My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English
My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English – My Childhood Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 Extra Questions and Answers are available here on EnglishTak.com. All these questions are divided into short-type question answers, long-type question answers, and extract-based questions. These Class 9 extra questions are prepared by our expert teachers at EnglishTak.com. Learning these questions will help you score excellent marks in the board exams.
Table of Contents
My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English
Very Short Answer Questions
1. What kind of poison was the young teacher spreading in the class?
Answer: The poison of social inequality and communalism.
2. Where was Abdul Kalam born?
Answer: He was born in Rameswaram, a town in Tamil Nadu.
3. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house located in Rameswaram?
Answer: His house was located on Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
4. Write the names of Abdul Kalam’s parents.
Answer: His father’s name was Jainulabdeen, and his mother’s name was Ashiamma.
5. What could the new teacher not tolerate about Abdul Kalam?
Answer: The new teacher could not tolerate that a Muslim boy was sitting with a Hindu priest’s son.
6. What did the new teacher in 5th standard ask Abdul Kalam to do?
Answer: He asked Abdul Kalam to sit on the last bench of the class.
7. What was the name of Abdul Kalam’s science teacher?
Answer: His science teacher’s name was Sivasubramania lyer.
8. What did the science teacher’s wife refuse?
Answer: She refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her kitchen.
9. How old was Abdul Kalam when the Second World War broke out?
Answer: He was eight years old when the war began.
10. When did the Second World War break out?
Answer: It broke out in the year 1939.
11. Name three close friends of Abdul Kalam.
Answer: His close friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.
My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
Answer: Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram because this place did not offer any options for higher education. It just had an elementary school. An ambitious Kalam who was keen to study further wished to go to the district headquarters at Ramanathapuram that had many educational facilities.
2. What was Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife’s reaction when she came to know that a Muslim boy was invited to have a meal with them by her husband?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified to know this. She refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her ritually pure kitchen. But the teacher was not perturbed by this and served Kalam himself.
3. What did Ramanadha Sastry’s father do when his son told him that the new teacher had sent Kalam to the last seat?
Answer: Ramanadha’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, was deeply distressed to learn that the new school teacher had shifted Kalam to the last bench. He did not approve of this disparity. So, he summoned the teacher and told him not to spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in young minds. He bluntly told him to either apologise or leave the school. The teacher not only regretted his action but also reformed himself.
4. What did Kalam look like as a young child?
Answer: Kalam did not take after his tall and handsome parents. He was a rather short boy with average looks. With ordinary looks unlike that of his parents who had quite striking features, his appearance was undistinguished.
5. How did Lakshmana Sastry reform the young teacher?
Answer: Lakshmana Sastry, Ramanadha Sastry’s father, was very angry when he came to know that the young teacher had shifted Kalam to the last row. He summoned the teacher and told him that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children. He asked him either to apologize or quit the school. The teacher regretted his actions and was reformed.
6. What characteristics does Kalam say he inherited from his parents?
Answer: Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. His socio-economic and emotional environment trained him as well as his three brothers and sister to acquire these characteristics.
7. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer: Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by catching bundles of newspapers from moving trains for his cousin Shamsuddin, who used to distribute newspapers in Rameswaram. During the Second World War, the train halt at Rameswaram station was suspended, so bundles of newspapers were thrown off moving trains and had to be collected.
8. What made Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife change her mind?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife watched Kalam having his meal from behind the kitchen door. She did not find any difference in the way he ate his food. This made her change her mind. The next time Kalam visited, she served him food with her own hands.
9. Why did Sivasubramania invite Kalam for dinner again the next weekend?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam for dinner again the next weekend because he wanted to make amends for his wife’s earlier refusal to serve him. He wanted to ensure that Kalam overcame his disappointment and hurt, and he probably also wanted to discuss the issue with his wife in the meantime to help her overcome her orthodox beliefs.
10. What was the reaction of Abdul Kalam’s father when he wanted to leave home? What was his mother’s reaction?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s father gave him his permission gladly. But his mother was a little worried. At this, his father told her that a child is like a seagull. One day, he has to learn to fly alone like the seagull. This cleared the doubts of his mother.
11. Why did Sivasubramania’s wife refuse to serve food to Kalam in her kitchen?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was an orthodox and conservative Brahmin. She had peculiar notions about the sanctity of her kitchen which she feared would be defiled if she served meals there to someone who belonged to a different faith. So, she refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her kitchen.
