4.2. Reading Works of Art - My English Coursebook - Std 9 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board
- Jun 26
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Section 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Category | Details |
Chapter | Unit 4 — Chapter 4.2: Reading Works of Art |
Type | Informative Prose |
Author / Subjects | Sayed Haider Raza (Subject) / Abha Bhagwat (Author of Gond Art) |
Textbook | My English Coursebook, Std 9, Maharashtra State Board |
Assessment | School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ MSBSHSE मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार शालेय परीक्षेत येतो.
Section 2 — About the Author / लेखक परिचय
Subject Introduction / व्यक्ती परिचय (Sayed Haider Raza): Sayed Haider Raza (1922–2016) was a renowned Indian artist famous for his abstract style of painting. He was born in Madhya Pradesh and studied art in Nagpur, Mumbai, and later in France, where he settled. His work is celebrated for its simple geometric shapes, captivating compositions, and the central use of the 'bindu' (point). He was honored with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan for his extraordinary contributions to art.
मराठी टीप: सय्यद हैदर रझा हे एक जगप्रसिद्ध भारतीय चित्रकार होते. त्यांच्या अमूर्त (abstract) चित्रांमध्ये भौमितिक आकार आणि 'बिंदू'चा प्रभावी वापर केलेला आढळतो.
About the Author (Abha Bhagwat - Gond Art): Abha Bhagwat introduces us to Gond Art, a tribal art form developed by the Gond people of Central India. Her writing focuses on preserving cultural heritage and highlighting the natural, simple techniques that define this traditional art form.
मराठी टीप: आभा भागवत यांनी 'गोंड आर्ट' या आदिवासी कलाप्रकाराची माहिती दिली आहे. यातून ते आदिवासींची संस्कृती आणि त्यांची नैसर्गिक चित्रकला पद्धत स्पष्ट करतात.
Section 4 — Summary / सारांश
English Summary: This chapter explores two distinct forms of art: modern abstract art and traditional tribal art. The first part introduces Sayed Haider Raza, a globally renowned Indian artist whose abstract paintings feature geometric shapes, striking colours (often blue and orange), and the 'bindu'. His art is an expression of deep inner thoughts and spiritual experiences rather than lifelike depictions. The second part describes Gond Art, a tribal art form from Central India. Gond art involves drawing on earthen walls using natural colours made from soils, plants, and cow-dung. It is characterized by beautiful textures using dots and lines. The chapter emphasizes that both complex modern art and simple folk art are powerful mediums of human expression and cultural preservation.
मराठी सारांश:
या पाठात कलेच्या दोन प्रकारांची माहिती दिली आहे. पहिल्या भागात प्रसिद्ध चित्रकार एस. एच. रझा यांच्या अमूर्त (abstract) चित्रकलेविषयी सांगितले आहे, ज्यात ते बिंदू आणि भौमितिक आकारांचा वापर करतात. दुसऱ्या भागात मध्य भारतातील 'गोंड आर्ट' या आदिवासी कलेची ओळख करून दिली आहे. ही कला नैसर्गिक रंगांचा वापर करून घरांच्या भिंतीवर काढली जाते आणि ती पिढ्यानपिढ्या चालत आलेली आहे.
Section 5 — Key Points / मुख्य मुद्दे
POINT 1: S. H. Raza's paintings are abstract, avoiding lifelike human figures, and instead rely on geometric shapes like circles, triangles, and lines.
मराठी: रझा यांची चित्रे अमूर्त आहेत, ज्यात माणसांच्या आकृत्यांऐवजी भौमितिक आकारांचा वापर केला जातो.
POINT 2: The 'bindu' or point became the spiritual and metaphysical core of Raza's captivating paintings.
मराठी: 'बिंदू' हा रझा यांच्या चित्रांचा आणि आध्यात्मिक विचारांचा मुख्य गाभा बनला.
