The
Prayer by G.A. Mehjoor
🌿
About the Poet — Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor (1885–1952)
🧩 Full Name:
Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor
(popularly known as Mahjoor or Mehjoor).
🏞️ Birth and Early Life:
·
Born in 1885 at Mitigund
village, near Pulwama, in Kashmir.
·
His father, Peerzada Rasool, was a scholar
of Persian and Arabic.
·
Mehjoor received his early education in Persian
and Arabic literature and later learnt Urdu and
English.
·
He started writing poetry first in Urdu and
Persian, later switched to Kashmiri, becoming one of the
pioneers of modern Kashmiri poetry.
🖋️ Literary Career:
·
Mehjoor is often called “The
Poet of Kashmir” or “Shair-e-Kashmir.”
·
He was deeply influenced by the famous Urdu
poet Sir
Muhammad Iqbal (Allama Iqbal).
·
Mehjoor used simple and musical Kashmiri language
to express deep emotions, making poetry understandable for common people.
·
His poetry reflects love for
nature, humanity, truth, freedom, and spiritual awakening.
·
He revived Kashmiri poetry, which had
become too formal and limited to the elite, and gave it a new
voice of the common Kashmiri people.
🕊️ Major Works (in Kashmiri):
·
“Vala ho
baghwano” (O Gardener!)
·
“The
Prayer” (Dua)
·
“Wala
Aye Chambayros” (Come O My Beloved)
·
“Bage
Nishat”, “Badshah Zain-ul-Abidin”, and
other patriotic and romantic lyrics.
⚰️ Death:
·
Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor passed away in 1952,
leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry that continues to inspire generations.
·
A Mausoleum (Shrine) in Pulwama
District is dedicated to him, where admirers still visit to pay
respect.
Text
Lord!
You are my hope and trust, lead me to the way of truth;
How long shall I dwell in ignorance! Pour me the nectar of knowledge.
Lend ear to my wailing and pleas, cure me of ills and pains;
Be kind each moment to me; let me never fall in want.
Save me from sloth, infirmity and doubt,
Surcharge my heart with passion, zest and hope.
Let
me not ever chant the sleep-inducing tales;
Let me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.
Let me sing of that which inspires people with love,
And causes all bitterness and hatred to vanish.
You
brought me to bloom with the earliest vernal breeze;
Let not the burning heat of summer wither me grey.
Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?
Awaken me with flowers in the first stroke of the dawn.
In
form I am a man, in substance far from humanity,
Subject me not to trials, shame not my human form.
Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor,
People may desert me thus but You don’t abandon me Lord!
Summary
- The poet addresses
the Divine (Allah/God) as his hope and trust, seeking to be guided
on the right path (“the way of truth”).
- He feels
trapped in ignorance and asks for knowledge (“nectar of knowledge”).
- He asks for relief from suffering — ills and pains, laziness (sloth), infirmity (weakness), and doubt — and for his heart to be filled with passion, zest and hope.
- He desires to sing inspiring songs rather than “sleep-inducing tales” — songs that bring life, inspire love, remove hatred and bitterness.
- He uses metaphors of nature: blooming with the spring breeze, being withered by summer’s heat, waiting like dew for the sun at dawn. He asks God to awaken him and not let him fade.
- He
acknowledges that though in form he is a man, in substance he may be “far
from humanity” (i.e., lacking human virtues). He prays not to be subject
to trials that would shame his human form.
- He ends
with a note of abandonment by men (he is “forsaken by men… they call me
Mehjoor”) but affirms that God will not abandon him.
Central Themes
- Spiritual
aspiration & guidance — The struggle to move from
ignorance to knowledge; wanting the divine to lead one.
- Human
frailty & divine reliance — The poet recognises his
weakness (sloth, infirmity, doubt) and depends on God.
- Transformative
power of poetry/voice — The wish to sing songs of love that
awaken the dead/apathetic, remove hatred.
- Nature as metaphor
for human state — Blooming, withering, dew waiting for
sun: life, growth, stagnation.
- Abandonment
and hope — Despite being forsaken by men, the
poet’s anchor is divine faith.
Literary Devices & Notable Language
- Metaphors: “nectar
of knowledge”, “the way of truth”, “bloom with the earliest vernal
breeze”.
