Complete Summary, Solutions, and Questions of My Childhood - NCERT Class 9, Beehive, Chapter 6 - Questions, Extra Questions, Solutions, and Explanation

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.

Thinking about Language

I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:

erupt, surge, trace, undistinguished, casualty

1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?

Erupt: A volcano can erupt, meaning it explodes and releases lava. Emotions can also erupt, meaning they burst out suddenly, like anger.

Surge: Water can surge, meaning it moves forward with great force, like a wave. Emotions can surge, meaning they increase suddenly, like excitement.

2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

The word "trace" can mean to find or discover by investigation, or to follow something to its origin. In the text, the closest meaning is "to follow something to its source" (like tracing a piece of information).

3. Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look up the word distinguished and say what undistinguished must mean.)

Undistinguished: It means "not special or notable." It is the opposite of "distinguished," which means notable or outstanding.

II. 1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

2. Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in-.

• adequate - inadequate
• acceptable - unacceptable
• regular - irregular
• tolerant - intolerant
• demanding - undemanding
• active - inactive
• true - untrue
• permanent - impermanent
• patriotic - unpatriotic
• disputed - undisputed
• accessible - inaccessible
• coherent - incoherent
• logical - illogical
• legal - illegal
• responsible - irresponsible
• possible - impossible

III. Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the 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.

IV. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.

1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. 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, the Captain of the West Indies Team. 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 and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are ground to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

Dictation

Let the class divide itself into three groups. Let each group take down one passage that the teacher dictates. Then put the passages together in the right order.

To Sir, with Love

1. From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it’s been a long journey. Talking to Nona Walia on the eve of Teacher’s Day, President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks about life’s toughest lessons learnt and his mission — being a teacher to the Indian youth. “A proper education would help nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among our youth,” says President Kalam. There’s still a child in him though, and he’s still curious about learning new things. Life’s a mission for President Kalam.

2. Nonetheless, he remembers his first lesson in life and how it changed his destiny. “I was studying in Standard V, and must have been all of 10. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was telling us how birds fly. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, depicting the wings, tail and the body with the head and then explained how birds soar to the sky. At the end of the class, I said I didn’t understand. Then he asked the other students if they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds fly,” he recalls.

3. “That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameswarm shore,” the President continues. “My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw marvellous formations of them flying and how their wings flapped. Then my teacher asked us, ‘Where is the birds’ engine and how is it powered?’ I knew then that birds are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. This was real teaching — a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example. Sri Siva Subramania Iyer was a great teacher.” That day, my future was decided. My destiny was changed. I knew my future had to be about flight and flight systems.

Speaking

Here is a topic for you to:

1. Think about.
2. Give your opinion on.

Find out what other people think about it. Ask your friends/seniors/parents to give you their opinion.

‘Career Building Is the Only Goal of Education.’ or ‘Getting a Good Job Is More Important than Being a Good Human Being.’

You can use the following phrases:

(i) While giving your opinion:

• I think that ...
• In my opinion ...
• It seems to me that ...
• I am of the view that ...
• As far as I know ...
• If you ask me ...

(ii) Saying what other people think:

• According to some ...
• Quite a few think ...
• Some others favour ...
• Thirty per cent of the people disagree ...
• Fifty per cent of them strongly feel ...

(iii) Asking for others’ opinions:

• What do you think about ...
• What do you think of ...
• What is your opinion about ...
• Do you agree ...
• Does this make you believe ...

Writing

Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940s must have been like. (Were people rich or poor? Hard working or lazy? Hopeful of change, or resistant to it?)

Life in Rameswaram in the 1940s was simple but hard-working. The majority of the population in this small coastal town were involved in traditional occupations like fishing, boat-making, and religious services at the famous Rameswaram temple. Most families, like Abdul Kalam’s, lived a modest life and were not rich, but they were rich in values, humility, and dedication to their work. People were hardworking, getting up early to engage in their respective jobs, and they led a disciplined life.

The town had a spiritual atmosphere, as the temple attracted pilgrims, and this was reflected in the peaceful and content nature of the people. Despite being poor in material wealth, they had a strong sense of community and mutual respect, transcending religious boundaries. This was demonstrated by the friendships shared between Hindu and Muslim families, who often helped each other in times of need.

While many of the people were traditional and resistant to change, the younger generation, like Kalam, was curious and eager to learn about the modern world. They were hopeful that education would open new opportunities for them. In general, people in Rameswaram were rooted in their culture but were slowly beginning to embrace the idea of change, especially through education and knowledge.