In the Bazaars of Hyderabad

Sarojini Naidu was an Indian political activist and poet. A proponent of civil rights, women's emancipation, and anti-imperialistic ideas, she was an important figure in India's struggle for independence from colonial rule. 

1st Governor of United Provinces
In office 15 August 1947 – 2 March 1949
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Hormasji Peroshaw Mody
President of Indian National Congress
In office 1925–1926
Preceded by	Mahatma Gandhi
Succeeded by	S. Srinivasa Iyengar

Education: King's College London (1895–1898), University of Madras, Girton College, University of Cambridge

Credit :Wikipedia and Google.com

Source : pintrest 

The poem In the Bazaars of Hyderabad is a brilliant piece of writing by the Indian poet Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949).  Sarojini Naidu was a important political figure in the Indian freedom movement .  She was the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman Governor in India.

And as for the context, the poem was written as a part of the Swadeshi Movement. During that freedom movement the Indians decided to boycott European merchandise and use the Indian products instead.

Through the poem In The Bazaars of Hyderabad Sarojini wanted to convey the message that India is rich in tradition and they don’t need the foreign products. So, she goes on to give a picture of a bazaar where traditional Indian products are ruling.

The poem is in the form of questions and answers. The poet asks the questions and the merchants answer them. 

The poem contains five stanzas of six lines each. 

It follows a unique rhyme scheme where the second, fourth and sixth lines in each stanza are rhyming. The third and fifth lines are also rhyming. 

The last stanza is a slight exception though. So the general scheme is AB CB CB.

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Question and Answers 

) Do you think that the poet has realistically depicted the Indian markets?

Answer : Yes, the poet has realistically depicted the bazaars of Hyderabad. She adds a touch of vibrancy to the words in order to make it more attractive. The variety of activities and its colorfulness is vividly presented by the poetess to present an awesome picture of Indian culture. She describes the different occupations of people and the beautiful things they sell. She makes it  lyrical and wonderful

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Name the poem and the poet. Do you think that the speaker is awed by the bazaars of Hyderabad?

Answer : The name of the poem is ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ and the name of the poet is Sarojini Naidu. Yes, the speaker is awed by the magnificence and grandeur of the things sold in the markets of Hyderabad. The way she describes them shows her state of mind. She uses the word ‘Richly’ for the products.

Explain the line, “To perfume the sleep of the dead.”

Answer : The line “To perfume the sleep of the dead” means that the flower girls prepare sheets of white garlands to adorn the graves of the dead people in their last journey. It is believed that the flowers which are put on the dead bodies or on the grave, give a soothing feeling to the dead in their eternal sleep.

v) What do the flower girls do? explain the idea of the flowers used for different purposes.

Answer : The flower girls weave with tassels of azure and red. They make crowns for the bridegroom and chaplets to garland his bed. The flower girls, on the one hand make garlands to decorate the bed of the bride and the bridegrooms, while on the other hand, they make sheets of white flowers to adorn the graves of the dead. They do both the tasks with the same dedication.

Question 3 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?

Wristlet and anklet and ring,

Bells for the feet of the blue pigeons,

Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing,

Girdles of gold for the dancers,

Scabbards of gold for the king.”

i) What does the phrase “frail as a a dragon fly’s wing” mean?

Ans : In the context of the extract, ‘frail’ means very fragile and dainty. The phrase “frail as a dragon fly’s wing” means that the goldsmiths are so skilled in their work that they create bells to be tied on to the feet of pigeons which are as light and delicate as the wings of a dragon fly.

ii) Why do goldsmiths make? What is their purpose?

Answer : Goldsmiths make wristlets, anklets and rings. They also make bells to be tied onto the feet of pigeons; they make girdles of gold for dancers and gold scabbards for kings. Their purpose is to make jewellery that Indians prefer and earn good money.

iii) Is the imagination of the poet in tandem with the real picture of a goldsmith?

Answer : Yes, the imagination of the poet is in tandem with the real picture of goldsmith. A goldsmith actually creates these things for different people. He creates wristlets, anklets, rings, bells, girdles and scabbards made of gold. By making these things they have a sense of pride in their own self-sufficiency.

iv) What do the dancers wear? What purpose does it serve?