- Simile: “Like
dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?”
- Antithesis: “In form I am a man, in substance far from humanity”.
- Repetition / Anaphora: Use of “Let me…” in successive lines to emphasise desire and pleading.
- Imagery: Strong
natural imagery (flowers, breeze, dew, sun, dawn, summer heat) to convey
inner states.
- Address /
Apostrophe: The poem addresses God (“Lord! You are
my hope…”), making it a direct prayer.
Key Word-Meanings (in order of appearance)
- dwell (v) –
to live in, remain in a place or state.
- ignorance
(n) – lack of knowledge or awareness.
- nectar (n)
– in myth, the drink of gods; metaphorically: something supremely sweet or
sustaining.
- wailing
(v/n) – crying out with grief or lamentation.
- infirmity
(n) – physical or mental weakness.
- sloth (n) – laziness; unwillingness to work or make an effort.
- zest (n) – great enthusiasm and energy.
- vernal
(adj) – relating to spring.
- wither (v)
– to become dry and shrivel; metaphorically: to fade away/decline.
- dew (n) –
small drops of water that form on surfaces overnight.
- dawn (n) –
the first appearance of light in the morning.
- trials (n)
– tests or ordeals of one’s patience, faith or courage.
- forsaken
(adj) – abandoned, left behind.
Why This Poem Matters
- It is culturally
significant in the context of Kashmir — Mehjoor is a celebrated
Kashmiri poet whose works engage both local feeling and universal
spiritual themes.
- It speaks
to youth-readers and students, especially in curricula (for example
in JK Board Class 10) as a model for spiritual and moral reflection.
- Its
combination of devotional tone + poetic imagery + social
aspiration (singing songs of love, removing hatred) gives it both
personal and communal resonance.
·
Here is a detailed paraphrase (in colour-style sections)
of the poem “The Prayer” by G.A. Mehjoor,
stanza by stanza — simplified and explained in clear language while keeping the
poet’s tone of devotion and self-reflection.
·
🌿 Stanza 1
·
Original
lines:
·
Lord! You are my hope and trust, lead me to the
way of truth;
How long shall I dwell in ignorance! Pour me the nectar of knowledge.
Lend ear to my wailing and pleas, cure me of ills and pains;
Be kind each moment to me; let me never fall in want.
·
Paraphrase:
The poet begins by praying to God, calling Him his only source of hope and
faith. He asks God to guide him on the right and truthful path. He feels that
he has been living in ignorance for too long and wants God to bless him with
the sweetness of true knowledge. The poet pleads that God should listen to his
cries and help him overcome his suffering and troubles. He requests continuous
kindness and wishes that he never experiences poverty or lack of anything in
life.
·
🔥 Stanza 2
·
Original
lines:
·
Save me from sloth, infirmity and doubt,
Surcharge my heart with passion, zest and hope.
·
Paraphrase:
Here, Mehjoor prays to be saved from laziness, weakness, and hesitation. He
asks God to fill his heart with energy, enthusiasm, and strong faith. He wants
to live a life full of action, purpose, and hope rather than one of doubt and
despair.
·
🌸 Stanza 3
·
Original
lines:
·
Let me not ever chant the sleep-inducing tales;
Let me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.
Let me sing of that which inspires people with love,
And causes all bitterness and hatred to vanish.
·
Paraphrase:
The poet wishes that his words and poetry should not be dull or lifeless.
Instead of repeating boring and useless stories, he wants to sing songs that
awaken people — that give life, hope, and energy to those who have lost it. His
dream is to compose verses that inspire love among human beings and remove
feelings of hatred, anger, and bitterness from the world.
·
🌺 Stanza 4
·
Original
lines:
·
You brought me to bloom with the earliest
vernal breeze;
Let not the burning heat of summer wither me grey.
Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?
Awaken me with flowers in the first stroke of the dawn.
·
Paraphrase:
Mehjoor compares his own life to a flower or a plant. God has helped him grow
and blossom in the freshness of spring. Now, he prays that the harshness and
difficulties of life (symbolised by the heat of summer) should not destroy his
spirit or fade his beauty. Like drops of dew waiting for sunrise, he longs for
God’s light and guidance to awaken him and give him new life and freshness
every morning.
