Chapter 8
1. Elucidate the circumstances leading to a materially and emotionally secured childhood of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Ans: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s childhood was materially and emotionally secure due to several factors. He was born into a middle-class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, despite not having much formal education or wealth, possessed great wisdom and a generous spirit. This wisdom and generosity of his father created an emotionally secure environment for Kalam. His mother, Ashiamma, was equally compassionate, often feeding many outsiders, which instilled in Kalam values of kindness and selflessness. Despite the family's modest means, they ensured all necessities were provided for, such as food, medicine, and clothes. This secure environment allowed Kalam to focus on his studies and build a strong foundation for his future.
2. Describe the circumstances which helped Kalam in earning his first wages during the outbreak of the Second World War.
Ans: During the Second World War, when Dr. Kalam was eight years old, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the local market. As a result, Dr. Kalam started collecting tamarind seeds and selling them to a shop on Mosque Street. For a day’s collection, he earned one anna, which was his first wage. Around the same time, the train halt at Rameswaram was suspended due to the war. This led to a new challenge for newspapers to reach the town. Dr. Kalam’s cousin, Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers, needed help to catch the bundles of newspapers thrown out of the moving train. Dr. Kalam assisted Samsuddin, helping him earn his first wages. The feeling of earning his own money filled him with pride and was a significant emotional moment in his childhood.
3. What relationship did Kalam have with his three friends - Ramanandha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan?
Ans: Dr. Kalam had a strong friendship with his three childhood friends: Ramanandha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Despite coming from different religious backgrounds, their bond was strong and unbreakable. Ramanandha Sastry, the son of the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, was from an orthodox Hindu Brahmin family. Aravindan was involved in the business of arranging transport for pilgrims, while Sivaprakasan worked as a catering contractor for the Southern Railways. Kalam mentions that religious differences were never a barrier for them as children, and they all shared a deep affection for one another. The group’s friendship remained unchanged despite the social differences they might have faced, showing how childhood innocence transcended these societal divisions.
4. Describe the circumstances that led to Kalam's punishment by his new teacher when he was in standard fifth.
Ans: When Dr. Kalam was in the fifth standard at Rameswaram Elementary School, a new teacher joined the school. Kalam, who wore a cap marking him as a Muslim, always sat in the front row next to Ramanandha Sastry, who wore the sacred thread. The new teacher could not accept the idea of a Muslim boy sitting beside a Brahmin boy. Based on his social beliefs, the teacher felt that the two boys should not sit together, and so he asked Dr. Kalam to move to the back bench. This act of discrimination made Dr. Kalam feel sad and hurt, as it created an unnecessary barrier between him and his friend. Ramanandha Sastry, too, felt deeply disturbed by this action, which highlighted the rigid social structure that was prevalent at the time.
5. How was the teacher compelled to withdraw the punishment inflicted on A. P. J. Abdul Kalam?
Ans: After the punishment was inflicted on Dr. Kalam, both he and Ramanandha Sastry went home and shared the incident with their respective parents. Lakshmana Sastry, the father of Ramanandha Sastry, took the matter seriously and called the teacher to meet him. In front of both children, Lakshmana Sastry sternly told the teacher that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of children. He asked the teacher to either apologize for his actions or leave the school. The teacher, though initially unapologetic, was ultimately moved by the strong conviction and moral stand of Lakshmana Sastry. As a result, the teacher’s attitude changed, and he withdrew the punishment, realizing the importance of equality and tolerance in education.
6. How did Kalam's science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, try to break social barriers in the small town of Rameswaram?
Ans: Sivasubramania Iyer, Dr. Kalam’s science teacher, played a key role in breaking the rigid social barriers in the small town of Rameswaram. Despite coming from an orthodox Brahmin background and having a conservative wife, Iyer was determined to challenge the social norms that divided people based on caste and religion. He wanted people from different social backgrounds to mingle and interact freely. One day, he invited Dr. Kalam, a Muslim boy, to dine with him. His wife, however, was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being invited into her ritually pure kitchen and refused to serve Kalam there. However, Sivasubramania Iyer did not get angry or upset. Instead, he served Dr. Kalam himself and sat down to eat with him, showing his commitment to breaking social barriers. The next week, Iyer’s wife overcame her prejudices and served Dr. Kalam food with her own hands, marking a significant shift in mindset. Iyer’s actions highlighted the importance of challenging outdated traditions to bring about social harmony.
1. Who was Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's father, and what were his qualities?
Answer: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's father, Jainulabdeen, was a man of great wisdom and generosity of spirit. Despite not having much formal education or wealth, he possessed an innate wisdom and a selfless attitude that influenced Dr. Kalam profoundly.
2. What values did Dr. Kalam inherit from his parents?
Answer: Dr. Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father, and from his mother, faith in goodness and deep kindness. These values played a significant role in shaping his character.
3. What was Dr. Kalam's first experience of earning money?
Answer: During the Second World War, Dr. Kalam collected tamarind seeds and sold them to a shop on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, earning one anna for his day's collection. This was his first wage, and he felt a sense of pride in earning his own money.
4. Who were Dr. Kalam's three close childhood friends?
Answer: Dr. Kalam's three close childhood friends were Ramanandha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Despite coming from different religious backgrounds, they shared a deep friendship and never felt any difference among themselves due to their respective upbringings.
5. What incident led to Dr. Kalam being punished by his new teacher?
Answer: Dr. Kalam was punished by his new teacher in the fifth standard because the teacher did not accept a Muslim boy sitting next to a Hindu priest's son. According to the teacher’s social ranking, Kalam was asked to move to the back bench, which made both him and Ramanandha Sastry feel sad.
6. How was the teacher compelled to withdraw the punishment inflicted on Dr. Kalam?
Answer: After Dr. Kalam and Ramanandha Sastry informed their parents, Lakshmana Sastry (Ramanandha Sastry's father) summoned the teacher and asked him to either apologize or quit the school. The teacher, moved by Lakshmana Sastry’s strong conviction against social inequality, withdrew the punishment.
7. How did Dr. Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, break social barriers?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer, Dr. Kalam's science teacher, sought to break social barriers by inviting Dr. Kalam, a Muslim boy, to dine with him. Although Iyer’s wife initially refused to serve Kalam in her ritually pure kitchen, Iyer served Kalam with his own hands, and later, Iyer’s wife also served him, marking a change in her attitude.
8. What was the reaction of Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife when Dr. Kalam was invited for a meal?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy dining in her ritually pure kitchen. She initially refused to serve Kalam, but after seeing her husband’s commitment to breaking barriers, she eventually served him food with her own hands.
9. How did Dr. Kalam’s teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, encourage him to develop?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer encouraged Dr. Kalam to develop his abilities by saying, "Kalam, I want you to develop so that you are on par with the highly educated people of the big cities." Iyer's belief in Kalam’s potential helped him realize the importance of education and personal growth.
10. What did Dr. Kalam’s father say about the demand for tamarind seeds during the Second World War?
Answer: Dr. Kalam's father, Jainulabdeen, did not directly comment on the tamarind seeds, but his wisdom and guidance helped Dr. Kalam make sense of the situation. He also taught Kalam to adapt to changing circumstances and find opportunities during difficult times.
