Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Abdul Kalam’s house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, a small island town in Tamil Nadu.
2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Dinamani is likely the name of a local newspaper because Abdul Kalam mentions trying to trace the events of World War II in the headlines of this publication.
3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Abdul Kalam’s school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Later, Ramanadha Sastry became the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, Aravindan took over his family’s business of transporting pilgrims, and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin distribute newspapers when the train's halt was suspended during the Second World War.
5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Yes, he earned money before by collecting tamarind seeds and selling them to a provision shop during the shortage of such seeds in the market.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)
1. How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
(i) His father, Jainulabdeen, was an austere man who led a simple life and was known for his wisdom.
(ii) His mother, Ashiamma, was a loving and caring woman who provided meals to numerous people daily.
(iii) Abdul Kalam describes himself as a short boy with undistinguished looks, born into a middle-class Tamil family.
2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
From his father, he inherited honesty, self-discipline, and a sense of duty. From his mother, he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness.
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
1. “On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,” says the author.
(i) He mentions the Brahmins and the Muslims as the two main social groups. These groups were easily identifiable by their dress and rituals.
(ii) Despite their social differences, they shared close friendships and often engaged in activities together, such as the bedtime stories Abdul Kalam listened to and the peaceful coexistence of different faiths.
(iii) Abdul Kalam mentions his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, as a person who bridged social gaps by inviting him, a Muslim boy, to have meals at his home, despite strong opposition from his wife. He also mentions the head priest of the Rameswaram temple, who was a close friend of his father.
(iv) One incident was when Sivasubramania Iyer invited Abdul Kalam home, but his wife refused to serve him food because of his religion. However, the teacher served Abdul Kalam with his own hands and invited him again. This shows that prejudice can be resolved by acts of kindness and inclusion. People can change their attitudes by rising above social divisions and treating everyone with equality and respect.
2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram? (ii) What did his father say to this? (iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
(i) Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to continue his education in a city with better opportunities.
(ii) His father said, “Abdul, I know you have to go away to grow. Does the seagull not fly across the sun, alone and without a nest?”
(iii) His words mean that one must be willing to leave the comfort of home to seek knowledge and grow. He spoke these words to encourage his son to pursue his dreams and gain independence.
