NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English
Beehive Chapter 6 My Childhood
NCERT
Textbook Questions
Thinking About The Text
(Page 74)
Activity:
Find Dhanuskodi and Rameswaram on the map. What language(s) do you think are
spoken there? What languages do you think the author, his family, his friends
and his teachers spoke with one another?
Answer:
For self-attempt.
(People speak Tamil here).
I. Answer these questions in one or
two sentences each.
Question 1.
Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Answer:
Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
Question 2.
What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. Abdul Kalam attempts to trace the Second
World War’s news in the headlines of this newspaper.
Question 3.
Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Answer:
Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan were his school friends. Ramanadha
Sastry became a priest of the Rameswaram temple. Aravindan went into the
business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims. Sivaprakasan became a
catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
Question 4.
How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer:
Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by distributing newspapers.
Question 5.
Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Answer:
Yes, he earned money before also. He used to collect the tamarind seeds and
sell them to a provision shop on the Mosque Street. A day’s collection would
fetch him the princely sum of one anna.
II. Answer each of these questions
in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
Question 1.
How does the author describe:
1.
his father
2.
his mother
3.
himself?
Answer:
1.
The author describes his father as a
wise and generous person. He felt happy when he helped others. He did not have
much formal education and riches. He was a man of confidence and great wisdom.
He avoided inessential comforts and luxuries.
2.
His mother was a noble and kind-
hearted woman. She used to feed a large number of people. She had all the
attributes of a typical Indian mother.
3.
I was born into a middle-class Tamil
family. I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and
handsome parents. I studied physics and aerospace engineering and became a
scientist.
Question 2.
What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
Answer:
The author inherited humility and benevolence from his parents. He learnt
lessons in honesty and integrity from his parents. He was self-disciplined
because of his parents’ exemplary life.
III. Discuss these questions in
class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three
paragraphs each.
Question 1.
“ On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the
segregation of different social groups,” says the author.
1.
Which social groups does he mention?
Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)?
2.
Were they aware only of their
differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think
of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were ; and of what
used to take place in the pond near his house.)
3.
The author speaks both of people who
were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge
these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?
4.
Narrate two incidents that show how
differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people
change their attitudes?
Answer:
1.
The author talks about the people
who belong to various castes and follow various religious preachings. Yes,
these groups were easily identifiable. Their dressing, traditions, culture and
rituals were different.
2.
They did share their personal
experiences and friendships. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher who
separated the author and his friend in the class and told him that he should
not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the
minds of innocent children.
3.
The school teacher encouraged
communal differences and Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer discouraged
this malpractice.
4.
The influential people can do both
the things. A teacher has the ability to bridge communal differences and can
play with sentiments of the innocent and ignorant people. This is what the new
teacher did. But the Science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer changed his wife’s
attitude and showed her the right path.
Question 2.
1.
Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave
Rameswaram?
2.
What did his father say to this?
3.
What do you think his words mean?
Why do you think he spoke those words?
Answer:
1.
Abdul Kalam wanted to leave
Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
2.
His father said that he knew he had
to go away to grow. He gave the example of a seagull and said that a seagull
flies across the sun alone and without a nest.
3.
He spoke these words because he
intended to hone his skills. He knew the harsh reality of life that children
may have to live far from their parents to make their career and earn their
livelihood. So he showed his wisdom and intelligence in uttering these words.
Thinking about language
(Page 75)
Question 1.
Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:
|
erupt,surge,trace,undistinguished,casualty |
Answer:
The sentences in the text where these words occur are the following:
1.
. . . a sudden demand for
tamarind seeds erupted in the market.
2.
. . . I can still feel the
surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.
3.
. . . I would later attempt to
trace in the deadlines in Dinamani.
4.
. . . a short boy with rather
undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.
5.
The first casualty came in the form
of the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram Station.
Look these words up in a dictionary which gives examples of
how they are used.
Question 2.
Now answer the following questions.
1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various
meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?
2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the
meanings is closest to the word in the text?
3. Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary?
(If not, look up the word distinguished and say what undistinguished must
mean.)
Answers:
1. An earthquake can erupt. Emotions can erupt. Anger can erupt.
Example: An earthquake erupted in Sicily last night.
Surge means a sudden powerful forward or upward movement. A wave surges. A
crowd surges. A storm surges.
Example: Birds search for fish when waves surge towards the shore.