12. Who were Kalam’s school friends? What did they become later?
Answer: Kalam’s three close childhood friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. All three of them settled well in life. Ramanadha inherited priesthood of Rameswaram temple from his father, Aravindan took up the business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims, and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
13. Why did Abdul Kalam’s father allow him to leave Rameswaram and go to Ramanathapuram?
Answer: Though not educated himself, Kalam’s father understood the significance of education. He did not want to hinder the growth of his children in any way. Since Rameswaram had nothing more than an elementary school, his father willingly allowed Kalam to go to Ramanathapuram to pursue higher studies.
14. What did Kalam’s family do during the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony?
Answer: During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, Kalam’s family used to arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from the temple to the marriage site, situated in the middle of the pond called Rama Tirtha, which was near Kalam’s house.
My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English
15. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house situated?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s house was situated on Mosque Street in Rameswaram. This was his ancestral house and had been built in the middle of the nineteenth century. It was a fairly large, pucca house made of limestone and brick.
16. What thoughts crossed Kalam’s mind when he was having food at Sivasubramania’s house for the first time?
Answer: Kalam noticed that Sivasubramania’s conservative wife was watching him from behind the kitchen door while he was having food. At this time, he wondered whether she observed any difference in the way a Muslim ate rice, drank water, or cleaned the floor after the meal.
17. What did Kalam’s father mean to say when he quoted Khalil Gibran? Why do you think he spoke these words?
Answer: Kalam’s father meant that every human being must be given the opportunity to build his life as per his wishes, and parents should not hinder this effort. He spoke these words to convince Kalam’s mother that their son’s decision to leave home was right and that she should allow him to shape his life according to his own ideas.
18. What happened when the new teacher at the Rameswaram Elementary School ordered Kalam to go to the last row of the class?
Answer: Kalam and his friend Ramanadha Sastry became very sad when the new teacher ordered Kalam to go and sit on the back bench of the class. Ramanadha was absolutely crestfallen. While Kalam shifted his seat to the last row, there were tears in his eyes. Kalam could never forget these tears all his life.
19. Why did the demand for tamarind seeds increase suddenly? How did it help Kalam?
Answer: When the Second World War broke out in 1939, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. Kalam collected these seeds and sold them to earn an anna, which was a significant amount in those days for a small boy like him.
20. Who was Sivasubramania Iyer?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer was Kalam’s science teacher. Though an orthodox Brahmin, he was something of a rebel. A man of liberal views, he wanted to change the rigid societal segregation of different social groups. He knew that to change the system, one must confront many problems.
21. How does Kalam describe his mother?
Answer: Kalam describes his mother as someone full of faith in goodness and deep kindness. She had a nurturing and caring nature. She was a devoted woman, and her love and care for all her children were exemplary. She taught Kalam the value of kindness and goodness in life.
22. Why did Kalam’s science teacher want him to sit with the other students?
Answer: Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, believed in breaking societal norms that promoted segregation. He wanted Kalam to be treated equally with other students regardless of his religion. He fought against societal norms and encouraged his students to think independently.
23. What role did Kalam’s family play in the community’s religious activities?
Answer: Kalam’s family played a significant role in the religious activities of their community. His father, a deeply spiritual man, was an imam at the local mosque. They also participated in Hindu festivals like the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam, emphasizing religious harmony and unity.
24. How did Abdul Kalam’s early education influence him?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s early education, influenced by teachers like Sivasubramania Iyer, instilled in him a love for learning, curiosity, and a scientific mindset. His exposure to diverse ideas and the harmonious coexistence of different faiths shaped his inclusive worldview and his belief in education as a tool for progress.
25. What impact did the Second World War have on Rameswaram’s economy?
Answer: The Second World War led to a sudden rise in demand for commodities like tamarind seeds in Rameswaram, and also for goods transported via trains. This economic shift allowed young Kalam to earn money for the first time by collecting and selling tamarind seeds and helping with the distribution of newspapers.
26. Why was Sivasubramania Iyer not satisfied with merely inviting Kalam for dinner?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer was determined to challenge the prevailing orthodox attitudes toward caste and religion. Merely inviting Kalam for dinner once did not change his wife’s conservative mindset. So, he invited Kalam again to assert that all people, regardless of religion, should be treated equally, and he ensured that his wife served Kalam herself.
