Chapter 5
Birbal Hits Back
1. Who was Akbar and why is he important in the story?
Answer: Akbar was a great Mughal emperor and the son of Humayun. He became emperor at a very young age of thirteen. He is important in the story because the events of Birbal’s intelligence and the wicked minister’s plot take place in his court.
2. Why is Akbar called “Akbar the Great”?
Answer: Akbar is called “Akbar the Great” because he was a wise, powerful, and just ruler. He had a strong administration and was respected by his people for his fairness and intelligence.
3. Who was Birbal?
Answer: Birbal was one of the Navratnas (nine wise men) in Akbar’s court. He was known for his intelligence, quick thinking, and problem-solving ability. He was also Akbar’s favourite advisor.
4. What were Navratnas in Akbar’s court?
Answer: Navratnas were nine highly skilled and wise courtiers in Akbar’s court. They helped the emperor in governance and were respected for their knowledge and talents.
5. What did the wicked minister plan against Birbal?
Answer: The wicked minister planned to kill Birbal because he was jealous of him. He hatched a secret plot with another minister and decided to use the royal barber to trick the king into sending Birbal to his death.
6. Why did the wicked minister want to remove Birbal?
Answer: The wicked minister wanted to remove Birbal because Birbal always exposed his wrong actions and came in the way of his evil plans. He was jealous of Birbal’s intelligence and influence.
7. How did the wicked minister involve the barber in the plot?
Answer: The wicked minister and his friend bribed the royal barber and promised him five thousand gold coins. They instructed him to tell the king a false dream about his ancestors in Heaven.
8. What false story did the barber tell Akbar?
Answer: The barber told Akbar that he had a dream in which the king’s father and grandfather were unhappy in Heaven. They supposedly wanted Birbal to come to Heaven for six months.
9. What does “hatched a plot” mean?
Answer: It means to secretly plan something harmful or wrong, especially against someone. The minister and his friend hatched a plot to kill Birbal.
10. How did Akbar react to the barber’s story?
Answer: Akbar believed the barber’s story and became concerned. He called Birbal to the court and repeated what the barber had told him.
11. How did Birbal understand the situation?
Answer: Birbal was very intelligent. He immediately understood that the story was part of a conspiracy made by the wicked minister to harm him.
12. What was Birbal’s response to Akbar’s request?
Answer: Birbal cleverly agreed to go to Heaven for six months, showing that he had a plan in mind to escape the trap.
13. Why did Birbal agree to go to Heaven?
Answer: Birbal agreed because he wanted to expose the wicked minister’s plot and turn the situation in his favour using his intelligence.
14. What secret plan did Birbal make?
Answer: Birbal secretly constructed an underground tunnel in his house and prepared a large heap of firewood at the entrance to create a trick.
15. What does “constructed” mean?
Answer: Constructed means built something. Birbal constructed an underground tunnel for his escape plan.
16. What happened when Birbal entered the firewood heap?
Answer: Birbal entered the heap of firewood in front of Akbar and the ministers. The barber then set fire to it, believing Birbal would die.
17. Why were Birbal’s enemies happy?
Answer: Birbal’s enemies were happy because they believed their plan had succeeded and that Birbal had died in the fire.
18. Did Birbal actually die in the fire?
Answer: No, Birbal did not die. He escaped safely through the underground tunnel that he had secretly built.
19. Where did Birbal stay during his absence?
Answer: Birbal stayed hidden in his underground tunnel for six months, pretending to be in exile or dead.
20. What does “exile” mean in this context?
Answer: Exile means being forced to stay away from one’s home or country. Here, it refers to Birbal’s six-month hidden stay.
21. What happened after six months?
Answer: After six months, Birbal returned to the court with long hair and a beard, pretending he had returned from Heaven.
22. Why did Birbal have long hair and a beard?
Answer: He had long hair and a beard to make his story believable that he had spent time away in Heaven.
23. How did Akbar react when Birbal returned?
Answer: Akbar was very happy and welcomed Birbal warmly. He asked about his experience in Heaven.
24. What question did Akbar ask Birbal?
Answer: Akbar asked how his father and grandfather were doing in Heaven and why Birbal had long hair and a beard.
25. What does “summoned” mean?
Answer: Summoned means called someone officially to appear. Birbal was summoned to the court by Akbar.
26. What does “presence” mean in the story?
Answer: Presence means being physically there. Birbal acted in front of Akbar and the ministers in their presence.
27. What does “royal” mean?
Answer: Royal means belonging to a king or queen. The barber was a royal barber working in Akbar’s court.
28. Why was the barber called “royal barber”?
Answer: He was called royal barber because he served the king and worked in the royal palace.
29. What does “arrested” mean in the story?
Answer: Arrested means taken into custody by authorities. The wicked minister and barber were arrested for their crime.
30. What punishment did the wicked minister and barber receive?
Answer: They were arrested and sent to jail for plotting against Birbal and deceiving the king.
Answer by Mrinmoee
