Extra questions Answers - How I taught My Grandmother to Read

Ques 1. Write a note on the transport system in the author's childhood days.
Ans: In the author's childhood the transport system was slow and unreliable. The bus that brought magazines and newspapers reached the village very late; the villagers received the morning paper only in the afternoon and the weekly magazine usually arrived a day late.

Ques 2. Why was Triveni a popular writer? or What made Triveni a popular writer?
Ans: Triveni was a very popular writer in Kannada because she wrote in a simple and convincing style. Her novels examined complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people, and she presented these situations in a way that held readers' interest.

Ques 3. Grandmother had a passion for literature, yet she did not read the story herself. Why? or Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story?
Ans: Although she loved literature, she did not read by herself because she was illiterate. In her youth education for girls was not considered important. She was married at a young age and became busy with household responsibilities, so she never had the opportunity to learn to read.

Ques 4. Describe the theme of 'Kashi Yatre'. or What is described in the novel, 'Kashi Yatre?
Ans: The main theme of the novel 'Kashi Yatre' is unselfishness. The protagonist plans to use her savings to visit Kashi, yet when she learns that an orphan girl needs money for her marriage she gives away all her savings so the orphan may be married, sacrificing her own long-cherished desire.

Ques 5. Describe grandmother's passion for literature. or 'Kashi Yatre' was grandmother's favourite novel. Why? or Give two reasons to show why 'Kashi Yatre' was grandmother's favourite novel?
Ans: 'Kashi Yatre' was her favourite novel for two main reasons. First, she identified with the novel's central character because both had a deep desire to visit Kashi but never managed to go. Second, she enjoyed discussing the novel with her friends at the temple and was eager to know how the plot developed in each new episode.

Ques 6. Why did grandmother identify herself with the novel's protagonist? or Why did the grandmother identify herself with the main character of the novel 'Kashi Yatre'? or How could the grandmother relate herself to the central character of the story 'Kashi Yatre?
Ans: The protagonist of 'Kashi Yatre' was an elderly woman who longed to visit Kashi but never did. The grandmother had a similar unfulfilled longing to visit Kashi. This shared wish made her identify closely with the novel's central character.

Ques 7. Why do you think that the women at the temple discuss the latest episode of the story 'Kashi Yatre'?
Ans: After hearing each episode, the women at the temple debated the latest developments because they could relate to the protagonist's feelings and problems. In addition, Triveni's clear and appealing style drew readers in and made her episodes a common topic of conversation.

Ques 8. The novel's protagonist longed to go to Kashi. Yet she donated all her savings for the marriage of an orphan girl. Why?
Ans: Although the protagonist wanted to visit Kashi, she gave away her savings when she discovered an orphan girl could not get married for lack of money. She felt the orphan girl's immediate happiness and need were more important than fulfilling her personal wish to worshipp Lord Vishweshwara at Kashi.

Ques 9. Write a note on the wedding the author attended.
Ans: Weddings at that time were lively community events. The author and her friends enjoyed themselves freely while the elders were occupied. They ate, played and celebrated for days; although the author planned to stay only a couple of days, she ended up remaining for a week because the occasion was so enjoyable.

Ques 10. Why was a grandmother in tears? or Which incident made the grandmother realise the importance of education? or Why did the grandmother feel so helpless when her granddaughter went to attend a marriage? 
Ans: When her granddaughter went away to attend a marriage, nobody was available to read the next episode of her favourite novel to the grandmother. She could only look at the pictures and long to hear the words she could not read. Too embarrassed to ask others to read for her, she felt helpless and dependent, and this frustration brought her to tears. When her granddaughter returned she found the grandmother crying.

Ques 11. What was grandmother's reaction when she got the magazine in her granddaughter's absence?
Ans: She looked at the picture that illustrated the episode of 'Kashi Yatre' but could not read the printed words. She repeatedly ran her fingers over the pages, wishing she could understand the text. She even thought of going to her granddaughter. Too proud to ask someone else to read for her, she realised painfully that she was illiterate and that money meant little if she remained dependent on others.

Ques 12. What provoked the grandmother to decide to learn the Kannada alphabet?
Ans: On the day the granddaughter went away for a wedding and could not read the magazine to her, the grandmother felt the sharp pain of helplessness. She understood that if she could read, she would not have to depend on anyone. Upset and determined, she resolved to learn the Kannada alphabet so she could read for herself.

Ques 13. Why did grandmother remain illiterate? or What reason did grandmother give for women not being educated? or Why did the grandmother never go to school?
Ans: When she was young she lost her mother and had no one to guide her. Her father was busy and remarried. In that era education for girls was not regarded as essential, so she never went to school. Soon she was married and her life became centred on household duties and raising children.