27. What were Kalam’s feelings toward his home in Rameswaram?
Answer: Kalam had a deep connection with his home in Rameswaram. The simple, spiritual environment shaped his values and outlook on life. His upbringing in a large, close-knit family that fostered kindness and religious tolerance left a lasting impression on him, making him appreciate the harmony in diversity.
28. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer serve Kalam food himself?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer served Kalam food himself because his wife refused to serve a Muslim boy in her kitchen. He was a man of liberal views who did not believe in religious or social discrimination. He wanted to set an example of equality and kindness, so he served the meal to Kalam.
29. How did Kalam’s family’s secular approach influence his outlook on life?
Answer: Kalam’s family was deeply secular, participating in both Muslim and Hindu religious activities. This upbringing, in an environment of tolerance and respect for all faiths, deeply influenced Kalam’s inclusive outlook on life. It instilled in him values of coexistence, unity, and respect for different religions.
30. What kind of childhood did Abdul Kalam have?
Answer: Abdul Kalam had a secure and content childhood. Though his family was not wealthy, they were generous and spiritually rich. His father was an honest, self-disciplined man, and his mother was kind and nurturing. Their way of life, full of faith and kindness, shaped Kalam’s principles and values.
My Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How does Abdul Kalam describe his three close friends?
Answer: Abdul Kalam says that in his childhood, he had three close friends. Their names were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. All these boys were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. Ramanadha Sastri was the son of Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple. When Ramanadha grew up, he took over the priesthood of the temple from his father. Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for the pilgrims who visited Rameswaram. The third friend, Sivaprakasan, became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways. Abdul Kalam says that although they were from different religions, none of them ever felt any difference among themselves because of different religious backgrounds. Their parents were also liberal and generous. Ramanadhan’s father rebuked the new teacher for spreading the poison of social inequality in the minds of innocent children.
2. How did Abdul Kalam earn his ‘first wages’? How did he feel at that time?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s cousin, Samsuddin, used to distribute newspapers in Rameswaram. The Second World War broke out in 1939. Due to the war, the train’s halt at Rameswaram was suspended, and the bundles of newspapers were thrown from the moving train between Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi. Samsuddin needed help to catch the bundles thrown out of the moving train, so he employed Abdul Kalam to do the job. Thus, Abdul Kalam earned his first wages. This was a significant moment for him. He felt a great wave of joy and pride in earning his own money for the first time. Even after many years, Abdul Kalam clearly remembered that day.
3. Teachers can either ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives. Cite two incidents from “My Childhood” to prove the truth of this statement.
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s life was influenced in a major way by experiences during his school days. These experiences were instrumental in shaping his character and career.
Once, when he was in the fifth standard, a new teacher came to his class. He did not like Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry, a Brahmin. So, he shifted Kalam to the back seat simply because it was in accordance with the social ranking of that time. This heart-breaking experience could have demoralized young Kalam if his friend’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, had not intervened. Lakshmana Sastry ensured that the teacher regretted his action and reformed himself.
Another experience that made Kalam stronger and wiser was when his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, invited him to his house for a meal. When Iyer noticed that Kalam was upset at his wife’s attitude, he invited Kalam for another dinner the following weekend, saying, “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.”
These two incidents illustrate how teachers can either ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives.
4. The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Which incidents help us to identify such people in the text?
Answer: The incident when Kalam’s new teacher shifted him from the first row, where he used to sit with his friend Ramanadha Sastry, to the last row, illustrates a person who was intolerant of differences. The new teacher could not accept a Muslim boy sitting beside a Hindu Brahmin.
Another incident that helps identify a person who was intolerant of differences occurred when Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife refused to serve food to Kalam, a Muslim, in her ritually pure kitchen.
However, Lakshmana Sastry, an orthodox Brahmin priest, reprimanded the new teacher for spreading the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. This action identifies Lakshmana Sastry as a person trying to bridge differences. Similarly, Sivasubramania Iyer set an example for his conservative wife by serving food to Kalam himself and sitting beside him. This shows another person who tried to bridge the differences.
5. Describe the incident during Kalam’s school days when a new teacher shifted him to the back row. What followed this incident?
Answer: Abdul Kalam was in the fifth standard at the Rameswaram Elementary School when a new teacher came to their class. Kalam used to wear a cap that marked him as a Muslim. He always sat in the front row next to his Brahmin friend, Ramanadha Sastry. The new teacher could not tolerate a Muslim boy sitting with the son of a Hindu priest, so he asked Kalam to sit on the back bench, which, according to the teacher, aligned with the social ranking. This incident made both boys very sad, and it brought tears to Ramanadha’s eyes. They reported the incident to their parents. Lakshmana Sastry, Ramanadha’s father, reprimanded the teacher for spreading the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. He asked the teacher to either apologize or quit the school. The teacher regretted his behavior and reformed himself.
