Question

Amir Khusrau's name was associated with the invention of the __________.
A.Sarod
B.Sitar
C.Shenai
D.Tabla

Answer 1

Hint: It refers to a stringed musical instrument of the lute family that is famous in parts like northern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Typically measuring around 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length. It can be described as a deep pear-shaped gourd body; a long, wide, hollow wooden neck; both front and side tuning pegs; and 20 arched movable frets.

Complete answer: Abu'l Hasan Yaminuddin Khusro, who is better known by the name - Amir Khusro (also Khusrau, Khusrow) Dehlavi, was the poet laureate of the subcontinent of India and enjoys an ever-lasting fame as one of the very versatile poets and prolific prose-writers that were present in the 13th and 14th centuries. Khusrau is specially credited for the invention of the 'sitar'. At the time, there existed numerous forms of the Veena in India. He relabeled the triple stringed Tritantri Veena as a Sehtaar (Persian for 3 stringed), which eventually became known as the Sitar. The Sitar holds a place of pride among all the Indian musical instruments. It is easily the most charming of all instruments. The Sitar was known in ancient India by various names like devadattaa, maruyashti, mahati, parivaadini, saptatantri.

Therefore, The right answer is Option B.

Additional information:
There exists no such word in Persian from where the word sitar is derived. The word comes from the Sanskrit root SA (to bind). It is composed of SIT + AAr + R = SITHAE : = BANDHANAE:, AH = SAMANTHATH, RA = RAJAYATHI ETHI SITAR = that means an instrument from which fastening provides pleasure from all the sides. In the instrument, sitar strings get fastened as well as pardaas are fastened mijraaf is fastened gates are bound by rhythm. Therefore,the Sitar is an instrument that is filled with fastenings (BANDHAN). Even when these are violated it affects the whole pleasure. Hence, the word sitar is not a corruption of any Persian word but a pure Sanskrit word.

Note: The Sehtar had three strings whereas the Sitar had seven. But there is no gainsaying the fact that Amir Khusro, the versatile genius, gave the Sitar a great fillip and did much to popularize it.