CHAPTER

MY

Summry
6 CHILDHOOD

Abdul Kalam was born in a middle class Muslim family in Rameshwaram. He had
-A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Scan to know more

three brothers and one sister. His father was a generous and wise man. His mother was about this chapter
a hospitable lady. They lived in their ancestral house on Mosque Street. His father lived
a simple life but provided all necessities to his children. His parents were neither much
educated nor rich, yet were generous and kind. Many outsiders ate with the family every
day. Kalam inherited the qualities of honesty and self - discipline from his parents. NCERT Audio
Kalam was only 8 years old when the Second World War broke out in 1939. Then, there was
a greatdemand for tamarind seeds. Abdul used to collect those seeds and sell them in the
market. His cousin Shamsuddin distributed newspapers and employed him as a helping hand. This way he
earned his first wages. He inherited faith in goodness and kindness from his parents.
Kalam's family respected allreligions. They took part in the Hindu festivals as well. His mother and grandmother
told stories from the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet to the children at bed time. Kalam had three friends
Ramanandha Sastry, the son of a high priest of the Rameshwaram temple, Aravindam and Sivaprakasan. They
had different religious backgrounds and upbringing. They never felt any difference among themselves. They
adopted different professions when they grew up.
One day when Abdul was in 5th standard at the Rameshwaram Elementary School, a new teacher came to
their class. He used to wear a cap, which set him apart as a Muslim. Kalam always sat in the front row- next to
Ramanandha Sastry, but the teacher could not tolerate a Hindu Priest's son sitting with a Muslim boy. Kalam
was asked to sit on the back bench. Both the friends felt very sad and told their parents about the
school. Ramanandha's father called the teacher and told him not to spread the poison of
incident after
communal hatred and
social inequality in the minds of innocent children. He told the teacher to either apologise or leave the school
and city. The teacher apologised and reformed himself.
Once Abdul's science teacher invited him to dinner at his home. His wife refused to serve
Kalam dinner in her
kitchen as she believed in religious segregation. The teacher himself served him food and sat
eat his own meal. His wife observed from behind the door and did not beside him to
find any change in Abdul's behaviout
After dinner, the teacher again invited him to join them next weekend. This time the
the kitchen with her owWn hands. wife served food inside
When the Second World War had ended, Kalam asked his father to permit him to
study. His father knew that Kalamn would have to go away to grow up and so he go to Ramanthapuram o
hesitant wife that they should give their children their love but, not force permitted him. He told hs
their thoughts on them.

Short Answer Type Questions (2&3 marks each)

Q. 1. Why did A.PJ. Abdul Kalam call his childhood a secure

childhood? (Board Term-, 2012)
OR
"Kalam's childhood was a secure one, both materially and
emotionally'. Illustrate the fact.
Ans. A.PI, Abdul Kalam called his childhood a secure one (Board Term-1, 2012)
because he had loving and caring parents. He had a
necessary things which included food, clothes, medicine, etc.
AI O. 2. How didSecond World War give
opportunity to Kalam to earn his first wages ? (Board Term-1, 2012)
OR
How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages ?
(NCERI|
Ans. Kalam's cousin was a news agent. The train halt at
were bundled up and thrown out from a moving train.Rameshwaram station was suspended. So, the newspae
given money for it. Kalam helped his cousin to catch the bundles. He w
TERATURE TEXTBOOKS |175
ANat characteristics did Abdul Kalam inherit from his parents ? (Board Term-I, 2012)
0.3. Abdul Kalam inherited honesty and self discipline from his father and faith in goodness and kindness rom
Ans.
nother. Like his parents even he respected all religions.
Q.4.
What was the task of the narrator's family during the annual Shri Rama Kalyanam ceremony
(Board Term-I 2015)

