BHART OURLAND :5WORKSHEETS EXTRACTS
Kaveri Class 9 · English · Poem 1
Bharat Our Land
About the Poet
SB
Subramania Bharati (1882–1921), popularly known as Mahakavi Bharati, was a Tamil poet, journalist and freedom fighter. Writing during the Indian independence movement, he used bold, direct verse to awaken patriotic pride and call for social reform, including women's emancipation and an end to caste discrimination.
The Poem
The mighty Himavant is ours —
there's no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours —
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours —
what scriptures else to name with them?
This sunny golden land is ours —
she's peerless, let's praise her!
Gallant warriors have lived here,
many a sage has sanctified this land.
The divinest music has been heard here,
and here all auspicious things are found.
Here Brahma-knowledge has taken root,
and the Buddha preached his dhamma here.
Of hoary antiquity is Bharat —
she's peerless, let's praise her!
Summary
Bharati opens by naming the land's greatest natural and spiritual treasures — the towering Himavant (Himalayas), the life-giving Ganga, and the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads — asking, through rhetorical questions, what else on earth could equal them. Each claim builds toward the refrain "she's peerless, let's praise her," turning admiration into a chant of collective pride.
The second movement turns from landscape to legacy: the warriors who defended the land, the sages who sanctified it, and the music and auspiciousness that fill it. The poem closes by tracing India's spiritual depth to its oldest sources — Brahma-knowledge and the Buddha's teaching — concluding that a land of such antiquity and richness deserves nothing less than praise.
Theme
At its core, the poem is a patriotic ode: a call to recognise and honour India's natural beauty, spiritual depth and historical greatness. Written against the backdrop of colonial rule, it works to restore a sense of pride in a heritage that had been overshadowed — reminding readers that Bharat's greatness was never in question, only in need of remembering.
Literary Devices
| Device | Example / Effect |
|---|---|
| Refrain | "She's peerless, let's praise her!" repeats to create a chant-like, musical rhythm. |
| Rhetorical Question | "There's no equal anywhere on earth" style questions assert India's uniqueness without needing an answer. |
| Allusion | References to the Upanishads, Brahma-knowledge and the Buddha's dhamma invoke India's philosophical heritage. |
| Ode | The poem's entire structure is a lyrical tribute of praise, typical of the ode form. |
| Imagery | Himavant and Ganga are drawn as living, majestic presences rather than mere geography. |
Practise it: 5 branded worksheets on this poem
MCQs, extract-based short answers, vocabulary, literary appreciation and assertion-reason/HOTS — each downloadable with a teacher answer key.
Get the Worksheets →EnglishWithMRKKaveri · Class IX · English
NEP 2020 · NCF-SE 2023
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
WORKSHEET 1 OF 5
Bharat Our Land
by Subramania Bharati | Objective Type Assessment
🆕 Pattern introduced in this worksheet: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) — objective, single correct-option format
| Name | Class / Sec | IX / ____ | |
| Roll No. | Date |
Max. Marks: 10
Time: 20 minutes
Section: Objective
Instructions: All questions are compulsory. Each question carries 1 mark. Tick (✓) or circle the correct option.
"The mighty Himavant is ours –
there's no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours –
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours –
what scriptures else to name with them?
This sunny golden land is ours –
she's peerless, let's praise her!"
there's no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours –
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours –
what scriptures else to name with them?
This sunny golden land is ours –
she's peerless, let's praise her!"
