My Childhood
Thinking about the Text, Language, Speaking & WritingThinking about the Text
I. Map Activity & Language
Find Dhanuskodi and Rameswaram on the map. What language(s) are spoken there?The primary language spoken in Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi (Tamil Nadu) is Tamil. The author, his family, friends, and teachers likely spoke Tamil with one another, although they also learnt English in school.
II. Short Answers
1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. The reason is that Kalam mentions tracing the stories of the war in the headlines of Dinamani.
His friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.
• Ramanadha Sastry became the high priest of the Rameswaram temple.
• Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims.
• Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
• Ramanadha Sastry became the high priest of the Rameswaram temple.
• Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims.
• Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
He earned his first wages by helping his cousin Samsuddin catch bundles of newspapers thrown out from the moving train on the Rameswaram road between Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi.
Yes, he had earned money before that by collecting tamarind seeds and selling them to a provision shop on Mosque Street. A day’s collection would fetch him one anna.
III. Paragraph Answers
1. How does the author describe (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
(i) Father: A man with great innate wisdom and true generosity of spirit, despite having little formal education or wealth. He was austere but provided all essentials.
(ii) Mother: A kind and generous woman who fed more outsiders daily than the total number of her own family members. She was an ideal helpmate to his father.
(iii) Himself: A short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. He had a secure childhood, both materially and emotionally.
(ii) Mother: A kind and generous woman who fed more outsiders daily than the total number of her own family members. She was an ideal helpmate to his father.
(iii) Himself: A short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. He had a secure childhood, both materially and emotionally.
From his father, he inherited honesty and self-discipline. From his mother, he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness.
IV. Discussion Questions
1. “The small society of Rameswaram was very rigid…”
(i) The social groups mentioned are the Hindus (Brahmins) and Muslims. They were easily identifiable by their dress (Muslims wore a cap, Brahmins wore a sacred thread).
(ii) Despite the rigidity, they naturally shared friendships. Kalam’s best friends were Brahmins. They sat together in the front row. During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, Kalam’s family arranged boats for carrying idols. His mother and grandmother told bedtime stories from both the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet.
(iii) Aware of differences: The new teacher who separated Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry; Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife who refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen.
Bridging differences: Lakshmana Sastry (head priest) who scolded the teacher; Sivasubramania Iyer (science teacher) who invited Kalam to dine and sat with him.
(iv) Creating differences: The new teacher asking Kalam to sit at the back because a Muslim shouldn’t sit with a Brahmin priest’s son.
Resolving differences: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife initially refused to serve Kalam but later observed him, realized he was no different, and eventually served him food herself. This shows that patience and exposure can change attitudes.
(ii) Despite the rigidity, they naturally shared friendships. Kalam’s best friends were Brahmins. They sat together in the front row. During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, Kalam’s family arranged boats for carrying idols. His mother and grandmother told bedtime stories from both the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet.
(iii) Aware of differences: The new teacher who separated Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry; Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife who refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen.
Bridging differences: Lakshmana Sastry (head priest) who scolded the teacher; Sivasubramania Iyer (science teacher) who invited Kalam to dine and sat with him.
(iv) Creating differences: The new teacher asking Kalam to sit at the back because a Muslim shouldn’t sit with a Brahmin priest’s son.
Resolving differences: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife initially refused to serve Kalam but later observed him, realized he was no different, and eventually served him food herself. This shows that patience and exposure can change attitudes.
(i) Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
(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 meant that children must eventually leave their parents to find their own path and identity, just like a bird leaves the nest to fly. He spoke these words to comfort Kalam’s mother, who was hesitant to let him go, reminding her that children belong to life’s longing for itself, not just to their parents.
(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 meant that children must eventually leave their parents to find their own path and identity, just like a bird leaves the nest to fly. He spoke these words to comfort Kalam’s mother, who was hesitant to let him go, reminding her that children belong to life’s longing for itself, not just to their parents.
Thinking about Language
I. Vocabulary: Erupt, Surge, Trace
1. Erupt: Volcanoes, riots, arguments, rashes, laughter. (To start suddenly/violently).
Surge: Crowds, waves, electricity, prices, confidence. (To move suddenly and powerfully).
2. Trace:
Meaning in text: “trace the stories of the war” (to find/follow the development).
Other meanings: To copy a drawing; a mark left by something; a very small amount.
3. Undistinguished: Ordinary, lacking special or impressive qualities. (Opposite of distinguished: famous/successful).
Surge: Crowds, waves, electricity, prices, confidence. (To move suddenly and powerfully).
2. Trace:
Meaning in text: “trace the stories of the war” (to find/follow the development).
Other meanings: To copy a drawing; a mark left by something; a very small amount.
3. Undistinguished: Ordinary, lacking special or impressive qualities. (Opposite of distinguished: famous/successful).
II. Matching Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (i) broke out | (c) began suddenly in a violent way |
| (ii) in accordance with | (f) according to a particular rule, principle… |
| (iii) a helping hand | (d) assistance |
| (iv) could not stomach | (b) was not able to tolerate |
| (v) generosity of spirit | (a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
| (vi) figures of authority | (e) persons with power to make decisions |
III. Antonyms (Prefixes)
adequate → inadequate
acceptable → unacceptable
regular → irregular
tolerant → intolerant
demanding → undemanding
active → inactive
true → untrue
permanent → impermanent (or temporary)
patriotic → unpatriotic
disputed → undisputed
accessible → inaccessible
coherent → incoherent
logical → illogical
legal → illegal
responsible → irresponsible
possible → impossible
acceptable → unacceptable
regular → irregular
tolerant → intolerant
demanding → undemanding
active → inactive
true → untrue
permanent → impermanent (or temporary)
patriotic → unpatriotic
disputed → undisputed
accessible → inaccessible
coherent → incoherent
logical → illogical
legal → illegal
responsible → irresponsible
possible → impossible
IV. Passive Voice
Rewrite changing verbs to passive form:
1. In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
2. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
3. On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
4. Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
5. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
6. Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
2. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
3. On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
4. Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
5. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
6. Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
V. Passive Voice Paragraphs
1. Cricket Helmets:
In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull was fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell… Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers.
2. Oil from Seeds:
Vegetable oils are made from seeds… Oil is produced from cotton seeds… Olive oil is used for cooking… Olives are shaken from the trees and (are) gathered up… The olives are ground to a thick paste… Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine…
In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull was fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell… Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers.
2. Oil from Seeds:
Vegetable oils are made from seeds… Oil is produced from cotton seeds… Olive oil is used for cooking… Olives are shaken from the trees and (are) gathered up… The olives are ground to a thick paste… Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine…
Writing
Life in Rameswaram in the 1940s:
Life in Rameswaram during the 1940s was simple, austere, and communal. The town was small, and society was clearly stratified along religious lines, yet there was a strong sense of harmony and coexistence. People were generally hard-working; most were not wealthy, relying on local trades like grocery shops, priesthood, or coconut groves. Luxury was rare, but essentials like food and medicine were available.
While some individuals held rigid traditional views on caste and segregation, others, like Kalam’s father and his science teacher, were hopeful of change and worked to bridge these divides. The influence of the freedom movement was palpable, creating an atmosphere of optimism that India would soon build its own destiny.
While some individuals held rigid traditional views on caste and segregation, others, like Kalam’s father and his science teacher, were hopeful of change and worked to bridge these divides. The influence of the freedom movement was palpable, creating an atmosphere of optimism that India would soon build its own destiny.