·
🌄 Stanza 5
·
Original
lines:
·
In form I am a man, in substance far from
humanity,
Subject me not to trials, shame not my human form.
Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor,
People may desert me thus but You don’t abandon me Lord!
·
Paraphrase:
The poet admits humbly that although he looks like a human being, he sometimes
fails to act with true humanity. He asks God not to test him with hardships
that would make him lose his dignity or disgrace his human nature. He feels
lonely and rejected by people — they have abandoned him and given him the name
“Mehjoor” (meaning the forsaken one). Yet, in this
loneliness, he turns to God and pleads that while humans may leave him, God
should never abandon him.
·
🌈 Overall Paraphrase (In Summary)
·
The poem is a heartfelt prayer in which Mehjoor
confesses his weaknesses and pleads for divine guidance. He asks for knowledge
to remove ignorance, strength to overcome laziness and doubt, and inspiration
to spread love through his poetry. He uses nature’s beauty — spring, summer,
dawn, flowers, dew — to symbolise hope and spiritual renewal. In the end, he
finds comfort in his faith, believing that even if the world rejects him, God’s
love will never fade.
·
🌿 Important Exam Questions
with Answers
·
🟢 Short
Answer Questions
·
Q1. Who
is the poet of the poem “The Prayer”?
Ans:
The poet of the poem “The Prayer” is Ghulam
Ahmad Mehjoor, a famous Kashmiri poet known as the Poet of
Kashmir.
·
Q2. What
does the poet pray for in the first stanza?
Ans:
The poet prays to God to lead him on the path of truth, remove his ignorance,
grant him knowledge, listen to his cries, and free him from pain and want.
·
Q3. What
does Mehjoor want God to save him from?
Ans:
Mehjoor asks God to save him from sloth (laziness), infirmity
(weakness), and doubt, and to fill his heart
with energy, enthusiasm, and hope.
·
Q4. What
kind of songs does the poet wish to sing?
Ans:
The poet wishes to sing songs that awaken people, bring life to the lifeless,
inspire love among human beings, and remove bitterness and hatred from the
world.
·
Q5. What
does the poet mean by “Let me not chant the sleep-inducing tales”?
Ans:
The poet means that he does not want to tell meaningless or dull stories that
make people lazy or inactive; he wants his poetry to inspire and awaken others.
·
Q6. What
does the poet compare himself to in the poem?
Ans:
The poet compares himself to a flower that blooms in spring
and a drop of
dew waiting for the sun’s first light.
·
Q7. What
does Mehjoor ask God not to let happen to him in the fourth stanza?
Ans:
He asks God not to let the burning heat of life’s difficulties wither his
spirit or destroy his youthful energy and hope.
·
Q8. What
does the poet mean when he says, “In form I am a man, in substance far from
humanity”?
Ans:
The poet admits that although he appears to be a man, he sometimes fails to
show true human values such as kindness, love, and compassion.
·
Q9. Why
do people call the poet “Mehjoor”?
Ans:
People call him Mehjoor because he feels forsaken
or deserted by men; the name itself means the
forsaken one.
·
Q10.
What is the poet’s final request to God?
Ans:
The poet’s final request is that even if all people abandon him, God should
never forsake him. He asks for God’s eternal companionship and
mercy.
·
🟣 Long
Answer / Paragraph Type Questions
·
Q1. What
is the central idea or theme of the poem “The Prayer”?
Ans:
The central idea of Mehjoor’s “The Prayer” is spiritual
awakening and human regeneration. The poet humbly asks God for
enlightenment, courage, and energy to fight laziness, weakness, and ignorance.
He wishes to use his poetic voice to inspire love and peace among people. Using
symbols from nature—like flowers, dew, spring, and dawn—Mehjoor shows his
desire to stay pure, hopeful, and alive spiritually. In the end, he expresses
faith that even if men forsake him, God’s mercy will never leave him.
·
Q2. How
does Mehjoor use nature imagery in the poem?
Ans:
Mehjoor beautifully uses nature as a metaphor for human
life. He describes himself as a flower that blooms in spring but fears being
withered by summer’s heat. He compares his longing for God’s grace to the dew
waiting for the sunrise. The spring breeze, dawn, and flowers represent hope,
freshness, and renewal — showing how nature reflects the poet’s inner emotions
and spiritual journey.