Ques 14. Why did the author grow sarcastic after learning that her grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet? or How did the narrator tease her grandmother when she expressed her desire to read?
Ans: When the grandmother announced she wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet, the author found the idea surprising and laughed. She was unused to thinking of an elderly woman as a learner. Her surprise turned into light sarcasm and she unintentionally teased her grandmother about the plan.

Ques 15. How did grandmother react to her granddaughter's sarcasm?
Ans: Grandmother did not lose her temper, nor did she feel hurt. She did not take offence. She smiled and replied that determination for a good cause helps one overcome obstacles. Her calm confidence ,determination, and logic convinced the granddaughter that there was no age bar for learning.Besides, she promised to work hard convinced her granddaughter that age was no barrier to learning. She then kept her promise and succeeded.

Ques 16. Describe the grandmother as a student. or Why did the narrator call her 'Avva', a wonderful student? or Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?
Ans: As a student the grandmother proved exceptional. She was steady, hardworking and quick to learn. Very soon she could read, write, recite and repeat the alphabet. Her diligence paid off: she learned to read independently and could recognise the title 'Kashi Yatre' and the publisher's name when her granddaughter later gave her the novel.

Ques 17. Why did she touch the author's feet? or The grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter. How did she justify this gesture of hers?

Ans: She touched her granddaughter's feet to show respect. According to tradition it is proper to honour a teacher, regardless of the teacher's age or gender. The author had taught her with great care and affection, and the grandmother wished to express her gratitude and respect for that guidance.

Ques 18. Write a note on the relationship of Krishtakka and Sudha Murty.
Ans: They shared a warm and understanding relationship. Sudha Murty read the stories to her, When she found Krishtakka in tears, she grew worried. She tried to find out the reason. She laughed at Krishtakka, but got no thrashing in return. She taught Krishtakka whole-heartedly, making her independent.

Ques 19. Which of the following traits would be relevant to the character of the narrator's grandmother? (i) Determined (ii) Selfish (iii) Emotional (iv) Mean
Ans: She was determined. At sixty-two she resolved to learn the Kannada alphabet and worked hard until she succeeded. Her behaviour shows commitment and perseverance rather than selfishness, meanness or mere sentimentality. She did an amazing amount of homework. She could read, repeat, recite and write. Finally, she succeeded in making her dream come true.

Ques 20. Justify the title of the story.  
Ans:  Sudha Murty taught her grandmother, enabling her to read on her own, So, she gave her account the current title ie. 'How I Taught My Grandmother to Read'. The title is very apt as it indicates how the author taught her grandmother who remained illiterate till sixty-two years. It also reflects the author's ability to teach her old grandmother. 

Ques 21. Krishtakka is firm to learn the Kannada alphabet though her granddaughter teases her. Krishtakka just smiled and said, "For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody, but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar." Her weak faculties do not disturb her at all and she is overpowered by her determination and self-motivation. Motivated by her story, you decide to write a letter to your younger brother, who has indulged in disreputable activities at the cost of his studies, about the value of determination and self-motivation.
Ans: 16, ABC Street

 Agra
 12th December 20XX 
Dear Piyush, 

How are you? Mother told me yesterday that you have been neglecting your studies, and that is why you were sent to the hostel. If you become self-motivated and determined, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. I recently read an account called "How I Taught My Grandmother to Read". Its protagonist was a sixty-two-year-old woman who decided to learn the alphabet and, by working very hard, succeeded. If she could achieve this at an advanced age, you can certainly do well while still young and energetic. Please set a clear goal, give up time-wasting activities, and aim to pass with good marks. I await a positive reply. 

Yours affectionately 
Rajeev

Ques 22. Imagine you are Krishtakka. You love literature but can't read it, as you are illiterate. One day, you regret your illiteracy and decide to learn. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings.
Ans: Wednesday 11th March 20XX, 11 pm 

Dear Diary, 

Since childhood I have loved literature, but I could not continue my studies after I lost my mother. At that time people did not consider education for girls important, and I married young and became busy with family duties. I developed a deep affection for the novel 'Kashi Yatre', but I had to rely on my granddaughter Sudha to read it aloud. I now regret not having learned to read earlier. I felt dependent and helpless when I could not read by myself. Today I have resolved to learn to read and I have chosen Sudha as my teacher.

Krishtakka

Ques 23. Imagine you are Sudha Murty. Your grandparents want to study despite their weak faculties and they have chosen you as their teacher. You are happy as well as confused. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings.

Ans: Wednesday 11th March 20XX, 11 pm 
Dear Diary, 

My grandparents want to study at this age. They are having weak faculties. Teaching older learners requires patience and careful attention, and I am unsure where to begin. I am happy that they wish to learn and are willing to work hard, but I am also anxious about whether I can teach them effectively.I am also confused. How will I teach them? Will I be able to teach them? Where do I start from?I have decided to accept the task and will do my duty honestly. They have placed their trust in me and I shall remain faithful to that trust. I pray for their success and hope I can help them become confident readers.

