Answer:
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. Kalam mentions that he tried to trace the stories of the Second World War through the headlines in Dinamani, which indicates it was a source of news.
Answer:
Abdul Kalam had three close school friends:
Answer:
During World War II, the train halt at Rameswaram was suspended. Abdul Kalam helped his cousin Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers, by catching the newspaper bundles thrown from moving trains. For this, he earned his first wages.
Answer:
Yes, he had earned money earlier. He used to collect tamarind seeds and sell them to a shop. He would earn one anna (six paise) per day from this.
Answer:
Answer:
Kalam says he inherited:
Q1. What was the impact of the Second World War on Rameswaram?
Ans. The Second World War led to a shortage of essential goods in Rameswaram. Train stops were canceled, and Kalam helped his cousin distribute newspapers, which made him feel proud to earn money.
Q2. What kind of environment did Kalam grow up in?
Ans. Kalam grew up in a harmonious, multi-religious environment in Rameswaram where Hindus and Muslims co-existed peacefully. He had Hindu friends and was taught to respect all religions.
Q3. Why did the new teacher ask Kalam to sit at the back?
Ans. The new teacher asked Kalam to sit at the back because he was a Muslim sitting next to a Hindu boy, showing his narrow-mindedness and social discrimination.
Q1. How did Dr. Kalam’s childhood reflect the idea of secularism and harmony?
Ans. Dr. Kalam’s childhood reflected secularism through his close friendship with Hindu boys and his upbringing in a multicultural environment. Despite being a Muslim, he shared meals, played, and studied with children of other religions. His science teacher, a Hindu, treated him equally and invited him to his home. His father, too, respected all religions and hosted Hindu pilgrims. Such incidents show that Kalam grew up in an inclusive society, which deeply influenced his character and national outlook.
Q2. Discuss the role of teachers in shaping Abdul Kalam’s life.
Ans. Teachers played a crucial role in shaping Kalam’s thoughts and values. Sivasubramania Iyer, his science teacher, taught him that one must rise above religious and social discrimination. He welcomed Kalam into his home, breaking social barriers, and later encouraged him to aim higher in life. Such guidance made Kalam believe in the power of education and unity, deeply influencing his thoughts on nationalism and leadership.
Read the extract and answer the following:
“In fact, I would say mine was a very secure childhood, both materially and emotionally.”
Q1. Whose childhood is being described here?
✅ Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s
Q2. What does he mean by ‘secure’?
✅ He felt safe, loved, and had all his basic needs met.
Q3. What does this tell us about his family environment?
✅ His family, though not rich, provided emotional stability and values.
This autobiographical extract from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s life describes his early childhood in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. It reflects on his family values, social environment, secular upbringing, and the lessons he learned from childhood—such as tolerance, simplicity, and determination.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ancestral | inherited from ancestors |
| Austere | simple, strict, and disciplined |
| Ideal | a standard of perfection |
| Segregation | separation due to race, religion, or caste |
| Orthodox | strictly traditional |
| Innate | inborn; natural |
| Conviction | strong belief or opinion |
| Overriding | more important than any other consideration |
Answer: Kalam’s parents were ideal because they lived a simple, honest, and spiritual life. They cared for others and respected all religions, which influenced Kalam deeply.
Answer: Kalam describes his early life as simple but secure. He was born into a middle-class Muslim family, and he grew up in a multicultural environment where people of different religions lived peacefully.
Answer: He inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.
Answer: Kalam’s teachers, especially Sivasubramania Iyer, taught him about equality and encouraged him to overcome social barriers and pursue knowledge fearlessly.
Answer: When Kalam was in the fifth standard, a new teacher asked him to sit at the back of the class because he was a Muslim sitting next to a Hindu boy. This incident shows caste and religious discrimination.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where was Kalam born? | Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu |
| What was his father’s name? | Jainulabdeen |
| What kind of childhood did he have? | Secure and content |
| Who was Kalam’s close Hindu friend? | Ramanadha Sastry |
| Who was the science teacher mentioned? | Sivasubramania Iyer |
| What kind of person was Kalam’s father? | Wise, austere, spiritual |
Direct: The teacher said, “Kalam, go sit on the last bench.”
Indirect: The teacher told Kalam to go sit on the last bench.
The story teaches us:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ancestral | Related to one’s ancestors or heritage |
| Austere | Strict, simple, and self-disciplined |
| Secular | Not connected with religion; tolerant of all religions |
| Orthodox | Following traditional beliefs and customs strictly |
| Innate | Natural, inborn |
| Segregation | The act of separating people due to race or religion |
| Conviction | Firm belief or opinion |
| Downcast | Sad or depressed |
| Allied Forces | Countries united against the Axis powers in WWII |
| Perturbed | Disturbed; anxious or worried |
| Distilled | Purified or concentrated (here: wise thoughts) |
| On the brink | On the edge of a difficult or extreme situation |
| Arbitrarily | Based on random choice or personal whim |
Most of the narrative is in the simple past tense, because it recounts past events.
Examples:
✅ Use of “used to” indicates past habits.
The lesson includes some examples of indirect speech, used when narrating dialogues from the past.
Examples:
Direct Speech:
The teacher said, “Kalam, sit on the last bench.”
Indirect Speech:
The teacher told Kalam to sit on the last bench.
✅ In narration:
Relative pronouns like who, which, that are used to add extra information about a noun.
Examples:
✅ These clauses give background details about people or things already mentioned.
The chapter uses passive voice to shift focus from the subject doing the action to the object receiving it.
Examples:
✅ Passive voice is often used in news, formal, or historical writing.
Words like although, however, therefore, because are used to connect ideas smoothly.
Examples:
Q. Rewrite in reported speech:
Ramanadha Sastry said, “You are my best friend.”