POINT 3: Gond Art is a traditional tribal art preserved by the Gond people residing mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
मराठी: गोंड कला ही मध्य भारतातील आदिवासींनी जतन केलेली एक पारंपारिक कला आहे.
POINT 4: Gond artists historically used natural mediums like tree bark, leaves, soils, and cow-dung to prepare their own canvas and colours.
मराठी: गोंड कलाकार चित्र काढण्यासाठी झाडाची साल, पाने, माती आणि शेण यांसारख्या नैसर्गिक गोष्टींचा वापर करत.
POINT 5: The lively textures in Gond art are created using simple dots, straight lines, dotted lines, and curvy shapes.
मराठी: गोंड चित्रांमधील आकर्षक पोत (texture) ठिपके, सरळ आणि वक्र रेषा वापरून तयार केला जातो.
Section 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Expression of Inner Self (आंतरिक भावनांचे प्रकटीकरण) | Raza's paintings originate when he tries to peep into his own inner mind rather than copying external scenes. |
Cultural Heritage (सांस्कृतिक वारसा) | Gond Art has been transferred from generation to generation, preserving the mythology and traditions of the Gond tribe. |
Simplicity vs. Complexity (साधेपणा विरुद्ध गुंतागुंत) | The chapter contrasts Raza's complex metaphysical thoughts with the simple, daily-chore origins of folk art. |
6B. Values / मूल्ये
Creativity (सर्जनशीलता) — Both Raza's geometric compositions and the tribal textured patterns show immense human creativity.
Preservation (संवर्धन) — The Gond people teach us the value of preserving traditional tales and arts over thousands of years.
Connection to Nature (निसर्गाशी जवळीक) — Folk arts demonstrate a deep respect for nature by using natural elements to create beauty.
6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
Art is a universal language; whether it is a highly recognized abstract masterpiece by a global artist or a beautiful folk painting on a village wall, it effectively communicates human thoughts, history, and emotions.
मराठी टीप: कला ही संवादाचे एक प्रभावी माध्यम आहे. मग ती एखाद्या प्रसिद्ध चित्रकाराची आधुनिक कला असो वा आदिवासींची पारंपारिक कला, ती मानवी विचार आणि संस्कृती उत्तम प्रकारे मांडते.
Section 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह
Word / Phrase | मराठी अर्थ | Example from text |
renowned | प्रख्यात, प्रसिद्ध | Sayed Haider Raza, popularly known as Raza, was a renowned Indian artist. |
geometric | भौमितिक | Simple geometric shapes, striking colour combinations... |
captivating | मनमोहक | ...captivating compositions - these are some of the characteristic features... |
depict | चित्रित करणे | None of his paintings depict lifelike human figures... |
abstract | अमूर्त | His paintings belong to the abstract style of paintings. |
radiate | बाहेर टाकणे (प्रकाश/उर्जा) | His pictures seem to radiate peace and life at the same time. |
metaphysical | तात्त्विक, अध्यात्मिक | ...his paintings were exploring a spiritual, metaphysical path. |
legacy | वारसा | ...leaving behind a legacy of sensitive paintings... |
tribal | आदिवासी | Gond Art is a tribal art. |
mythology | पौराणिक कथा | From their traditional tales and mythology, we learn... |
inhabitants | रहिवासी | ...even before the other inhabitants came here. |
mediums | माध्यमे | Most folk arts involve natural techniques... and use of several mediums. |
textures | पोत (पृष्ठभागाचा स्पर्श) | The different colours, various textures and patterns were used... |
chores | घरगुती कामे | ...the roots of folk arts probably lie in women's daily chores... |
commercialisation | व्यापारीकरण | In today's age of commercialisation many men have taken up Gond art. |
Section 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न
Extract 1:
Sayed Haider Raza, popularly known as Raza, was a renowned Indian artist. Simple geometric shapes, striking colour combinations, captivating compositions – these are some of the characteristic features of his paintings, and so are the colours blue and orange. You will find them in almost all his paintings. None of his paintings depict lifelike human figures or copies of scenes from his environment. His paintings belong to the abstract style of paintings. Such paintings are not inspired by any external factor. They originate when the artist tries to peep into his own inner mind.
Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)
Raza's paintings are known for drawing realistic human figures. — False
Blue and orange are prominent colours in Raza's art. — True
Abstract style paintings are deeply inspired by the external environment. — False
Raza is a highly recognized artist from India. — True
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
The word 'captivating' in the extract means:
(a) boring (b) attractive and fascinating (c) ugly (d) simple
Answer: (b)
Where do Raza's abstract paintings originate from? (a) external nature (b) other artists (c) his own inner mind (d) photographs Answer: (c)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) What are the characteristic features of Raza's paintings?
Answer: The characteristic features of Raza's paintings include simple geometric shapes, striking colour combinations, and captivating compositions. He also frequently uses the colours blue and orange in his abstract works.
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यात दिलेली रझा यांच्या चित्रांची वैशिष्ट्ये (भौमितिक आकार, निळा-नारंगी रंग) लिहा.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) How is the abstract style of painting different from regular painting according to the extract?
Answer: Regular paintings often depict lifelike human figures or copy scenes directly from the environment. In contrast, the abstract style is not inspired by any external factor. Instead, abstract paintings originate from within when the artist explores their own inner mind and thoughts.
मराठी टीप: अमूर्त (abstract) कला ही बाहेरील जगाची नक्कल करत नाही, तर ती कलाकाराच्या मनातील विचारांमधून तयार होते हे स्पष्ट करा.
Extract 2:
Gond Art is a tribal art. It has been developed and preserved by the Gond tribal people residing largely in the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha States of India. From their traditional tales and mythology, we learn that they have lived in India for thousands of years even before the other inhabitants came here. The Gondi language is similar to Telugu, a Dravidian language. Gond art has spread mainly in Central India. Originally, people used to draw pictures on the earthen walls of their houses.
Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)
Gond art was developed by urban city dwellers. — False
The Gond tribal people reside only in the state of Maharashtra. — False
The Gondi language shares similarities with Telugu. — True
Originally, Gond pictures were drawn on earthen walls. — True
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
The word 'preserved' in the extract means:
(a) destroyed (b) forgotten (c) protected and maintained (d) discovered
Answer: (c)
According to their mythology, how long have the Gond people lived in India? (a) A few hundred years (b) Thousands of years (c) Since 2016 (d) Fifty years Answer: (b)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Where do the Gond tribal people largely reside today?
Answer: The Gond tribal people largely reside in Central India. Specifically, they live in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
मराठी टीप: गोंड लोक भारतातील कोणत्या राज्यांमध्ये राहतात (मध्य प्रदेश, महाराष्ट्र, इ.) ते सांगा.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) What was the original canvas for Gond art, and why did they create it?
Answer: Originally, the 'canvas' for Gond art was the earthen walls of their houses. People used to draw pictures on these walls because a decorated house creates a pleasant atmosphere. It also served as a medium for recording and preserving the things they saw around them.
मराठी टीप: गोंड कलेसाठी मूळ कॅनव्हास घरांच्या मातीच्या भिंती होत्या. घर सुंदर दिसावे आणि आजूबाजूच्या गोष्टींची नोंद राहावी म्हणून ते चित्रे काढत हे स्पष्ट करा.
Section 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे
Q1. Describe the educational background of Sayed Haider Raza.
Answer: Raza began painting at the very young age of twelve. He studied art at the 'Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya' in Nagpur and later attended the famous J. J. School of Art in Mumbai. Eventually, he went to France to further his art studies and decided to settle there.
मराठी टीप: रझा यांचे शिक्षण नागपूर, मुंबई आणि फ्रान्समध्ये कसे झाले याचा क्रम लिहा.
Q2. What did the 'bindu' represent in Raza's work?