Sudha

Ques 24. Write a character sketch of Krishtakka, the grandmother. or Give the character sketch of the grandmother as depicted in the story "How I Taught My Grandmother to Read".
Ans:  The grandmother is the central figure of the account. At sixty-two she is grey-haired and wrinkled, and much of her life has been devoted to household chores and caring for her family. Her love for the novel 'Kashi Yatre' reveals her religious feeling and longing to visit Kashi. She is courageous, committed and possesses an indomitable spirit; despite her age and weakening faculties she resolves to learn the Kannada alphabet and works diligently until she succeeds. Her character shows patience, humility and strong determination.

Ques 25. You are the grandmother. How did you feel when your granddaughter gave you the novel 'Kashi Yatre' ? Write your feelings in your diary. or You are the grandmother in the story, 'How I Taught My Grandmother to Read'. How did you feel when you were able to read the novel, 'Kashi Yatre' gifted to you by your granddaughter? Write about your feelings in the form of a diary entry. or Krishtakka believes that there is no age bar for learning. As Krishtakka, write a diary entry on how you made this belief of yours come true.  

Ans:  
Thursday 7th March 20XX, 9 pm 
Dear Diary 
Today I am very happy because my granddaughter gave me the novel 'Kashi Yatre', which I can now read by myself. It is my favourite novel and I am able to read it only because Sudha taught me with devotion and patience. She made me independent; I no longer have to wait for someone to read aloud. I regret that I could not complete my education when I was young, but through determination and hard work I have achieved my goal. I am deeply grateful to my granddaughter; she is the best teacher I have ever had.  I wish all my illiterate friends get granddaughters like Sudha so that they dispel the darkness of illiteracy and relieve their grannies from the anguish of dependence.      

  Krishtakka  

Ques 26. As the author of 'How I Taught My Grandmother to Read', write a letter to your grandmother appreciating her determination and strength of character. or Your grandmother has displayed qualities of a truly religious student. As a granddaughter write a letter to her appreciating her strength and determination.
Ans: 12, ABC Street Kelgaum Karnataka 
15th March, 20XX 
Dear Grandmother 
How are you?  I came to know that you are on the road to reading and learning; it is indeed a challenging task. I admire your determination and courage. At sixty-two you chose to learn the Kannada alphabet despite weakened faculties, and your passion for literature keeps you going. If more people showed such willpower, illiteracy could be greatly reduced. You are an example of strength and motivation. You are an ideal grandmother, an epitome of determination, strength, and motivation. You are correct when you say that working for a good cause requires determination and this can conquer any obstacle. One needs nothing but self-motivation to progress in life and luckily you possess that very characteristic.  May you live long and remain an example to others.
Yours affectionately
Sudha

Ques 27. At that time, Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language. She was a wonderful writer. Her style was easy to read and very convincing. Her stories usually dealt with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people and were always very interesting. Unfortunately for Kannada literature, she died very young. Even now, after forty years, people continue to appreciate her  novels. 
(i) Identify 'She' in the current extract. 
(ii) What were the two special characteristics of her stories? 
(iii) What is the relevance of her novels in the current story? 
or 
(i) What had made Triveni a popular writer? 
(ii) What made Triveni's stories very interesting? 
(iii) How does Sudha Murty react to Triveni's death at an early age?
Ans: (i) 'She' refers to Triveni, a popular Kannada writer. 
(ii) Two key features of her work were a simple convincing style that were quite interesting,  and plots that dealt with the complex psychological problems of ordinary people. 
(iii) The grandmother loved Triveni's novel 'Kashi Yatre', so Triveni's writing plays an important role in motivating the grandmother's desire to read. 
or 
(i) Her simple, convincing and easy to read style made Triveni a popular writer. 
(ii) Her novels explored complex psychological issues in ordinary lives and thus held readers' interest. 
(iii) Sudha Murty describes Triveni's early death as unfortunate for Kannada literature, showing her sadness at the loss.

