SSC
In the Indian classification of musical instruments, the flute falls under the category of:
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Answer: Option B — Sushira vadya
Detailed Solution
Explanation
In the traditional Indian system of classifying musical instruments, wind instruments, in which sound is produced by blowing air into a hollow tube, are called "sushira vadya". The flute is the best-known example, and other examples include the shehnai, the nadaswaram, the pungi (been) and the conch (shankh).
The word "sushira" means hollow or having holes. In wind instruments, the player blows air into the instrument, and the column of air inside vibrates to produce sound. The notes are changed by opening and closing holes with the fingers. Some wind instruments have reeds, such as the shehnai and the nadaswaram (double-reed instruments), while others, such as the flute, do not.
The bamboo flute is one of the oldest instruments in India. It is closely linked with Lord Krishna, who is often shown playing the flute. In Hindustani music, the large bamboo flute is called the bansuri, and it was brought to the concert stage by Pannalal Ghosh, a student of Allauddin Khan. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the most famous bansuri player, made it popular across the world. In Carnatic music, the smaller flute is called the venu or pullanguzhal. T.R. Mahalingam (Flute Mali) and N. Ramani are famous Carnatic flautists, and Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar is another well-known Carnatic flute player.
The Natya Shastra, attributed to Bharata Muni, classifies musical instruments into four groups:
Tata vadya: string instruments, such as the veena, sitar and violin.
Sushira vadya: wind instruments, such as the flute and shehnai.
Avanaddha vadya: instruments covered with skin, such as the tabla, mridangam and dholak.
Ghana vadya: solid instruments that are struck, such as cymbals, bells and the ghatam.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Tata vadya are string instruments, such as the veena and sitar.
- ✗Avanaddha vadya are instruments covered with skin, such as the tabla and mridangam.
- ✗Ghana vadya are solid instruments, such as cymbals and bells.
💡 Exam tip
Remember the four groups of instruments from the Natya Shastra: tata (string), sushira (wind), avanaddha (skin drums) and ghana (solid).💬 Discussions on this question
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Music & Musical Instruments — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Music & Musical Instruments, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers Indian classical music, its two main traditions (Hindustani and Carnatic), gharanas, ragas and talas, folk music styles, and the musical instruments of India along with the artists who are famous for playing them. It also includes the four classes of instruments: string (tata), wind (sushira), percussion (avanaddha) and solid (ghana). Exam questions usually pair an instrument with its maestro, such as the sitar with Pandit Ravi Shankar, the shehnai with Ustad Bismillah Khan or the santoor with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Other common questions ask about the origin of a gharana, the instrument a folk style uses, or the class an instrument belongs to. Making a two-column list of instruments and artists is the quickest way to revise. Practise the music and musical instruments questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.