Answer: Over time, Raza's paintings began exploring a deeply spiritual and metaphysical path. The 'bindu' or point gradually became the core of his paintings, representing his inner experience and his involvement with the profound mysteries of nature and form. मराठी टीप: 'बिंदू' हा त्यांच्या चित्रांचा मुख्य गाभा होता, जो त्यांचा आध्यात्मिक आणि आंतरिक अनुभव दर्शवतो हे सांगा.
Q3. How did Gond artists traditionally prepare their colours?
Answer: Creating folk art is an enriching experience because artists make their own materials. In the past, Gond artists prepared natural colours using things from nature, such as soils of different shades, plant juices, leaves, tree bark, flowers, fruits, and even coal and cow-dung.
मराठी टीप: गोंड कलाकारांनी रंगांसाठी निसर्गातील वस्तू (माती, झाडाची साल, पाने, फुले, शेण) कशा वापरल्या ते लिहा.
Q4. What role do women play in the origin of folk arts like Gond art?
Answer: The author suggests that the deep roots of folk arts lie in women's daily chores. Activities like cleaning and decorating the house, handling natural colours during cooking, and utilizing their leisure time creatively naturally gave birth to beautiful folk traditions like Gond art.
मराठी टीप: घरातील दैनंदिन कामे करताना (उदा. घर सारवणे, सजावट करणे) स्त्रियांनी ही कला कशी जोपासली हे स्पष्ट करा.
Section 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे
Q1. Write a detailed note on the artistic style and achievements of Sayed Haider Raza based on the chapter.
Answer: Sayed Haider Raza was one of India's most celebrated abstract artists, leaving behind a profound legacy. His artistic style completely avoided lifelike figures; instead, he used simple geometric shapes—circles, triangles, squares, and lines—arranged in extra-ordinary compositions. A striking feature of his work was his brilliant use of colour combinations, especially blue and orange. His work was deeply rooted in Indian art heritage and philosophy, eventually making the 'bindu' (point) the spiritual core of his expression. Because his art beautifully translated his complex inner thoughts into a visible medium, it radiated immense peace and life. For his exceptional creativity, he won numerous international awards and was honoured by the Indian government with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.
मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: रझा यांची ओळख आणि त्यांची अमूर्त (abstract) कला सांगा. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: चित्रांची वैशिष्ट्ये (भौमितिक आकार, रंग, बिंदू) आणि त्यांचा आध्यात्मिक विचार स्पष्ट करा. 3. शेवट: त्यांना मिळालेले पद्म पुरस्कार आणि त्यांच्या कार्याचा गौरव लिहा.
Q2. Explain the features of Gond Art. Why is it considered a deeply enriching folk art? Answer: Gond Art is a vibrant tribal art developed by the Gond people of Central India. One of its most important features is its deep connection to nature and self-reliance; artists historically did not buy ready-made materials. Instead, they prepared their own 'canvas' on earthen walls and created natural colours using plant juices, tree bark, soils, and cow-dung. Another key feature is the intricate detailing within the artwork. While outlines may vary between artists, the pictures are brought to life using simple textures like dots, straight lines, and curvy shapes. This art is considered deeply enriching because it is not just a commercial product; it is a medium for recording history, preserving traditional tales, and decorating homes. It proves that even simple techniques, passed down through generations and rooted in daily chores, can convey deep thoughts and stunning beauty.
मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: गोंड कला ही आदिवासी कला आहे हे सांगा. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: नैसर्गिक रंग (माती, पाने) आणि कॅनव्हास (भिंती) कसा बनवतात ते सांगा. तसेच चित्रांमधील डिझाईन्स (ठिपके, रेषा) स्पष्ट करा. 3. शेवट: ही कला फक्त व्यावसायिक नसून संस्कृती जपण्याचे कसे उत्तम माध्यम आहे याचा निष्कर्ष काढा.
About BhashaLab
BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.
We offer:
1. NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi
2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi
3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards
4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes
5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above
6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online
Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044
Mail: info@bhashalab.com
Website: www.bhashalab.com
