Chapter 7
7. Nation and Diversity
1. Answer the following questions.
1. What were the problems faced by Kalam in his childhood?
Answer: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam faced several challenges during his childhood, both social and economic:
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Poverty and Limited Resources: Born into a middle-class family, Kalam had to work from a young age to support himself. He collected tamarind seeds to sell and later helped his cousin distribute newspapers to earn money.
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Religious Discrimination: At school, he faced discrimination from a new teacher who could not tolerate a Muslim boy sitting next to a Hindu priest’s son. This incident deeply saddened Kalam and left a lasting impression on him.
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Social Segregation: Society in Rameswaram was rigid, with clear social divisions based on religion and caste. Although his friends were from orthodox Brahmin families, societal norms tried to impose divisions between them.
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Resistance to Social Change: When his teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, invited him for a meal, his conservative wife initially refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her kitchen. This highlighted the deep-rooted social prejudices of the time.
Despite these challenges, Kalam was nurtured by a strong support system of loving family, progressive mentors, and loyal friends, which helped him grow into one of India's most respected scientists and leaders.
2. that forced Samsuddin to look for a helping hand." What does 'that' refer to?
Answer: In the sentence "That forced Samsuddin to look for a helping hand," the word 'that' refers to:
The suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram station during the Second World War.
Because of the suspension, newspapers had to be bundled and thrown out from a moving train at Rameswaram Road, instead of being delivered directly to the station. This change made it difficult for Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers, to manage the task alone—so he needed help, and young Kalam stepped in to assist him.
3. "I filled the slot." What does the sentence mean?
Answer: The sentence "I filled the slot" means:
Kalam took up the job or role that was available or needed to be done.
In this context, it refers to Kalam stepping in to help his cousin Samsuddin collect the newspaper bundles thrown from the moving train. He became the helping hand Samsuddin was looking for. So, "filling the slot" means he took on the responsibility or position that had opened up.
4. If one wants to bring a change in the social system, what qualities should one possess?
Answer: To bring a change in the social system, one should possess the following qualities:
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Courage – The strength to stand up against unfair practices, even if it means facing opposition or discomfort.
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Conviction – A strong belief in one’s principles, like Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer showed when challenging discrimination.
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Patience – Social change takes time; one must be willing to persist even when progress is slow.
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Empathy – Understanding and caring about others' feelings helps break down barriers of caste, religion, or class.
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Open-mindedness – Being willing to accept new ideas and challenge traditional beliefs when necessary.
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Leadership – Inspiring others to question unjust systems and work toward a more inclusive and fair society.
Dr. Kalam’s life, and the examples of those who supported him, show how these qualities can make a meaningful difference.
5. Events from the Ramayana and from the life of the Prophet were the bedtime stories my mother and grandmother would tell the children in our family.
Choose the most appropriate meaning for the underlined phrase from the options given below.
a) stories told by the bed side before going to sleep
b) stories told on the bed
c) stories told
Answer: The correct and most appropriate meaning for the underlined phrase "bedtime stories" is:
a) stories told by the bedside before going to sleep ✅
6. "Your children are not your children...." What does it mean? Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Give reasons.
Answer: The quote "Your children are not your children..." is from Khalil Gibran’s famous poem On Children. It means:
Children have their own identities, thoughts, and destinies. Parents are caretakers, not owners. They can guide and love their children, but they must let them grow into who they are meant to be.
Do I agree with the statement?
Yes, I agree. Here's why:
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Individuality: Every child is born with unique talents, dreams, and thoughts. Trying to impose a parent’s desires on a child can limit their true potential.
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Freedom to grow: Like Dr. Kalam’s father understood, children need space and freedom to grow—even if that means letting them go far from home to achieve their dreams.
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Healthy relationships: When parents respect their children’s independence, it builds trust and stronger emotional bonds.
Dr. Kalam’s life is a powerful example—his parents supported his dreams, even when they didn’t completely understand them. That freedom helped him become one of India’s most admired scientists and leaders.
7. As children, none of us ever felt any difference amongst ourselves because of our religious differences and upbringing.
Choose the most appropriate meaning for the underlined word from the options given below
a) education
b) cared and trained
c) food and shelter
Answer: The most appropriate meaning for the underlined word "upbringing" is:
b) cared and trained ✅
Upbringing refers to the way a child is raised, including the care, guidance, and moral education given by parents or guardians.
8) Read the text and attribute the characteristics given in the box to the following women.
conservative, sociable, kind, secular, generous, simple, tolerant, adamant, orthodox
a) Subramania Iyer's wife
b) Ashiamma
Answer: Based on the text, we can attribute the following characteristics to the women:
a) Subramania Iyer's wife:
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Conservative (She was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being invited to dine in her ritually pure kitchen, reflecting her traditional and conservative views.)
b) Ashiamma:
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Generous (Ashiamma was known for her generosity, as she fed many outsiders, even more than her own family members.)
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Kind (She had a deep kindness, as she passed on these qualities to her children, including Kalam.)
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Sociable (She was very hospitable and welcoming, making sure many people ate with the family.)
These characteristics highlight the different roles these women played in the lives of those around them.
9. Identify the features of the text "My childhood".
i) Type of text
ii) Reflections on the text
ii) Anecdotes in the text
Answer: Here’s the breakdown of the features of the text "My Childhood" by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam:
i) Type of Text:
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Autobiographical Narrative: The text is a part of Dr. Kalam’s autobiography, where he reflects on his early life, sharing personal experiences and insights about his childhood, family, and environment.
ii) Reflections on the Text:
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The text reflects on the impact of early life experiences in shaping Dr. Kalam’s values and principles.
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It highlights the influence of family (his father’s wisdom, his mother’s kindness) and community (his diverse friendships and the social norms of Rameswaram) in molding his character.
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The story emphasizes the importance of education, equality, and breaking down social barriers, particularly through experiences like his interaction with his teacher and the sense of communal unity with his childhood friends.
iii) Anecdotes in the Text:
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Tamarind Seed Incident: Kalam describes how, during the Second World War, he collected tamarind seeds to sell, earning a small amount of money. This anecdote highlights his early entrepreneurial spirit.
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The Teacher Incident: The story of the teacher asking Kalam to sit at the back of the class due to his religious background and how his friend, Ramanadha Sastry, felt deeply upset about it.
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Subramania Iyer’s Invitation: The anecdote about his visit to his teacher’s house, where his teacher broke social norms by inviting him to dinner despite his wife’s initial refusal, reflects on breaking social barriers and the power of change.