2. ‘Trace’ means to find out, to copy, to draw an outline,
etc. ‘Finding out’ is the closest meaning to ‘trace’ in the text.
3. I can’t find the word ‘undistinguished’ in my dictionary
because it is not the root word. It is there under the word ‘distinguished’
because ‘undistinguished’ is opposite to ‘distinguished’. It means: not
specific, not prominent, not distinct, etc.
II.
Question 1.
Match the phrases in Column ‘A’ with their meanings in Column ‘B’.
|
A |
B |
|
(i) broke
out |
(a) an
attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
|
(ii) in
accordance with |
(b) was
not able to tolerate |
|
(iii) a
helping hand |
(c)
began suddenly in a violent way |
|
(iv)
could not stomach |
(d)
assistance |
|
(v)
generosity of spirit |
(e)
persons with power to make decisions |
|
(vi)
figures of authority |
(f)
according to a particular rule, principle, or system |
Answers:
1.
— (c)
2.
— (f)
3.
— (d)
4.
— (b)
5.
— (a)
6.
— (e).
Question 2.
Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing
un- or in- to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).
·
I was a short boy with rather
undistinguished looks, (un + distinguished)
·
My austere father used to avoid all
inessential comforts, (in + essential)
·
The area was completely unaffected
by the war. (un + affected)
·
He should not spread the poison of
social inequality and communal intolerance, (in + equality, in + tolerance)
Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un-
or in-. The pre-fix in- can also have the forms il-, ir-, or im- (For example :
illiterate—il + literate, impractical—im + practical, irrational—ir +
rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.
— adequate
— regular
— demanding
— true
— patriotic
— accessible
— logical
— responsible
— acceptable
— tolerant
— active
— permanent
— disputed
— coherent
— legal
— possible
Answers:
— inadequate
— irregular
— undcmanding
— untrue
— unpatriotic
— inaccessible
— illogical
— irresponsible
— unacceptable
— intolerant
— inactive
— impermanent
— undisputed
— incoherent
— illegal
— impossible
Question 3.
Passive voice
IV. Rewrite the sentences below,
changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form.
Question 1.
In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.
Answer:
In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
Question 2.
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time.
Answer:
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
Question 3.
On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.
Answer:
On Republic Day, vehicles were not allowed beyond this point.
Question 4.
Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.
Answer:
Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
Question 5.
Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.
Answer:
Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
Question 6.
Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.
Answer:
Our National Anthem has been composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
V. Rewrite the paragraphs below,
using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.
Question 1.
How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket
Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for
India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies
in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously
injure and collapse). In those days helmets (not wear). Contractor (hit) on the
head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull (fracture). The
entire team (deeply concern). The West Indies players (worry). Contractor
(rush) to hospital. He (accompany) by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West
Indies Team. Blood (donate) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely
help, Contractor (save). Nowadays helmets (routinely use) against fast bowlers.
Answer:
How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket
Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the
1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a
match against Barbados in Bridgetown Nari Contractor was seriously injured and
collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head
by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull was fractured. The
entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried.
Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the
Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players.
Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely
used against fast bowlers.
Question 2.
Oil From Seeds
Vegetable oils (make) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the
world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil (produce) from cotton
seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil (use) for cooking,
salad dressing, etc. Olives (shake) from file trees and (gather) up, usually by
hand. The olives (ground) to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats.
Then the mats (layer) up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them
to produce olive oil.
Answer:
Oil From Seeds
Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over
the world from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from
cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for
cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up,
usually by hand. The olives are grounded to a thick paste which is spread onto
special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine which will
gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.
Dictation
(Page 77)
Let the class divide itself into three groups. Let each
group take down one passage that the teacher dictates. Then put the passages
together in the right order.
To Sir, with Love
1. From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it’s been a
long journey. Talking to Nona Walia on the eve of Teacher’s Day, President Dr.
A.PJ. Abdul Kalam talks about life’s toughest lessons learnt and his
mission—being a teacher to the Indian Youth. “A proper education would help
nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among our youth”, says President
Kalam. There’s still a child in him though, and he’s still curious about
learning new things. Life’s a mission for President Kalam.
2. Nonetheless, he remembers his first lesson in life and
how it changed his destiny. “I was studying in Standard V, and must have been
all of 10. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was telling us how birds fly. He
drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, depicting the wings, tail and the
body with the head and then explained how birds soar to the sky. At the end of
the class, I said I didn’t understand. Then he asked the other students if they
had understood, but nobody had understood how birds fly,” he recalls.
