Class 9 English Chapter 6 Question Answers - My Childhood

Q1. How did Abdul Kalam earn his ‘first wages’? How did he feel at that time?

Abdul Kalam’s cousin, Samsuddin, had the responsibility of distributing newspapers in Rameswaram. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the train service to Rameswaram was halted. Instead of regular stops, the bundles of newspapers were thrown from moving trains at designated points along the road between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Samsuddin needed help retrieving these bundles, so he employed young Abdul Kalam to assist him. This marked a significant moment in Abdul Kalam's life, as he earned his first wages through this job. He was filled with a sense of joy and pride, realizing the value of hard work and self-reliance. Even decades later, Kalam vividly remembered the feeling of satisfaction that came with earning money for the first time.  that day.

APJ Abdul Kalam

Q2. “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.” What ‘system’ is this sentence referring to? What are 'such problems’? Does the text suggest that the problems have been tackled?

The sentence refers to the rigid caste system and religious segregation that existed in India, particularly in smaller towns like Rameswaram. The 'system' here is the deeply entrenched societal divide based on caste and religion, where people of different social groups were not allowed to interact freely. 'Such problems' refers to the prejudices, discrimination, and inequalities faced by individuals, like the incident where a new teacher at Abdul Kalam’s school segregated him from his Hindu friend simply because of their different religions. While some individuals, like Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, actively tried to bridge these gaps by inviting him to his home for a meal, others remained deeply rooted in these discriminatory practices. The text highlights that although some individuals fought to break these barriers, such problems continue to persist even today, suggesting that while progress has been made, the issues have not been fully eradicated.

Kalam's family used to arrange boats for carrying idols of the lord. 

Q3. What does Abdul Kalam say about his parents in the lesson ‘My Childhood’?

Abdul Kalam held his parents in high regard, speaking of them with great respect and admiration. He was born into a middle-class family in Rameswaram, and his father, Jainulabdeen, although not formally educated or wealthy, possessed immense wisdom and a strong moral compass. His father was a generous and self-disciplined man who led a life of simplicity, and these qualities left a lasting impression on Kalam. His mother, Ashiamma, was equally generous and kind-hearted, always ready to help those in need. Many outsiders ate at their home daily, and the number of guests often exceeded the number of family members. Kalam attributed his values of honesty, discipline, faith, and kindness to the upbringing he received from his parents. His father's emphasis on self-reliance and his mother's compassion and generosity profoundly shaped his character and worldview.

Q4. How does Abdul Kalam describe his three close friends?

Abdul Kalam fondly remembered his three close friends from his childhood: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. All three boys came from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families, but their religious differences never affected their friendship. Ramanadha Sastry was the son of the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, and as he grew older, he succeeded his father in the priesthood. Aravindan ventured into the business of arranging transportation for the pilgrims visiting Rameswaram. Sivaprakasan pursued a career as a catering contractor with the Southern Railways. Despite their differing religious backgrounds, the boys shared a deep bond and never allowed religious or social barriers to come between them. Even their parents were open-minded and encouraged this harmonious relationship. An example of this is when Ramanadha’s father reprimanded the new teacher for trying to impose social inequality by separating the boys based on their religion.

Q5. In this chapter, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam describes two of his teachers. What is the difference in the outlooks of these two teachers?

Abdul Kalam describes two teachers with contrasting views during his school days. The first teacher, who was new to the class, displayed a narrow-minded and discriminatory attitude. When he saw Abdul Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting with his Brahmin friend, Ramanadha Sastry, he could not accept it. He immediately sent Kalam to the back row, believing that people of different religions should be segregated, according to the social hierarchy of the time. This action hurt both the boys deeply, but the teacher later regretted his decision after being reprimanded by Ramanadha’s father.

On the other hand, Abdul Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, had a progressive outlook. He believed in breaking social barriers and treating everyone equally, regardless of their caste or religion. He invited Abdul Kalam to his home for a meal, and even when his wife refused to serve Kalam, Iyer served him personally. He later persuaded his wife to change her attitude, and she eventually served Kalam in her kitchen. This demonstrates the vast difference in outlook between the two teachers—one was rigid and prejudiced, while the other was inclusive and forward-thinking.

Kalam used to sit in the first row

Q6. Describe the incident at Kalam’s school days when a new teacher shifted him to the back row. What followed this incident?
OR
What mistake did the new teacher in Kalam’s elementary school commit one day? How was he reformed? 
When Abdul Kalam was in the fifth standard at Rameswaram Elementary School, a new teacher joined their class. Kalam, who wore a cap that marked him as a Muslim, always sat in the front row next to his close friend Ramanadha Sastry, who was the son of the high priest of the Rameswaram temple. The new teacher could not tolerate the sight of a Muslim boy sitting alongside a Brahmin boy. He asked Kalam to sit on the backbench, following what he believed was the appropriate social ranking. This incident deeply saddened both Kalam and Ramanadha, and tears welled up in Ramanadha’s eyes. They reported the incident to their respective parents. Ramanadha’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, called the teacher and scolded him for spreading the poison of communal intolerance and social inequality. He gave the teacher an ultimatum: either apologize or leave the school. The teacher, realizing the gravity of his mistake, felt ashamed and reformed his behavior.