Ques 28. In the end, the old lady gives away all her savings without going to Kashi. She says "The happiness of this orphan girl is more  important   than   worshipping   Lord Vishweshwara at Kashi." 
(i) Identify 'the old lady' in the current extract. 
(ii) In which context is the old lady being talked about? 
(iii) How does she justify her giving away all her savings?
Ans: (i) 'The old lady' refers to the central character of Triveni's novel 'Kashi Yatre'. 
(ii) She had planned to visit Kashi, but on learning that an orphan girl could not be married for lack of funds, she decided to spend her savings on the girl's marriage instead of making the pilgrimage. 
(iii) She believes that the orphan girl's happiness is more important than than worshipping Lord Vishweshwara at Kashi,  so she sacrifices her own desire for the girl's welfare.
Ques 29. When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. 
(i) Identify the speaker. 
(ii) Identify 'her' in these lines. 
(iii) Why did she cry? 
or 
(i) Who is '!' in the above extract? Where did she/he return from? 
(ii) Why was the grandmother in tears? 
(iii) What does the last line of the extract tell you about the grandmother's character? 
or 
(i) Where had the narrator gone?
(ii) Why was the narrator's grandmother in tears? 
(iii) How did the narrator help the grandmother later?
Ans: (i) The speaker is Sudha Murty, the author. 
(ii) 'Her' refers to the author's grandmother. 
(iii) She cried because she felt helpless and dependent when she could not read her favourite novel by herself. 
or 
(i) 'I' is the narrator who returned from a neighbouring village where she had gone to attend a marriage. 
(ii) The grandmother was in tears because she could not read her favourite novel and had no one to read it for her. 
(iii) The line shows that the grandmother, though usually composed, felt deeply about her helplessness; it also demonstrates her strong character because she later resolved to learn to read. 
or 
(i) The narrator had gone to the neighbouring village for a wedding. 
(ii) She was in tears at being unable to read her favourite novel by herself. 
(iii) The narrator later helped her by teaching her the Kannada alphabet.

Ques 30. When I was a young girl, I lost my mother. There was nobody to look after and guide me. My father was a busy man and got married again. In those days, people never considered education essential for girls, so I never went to school. 
(i) Identify the speaker and the listener. 
(ii) Identify the context in which the speaker speaks. 
(iii) Identify a prepositional verb used in the current extract.
Ans: (i) The speaker is the grandmother and the listener is the author (her granddaughter). 
(ii) The grandmother is explaining the reasons for her illiteracy. 
(iii) 'Look after' is the prepositional verb used here.

Ques 31. I could have asked somebody in this village but I was too embarrassed to do so. I felt so very dependent and helpless. We are well-off, but what use is money when I cannot be independent? 
(i) Identify the speaker. 
(ii) What could have somebody be asked for? 
(iii) Explain the last line, "We.......independent." 
or 
(i) Who is the speaker of these lines? 
(ii)When did the speaker feel so very 'dependent and helpless'? 
(iii) By 'independent' the speaker here means ________.
Ans: (i) The speaker is the grandmother. 
(ii) She could have asked someone to read the novel aloud to her when her granddaughter was away. 
(iii) Although the family is financially comfortable, money is of little use if she cannot read for herself; independence here means the ability to read and manage without depending on others. 
or 
(i) The speaker is the grandmother. 
(ii) She felt dependent and helpless when her granddaughter was not in the village and no one could read the novel to her. 
(iii) By 'independent' the speaker means the ability to read and write. 

Ques 32. I will work very hard. I will keep Saroswati Pooja day during Dussehra as the deadline. 
(i) What is the task for which the deadline is fixed? 
(ii) Why will the speaker work hard? 
(iii) Identify the listener.
Ans: (i) The speaker fixes Saraswati Pooja day as the deadline by which she hopes to be able to read a novel on her own. 
(ii) She will work hard so that she can become literate and independent in reading. 
(iii) The listener is the author, Sudha Murty.

Ques 33. We have always touched the feet of God, elders and teachers. We consider that as a mark of respect. It is a great tradition, but today the reverse had happened. It was not correct. 
(i) What was the reverse that had happened? 
(ii) Why did the grandmother touch the feet of the author? 
(iii) Was it correct or incorrect? Why?
Ans:  (i) The reverse was that the grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter, the author, instead of the other way round. 
(ii) She touched the author's feet as a mark of respect because the author had become her teacher and taught her to read. 
(iii) It was correct. Respect for a teacher is appropriate regardless of the teacher's age, so her gesture was a fitting expression of gratitude.

Ques 34. I knew then that my student had passed with flying colours. 
(i)Identify the student and the teacher. 
(ii) Explain 'flying colours'. 
(iii) How can you say that she had learnt the Kannada alphabet? 
or
(i) Who are T and 'my student' in the above line? 
(ii) What test had 'the student' passed? 
(iii) What quality of the student is revealed in the above lines?

Ans: (i) The student is the grandmother and the teacher is Sudha Murty, the narrator. 
(ii) 'With flying colours' means having succeeded very well. Here it means she had learned to read accurately and confidently.
(iii) We know she had learnt the Kannada alphabet because she could read the title 'Kashi Yatre' and the publisher's name on her own. 
or 
(i) 'I' refers to the narrator, Sudha Murty; 'my student' refers to her grandmother, Krishtakka. 
(ii) The student had passed the practical test of reading and writing in Kannada. 
(iii) The lines reveal that the student was diligent, determined and dedicated.