3. “That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameswaram
shore” the President continues. “My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw marvellous
formations of them flying and how their wings flapped. Then my teacher asked
us, ‘Where is the birds’ engine and how is it powered?’ I knew then that birds
are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’
dynamics. This was real teaching—a theoretical lesson coupled with a live
practical example. Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was a great teacher. ” That day, my
future was decided. My destiny was changed. I knew my future had to be about
flight and flight systems.
Answer:
For attempt at class level. Paragraphs are put together as given below:
To Sir, With Love
From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it’s been a long
journey. Talking to Nona Walia on the eve of Teacher’s Day, President Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks about life’s toughest lessons learnt, and his
mission—being a teacher to the Indian Youth. “A proper education would help
nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among our youth”, says President
Kalam. There’s still a child in him though, he’s still curious about learning
new things. Life’s a mission for President Kalam.
Nonetheless, he remembers his first lesson in life and how
it changed his destiny. “I was studying in standard V, and must have been all
of 10. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was telling us how birds fly. He
drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, depicting the wings, tail and the
body with the head and then explained how birds soar to the sky. At the end of
the class, I said I did not understand. Then he asked the other students if
they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds fly”, he recalls.
“That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameswaram shore”, the President
continues. “My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw marvellous formations of
them flying and how their wings flapped. Then my teacher asked us, “Where is
the bird’s engine and how is it powered?” I knew then that birds are powered by
their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. This was
real teaching—a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example. Sri
Sivasubramania Iyer was a great teacher. That day, my future was decided. My
destiny was changed. I knew my future had to be about flight and flight
systems.
Speaking
(Page 78)
Here is a topic for you to
1.
think about;
2.
give your opinion on.
Find out what other people think about it. Ask your
friends/seniors/parents to give you their opinion.
‘Career Building Is the Only Goal of Education.’
Or
‘Getting a Good Job Is More Important than Being a Good Human Being.’
You can use the following phrases.
(i) while giving your opinion:
·
I think that…
·
In my opinion …
·
It seems to me that…
·
I am of the view that…
·
As far as I know …
·
If you ask me …
(ii) saying what other people think:
·
According to some …
·
Quite a few think …
·
Some others favour…
·
Thirty per cent of the people
disagree …
·
Fifty per cent of them strongly
feel…
(iii) asking for other’s opinions:
·
What do you think about…
·
What do you think of…
·
What is your opinion about…
·
Do you agree …
·
Does this make you believe …
Career Building is the Only Goal of
Education
The eminent educationists aver that education does not make
a child a bookworm. It sharpens the pupils’ intellect and inspires them to
build their career by getting themselves enrolled in professional courses. In
my opinion, the fundamental goal of education is to help a learner in opting
for a perfect stream and assist him in earning his livelihood.
Answer:
Class Activity.
Writing
(Page 79)
Question 1.
Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940s must
have been like. (Were people rich or poor? Hard working or lazy? Hopeful of
change, or resistant to it?).
Answer:
The people of Rameswaram in 1940s were orthodox and tolerant. It is mentioned
in the story that every child is bom into a specific socio-economic and
emotional environment and trained in certain ways by figures of authority. The
people of Rameswaram were not ready to allow anybody to instigate their
children on the basis of communal intolerance. They were all religious people
and did not like to enjoy the luxuries of life. They had pucca houses made of
limestone and brick. They used to avoid all inessential comforts and were
emotionally attached to the members of their family.
Extract Based Questions (3 marks
each)
Read the passage given below and
answer the questions that follow:
Question 1:
During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony, our family used to
arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from the
temple to the marriage site,jsituated in the middle of the pond called Rama
Tirtha which was near our house.
1.
What was the annual event held in
Rameshwaram ?
2.
Where did the boats carry the idols
of the Lord ?
3.
Find a word from the passage that
means “images of God”. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
1.
The annual event held in Rameshwaram
was Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony.
2.
The boats carried the idols of the
Lord in the middle of the pond on the site of the marriage (or ceremony or
function).
3.
Idols.
