did Shahid view the relationship between politics and poetry?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. Draw a character sketch of Agha Shahid Ali as presented in the lesson.
2. “Shahid’s vision tended always towards the inclusive and ecumenical.” Discuss with reference to the text.

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. From the unit, pick any five words/phrases related to food or cooking and use each in a meaningful sentence of your own.
2. Imagine you are Amitav Ghosh. Write a diary entry (80–100 words) recording your feelings after your last meeting with Shahid on 27 October.