·
Q3. What
qualities does the poet wish to develop in himself through this prayer?
Ans:
Through this prayer, the poet wishes to develop knowledge, truthfulness, courage, enthusiasm,
hope, and love. He wants to overcome laziness, doubt, and
weakness. Above all, he desires to live a life that spreads positivity and
harmony, not hatred or bitterness.
·
Q4.
Explain the contrast between man’s outer form and inner substance as shown in
the poem.
Ans:
The poet says, “In form I am a man, in substance far from humanity.” This line
reveals that although he looks like a human being, he feels that he has not yet
lived up to the true spirit of humanity. It reflects his humility and his wish
to become more compassionate, wise, and godly.
·
Q5. How
does the poem reflect Mehjoor’s faith in God?
Ans:
Throughout the poem, Mehjoor expresses complete trust in God. He turns to Him
for guidance, strength, and forgiveness. Even when society abandons him, he
finds comfort in the belief that God will never leave him. His faith gives him
hope and courage to face life’s trials.
·
🟡 Reference
to Context (RTC) Questions
·
Q1. “Let
me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.”
a. Who
is the speaker?
b. What
does he want to sing?
c. What
is meant by “infuse life into the dead”?
·
Ans:
a. The speaker is the poet, G.A. Mehjoor.
b. He wants to sing songs that inspire people and fill them with hope and love.
c. “Infuse life into the dead” means to motivate or awaken people who have lost
their spirit or purpose in life.
·
Q2.
“Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor.”
a. What
does the name “Mehjoor” signify?
b. Why does
the poet feel forsaken?
c. What
emotion is expressed here?
·
Ans:
a. The name Mehjoor means “the forsaken one” or
one who has been abandoned.
b. The poet feels forsaken because people have deserted him and failed to
understand his feelings and ideals.
c. The emotion of loneliness and spiritual
surrender is expressed here.
·
🔵 Value-Based
/ Reflective Question
·
Q. What
message does “The Prayer” convey to readers?
Ans:
The poem teaches us that human life should be guided by truth,
knowledge, hard work, love, and faith in God. It tells us to
overcome laziness, hatred, and doubt, and to work for peace and harmony.
Mehjoor’s prayer is a call to awaken the divine spirit within every human being.
🌿
About the Poet — Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor (1885–1952)
🧩 Full Name:
Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor
(popularly known as Mahjoor or Mehjoor).
🏞️ Birth and Early Life:
·
Born in 1885 at Mitigund
village, near Pulwama, in Kashmir.
·
His father, Peerzada Rasool, was a scholar
of Persian and Arabic.
·
Mehjoor received his early education in Persian
and Arabic literature and later learnt Urdu and
English.
·
He started writing poetry first in Urdu and
Persian, later switched to Kashmiri, becoming one of the
pioneers of modern Kashmiri poetry.
🖋️ Literary Career:
·
Mehjoor is often called “The
Poet of Kashmir” or “Shair-e-Kashmir.”
·
He was deeply influenced by the famous Urdu
poet Sir
Muhammad Iqbal (Allama Iqbal).
·
Mehjoor used simple and musical Kashmiri language
to express deep emotions, making poetry understandable for common people.
·
His poetry reflects love for
nature, humanity, truth, freedom, and spiritual awakening.
·
He revived Kashmiri poetry, which had
become too formal and limited to the elite, and gave it a new
voice of the common Kashmiri people.
🕊️ Major Works (in Kashmiri):
·
“Vala ho
baghwano” (O Gardener!)
·
“The
Prayer” (Dua)
·
“Wala
Aye Chambayros” (Come O My Beloved)
·
“Bage
Nishat”, “Badshah Zain-ul-Abidin”, and
other patriotic and romantic lyrics.
⚰️ Death:
·
Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor passed away in 1952,
leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry that continues to inspire generations.
·
A Mausoleum (Shrine) in Pulwama
District is dedicated to him, where admirers still visit to pay
respect.
Text
Lord!
You are my hope and trust, lead me to the way of truth;
How long shall I dwell in ignorance! Pour me the nectar of knowledge.