Question 2:
During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony, our family used to
arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from the
temple to the marriage site, situated in the middle of the pond called Rama
Tirtha which was near our house. Events from the Ramayana and from the life of
the Prophet were the bedtime stories my mother and grandmother would tell the
children in our family.
1.
How did the speaker’s family help in
Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony?
2.
What light does the passage throw on
speaker’s family ?
3.
Find the word in the passage which
means the same “the place where some event takes place”. (Board
Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
1.
The speaker’s family used to help in
Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony by arranging boats with a special platform for
carrying idols.
2.
The passage shows that the speaker’s
family is a truly secular family which respected other religions also.
3.
Site.
Question 3:
After school, we went home and told our respective parents about the
incident. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher, and in our presence, told the
teacher that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal
intolerance in the minds of innocent children. He bluntly asked the teacher to
either apologize or quit the school and the island. Not only did the teacher
regret his behaviour, but the strong sense of conviction. Lakshmana Sastry
conveyed ultimately reformed this young teacher.
1.
What brought about a change in the
teacher ?
2.
What kind of society did the speaker
live in ?
3.
Find the word/phrase in the passage
which means “strong opinion or belief”.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
1.
The strong sense of conviction that
Lakshmana Sastry conveyed brought about a change in the teacher.
2.
The speaker lived in a society which
was truly secular.
3.
Conviction.
Question 4:
His wife watched us from behind the kitchen door. I wondered whether she had
observed any difference in the way I ate rice, drank water or cleaned the floor
after the meal. When I was leaving his house, Sivasubramaniam invited me to
join him for dinner the next weekend. Observing my habitation, he told me not
to get upset, saying “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have
to be confronted.” When I visited his house next week, Sivasubramaniam Iyer’s
wife took me inside her kitchen and served me food with her own hands.
1.
Why did the teacher’s wife watched
them from behind the kitchen door ?
2.
Why was the narrator hesitant to eat
food, with a Hindu family ?
3.
Find the word from the passage that
means “to deal with” (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
1.
The teacher’s wife believed in the
segregation of different people. She did not want APJ Kalam to enter her
kitchen and serve food. She as a result hid behind kitchen door and saw
everything.
2.
The narrator felt hesitant to eat
food with a Hindu family because he felt he was not welcomed in the family.
3.
Confronted One day, he invited me to
his home for a meal. His wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being
invited to dine in her ritually pure kitchen. She refused to serve me in her
kitchen.
Question 5:
Sivasubramaniam Iyer was not perturbed, nor did he get angry with his wife,
but instead, served me’ with his own hands and sat down beside me to eat his
meal.
1.
Who is “he” and “me” in the first
sentence ?
2.
Why was his wife horrified ?
3.
Find the word from the passage that
means “agitated/upset”. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
Answer:
1.
“He” is Sivasubramania Iyer, and
“me” is Abdul Kalam.
2.
His wife was horrified at the idea
of serving food to a Muslim boy in her kitchen.
3.
Perturbed.
Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks
each)
(About 30-40 words each)
Question 1:
Why did A.P.J. Abdul Kalam call his childhood a secure childhood ?(Board
Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Or
“Kalam’s childhood was a secure one, both materially and emotionally”.
Illustrate the fact.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called his childhood a secure one because he had loving
and caring parents.-He had all necessary things which included food, clothes,
medicine, etc.
Question 2:
Do you think the new teacher deserved the treatment meted out to him ?
Why/why not ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Yes, he deserved the treatment meted out to him. He was spreading the
poison of communal intolerance among the young minds which was a serious crime.
If a teacher indulges in such a mean act he deserves no sympathy.
Question 3:
What was the difference in the attitudes of the science teacher and his
wife towards A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-029)
Answer:
Though his science teacher was an orthodox Hindu, he broke the social
barriers, and mixed with other religions and commjmities. He invited Abdul home
and served him meals and even sat and ate with him. On the contrary, his wife
was conservative and refused to serve Abdul.
Question 4:
How did Second World War give opportunity to Kalam to earn his first wages
?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-030)
Answer:
Kalam’s cousin was a news agent. Train halt at Rameshwaram station was
suspended. So, the newspapers were bundled up and thrown out from a moving
train. Kalam helped his cousin to catch the bundles. He was given money for it.
Question 5:
How does Abdul Kalam describe his mother ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-035)
Answer:
Abdul Kalam describes his mother by saying that she was an ideal wife and a
gentle lady. He learnt from his mother to be gentle and kind. She even used to
feed a lot of outsiders every day.
