My Childhood (Q&A)
Thinking About the Text
Q1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Answer:
Abdul Kalam’s house was in Rameswaram, a town in Tamil Nadu, near the famous Shiva temple.
Q2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. The reason is that young Abdul Kalam used to trace the Second World War’s news through it.
Q3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Answer:
Kalam’s close school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.
Ramanadha Sastry became the head priest of Rameswaram temple.
Aravindan started a business of arranging transport for pilgrims.
Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for Southern Railways.
Q4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer:
When train stoppages were cancelled at Rameswaram during World War II, Kalam helped his cousin, who distributed newspapers. By catching the bundles thrown from trains, Kalam earned his first wages.
Q5. Had Kalam’s family always been wealthy? (Pick out the words.)
Answer:
No, Kalam’s family had not always been wealthy. The text says:
“We lived in our ancestral house, which was large and solid, but our family was not wealthy.”
Q6. How does the author describe his father, mother, and himself?
Answer:
Father (Jainulabdeen): A man of deep wisdom, honesty, and kindness, though uneducated.
Mother (Ashiamma): A kind, gentle woman who fed many outsiders daily along with the family.
Kalam himself: A short boy from a middle-class family, disciplined, simple, and curious about learning.
Q7. What characteristics does Kalam say he inherited from his parents?
Answer:
From his father, Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline.
From his mother, he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness.
Extra Questions (for exams)
Short Answer Questions
Q1. What was the political situation in Rameswaram during Kalam’s childhood?
Answer:
During World War II, political disturbance affected Rameswaram. Trains stopped halting, and the demand for tamarind seeds increased. People discussed freedom movements, and Kalam’s family felt its impact.
Q2. How did Kalam’s father show secular thinking?
Answer:
Kalam’s father respected all religions, arranged boats for Hindu pilgrims, and taught his son that every human being is part of the same divine power.
Q3. What did Kalam learn from his childhood experiences?
Answer:
Kalam learned simplicity, honesty, hard work, secular values, and respect for all religions. These qualities shaped his future life.
Long Answer Question
Q. What message do you get from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s chapter “My Childhood”?
Answer:
The chapter conveys that childhood values shape a person’s character. Abdul Kalam’s simple but disciplined upbringing, respect for all religions, honesty, and kindness learned from his parents made him a great human being and scientist. The message is that success does not depend on wealth, but on values, hard work, and strong character.