Answer : The dancers wear girdles around their waists while dancing. The goldsmiths prepare these girdles for the dancers. Girdles serve as an adornment for the dancers. Dancers usually decorate themselves with different ornaments and girdle is one of them.

v) Comment on the language in the poem.

Answer : The language in the poem is poetic and lyrical. It aptly creates an imaginative ‘bazaar’ in the minds of the listeners. The reader or the listener can imagine the different luxurious items being sold by people belonging to different professions. The language is melodious and full of vivid imagery.

Question 4 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“What do you weigh, O ye vendors?

Saffron and lentil and rice.

What do you grind, O ye maidens?

Sandalwood, henna and spice.

What do you call, O ye pedlars?

Chessmen and ivory dice.”

i) Explain the role of vendors, pedlars and maidens in the poem.

Answer : The vendors, pedlars and the maidens all add to the enigma of the ‘bazaars’ of Hyderabad. The vendors sell saffron, lentils and rice. The pedlars sell chessmen and ivory dice. The maidens grind sandalwood, henna and spice. Grinding of spices by woman shows that in India women also participate in the activities of the bazaar.

ii) Why do you think the poet chose specifically the bazaars of Hyderabad?

Answer : The poet probably chose the ‘bazaars’ of Hyderabad because of the ides of royalty attached to it. The Nizams of Hyderabad were the royal people and the city of Hyderabad long holds a history of aristocracy, which was needed in the poem.

iii) Explain the sheer magnificence of Naidu’s words in the poem.

Answer : Naidu uses words in order to create a royal and mysterious feeling about the things being sold in the bazaars of Hyderabad. Naidu’s words in the poem make the poem vivid and lively with the powerful images used. The manner in which she describes the ordinary things used in everyday life makes one rethink and imagine them in the same light.

iv) How do the maidens add a touch of reality to the poem?

Answer : The maidens grind sandalwood, henna and spice which are used in everyday life for different purposes and also on special occasions. We see usually young girls using sandalwood, henna and different spices as beauty remedies. This adds a touch of reality to the poem.

v) Does the  mention of different products add a mysterious aura to the words? How?

Answer : Yes, the mention of different products adds a mysterious aura to the poem. The speaker describes the rich waves displayed in the markets-the turbans of crimson and silver, tunics of purple brocade, mirrors with panels of amber , daggers with handles of jade and so on. The colours crimson, silver and purple, the attractive mirrors and handles of jade – all of it create a feeling of royalty.

Question 5 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?

Citron, pomegranate and plum.

What do you play, O musicians?

Sitar, sarangi and drum.

What do you chant, O magicians?

Spells for aeons to come.”

i) What is the role of fruitmen, musicians and magicians in the poem?

Answer : The fruitmen, musicians and magicians all play different roles in the poem. The prime one is to attract the common people to by their goods or enjoy the entertainment. It is almost like a ‘fair’ where everyone comes together to revel and enjoy.

ii) Do you like the poem? Why?

Answer : Yes, I like the poem because there is an inherent sense of magnificence, colour and royalty to it. The language is melodious and the imagery is vivid. The people described are real portrayals of society. In describing the beauty of a traditional Indian bazaar, Naidu had touched upon all the five senses of sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

iii) What do the above lines say?

Answer : In the above lines, the speaker is asking the fruitmen as to what they are selling. They reply that they are selling lemon, pomegranate and plum. Next, she asks the musicians what do they play. Their reply is sitar, sarangi and drum. Further, she asks the magicians about their chanting and they say, they are chanting spells to becokn aeons.

iv) Explain this line, “Spells for aeons to come.”

Answer : The line “Spells for aeons to come” means that the magicians are chanting magical spells to call upon aeons which are divine or supernatural powers. Perhaps they are doing this to entertain the audience in front of them. It also indicates the religious belief of the people visiting the market.

v) How is the poem a summary of life?

Answer : The poem is full of vivid imagery. The poet describes the various colours of things like crimson, silver, purple, red, azure which symbolizes various phases of human life from marriage to death. Also, the poem, is patriotic in the sense that it makes the readers to get attracted to Indian goods and not the British made goods. In the poem, the economic divisions in the society are also reflected in the articles sold. The necessities and luxuries of life are mentioned. Life and death are portrayed side by side.