Question 6:
What did Abdul Kalam’s family do during the annual Shri Sita Ram Kalayanam
Ceremony ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-038)
Answer:
Abdul Kalam’s family arranged for a boat with a special platform for
carrying the idols of Lord Shri Sita Ram from the temple to the marriage sites
situated in the middle of a pond called as Rama Tirtha. His parents even told
him stories from the Ramayana.
Question 7:
What characteristics did Abdul Kalam inherited from his parents ? (Board
Term 1,2012, ELI-043)
Answer:
Abdul Kalam inherited honesty and self discipline from his father and faith
in goodness and kindness from his mother. Like his parents even he respected
all religions.
Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks
each)
(About 80-100 words each)
Question 1:
What do you know about A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s family after reading the lesson
“My childhood”? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
A.PJ. Abdul Kalam tells us that his family was a Tamil middle class family
from Rameshwaram. His father Jainulabdeen was not much educated, wasn’t rich
but was generous, wise, simple man
but very strict and severe. His mother Ashiamma was a generous lady, and used
to feed unlimited numbers of people in their home. Kalam’s family respected all
religions. They took part in Hindu festivals. His mother and grandmother told
him stories from Ramayana. They always showered their love on their children
and never forced their thoughts on them.
Question 2:
What incident took place at the Rameshwaram Elementry School when a new
teacher came to the class ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-023)
Answer:
Kalam used to wear a cap and Ramanandha Sastry wore a sacred thread which
marked him to be a Brahmin. When the new teacher came he could not tolerate a
Hindu priest’s son sitting with a Muslim boy. He ordered Kalam to go and sit on
the back bench. This made Ramanandha sad. Abdul started to sit in the last row
but it left a bad impression on Abdul. Both the kids narrated the incident to
their parents. As a result the teacher was rebuked and reprimanded for
spreading communalism and hatred among children.
Question 3:
How did Abdul Kalam earn his “first wages” ? How did he feel at that time ?(Board
Term 1,2012, ELI-024)
Answer:
Kalam was only 8 years old when the second world war broke out in 1939. Then
there was a great demand for tamarind seeds. Abdul used to collect those seeds
and sell them in the market. His cousin Shamsuddin distributed newspapers. The
train would not stop at Rameshwaram and the bundles of newspapers were thrown
from the running train. Abdul was employed by his cousin to collect them. This
way he earned his first wages. He felt very proud on earning his first wage.
Question 4:
“Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be
confronted.” What system is being refer in the sentence from the chapter “My
Childhood”? What are such problems ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
System means system of discrimination on the basis of religion. The system
includes the narrow-mindedness and poison of social inequality and communal
intolerance. The Brahmins did not allow Muslims to enter their kitchen. The
science teacher – a rebel by nature, invited Kalam to his home and proved that
if one is determined to face problems and change the system, he will definitely
succeed. Though, such indifferences come in everybody’s life but a person should
have a broader outlook and overcome the obstacles.
Question 5:
How was the Science teacher Siva Subramaniam Iyer, though an orthodox.
Brahmin with a very conservative wife, a friend of Abdul Kalam. Give incidents
to support your answer.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
The Science teacher, Siva Subramaniam Iyer, wanted to break the social barriers
between the Hindus and the Muslims. He wanted Kalam to be very highly educated
as he recognized his intelligence. One day, he invited him over to a meal. His
orthodox wife was totally horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy dining in her
ritually pure kitchen. He did not mind anything said by his very conservative
wife. He rather served the food to Abdul by his own hands. He also sat with him
and dined together as well as invited him over again for another meal the
coming weekend. Thus, this shows that he was a friend of Abdul Kalam even
though Kalam was a Muslim and he himself was an orthodox Brahmin.
Value Based Question (4 marks)
Question 1:
‘Childhood’ is the formative period of a child’s life. The lessons learnt
here always stays with a person. Comment on it in the light of the lesson
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Answer:
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is one of the finest scientists in our country and was also
our eleventh President. From his autobiography “Wings of Fire” it is amply
clear that lessons learnt in our childhood not only shape our personality but
also decide the kind of person we become. He learnt the lessons of religious
tolerance, honesty and self-discipline early in his life. These qualities
stayed with him throughout his life and have helped to make him one of the
finest President of our country with so many diverse cultures.
