Textbook Solutions: How I Taught My Grandmother to Read | New Pathways Class 6: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

Reading 1

Q1.
Ans:

(a) CHARACTERS

• The story features a young girl (the narrator), her grandmother Krishtakka, and the popular Kannada writer Triveni.

(b) SETTING

• The story is set in a village in north Karnataka, where the young girl stays with her grandparents.

(c) THE PROBLEM

• The problem in the story is that the grandmother, Krishtakka, is illiterate and cannot read. She is eager to read a serial story in the Kannada weekly magazine, Karmaveera, called "Kashi Yatre" by Triveni.

(d) THE PROBLEM COMPLICATES

• The problem complicates when the young girl goes away for a week, leaving her grandmother unable to read and understand the magazine.

(e) THE SOLUTIONS

• The young girl decides to teach her grandmother to read, and with determination and hard work, the grandmother learns to read in a short period. She becomes independent and can now read novels confidently.

2. Answer the following questions. 
(a).
Ans: Triveni was a popular writer for two reasons: her writing style was easy to read and very convincing, and her stories dealt with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people, making them interesting.

(b).
Ans: The story in Karmaveera was "Kashi Yatre" by Triveni. It was about an old lady's ardent desire to go to Kashi (Varanasi) and her belief that worshipping Lord Vishweshwara there would bring ultimate punya. The grandmother identified with the story because, like the protagonist, she had never been to Kashi, and she shared the old lady's deep desire to go there.

(c).
Ans: In those days, weddings were considered great events because they were significant occasions of celebration and joy. The children enjoyed themselves thoroughly during weddings because they could eat and play endlessly while the elders were busy with the wedding preparations and ceremonies.

(d).
Ans: The grandmother, Krishtakka, could not pursue her education because in those days, people did not consider education essential for girls. She got married at a young age and had children, which kept her busy with family responsibilities.

(e).
Ans: The grandmother felt dependent and helpless because she could not read, and she desperately wanted to understand the contents of the magazine "Karmaveera," specifically the story "Kashi Yatre" by Triveni. She wished to be independent and not rely on others to read to her.

(f).
Ans: The narrator rewarded the grandmother by secretly buying a copy of "Kashi Yatre" when it was published as a novel. The grandmother was able to read it independently, which was her goal. As a sign of respect and gratitude, the grandmother gave the narrator a gift of a frock material, and the narrator returned the gesture by touching the grandmother's feet in a traditional gesture of respect.

(g).
Ans: The grandmother showed her gratitude towards her granddaughter by touching the granddaughter's feet and explaining that she was doing so as a mark of respect for her teacher. She acknowledged that the narrator had taught her to read with affection and dedication, allowing her to read novels confidently in a short period.

Reading 2

1. 
Ans: The important message conveyed by the story of "Kashi Yatre" is the value of selflessness and the idea that the happiness of others, like the orphan girl, can be more important than personal aspirations, such as worshipping Lord Vishweshwara at Kashi. It emphasizes the significance of acts of kindness and sacrificing personal desires for the well-being of others.

2. 
Ans:

3. How does the story bring out
(a).
Ans: The story portrays an ideal relationship between the granddaughter and grandmother through the granddaughter's willingness to teach her grandmother to read. It demonstrates love, respect, and the passing of knowledge from one generation to another.

(b).
Ans: The story highlights the value of education by showing how Krishtakka, the grandmother, recognizes the importance of being able to read and sets a goal to learn the Kannada alphabet. It also emphasizes that learning has no age limit and that education can empower individuals to become independent and fulfill their aspirations.

4. 
Ans: The preference for the grandmother or the granddaughter is a subjective matter, and different readers may have varying opinions. However, one might like the grandmother because of her determination to learn at an older age and her humility in touching her granddaughter's feet as a mark of respect. On the other hand, someone might like the granddaughter for her dedication to teaching her grandmother and for secretly buying the novel as a gift to celebrate her grandmother's achievement.