Section A · Multiple Choice Questions10 × 1 = 10 marks
1. The poem "Bharat Our Land" was written by:
a) Rabindranath Tagoreb) Subramania Bharatic) Sarojini Naidud) Kalidasa
2. What word does the poet use to describe the Himavant?
a) generousb) sacredc) mightyd) graceful
3. According to the poet, no other river can match the Ganga's:
a) lengthb) gracec) colourd) speed
4. Which sacred texts does the poet mention as unmatched?
a) the Vedasb) the Puranasc) the Upanishadsd) the Gita
5. The poet describes the land of India as:
a) sunny golden landb) misty green landc) silver moonlit landd) ancient stone land
6. The refrain that closes the first stanza is:
a) "she's ours forever"b) "she's peerless, let's praise her!"c) "she's holy, let's bow to her"d) "she's golden, let's guard her"
7. In the second stanza, who "sanctified this land"?
a) kingsb) sagesc) poetsd) travellers
8. The music heard in this land is described as:
a) the sweetestb) the loudestc) the divinestd) the oldest
9. The word "gallant" in the poem most nearly means:
a) fearfulb) bravec) foolishd) lazy
10. The overall tone of the poem is one of:
a) sorrowb) patriotic pridec) doubtd) humour
Teacher's Answer Key WORKSHEET 1
1. b) Subramania Bharati 2. c) mighty 3. b) grace 4. c) the Upanishads 5. a) sunny golden land
6. b) "she's peerless, let's praise her!" 7. b) sages 8. c) the divinest 9. b) brave 10. b) patriotic pride
Competency mapping: Recall & literal comprehension of a poetic extract (NCF-SE 2023 — Reading Literary Texts). Marking scheme: 1 mark per correct option, no negative marking.
EnglishWithMRKKaveri · Class IX · English
NEP 2020 · NCF-SE 2023
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
WORKSHEET 2 OF 5
Bharat Our Land
by Subramania Bharati | Extract-Based Comprehension
🆕 Pattern introduced in this worksheet: Extract-based Reading for Appreciation questions (Very Short + Short Answer sub-parts on a given extract)
| Name | Class / Sec | IX / ____ | |
| Roll No. | Date |
Max. Marks: 10
Time: 25 minutes
Section: Extract-Based
Instructions: Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow in complete sentences. Question numbers indicated in brackets carry the marks shown.
"Gallant warriors have lived here,
many a sage has sanctified this land.
The divinest music has been heard here,
and here all auspicious things are found."
many a sage has sanctified this land.
The divinest music has been heard here,
and here all auspicious things are found."
Section A · Extract-Based Questions (Stanza 2)5 × 2 = 10 marks
(i) Who, according to the poet, has "sanctified this land"? What does the word "sanctified" suggest about their role? [2]
(ii) Complete the sentence: The music heard in this land has been called the ________ music, and here all ________ things are found. [2]
(iii) Who are described as "gallant" in the extract, and what quality does this word highlight in them? [2]
(iv) Find a word from the extract that means "made holy or sacred." [2]
(v) In your own words, explain what overall impression of India this stanza creates. [2]
Teacher's Answer Key WORKSHEET 2
(i) Sages have sanctified this land. "Sanctified" suggests that their presence and spiritual practice made the land holy, pure and worthy of reverence.
(ii) divinest; auspicious
(iii) Warriors are described as "gallant," highlighting their courage, bravery and honourable conduct in defending the land.
(iv) "Sanctified"
(v) The stanza creates an impression of India as a land blessed by courage, spirituality, art and good fortune – a place where brave warriors, holy sages, divine music and auspicious events all coexist, making it truly exceptional. (Accept any well-reasoned answer with textual support.)
Marking scheme: 1 mark for identification/recall + 1 mark for explanation/expression in each sub-question. Competency mapping: Inference and textual evidence-based reading (NCF-SE 2023 — Critical & Creative Thinking, Reading Literary Texts).
EnglishWithMRKKaveri · Class IX · English
NEP 2020 · NCF-SE 2023
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
WORKSHEET 3 OF 5
Bharat Our Land
by Subramania Bharati | Vocabulary & Language Study
🆕 Pattern introduced in this worksheet: Vocabulary-building — Fill in the Blanks (word bank) and Synonym/Antonym matching
| Name | Class / Sec | IX / ____ | |
| Roll No. | Date |
Max. Marks: 10
Time: 20 minutes
Section: Vocabulary & Grammar
Instructions: Attempt both sections. Use words from the poem "Bharat Our Land" wherever required.