Value Point:
Ans.
The narrator´s family used to arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from tne
village temple to the marriage site. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015)
Detailed Answer:
The narrator's fanmily used to help in the ceremony by arranging boats with a special platform for carrying
jdols of the Lord from the village temple to the marriage site.
What did Abdul Kalam's family do during the annual Shri Sita Ram Kalayanam Ceremony ?
0.5. (Board Term-I, 2012)
Abdul Kalam's family arranged for a boat with aspecial platform for carrying the idols of Lord Shri Sita Ram
Ans. Tirtha. His parents even
from the temple to the marriage sites situated in the middle of a pond called Rama
as
told him stories from the Ramayana.
(Board Term-I, 2016)
0.6. What did the new teacher in the elementary Schooldo ?
Muslim boy. So he sent the narrator to
Ans. The new teacher could not stomach a hindu prieses son sitting witha (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
sit at the last bench.
him ? Why/why not ?
Q.7. Do you think the new teacher deserved the treatment meted out to (Board Term-I, 2012)
the poison of communal intolerance
Ans. Yes, he deserved the treatment meted out to him. He was spreading mean act, he deserves no
teacher indulges in such a
among the young minds, which was a serious crime. If a
sympathy. teacher and his wife towards A.PJ. Abdul Kalam ?
Q.8. What was the difference in the attitude of the science (Board Term-I, 2012)
religions
Ans. Though his science teacher was an orthodox Hindu, he broke the social barriers, and mixed with other On the
and even sat and ate with him.
andcommunities. He invited Abdul home arnd served him meals
to serve Abdul.
contrary, his wife was conservative and refused (Board Term-I, 2012)
mother ?
Q.9. How does Abdul Kalam describe his wife and a gentle lady. He learnt from his
saying that she was an ideal
Ans. Abdul Kalam describes his mother by outsiders every day.
a lot of
mother to be gentle and kind. She even used to feed

Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 5 marks each)

Kalam's heart when he recalls earning for the Grst

Q.1. What kind of emotions and feelings arise in Abdul
time ? Write in about 100-120 words. OR
?
wages' ? How did he feel at that time
How did Abdul Kalamn earn his 'first
Ans. Value Points :
sense of freedom, achievement
appreciation and respect
" joy and pride
confidence
Detailed Answer : nat 3
World War broke out in 1939, There was a Shamsuu,i,di
When Kalam was onlv 8 vears old, the Second seeds and sell them in the market. His cousin
for tamarind seds. Abdul used to collect those not stop at Rameshwara
distributed newspapers and employed him as from his helping hànd. The train would employed by his cmmin
were thrown the running traln. Abdul was
and the bundles of newspapers wages, he telt very Drud and
he earned hus tirstmade
first wages. When contidence
collect them In this wayhe earned his boosted up his self and him ba
achievement
asense of freedom. This Elementary School when a new teacher came to
ha,
Q.2. What incidenttook place at the Rameshwaram
Ramanandha Shastri wore a sacred thread which marked him to be a Brahmin.
Ans. Kalam us used to wear a cap and could not tolerate a Hindu priese's son sitting with a Muslim boy. He ordered
he
When the new teacher came, back bench. This made Ramanandha sad. Abdul started sitting in the last row but it
the
Kalam to goand sit on Abdul. Both the kids narrated the incident to their parents. As a result the teacher was
left a bad impression on communalism and hatred among children
rebuked and reprimanded for spreading
 & Literature, Class -IX
176 Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Question Bank, English Language
with a very conservative
Q.3. How was the Science teacher Siva Subramaniam Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin
wife, a friend of Abdul Kalam ? Give incidents to support your answer.
OR
/
Abdul Kalam's Science Teacher, set many examples and trends for others. Do you agree 7 Why/ Why not
Write in about 80-100 words.
Ans. Value Points :
had freedom from bias /stereotype
love and natural respect
appreciation and intercultural harmony.
Detailed Answer:
The science teacher had freedom from bias and stereotype life. He had love and mutual respect for everyone.
Appreciation for one another and intercultural harnony is the basic need forthe unity and integration of the
country. This was proved by the science teacher. 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
recognised 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 id not mind anything said by his very
conservativewife. He rather served the food to Abdul with his own hands. He also sat with him and dined
together as well as invited him again for anothes meal the coming weekend. Thus, this shows that he was a
friend of AbdulKalam, even though Kalam was a Muslim and he himself was an orthodox Brahmin.
Q.4. Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.' What system is being referred
in the sentence from the chapter My Childhood'? What are such problems ?
Ans. 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 homne and proved that if one is
determined to face problems and change the system, he will definitely succeed. Though, such differences come
in everybody's life but a person should have a broader outlook to overcome the obstacles.
Q.5. What do you know about A.PJ. Abdul Kalam's family after reading the lesson My childhood' ?
OR
How does the author describe: (1) his father, (ii) his mother, (ii) himself ? [NCERT]
Ans. A.PI. Abdul Kalam tells us that his family was a middle class Tamil family from Ramneshwaram. His father
zainul-abid-en 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 number of people in their
alam's family respected all religions.They took partin Hindu festivals. His mother and grandmother
used to tell him stories from Ramayana. They always showered their love on their children and never forced
their thoughts on them.