6. What does Abdul Kalam say about his parents in the lesson ‘My Childhood’?
Answer: Abdul Kalam speaks highly of his parents. He was born into a middle-class family in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was neither educated nor rich, but he had plenty of natural wisdom and was very generous. Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma, was a kind and helpful lady. Kalam’s parents were generous, often hosting many people for meals. Their generosity was such that the number of outsiders who ate with them exceeded the number of family members. Abdul Kalam was greatly influenced by his parents. His father taught him the value of self-discipline and honesty, while his mother instilled in him a faith in goodness and deep kindness. Though his family was not rich, they provided their children with all the necessities like food, clothes, and medicines. Abdul Kalam’s parents played a significant role in shaping his values and outlook on life.
7. Kalam says, “On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of segregations of different social groups.” Were they aware of their differences, or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences?
Answer: Although the small society of Rameswaram was rigid in terms of segregation, Abdul Kalam’s family and friends displayed broad-mindedness regarding religious tolerance. Kalam’s mother and grandmother used to tell him bedtime stories from both the life of the Prophet and the Ramayana. Kalam had three close friends who were orthodox Hindu Brahmins. His family used to arrange boats during the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony to carry idols of the Lord from the temple to the marriage site. This shows that despite religious differences, friendships and experiences were shared naturally. Kalam and his family did not let these differences affect their behavior. They were equally at ease with both Muslims and Hindus.
8. In this chapter, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam describes two of his teachers. What is the difference in the outlooks of these two teachers?
Answer: Abdul Kalam describes two teachers from his school days. When he was in the fifth standard, a new teacher came to his class. The teacher could not tolerate a Muslim boy sitting with a Brahmin boy, so he sent Abdul Kalam to the back bench. This made both Kalam and his friend Ramanadha Sastry very sad, although the teacher later realized his mistake.
In contrast, Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, had a different outlook. He did not believe in social barriers and tried to break them. He invited Abdul Kalam home for a meal, but his wife, a traditional lady, refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her kitchen. Iyer served Kalam with his own hands and sat beside him to eat, showing a progressive attitude toward breaking societal barriers.
9. What mistake did the new teacher in Kalam’s elementary school commit one day? How was he reformed?
Answer: One day, a new teacher arrived at Rameswaram Elementary School where Abdul Kalam studied in the fifth standard. The teacher noticed Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry, a Brahmin. Uncomfortable with this, the teacher asked Kalam to move to the back row, which he felt was in line with social hierarchy. This incident saddened both boys, bringing tears to Ramanadha’s eyes. They reported the matter to their parents. Lakshmana Sastry, Ramanadha’s father and a high priest, called the teacher and reprimanded him for spreading social inequality. He asked the teacher to either apologize or leave the school. The teacher, realizing his mistake, apologized and reformed his behavior.
10. Who was Sivasubramania Iyer? What sort of relationship did Kalam share with him?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer was Kalam’s science teacher. He was a liberal thinker who believed in breaking social barriers to create harmony between people of different backgrounds. He admired Kalam’s potential and encouraged him to rise above societal limitations. Once, Iyer invited Kalam for a meal at his home, but his conservative wife refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her ritually pure kitchen. Unfazed, Iyer served Kalam himself and sat beside him to eat. He then invited Kalam again the following weekend, and this time, his wife served the meal. This showed Iyer’s determination to confront and challenge outdated social norms. Kalam shared a deep bond with Iyer, who played an instrumental role in shaping his liberal outlook on life.
11. “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.” What ‘system’ is this sentence referring to? What are ‘ such problems’?
Answer: The ‘system’ referred to in the sentence is the rigid and discriminatory social system based on caste and religion that prevailed in India at the time. The ‘problems’ include prejudices, segregation, and untouchability faced by people due to these distinctions. Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s science teacher, was addressing the situation where his wife refused to serve Kalam, a Muslim, in her kitchen due to her conservative views. Iyer’s statement reflects his determination to challenge and change these outdated social practices. He believed that once a person decides to fight social inequality, they must be prepared to face challenges and opposition, as he demonstrated by serving Kalam himself and inviting him again.
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