Class 9 English Question Answers - How I taught My Grandmother to Read

Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.

Ques 1. “I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations.”

(a) Who is ‘Her’ referred to here?

Ans: 'Her' refers to the narrator’s grandmother.

(b) Which quality of ‘her’ was revealed to the narrator at this moment?

Ans: This reveals her helplessness because in the absence of the narrator she was unable to read the next episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’.

(c) What was the reason which made ‘her’ cry?

Ans: She cried because being uneducated she was unable to read the next episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’ in the absence of her granddaughter.

Ques 2. ‘We would eat and play endlessly, savouring the freedom.”
 (a) ‘We’ here refers to whom?
 Ans: We here refers to the narrator and her cousins.

(b) Which occasion is being talked about here?
 Ans: A wedding ceremony in the neighbouring village of the narrator is being talked about here.

(c) What led to ‘savouring freedom’ ?
 Ans: The narrator and her cousins enjoyed the freedom they experienced in the wedding ceremony in their neighbouring village.

Ques 3. “She bent down and touched my feet. I was surprised and taken aback.”

(a) Who bent down to touch narrator’s feet?
 Ans: Her grandmother bent down to touch narrator’s feet.

(b) What was the ‘feeling within’ when ‘she’ touched the girl’s feet?
 Ans: It was the feeling of respect for a teacher who had taught her to read Kannada alphabet.

(c) What had the speaker done ?
Ans: The speaker had taught her grandmother to read Kannada alphabets so that she was able to read ‘Kashi Yatre’.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Ques 1. Why could the grandmother not be educated? Give reasons.
 Ans: When the grandmother was young, education for girls was not considered as essential, so she was never sent to the school. Moreover, she got married at a very young age and had a busy life. Later, when she had grandchildren, she just felt happy cooking and feeding them.
So, her education was never thought of by anyone.

Ques 2. For what did the grandmother set Dussehra festival as a deadline?
 Ans: In the absence of her granddaughter, the grandmother had felt too dependent and helpless as she could not read the next episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’. Due to this miserable feeling, she decided to learn the Kannada alphabet for which she kept Dussehra as the deadline, by then she should be able to read ‘Kashi Yatre’ on her own.

Ques 3. Explain the statement, “I knew then that my student had passed with flying colours” in the context of the lesson.
 Ans: When the granddaughter gave the novel to her grandmother, she opened it and read immediately the title ‘Kash Yatre’ by Triveni and the publisher’s name. The author knew then that her student had passed with flying colours, i.e., she had been successful at learning the Kannada alphabet.

Ques 4. The grandmother remained steadfast in her decision despite her granddaughter’s mockery? Why?
Ans: In spite of her granddaughter’s mockery, the grandmother remained steadfast in her decision to study because she believed that if one is determined for a good cause, one can overcome any obstacle irrespective of the age. She was determined to learn the alphabet, no matter how much hard work she would have to do for it.

Ques 5. Describe the grandmother’s desperation when she was not able to read 'Kashi Yatre'.
Ans: When the grandmother was not able to read ‘Kashi Yatre’, she felt a vacuum in her life. She was a tough lady and had never cried even in the most difficult situations,
but she cried at the helplessness of not being able to read. This desperation led her to decide upon learning the alphabet, even though she was sixty-two-years old.

Ques 6. But I know it was not possible. If only I was educated enough..... Describe the circumstances that made the grandmother realize the importance of  education.

Ans: When grandmother was young, education for girls was not considered as essential, so she never went to school.
Once her granddaughter presented her ‘Kashi Yatre’ which had been published as a serial in a magazine. She identified herself with the protagonist. Her granddaughter used to read the story to her. Once her granddaughter was away. She was unable to read ‘Kashi Yatre’, she felt a vacuum in her life. Then she realized the importance of education.

Ques 7. What major Hindu belief did Triveni revolve her story around?

Ans: The story revolves around a belief, prevailing among most of the Hindus, that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshawara is the ultimate ‘Nirvana’. ‘Kashi Yatre’ is a story of an old lady’s struggle who had a strong desire to go to Kashi but could not do so because she spent the money she had saved for the purpose of helping a poor girl getting married.