1. What are the activities that are described in the 1^st stanza of the poem?

Or

What are the items being sold in the Hyderabad bazaar that are narrated in the 1^st stanza?

Ans: - In the first stanza of the poem ‘In the bazaars of Hyderabad ’, the hectic activities in the bazaar are described. The saleable items are tastefully displayed. Dark-red and silver-coloured turbans, tunics with rich embroideries of gold and silver having a purple effect, nicely decorated mirrors with amber panels and daggers with decorative handles made of costly gems and stones are some of the products displayed for sale.

 

2.  Described the activities that are being describes in the 2^nd stanza of the poem?

Ans: - In the 2^nd stanza, the common and familiar activities of a bazaar are narrated. Vendors are busy weighing the food items of everyday use such as rice and lentil and also the costly saffron. The maidens are also extending their helping hands by grinding sandalwoods, henna a spice. The peddlers with a board of chess or a ivory dice in front of them are ready to welcome a customer or two to take part in the game in exchange of little money.

3.  Narrate in your own words the activities that are going on in the Hyderabad bazaar described in the 3^rd Stanza in the poem?

Ans:- In the 3^rd Stanza, Sarojini Naidu describes the activities of the goldsmiths. She is enquiring about the ornaments and jewelleries such as wristlet, anklet and ring are mentioned. Even very light and frail ornament, which is as light as a dragon fly’s wing and intended to increase the beauty of a blue pigeon’s feet also attracts her attentions. Girdles made of gold and worn by classical dancers as well as richly decorated covers of swords made of gold which are meant for the use of kings are also some the items worth mentioning.   

 

4. What picture of a Hyderabad bazaar is depicted by Sarojini Naidu in the 4^th Stanza in the poem?

Ans: - In the 4^th Stanza, Naidu’s attentions concentrates on the fruit sellers, musicians and magicians. She throws a question to each one of them and enquires about their present engagements. The fruit sellers are giving their trade cries to sell citrus fruits like lemons, sweet-limes, oranges and also pomegranates and plums. Some musicians are busy in playing the traditional Indian string musical instrument like cithar and Sarangi and some other playing in drum. The magicians are assuming the role of fortune tellers and soothe-sayers. Behind the veil of simple magic, they are doing the prophecy and forecast about the future of innocent people and the time to come.

 

5.  Write in your own words the picture of a Hyderabad bazaar is depicted in the 5^th final Stanza in the poem? 

Ans: - The concluding stanza of the poem is entirely dedicated to the flower-selling girls and their activities. The poetess is curious to know what they are weaving. Two drastically opposite use of flowers are mentioned. The bright blue and red colored floral decorative are meant for the bridegroom who is going to start a new life. The sheets of white blossoms, which are fresh and newly gathered, are made with an intention to be used in funerals and last rites. The perfume of these white blossoms will make the eternal sleep of the dead a beautiful and richly aromatic experience.

 

6. How many questions are asked by the poetess in her poem “In the bazaars of Hyderabad” and to whom are they addressed?

Ans: - In her poem “In the bazaars of Hyderabad” Naidu asks in total nine questions to various persons such as merchants, vendors, maidens, pedlars, goldsmiths, fruit sellers, musicians, magicians and flower girls.

 

7.  “Sarojini Naidu” present a very faithful and realistic picture of Hyderabad bazaars in her poem ‘In the bazaar of Hyderabad’ ---- Discuss.

Ans: - Sarojini Naidu was born and brought up in Hyderabad. She spent her childhood and youth here and also received her education in the city. She had many fond and loving memories with this historical city. She had very nice understanding and familiarity with the culture, habit, tradition, life style and all other aspects of Hyderabad and its people. The roads, bazaars, temples, palaces and mosques of this vibrant city attracted her. The reflection of this deep interest and understanding can be seen in her poem “In the bazaars of Hyderabad” where she very beautifully and with intricate details delineated the activities that are going on in the bazaars of Hyderabad. The happening in the bazaars are usual and most common sights that can be absorbed in any other Indian bazaars. The commodities, which are for sale in the Hyderabad bazaars, are nothing exceptional but what is exceptional is the extraordinary sensitivity, feeling and skill with which the poetess pasteurized them in a grand and colourful way.