Lend ear to my wailing and pleas, cure me of ills and pains;
Be kind each moment to me; let me never fall in want.
Save me from sloth, infirmity and doubt,
Surcharge my heart with passion, zest and hope.
Let
me not ever chant the sleep-inducing tales;
Let me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.
Let me sing of that which inspires people with love,
And causes all bitterness and hatred to vanish.
You
brought me to bloom with the earliest vernal breeze;
Let not the burning heat of summer wither me grey.
Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?
Awaken me with flowers in the first stroke of the dawn.
In
form I am a man, in substance far from humanity,
Subject me not to trials, shame not my human form.
Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor,
People may desert me thus but You don’t abandon me Lord!
(JANDKNCERT - FREE NCERT SOLUTIONS)
Summary
- The poet addresses
the Divine (Allah/God) as his hope and trust, seeking to be guided
on the right path (“the way of truth”). (successcds)
- He feels
trapped in ignorance and asks for knowledge (“nectar of knowledge”). (Scribd)
- He asks
for relief from suffering — ills and pains, laziness (sloth), infirmity
(weakness), and doubt — and for his heart to be filled with passion,
zest and hope. (successcds)
- He desires
to sing inspiring songs rather than “sleep-inducing tales” — songs
that bring life, inspire love, remove hatred and bitterness. (Scribd)
- He uses
metaphors of nature: blooming with the spring breeze, being withered by
summer’s heat, waiting like dew for the sun at dawn. He asks God to awaken
him and not let him fade. (JANDKNCERT - FREE NCERT SOLUTIONS)
- He
acknowledges that though in form he is a man, in substance he may be “far
from humanity” (i.e., lacking human virtues). He prays not to be subject
to trials that would shame his human form. (successcds)
- He ends
with a note of abandonment by men (he is “forsaken by men… they call me
Mehjoor”) but affirms that God will not abandon him. (Scribd)
Central Themes
- Spiritual
aspiration & guidance — The struggle to move from
ignorance to knowledge; wanting the divine to lead one.
- Human
frailty & divine reliance — The poet recognises his
weakness (sloth, infirmity, doubt) and depends on God.
- Transformative
power of poetry/voice — The wish to sing songs of love that
awaken the dead/apathetic, remove hatred.
- Nature as metaphor
for human state — Blooming, withering, dew waiting for
sun: life, growth, stagnation.
- Abandonment
and hope — Despite being forsaken by men, the
poet’s anchor is divine faith.
Literary Devices & Notable Language
- Metaphors: “nectar
of knowledge”, “the way of truth”, “bloom with the earliest vernal
breeze”.
- Simile: “Like
dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?”
- Antithesis: “In form
I am a man, in substance far from humanity”.
- Repetition
/ Anaphora: Use of “Let me…” in successive lines to
emphasise desire and pleading.
- Imagery: Strong natural imagery (flowers, breeze, dew, sun, dawn, summer heat) to convey inner states.
- Address / Apostrophe: The poem addresses God (“Lord! You are my hope…”), making it a direct prayer.
Key Word-Meanings (in order of appearance)
- dwell (v) –
to live in, remain in a place or state.
- ignorance
(n) – lack of knowledge or awareness.
- nectar (n)
– in myth, the drink of gods; metaphorically: something supremely sweet or
sustaining.
- wailing
(v/n) – crying out with grief or lamentation.
- infirmity
(n) – physical or mental weakness.
- sloth (n)
– laziness; unwillingness to work or make an effort.
- zest (n) –
great enthusiasm and energy.
- vernal (adj) – relating to spring.
- wither (v) – to become dry and shrivel; metaphorically: to fade away/decline.
- dew (n) –
small drops of water that form on surfaces overnight.
- dawn (n) –
the first appearance of light in the morning.
- trials (n)
– tests or ordeals of one’s patience, faith or courage.
- forsaken
(adj) – abandoned, left behind.
·
🌿 Stanza 1
·
Original
lines:
·
Lord! You are my hope and trust, lead me to the
way of truth;
How long shall I dwell in ignorance! Pour me the nectar of knowledge.
Lend ear to my wailing and pleas, cure me of ills and pains;
Be kind each moment to me; let me never fall in want.