✅ Ramanadha Sastry said that Kalam was his best friend.
Q. Convert into passive voice:
The teacher asked him to sit separately.
✅ He was asked by the teacher to sit separately.
A relative clause is a part of a sentence that gives extra information about a noun (person, place, thing).
🔹 It starts with a relative pronoun:
who, whom, whose, which, that
| Relative Pronoun | Refers To | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | People (subject) | The boy who sits next to me is my friend. |
| whom | People (object) | The teacher whom we met was kind. |
| whose | Possession | The girl whose bag was lost is crying. |
| which | Things/animals | The book which I read was amazing. |
| that | People/things | The dog that barked ran away. |
👉 Gives essential information about the noun.
✅ No commas are used.
Example:
👉 Gives extra, non-essential information.
✅ Use commas before and after the clause.
Example:
Sometimes the relative pronoun can be left out, especially when it’s the object of the clause.
Example:
✅ Correct without “that/whom” as well.
Instead of:
You can say:
Sometimes you can shorten a relative clause.
Full:
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| What is a relative clause? | Gives more info about a noun |
| Starts with? | who, whom, whose, which, that |
| Defining clause | Needed to identify the noun (no commas) |
| Non-defining clause | Extra info (commas used) |
| Can the pronoun be omitted? | Yes, if it’s the object of the clause |
| Advanced: Prepositions | “to whom”, “for which” – formal structures |
| Advanced: Reduced forms | Remove “who is”, “that are”, etc. for simpler style |
They are words or phrases that link sentences, ideas, or paragraphs together smoothly, helping the reader follow your thoughts clearly.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
| Purpose | Common Connectors |
|---|---|
| Addition | and, also, in addition, moreover |
| Contrast | but, however, although, whereas |
| Cause/Effect | because, so, therefore, thus |
| Time | then, after, before, eventually |
| Emphasis | indeed, in fact, especially |
| Comparison | like, similarly, just as |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that |
| Concession | even though, although, despite, though |
(Class 9, English – SEBA Board)
Q1. What was Kalam’s family background?
Ans: Dr. Kalam was born into a middle-class Muslim family in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was not formally educated but wise and spiritual. His mother, Ashiamma, was caring and generous.
Q2. How did Kalam earn his first wages?
Ans: During World War II, Kalam helped his cousin distribute newspapers and earned his first wages. This made him feel proud and independent.
Q3. Mention an incident that reflects religious discrimination in the chapter.
Ans: When Kalam was in school, a new teacher told him not to sit with his Hindu friend Ramanadha Sastry, reflecting religious discrimination. It deeply hurt both friends.
Q4. How did Kalam’s science teacher promote social equality?
Ans: Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam to his home for a meal, defying orthodox beliefs. He treated him equally and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
Abdul Kalam – A humble, determined, and secular-minded boy who valued education and hard work. His childhood was shaped by strong moral and religious values.
Jainulabdeen (Father) – A respected religious figure, deeply spiritual, and a symbol of harmony.
Ashiamma (Mother) – A loving, caring woman who fed many people daily and supported her children emotionally.
Sivasubramania Iyer – A progressive teacher who stood against caste and religious divisions.
Short Question (2 marks):
Q. What lessons did Kalam learn from his father?
Ans: He learned honesty, self-discipline, simplicity, and the importance of spiritual life.
Long Question (5 marks):
Q. What message does the story “My Childhood” convey?
Ans: The chapter highlights secularism, religious tolerance, and social equality. It encourages mutual respect among communities and emphasizes education as a means to overcome discrimination.
Q. Kalam was born in —
A. Kanyakumari
B. Madurai
✅ C. Rameswaram
D. Trivandrum
Q. Who was Sivasubramania Iyer?
A. Temple priest
B. Headmaster
✅ C. Science teacher
D. Newspaper vendor
Q. “Despite the difference in religion, people lived in harmony.” This reflects—
A. Communalism
✅ B. Secularism
C. Individualism
D. Selfishness
| Word | Meaning (SEBA Focus) |
|---|---|
| Austere | Strict, simple |
| Secular | Not religious; accepting of all religions |
| Orthodox | Traditional, rigid in beliefs |
| Perturbed | Disturbed, troubled |
| Conviction | Strong belief |
Direct: He said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: He said that he was happy.
Examples from the chapter:
(Answer each in one sentence or a few words)
1. Where was A.P.J. Abdul Kalam born?
👉 He was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
2. What was the name of Kalam’s father?
👉 His father’s name was Jainulabdeen.
3. What was Kalam’s mother’s name?
👉 Her name was Ashiamma.
4. What kind of house did Kalam live in?
👉 He lived in a large pucca house made of limestone and brick.
5. What was the profession of Kalam’s father?
👉 He was an imam at a mosque and also a boat owner.
6. What was Kalam’s first earning job?
👉 He helped his cousin distribute newspapers.
7. Name one of Kalam’s childhood friends.
👉 Ramanadha Sastry.
8. Who was Kalam’s science teacher?
👉 Sivasubramania Iyer.
9. What did the new teacher do that shocked the students?
👉 He asked Kalam to sit separately because he was a Muslim.
10. What was the religion of Kalam’s close friends?
👉 They were Hindu.
11. What did Kalam’s father say about religion?
👉 He believed in the unity of all religions and did not impose his views on others.
12. What effect did World War II have on Rameswaram?
👉 It led to the shortage of essential goods.
13. Who helped Kalam earn money during the war?
👉 His cousin Samsuddin.
14. What values did Kalam inherit from his parents?
👉 Honesty, discipline, and spirituality.
15. What message does the story convey?
👉 It promotes religious harmony, equality, and the value of education.
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