Wisdom Paves the Way - Textual Notes

Genre: A Play / Drama

Setting: The road leading to Ujjain and the royal court of the King of Ujjain.

Characters:

• The King of Ujjain (a wise and just ruler)
• Four Young Men: Ram Datt, Shiv Datt, Har Datt, and Dev Datt
• The Merchant (who lost his camel)
• Sentries / Courtiers

Theme: Intelligence, powers of observation, logical thinking, and wisdom.

 

Let us do these activities before we read (Pages 27–28)

I. Why do we seek advice of the elderly in our family?

We ask elders for advice because they have more life experience, knowledge, and wisdom to help us make good decisions.

II. Classify each situation as either 'Knowledge' or 'Wisdom'.

1. Riya's understanding of plant care helped her grow a healthy vegetable garden.

Knowledge

2. Mr. Kumar values time with family over chasing wealth.

Wisdom

3. Karuna's expertise in computer programming helped her develop an app.

Knowledge

4. Rohan understood time management and created a timetable.

Wisdom

5. Ramesh chose to forgive his friend for a misunderstanding.

Wisdom

6. Ms. Vaijayanthi delivered a lecture on Indian Classical music.

Knowledge

Let us discuss: Scene I (Page 32)

Complete the sentences with suitable reasons

1. Shiv Datt said, "I believe it has been over a week..." because it had been a long time since they left their village.

2. Dev Datt said, "Indeed, we ought to be united in this hope..." because they were all looking for work together and heading to the same city.

3. Har Datt said, "Look there, friends. A camel has passed this way..." because he saw fresh camel footprints on the ground.

4. Shiv Datt said, "It appears to be a merchant, running as if pursued by trouble..." because the man was running fast, breathing heavily, and looked very worried.

5. The merchant said, "How could you possibly know that?... Surely you are a healer!" because they accurately described that his camel was sick without having seen it.

6. Dev Datt said, "You are free to do as you wish, sir..." because they were innocent and not afraid to face the King.

Let us discuss: Scene II (Page 36–37)

Arrange the events from Scene II in the correct order:

1. (3)The King asks the merchant to clearly state his accusation.

2. (8) The merchant accuses the four men of knowing a lot about his missing camel.

3. (2) Ram Datt explains how he infers from the tracks that the camel is lame.

4. (5) Shiv Datt reveals that the camel is blind in its right eye as it had only chewed on the leaves on the left side.

5. (7) Har Datt clarifies how he knew that the camel has a short tail.

6. (6) Dev Datt explains his observation about the camel's pain and careful movement.

7. (4) The King praises the young men for their observations and dismisses the merchant's accusation.

8. (1) The King makes the four young men his advisers, impressed by their skills.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 37–39)

I. Extract-Based Questions

Extract 1:

1. Identify the false statement:

Statement A is FALSE: "Dev Datt believes that finding employment is an easy task."

Rectification: Dev Datt believes that getting a job is NOT an easy task and requires patience and a good plan.

2. What does Ram Datt's confidence tell us about him?

It shows that he believes in his talents and skills.

3. The phrase 'press on' means:

B. moving forward with determination

4. Har Datt says, "We need to devise a strategy." This shows:

C. He is cautious and thoughtful, preferring to plan ahead.

Extract 2:

1. Assertion and Reason:

B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

2. The line 'See beyond the obvious' means:

C. notice details that others might overlook**

3. Ram Datt described the offer as 'an honour we had not dared to dream of' because:

They were poor travellers looking for simple work and never expected to become advisers to the King.

4. How does the King's offer reflect his values as a ruler?

It shows that he respects wisdom, intelligence, and justice, rather than wealth or status.

II. Short Answer Questions (Page 39)

1. What does the dusty road tell us about their journey?

It shows that their journey was long, tiresome, and full of hard work.

2. Why did the merchant become suspicious of the four men?

Because they described every detail of his camel perfectly, yet claimed they had never seen it. This shows he was quick to judge others.

3. How do their observations serve as a turning point in the play?

Their observations turned them from accused suspects into trusted royal advisers.

4. Why did the King believe the young men and not the merchant?

The King saw that their claims were backed by logical proof and careful thinking, showing they were wise men, not thieves.

5. How does their capability make them suitable to become advisers?

Their ability to observe tiny details, think logically, and remain calm under pressure makes them ideal advisers.

6. Why does the merchant feel ashamed?

He feels ashamed because he falsely accused innocent, wise men of stealing without knowing the truth.

Let us learn: Vocabulary & Grammar (Pages 39–42)

I. Fill in the blanks with noun forms:

1. Some word games need a lot of thought and deduction. (from deduce)

2. We need to make close observations of animals. (from observe)

3. A detailed scrutiny of the documents shows errors. (from scrutinise)

4. You should not make any false accusations against anyone. (from accuse)

5. She was given an award in recognition of her work. (from recognise)

II. Match expressions with meanings:

1. with all our hearts → (vi) complete sincerity

2. to be precise → (iv) exact and accurate

3. gain an audience with → (v) meeting or hearing someone

4. catch his breath → (vii) to pause or rest for some time

5. erupts in applause → (ii) starts cheering together

6. grand scheme of things→ (viii) overall plan of life

7. taken aback → (i) surprised

8. more than meets the eye → (iii) hidden information that is not obvious

III. Multiple meanings of 'Face' and 'Bear':

Face:

1. (n.) front part of head → (iii) She has a round, smiling face.

2. (v.) positioned towards → (i) Ravi turned to face his father.

3. (v.) deal with difficulty → (iv) We should be ready to face life's challenges.

4. (n.) front surface → (ii) The face of the clock was painted blue.

Bear:

1. (v.) tolerate → (iv) I can't bear the sound of honking.

2. (v.) accept → (iii) Riya agreed to bear the responsibilities.

3. (n.) large mammal → (ii) I spotted a bear on a safari.

4. (v.) produce fruit → (i) The trees took a long time to bear fruit.

IV. Fill in story with Modal Verbs (Pages 41–42):

1. How can I become wise like you?

2. Wisdom must be earned through patience.

3. You should listen more than you speak.

4. It might take years, but I'll try.

5. You need to learn from your mistakes too.

6. Wisdom may come slowly...

7. The boy knew he could become wise if he followed advice.

V. Rewrite using Modals (Page 42):

1. It is advisable to think before you speak.

→ You should think before you speak.

2. It is unnecessary to worry about things beyond your control.

→ You need not worry about things beyond your control.

3. It is not possible for a person to gain experience without taking risks.

→ A person cannot gain experience without taking risks.

4. It is essential to treat others with kindness.

→You must treat others with kindness.

5. It is not allowed to interrupt when someone else is speaking.

You must not interrupt when someone else is speaking.

Let us write: Formal Letter (Page 44)

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12, Rose Colony
Ujjain

15 October 2026

The Commissioner
Municipal Corporation
Ujjain

Subject: Complaint regarding bad condition of road and potholes

Sir/Madam,

I am writing to draw your attention towards the poor condition of the road leading to our colony. Due to recent heavy rains, the road has developed deep potholes. 

This causes great inconvenience to commuters and leads to frequent minor accidents. Furthermore, stagnant water has collected in these holes, turning them into breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

I request you to look into this matter urgently and arrange to repair the road at the earliest. 

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Ram Sharma
Resident, Rose Colony

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