·
Paraphrase:
The poet begins by praying to God, calling Him his only source of hope and
faith. He asks God to guide him on the right and truthful path. He feels that
he has been living in ignorance for too long and wants God to bless him with
the sweetness of true knowledge. The poet pleads that God should listen to his
cries and help him overcome his suffering and troubles. He requests continuous
kindness and wishes that he never experiences poverty or lack of anything in
life.
·
🔥 Stanza 2
·
Original
lines:
·
Save me from sloth, infirmity and doubt,
Surcharge my heart with passion, zest and hope.
·
Paraphrase:
Here, Mehjoor prays to be saved from laziness, weakness, and hesitation. He
asks God to fill his heart with energy, enthusiasm, and strong faith. He wants
to live a life full of action, purpose, and hope rather than one of doubt and
despair.
·
🌸 Stanza 3
·
Original
lines:
·
Let me not ever chant the sleep-inducing tales;
Let me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.
Let me sing of that which inspires people with love,
And causes all bitterness and hatred to vanish.
·
Paraphrase:
The poet wishes that his words and poetry should not be dull or lifeless.
Instead of repeating boring and useless stories, he wants to sing songs that
awaken people — that give life, hope, and energy to those who have lost it. His
dream is to compose verses that inspire love among human beings and remove
feelings of hatred, anger, and bitterness from the world.
·
🌺 Stanza 4
·
Original
lines:
·
You brought me to bloom with the earliest
vernal breeze;
Let not the burning heat of summer wither me grey.
Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?
Awaken me with flowers in the first stroke of the dawn.
·
Paraphrase:
Mehjoor compares his own life to a flower or a plant. God has helped him grow
and blossom in the freshness of spring. Now, he prays that the harshness and
difficulties of life (symbolised by the heat of summer) should not destroy his
spirit or fade his beauty. Like drops of dew waiting for sunrise, he longs for
God’s light and guidance to awaken him and give him new life and freshness
every morning.
·
🌄 Stanza 5
·
Original
lines:
·
In form I am a man, in substance far from
humanity,
Subject me not to trials, shame not my human form.
Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor,
People may desert me thus but You don’t abandon me Lord!
·
Paraphrase:
The poet admits humbly that although he looks like a human being, he sometimes
fails to act with true humanity. He asks God not to test him with hardships
that would make him lose his dignity or disgrace his human nature. He feels
lonely and rejected by people — they have abandoned him and given him the name
“Mehjoor” (meaning the forsaken one). Yet, in this
loneliness, he turns to God and pleads that while humans may leave him, God
should never abandon him.
·
🌈 Overall Paraphrase (In Summary)
·
The poem is a heartfelt prayer in which Mehjoor
confesses his weaknesses and pleads for divine guidance. He asks for knowledge
to remove ignorance, strength to overcome laziness and doubt, and inspiration
to spread love through his poetry. He uses nature’s beauty — spring, summer,
dawn, flowers, dew — to symbolise hope and spiritual renewal. In the end, he
finds comfort in his faith, believing that even if the world rejects him, God’s
love will never fade.
·
🌿 Important Exam Questions
with Answers
·
🟢 Short
Answer Questions
·
Q1. Who
is the poet of the poem “The Prayer”?
Ans:
The poet of the poem “The Prayer” is Ghulam
Ahmad Mehjoor, a famous Kashmiri poet known as the Poet of
Kashmir.
·
Q2. What
does the poet pray for in the first stanza?
Ans:
The poet prays to God to lead him on the path of truth, remove his ignorance,
grant him knowledge, listen to his cries, and free him from pain and want.
·
Q3. What
does Mehjoor want God to save him from?
Ans:
Mehjoor asks God to save him from sloth (laziness), infirmity
(weakness), and doubt, and to fill his heart
with energy, enthusiasm, and hope.
·
Q4. What
kind of songs does the poet wish to sing?
Ans:
The poet wishes to sing songs that awaken people, bring life to the lifeless,
inspire love among human beings, and remove bitterness and hatred from the
world.
·
Q5. What
does the poet mean by “Let me not chant the sleep-inducing tales”?
Ans:
The poet means that he does not want to tell meaningless or dull stories that
make people lazy or inactive; he wants his poetry to inspire and awaken others.
·
Q6. What
does the poet compare himself to in the poem?