Q7. Kalam says, On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of segregation of different social groups”. Were they aware of their differences only, or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences?

Although the society of Rameswaram was rigid in terms of social segregation, it did not prevent friendships and shared experiences among individuals from different backgrounds. Kalam’s family, despite being Muslim, shared a sense of unity and religious tolerance. For instance, his mother and grandmother often told him bedtime stories from both the life of the Prophet and the Ramayana. Kalam’s three closest friends, all of whom were orthodox Hindu Brahmins, never let their religious differences affect their bond. Furthermore, Kalam’s family actively participated in religious ceremonies like the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam, where they arranged boats with special platforms to carry the idols of Lord Rama and Sita. These actions demonstrate that despite the rigid social structure, there were individuals who maintained friendships and shared experiences across religious lines.

Iyer's wife took Kalam inside and serve him food

Q8. The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Which incidents help us to identify such people in the text? 
The incident when Kalam’s new teacher shifted him from the first row, where he used to sit with the Hindu priest so Ramanadha Sastry, to the last row helps to identify a person who was intolerant to differences. The incident, when the wife of Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s science teacher, refused to serve food to Kalam, a Muslim boy, in her ritually pure kitchen, helps to identify yet another person who was intolerant to differences. However, the incident when Lakshmana Sastry, an orthodox Brahmin priest, reprimanded the new teacher for spreading the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance helps to identify a person who tried to bridge the differences. Also, when Sivasubramania Iyer, an orthodox Brahmin, set an example for his conservative wife by not only serving food to Kalam but also sitting beside him to have his meal, he helped to identify another person who tried to bridge differences.

Q9. Who was Sivasubramania Iyer? What sort of relationship did Kalam’ share with him?
Sivasubramania Iyer was Kalam’s science teacher. He wanted to break social barriers so that people of different backgrounds could live in harmony with each other. While trying to change the system, he was mentally prepared to confront many problems. He was very fond of Kalam and used to guide and encourage him to be on par with the highly educated people of big cities. Once, he invited Kalam to his place to share food with him. When his conservative wife refused to serve food to Kalam, a Muslim boy in her ritually pure kitchen, Iyer not only served Kalam himself but also sat with him to have his meal. He again invited Kalam for dinner the following weekend. However, this time his wife served Kalam as her husband’s example had reformed her. Thus, Sivasubramania Iyer and Kalam shared a strong bond of love, which was nurtured by the teacher’s progressive vision and his concern for his students.

Q.10. Teachers can either ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives. Cite two incidents from “My Childhood” to prove the truth of this statement. 

• Abdul Kalam’s life was influenced in a major way by some experiences that he had during his school days. They were instrumental in shaping his character and later on his career. Once, when he was in the fifth standard, a new teacher came to his class. He did not like Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry, a Brahmin. So, he shifted Kalam to the back seat simply because it was in accordance with the social ranking of that time. This was a heart-breaking experience for Kalam.  This poison of social inequality and communal intolerance could have demoralized the young Kalam if his friend’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, had not intervened. He ensured that the teacher not only regretted his action but also reformed himself.
• Another experience that made Kalam a stronger and wiser person was when his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, invited him to his house for a meal. During the meal, Iyer noticed that Kalam was upset at his wife’s attitude, so he invited Kalam to another dinner the following weekend, saying, “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted”. These two experiences could have had disastrous consequences for Kalam in particular and Rameswaram society in general had they not been dealt with Farsight and wisdom by Kalam’s teachers. Thus, from these incidents, it is clear that teachers can ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives.

Q11. Suppose you are the new teacher who had sent Kalam to the last row in the class. You realise your mistake after the Hindu priest Lakshmana Sastry reprimanded you. Write a diary entry in about 150 words expressing your regret at your behaviour.

(Day and Date)
(Time)
Dear Diary
My first day at Rameswaram Elementary School was very eventful. Although I was supposed to teach, I actually learned a valuable lesson myself.
On entering the fifth standard, I noticed a boy in a Muslim cap sitting in the front row next to a Brahmin boy wearing the sacred thread. I do not tolerate this, and I asked the Muslim boy, whose name was Abdul Kalam, to go to the last row. The boy and his friend both looked sad, but my order was followed.
In the evening, Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple and the Brahmin boy’s father, sent for me. He reprimanded me for poisoning young and innocent minds about the differences based on class and community. He asked me to either apologize or quit the school and the island. I was shaken as the warning had come from none other than the high priest himself.
I was ashamed of my mean behavior. I regretted having victimized an innocent boy and belittling his religion. I offered my sincere regret and resolved never to let any such prejudice influence my decisions. I am grateful to Lakshmana Sastry for showing me the right path.