Section A · Fill in the Blanks (Word Bank)5 × 1 = 5 marks
Word Bank: peerless | sanctified | auspicious | gallant | generous
1. The soldiers who defended the land were remembered for their ________ conduct in battle.
2. The temple priest declared the newly built shrine to be ________ by ancient rites.
3. Many people consider the first day of the festival to be an ________ occasion for starting new ventures.
4. The river was called ________ because it gave water freely to every field along its banks.
5. With no equal anywhere on earth, the Himavant was truly ________ in its grandeur.
Section B · Synonyms & Antonyms5 × 1 = 5 marks
6. Choose the synonym of "mighty": a) weakb) powerfulc) tinyd) gentle
7. Choose the synonym of "sacred": a) holyb) ordinaryc) profaned) modern
8. Choose the antonym of "generous": a) kindb) givingc) selfishd) noble
9. Choose the antonym of "gallant": a) braveb) cowardlyc) boldd) heroic
10. Choose the synonym of "peerless": a) commonb) unmatchedc) averaged) inferior
Teacher's Answer Key WORKSHEET 3
1. gallant 2. sanctified 3. auspicious 4. generous 5. peerless
6. b) powerful 7. a) holy 8. c) selfish 9. b) cowardly 10. b) unmatched
Competency mapping: Vocabulary enrichment and contextual word usage drawn from the prescribed poem (NCF-SE 2023 — Language & Vocabulary Development). Marking scheme: 1 mark per correct response; accept minor spelling variants in Section A if the word is clearly identifiable.
EnglishWithMRKKaveri · Class IX · English
NEP 2020 · NCF-SE 2023
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
WORKSHEET 4 OF 5
Bharat Our Land
by Subramania Bharati | Literary Appreciation & Long Answers
🆕 Pattern introduced in this worksheet: Figure of Speech identification and Long Answer / Literary Appreciation questions (3–4 marks each)
| Name | Class / Sec | IX / ____ | |
| Roll No. | Date |
Max. Marks: 10
Time: 30 minutes
Section: Literary Appreciation
Instructions: Answer Section A briefly. Answer Section B in 40–60 words each, supporting your answer with reference to the poem.
Section A · Figures of Speech3 × 1 = 3 marks
1. "The generous Ganga" and "gallant warriors" are examples of which figure of speech, where a descriptive word is paired closely with a noun? [1]
a) Simileb) Epithetc) Metaphord) Pun
2. The phrase "there's no equal anywhere on earth" is an example of: [1]
a) Ironyb) Hyperbolec) Alliterationd) Oxymoron
3. Naming the Himavant, the Ganga, and the Upanishads is an example of which device, where the poet refers to well-known people, places or works to add depth? [1]
a) Allusionb) Metaphorc) Personificationd) Repetition
Section B · Long Answer / Appreciation2 × 3 + 1 × 4 = 10... see note
(Attempt Q4 and Q5 for 3 marks each, and Q6 for 4 marks — total 10 marks for Section B; combine with Section A only if your teacher assigns both.)
4. Explain the impact of the repeated phrase "is ours" and the hyphen at the end of each line in the first stanza. What mood does this create? [3]
5. Why does the poet choose to name specific things – the Himavant, the Ganga, the Upanishads – instead of simply saying "India is a great country"? [3]
6. "This sunny golden land is ours – she's peerless, let's praise her!" Appreciate these lines with reference to the poet's tone, choice of words, and the feeling he wishes to inspire in the reader. [4]
Teacher's Answer Key WORKSHEET 4
1. b) Epithet 2. b) Hyperbole 3. a) Allusion
4. The repetition of "is ours" builds a chant-like, rhythmic insistence that stresses ownership and pride. The hyphens create deliberate pauses, letting each claim land before the poet reinforces it with a question or exclamation, producing a tone of solemn, escalating admiration.
5. Concrete, specific images (a real mountain, a real river, real scriptures) make the praise vivid, credible and rooted in shared cultural memory, rather than vague or abstract. Naming particulars invites the reader to visualise and personally connect with India's greatness instead of accepting an empty generalisation.
