Class 9 English Chapter 6 Important Question Answers - My Childhood

Q1: Why did A.P.J. Abdul Kalam call his childhood a secure one? 
Ans: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam considered his childhood secure because he was blessed with loving and caring parents. His family provided all essential needs, such as food, clothing, and healthcare, ensuring he grew up without any material or emotional hardships.

Q2: Do you think the new teacher deserved the treatment he received? Why/why not? 
Ans: Yes, the new teacher deserved the treatment he received. He promoted communal intolerance, which is harmful to young minds. A teacher engaging in such behavior, which fosters division, deserves no sympathy.

Q3: How did the attitudes of the science teacher and his wife differ towards A.P.J. Abdul Kalam? 
Ans: While the science teacher was an open-minded person who embraced other religions, inviting Kalam into his home and dining with him, his wife was more conservative and initially refused to serve Kalam due to religious differences.

Q4: How did the Second World War provide Kalam an opportunity to earn his first wages? 
Ans: During the Second World War, the train halt at Rameswaram was suspended, so Kalam’s cousin, a news agent, had to collect newspapers thrown from a moving train. Kalam helped his cousin by catching the bundles, and in return, he earned his first wages.

Q5: How does Abdul Kalam describe his mother? 
Ans: Abdul Kalam described his mother as a gentle and ideal woman. He admired her kindness and her daily habit of feeding numerous outsiders. From her, he learned the values of kindness and compassion.

Q6: What role did Abdul Kalam's family play during the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony? 
Ans: Kalam’s family was responsible for arranging a boat with a special platform to carry the idols of Lord Shri Sita Rama from the temple to the marriage site in the middle of a pond called Rama Tirtha. His parents also shared stories from the Ramayana with him.

Q7: What characteristics did Abdul Kalam inherit from his parents? 
Ans: Abdul Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and kindness from his mother. Like his parents, he respected all religions.

Q8: Why did Sivasubramania Iyer invite Kalam for dinner again the next weekend? 
Ans: Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam again to dinner because he wanted to mend the situation after his wife refused to serve Kalam the first time. He was determined to change her mindset and encouraged Kalam to face such challenges while trying to reform social norms.

Q9: What made Sivasubramania Iyer's wife change her mind? 
Ans: After observing Kalam eating from behind the kitchen door, Sivasubramania Iyer's wife realized that there was no difference in how he ate. This realization prompted her to change her attitude, and the next time, she served Kalam herself.

Q10: How did Abdul Kalam’s parents react when he expressed his desire to leave home? 
Ans: Abdul Kalam's father supported his decision and allowed him to leave home, explaining to his concerned mother that a child, like a seagull, must eventually learn to fly on its own. His father's wisdom reassured his mother.

Q11: Describe A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s family based on the lesson "My Childhood." 

Ans: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s family was a Tamil middle-class family in Rameshwaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was not highly educated but was a wise and generous man, known for his simplicity and strictness. His mother, Ashiamma, was equally generous, often feeding many people. They respected all religions and participated in Hindu festivals. His mother and grandmother narrated stories from the Ramayana, and his parents' love and care shaped Kalam’s values without forcing any specific ideology on him.

Q12: What happened when a new teacher arrived at Rameshwaram Elementary School? 
Ans: When the new teacher arrived, he was disturbed by the sight of a Brahmin boy, Ramanadha Sastry, sitting with a Muslim boy, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He asked Kalam to sit on the back bench, which deeply upset both boys, especially Ramanadha. The incident left a lasting impact on Kalam. When the boys reported the matter to their parents, the teacher was reprimanded for promoting communal discrimination and hatred.

Q13: How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages, and how did he feel? 
Ans: Abdul Kalam earned his first wages during World War II by collecting tamarind seeds and selling them. Additionally, he helped his cousin, who was a newspaper distributor, by retrieving bundles of newspapers thrown from a moving train at Rameswaram. Earning his first wages filled him with pride and a sense of accomplishment.

Q14: “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.” What does "system" refer to, and what are these problems? 
Ans: The "system" refers to the discriminatory practices based on religion and social status. The problems include communal intolerance, narrow-mindedness, and social inequality. The science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, challenged this system by inviting Kalam, a Muslim, to dine in his kitchen, despite his conservative wife's objections. He believed that anyone attempting to change societal norms must be prepared to face resistance and challenges.

Q15: How did Sivasubramania Iyer, an orthodox Brahmin, show friendship towards Abdul Kalam despite religious differences? 
Ans: Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin with a conservative wife, displayed great friendship and openness toward Abdul Kalam. He invited Kalam for a meal, personally served him food, and ate alongside him, defying social norms. When his wife refused to serve Kalam, Iyer remained undeterred and invited Kalam again the following weekend, determined to break the barriers of religious discrimination. This demonstrated his deep respect for Kalam’s potential, despite their religious differences.