TOᑭ EᗪᑌᑕᗩTIOᑎ📖
CBSE
CLASS 9th ENGLISH
Beehive
SUMMARY
➤Summary: The given passage is an extract from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's autobiography, "Wings of Fire." He describes his childhood in Rameswaram, a town in the erstwhile Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India. Despite being born into a middle-class family with limited resources, Kalam's father possessed wisdom and generosity. His mother was known for feeding more outsiders than their own family members.
Kalam recalls incidents from his childhood, including collecting tamarind seeds to sell during the Second World War and assisting his cousin in distributing newspapers. He emphasizes the strong bond he shared with his three friends, despite their religious differences. He also narrates an incident where he and his Hindu friend were separated by a teacher due to their religious backgrounds, but their families intervened and stood against social inequality and communal intolerance.
Kalam mentions his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, who defied social barriers and encouraged him to develop and compete with highly educated individuals from big cities. He describes an incident where Sivasubramania Iyer's wife initially hesitated to serve him food due to religious differences but eventually overcame her reservations and treated him with acceptance.
The passage concludes with Kalam's decision to leave Rameswaram to pursue education in Ramanathapuram, driven by optimism and anticipation of India's imminent independence.
➤Key Points:
1. Kalam's father possessed wisdom and generosity despite limited education and wealth.
2. Kalam's mother was known for feeding more outsiders than their own family members.
3. The Second World War and its impact on Rameswaram.
4. Kalam's friendship with children from different religious backgrounds.
5. Incidents of social inequality and communal intolerance faced by Kalam and his friend.
6. Intervention of their families against discrimination and the subsequent reformation of the teacher.
7. Influence of Kalam's science teacher in breaking social barriers and encouraging his development.
8. The incident where Sivasubramania Iyer's wife initially hesitated but later accepted Kalam.
9. Kalam's decision to leave Rameswaram for further education.
👨Character Analysis:
1. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The narrator and protagonist, he reflects on his childhood experiences and the influences that shaped his character.
2. Kalam's father: A wise and generous man with limited formal education and wealth.
3. Kalam's mother: Known for her kindness and hospitality, she fed more outsiders than their own family members.
4. Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan: Kalam's close friends from different religious backgrounds.
5. Sivasubramania Iyer: Kalam's science teacher who defied social barriers and encouraged his development.
6. Sivasubramania Iyer's wife: Initially hesitant due to religious differences but later accepted and served Kalam food.
=❯Important Quotes:
1."He possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit."
2."I do not recall the exact number of people she fed every day, but I am quite certain that far more outsiders ate with us than all the members of our own family put together."
3."None of us ever felt any difference amongst ourselves because of our religious differences and upbringing."
4."The new teacher could not stomach a Hindu priest’s son sitting with a Muslim boy."
5."Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher... the strong sense of conviction Lakshmana Sastry conveyed ultimately reformed this young teacher."
6."He used to spend hours with me and would say, 'Kalam, I want you to develop so that you are on par with the highly educated people of the big cities.'"
7."Observing my hesitation, he told me not to get upset, saying, 'Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.'"
8."Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife took me inside her kitchen and served me food with her own hands."
9."'Abul! I know you have to go away to grow. Does the seagull not fly across the sun, alone and without a nest?'"
=❯Themes:
1. Social Equality: The passage explores incidents of social inequality based on religion and the importance of challenging and reforming such discriminatory practices.
2. Communal Harmony: The friendship and acceptance shared by Kalam and his friends, despite their different religious backgrounds, highlight the theme of communal harmony and unity.
3. Education and Empowerment: Kalam's pursuit of education and his teacher's encouragement reflect the theme of education as a means of personal growth and empowerment.
4. Generosity and Kindness: Kalam's parents' generosity and kindness towards others, regardless of their social or economic status, underscore the theme of compassion and hospitality.
=❯Word meanings:
1. Erstwhile: Former
2. Austere: Simple, strict, and severe
3. Innate: Inborn; a quality or feeling inherent in one's nature
4. Princely sum: A generous amount (used ironically)
5. Anna: An old Indian coin, worth about six paise
6. Allied Forces: The armies of the United Kingdom, United States, and Russia during the Second World War
7. Ritualistically pure: Kept protected from all outside influences for religious observances
8. Unprecedented: Unparalleled; new
=❯FAQ WITH ANSWERS
Q1. What is the main theme of the passage?
ANSWER: The main themes of the passage include social equality, communal harmony, education and empowerment, and generosity and kindness.
Q2. Who is Sivasubramania Iyer, and what was his role in the narrator's life?
ANSWER: Sivasubramania Iyer was the narrator's science teacher who defied social barriers and encouraged his development. He played a significant role in breaking societal norms and helping the narrator realize his potential.
Q3.What incident led to the intervention of the narrator's family?
ANSWER: The incident where the teacher separated the narrator and his Hindu friend due to their religious backgrounds led to the intervention of their families.
Q4.What did the narrator's mother and grandmother narrate to the children in their family?
ANSWER: The narrator's mother and grandmother used to tell them stories from the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet as bedtime stories.
Q5.What was the impact of the Second World War on Rameswaram?
ANSWER: Rameswaram, being an isolated area, was unaffected by the war initially. However, when India was forced to join the Allied Forces, a state of emergency was declared, and the train halt at Rameswaram station was suspended. Newspapers had to be thrown out from moving trains, affecting the narrator's cousin's newspaper distribution work.