6. The tone is joyful, reverent and deeply patriotic. "Sunny golden land" uses vivid, warm visual imagery to suggest richness, light and prosperity; calling the land "she" personifies India as a mother figure worthy of devotion. The exclamation "let's praise her!" is a direct call to action, inviting the reader to share the poet's pride and join him in celebration — the effect is to move the reader from admiration to active participation. (Accept any well-supported appreciation covering tone, diction and reader-effect.)
Marking scheme: Section B – award marks for point + textual reference + expression. Competency mapping: Literary appreciation, figures of speech, and critical response to poetic craft (NCF-SE 2023 — Appreciating Literary Texts, Critical Thinking).
EnglishWithMRKKaveri · Class IX · English
NEP 2020 · NCF-SE 2023
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
CBSE / DAV Aligned
Poem 1 · Reading for Appreciation
WORKSHEET 5 OF 5
Bharat Our Land
by Subramania Bharati | Assertion–Reason & Value-Based / HOTS
🆕 Pattern introduced in this worksheet: Assertion–Reason questions and Value-Based / HOTS creative response (highest-order competency format)
| Name | Class / Sec | IX / ____ | |
| Roll No. | Date |
Max. Marks: 10
Time: 30 minutes
Section: HOTS / Value-Based
Instructions: For Q1–Q2, choose the option that correctly describes the relationship between Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer Q3 and Q4 thoughtfully in your own words.
Section A · Assertion–Reason2 × 2 = 4 marks
1. Assertion (A): The poet repeatedly uses the phrase "is ours" for the Himavant, the Ganga and the Upanishads.
Reason (R): He wants to emphasise a sense of collective ownership and pride that every Indian can share in the nation's heritage. [2]
Reason (R): He wants to emphasise a sense of collective ownership and pride that every Indian can share in the nation's heritage. [2]
a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
c) A is true, but R is false.
d) A is false, but R is true.
b) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
c) A is true, but R is false.
d) A is false, but R is true.
2. Assertion (A): The poet calls Bharat "peerless" only because of its mountains and rivers.
Reason (R): The poem also praises the land's scriptures, sages, warriors and music as sources of its unmatched greatness. [2]
Reason (R): The poem also praises the land's scriptures, sages, warriors and music as sources of its unmatched greatness. [2]
a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
c) A is false, but R is true and shows why A is incomplete.
d) Both A and R are false.
b) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
c) A is false, but R is true and shows why A is incomplete.
d) Both A and R are false.
Section B · Value-Based & HOTS2 × 3 = 6 marks
3. The poet praises India's mountains, rivers, scriptures, warriors and sages. Which one value from this list do you think our generation most needs to revive today, and why? Answer in 40–50 words. [3]
4. Imagine you are writing four lines in the same spirit as this poem, but about your own city, village or school instead of the whole nation. Write your lines below, using at least one epithet (e.g. "the ancient banyan is ours"). [3]
Teacher's Answer Key WORKSHEET 5
1. a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
2. c) A is false, but R is true and shows why A is incomplete – the poem's pride rests on nature, spirituality, courage and culture together, not mountains and rivers alone.
3. Open-ended; accept any value (courage, spiritual wisdom, hospitality, reverence for nature, etc.) provided the student gives a clear reason connected to the poem and to present-day relevance. Award marks for value identified (1), reasoning (1), and expression (1).
4. Open-ended creative response. Award marks for: use of the "ours" refrain or similar possessive pride (1), at least one clear epithet (1), and overall coherence/tone matching the original poem's spirit (1). Sample: "The old banyan tree is ours – where else does such shade fall? / Our morning bell is ours – whose ring calls us home?"
Competency mapping: Higher-order thinking, values education and creative/critical response (NCF-SE 2023 — Critical & Creative Thinking, Ethics & Values). Marking scheme: Assertion–Reason 2 marks each (no partial credit); HOTS/value-based questions marked holistically out of 3 using the rubric above.
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