Ans:
The poet compares himself to a flower that blooms in spring
and a drop of
dew waiting for the sun’s first light.
·
Q7. What
does Mehjoor ask God not to let happen to him in the fourth stanza?
Ans:
He asks God not to let the burning heat of life’s difficulties wither his
spirit or destroy his youthful energy and hope.
·
Q8. What
does the poet mean when he says, “In form I am a man, in substance far from
humanity”?
Ans:
The poet admits that although he appears to be a man, he sometimes fails to
show true human values such as kindness, love, and compassion.
·
Q9. Why
do people call the poet “Mehjoor”?
Ans:
People call him Mehjoor because he feels forsaken
or deserted by men; the name itself means the
forsaken one.
·
Q10.
What is the poet’s final request to God?
Ans:
The poet’s final request is that even if all people abandon him, God should
never forsake him. He asks for God’s eternal companionship and
mercy.
·
🟣 Long
Answer / Paragraph Type Questions
·
Q1. What
is the central idea or theme of the poem “The Prayer”?
Ans:
The central idea of Mehjoor’s “The Prayer” is spiritual
awakening and human regeneration. The poet humbly asks God for
enlightenment, courage, and energy to fight laziness, weakness, and ignorance.
He wishes to use his poetic voice to inspire love and peace among people. Using
symbols from nature—like flowers, dew, spring, and dawn—Mehjoor shows his
desire to stay pure, hopeful, and alive spiritually. In the end, he expresses
faith that even if men forsake him, God’s mercy will never leave him.
·
Q2. How
does Mehjoor use nature imagery in the poem?
Ans:
Mehjoor beautifully uses nature as a metaphor for human
life. He describes himself as a flower that blooms in spring but fears being
withered by summer’s heat. He compares his longing for God’s grace to the dew
waiting for the sunrise. The spring breeze, dawn, and flowers represent hope,
freshness, and renewal — showing how nature reflects the poet’s inner emotions
and spiritual journey.
·
Q3. What
qualities does the poet wish to develop in himself through this prayer?
Ans:
Through this prayer, the poet wishes to develop knowledge, truthfulness, courage, enthusiasm,
hope, and love. He wants to overcome laziness, doubt, and
weakness. Above all, he desires to live a life that spreads positivity and
harmony, not hatred or bitterness.
·
Q4.
Explain the contrast between man’s outer form and inner substance as shown in
the poem.
Ans:
The poet says, “In form I am a man, in substance far from humanity.” This line
reveals that although he looks like a human being, he feels that he has not yet
lived up to the true spirit of humanity. It reflects his humility and his wish
to become more compassionate, wise, and godly.
·
Q5. How
does the poem reflect Mehjoor’s faith in God?
Ans:
Throughout the poem, Mehjoor expresses complete trust in God. He turns to Him
for guidance, strength, and forgiveness. Even when society abandons him, he
finds comfort in the belief that God will never leave him. His faith gives him
hope and courage to face life’s trials.
·
🟡 Reference
to Context (RTC) Questions
·
Q1. “Let
me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead.”
a. Who
is the speaker?
b. What
does he want to sing?
c. What
is meant by “infuse life into the dead”?
·
Ans:
a. The speaker is the poet, G.A. Mehjoor.
b. He wants to sing songs that inspire people and fill them with hope and love.
c. “Infuse life into the dead” means to motivate or awaken people who have lost
their spirit or purpose in life.
·
Q2.
“Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor.”
a. What
does the name “Mehjoor” signify?
b. Why does
the poet feel forsaken?
c. What
emotion is expressed here?
·
Ans:
a. The name Mehjoor means “the forsaken one” or
one who has been abandoned.
b. The poet feels forsaken because people have deserted him and failed to
understand his feelings and ideals.
c. The emotion of loneliness and spiritual
surrender is expressed here.
·
🔵 Value-Based
/ Reflective Question
·
Q. What
message does “The Prayer” convey to readers?
Ans:
The poem teaches us that human life should be guided by truth,
knowledge, hard work, love, and faith in God. It tells us to
overcome laziness, hatred, and doubt, and to work for peace and harmony.
Mehjoor’s prayer is a call to awaken the divine spirit within every human being.
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