Answer these questions in One or two sentences each.

1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house ?

 Ans. Abdul Kalam’s house was in the Mosque Street in Rameswaram town of Tamil Nadu.

2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of ? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans. Dinamani is the name of a daily newspaper, The author traced the stories of the Second World war in the headlines of the newspaper.

3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends ? What did they later become ?

Ans. Itamanadha Sastri. Aravindan and Sivaprakasan were Abdul Kalam’s school friends.Ramanadha took over the priesthood of the Rameswaram temple from his father. Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for the visiting pilgrims and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways .

 4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

Ans. Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin Samsuddin in distributing newspapers.

5. Had he earned any money before that ? In what way ?

Ans. lie had earned money by selling tamarind seeds in the market during the starting days of the Second World War .



2)-Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

Answer 

1. i) Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen was not a wealthy or educated person. However, he was an honest and generous man, who possessed great innate wisdom. He was self-disciplined and avoided all inessential luxuries.

 (ii)  Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma was an ideal helpmate to her husband. She believed in goodness and profound kindness, and fed many people everyday.

(iii) The author describes himself as a short boy with undistinguished looks, who had a secure childhood. He is an honest and self-disciplined person, who believes in goodness and deep kindness.

2. He says that he inherited honesty and self discipline from his father. He further says that he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.

3)-
(i) He mentions two social groups of Rameshwaram – orthodox Brahmins and Muslims. Yes, these groups were easily identifiable. For example, by the way they dressed; Kalam wore a cap which marked him as a Muslim. Ramanadha Sastry wore a seared thread which marked him a Hindu.

(ii) No, they were not only aware of their differences but also they naturally shared friendships and experiences.Kalam’s mother and grandmother would tell the children of his family bedtime stories about the events from the Ramayana and from the life of the prophet. During the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, his 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 his house.

(iii) The people who were very aware of the differences among them, were the young teacher who joined the Rameshwaram elementary school and came to teach Kalam’s class, the fifth standard; and his science teacher’s conservative wife who refused to serve Kalam in her ritually pull kitchen. Those who tried to bridge these differences were Kalam’s science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer who invited, served and dined with him to break social barriers so that people could mingle easily; and Lakshmana Sastry who conveyed the strong sense of conviction to the new young teacher to reform him.

(iv) The first incident to show that how differences can be created is that when the new young teacher found a Muslim student sitting beside a Hindu student, he asked Kalam to sit in the last raw. His friend Ramanadha Sastry was heartbreaken. They informed their respective parents Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher and conveyed the strong sense of conviction which ultimately reformed him.The other incident shows that how differences can be resolved. The author’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin with a very conservative tried to bridge these differences.People can change their attitudes by observing no difference in the way of Hindu’s and a Muslim’s eating of meals, drinking of water and cleaning of the floor.

2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
(ii) What did his father say to this?
(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Answer

(i) Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram for further studies. He wanted to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.

(ii) Kalam's father said that he knew that one day Kalam had to go away to grow. He gave him the analogy of a seagull that flies across the sun alone and without a nest. He then quoted Khalil Gibran to Kalam's mother saying that her children were not their own children. They were the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through their parents, but not from them. They may give them their love, but not their thoughts as the children have their own thoughts.

(iii) Abdul Kalam’s father’s words bear great meanings. First, he inspired his son to go ahead above giving the example of the seagull. Secondly, he explained Kalam’s mother to give his son opportunities to get higher education and to make progress. I think he spoke those words to encourage Abdul Kalam and to control the emotional attachment of his wife for Kalam.

NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 - My Childhood, Class 9, English

My Childhood is a chapter from the English textbook of Class 9. It is written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, who was a renowned Indian scientist and former President of India. The chapter highlights the author's childhood experiences and the lessons he learned during that period.

Summary:
The chapter begins with the author's reminiscence of his childhood in the town of Rameswaram. He describes his family, consisting of his parents, three brothers, and a sister. The author's family was not financially well-off, but they instilled values of honesty, discipline, and hard work in him.

The author shares anecdotes from his childhood, such as his fascination with flight and his desire to become a pilot. He talks about the difficulties he faced in pursuing his dream due to his family's financial constraints. However, his parents' unwavering support and his own determination led him to overcome these obstacles.

Key Points:
1. Family Background: The author narrates his family background and the values he imbibed from his parents.
2. Childhood Experiences: The author shares his childhood experiences, including his interest in flight and his dream of becoming a pilot.
3. Financial Constraints: The author discusses the financial challenges he faced in pursuing his dreams and how he overcame them.
4. Parental Support: The author emphasizes the importance of parental support in shaping a child's future.
5. Determination and Hard Work: The chapter highlights the author's perseverance and hard work in achieving his goals.

Importance of the Chapter:
This chapter is significant as it provides insights into the author's early life and the challenges he encountered. It emphasizes the importance of values, determination, and parental support in shaping one's destiny. The chapter also inspires students to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals, regardless of their circumstances.

Conclusion:
"My Childhood" is an inspiring chapter from the Class 9 English textbook. It showcases the author's humble beginnings and his journey towards becoming a successful scientist and President. The chapter teaches valuable life lessons and motivates students to overcome obstacles and strive for success.