Key Concept: Breaking Social Barriers

c) She was horrified and refused to serve the author

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being invited to dine in her ritually pure kitchen. She refused to serve the author in her kitchen.

Key Concept: Social Inequality

c) He was emotionally affected by the separation and the injustice

[Solution Description] According to the syllabus, Ramanadha Sastry and Kalam were deeply attached friends. When the new teacher enforced social inequality by asking Kalam to sit on the back bench due to his religion, both felt sad. Ramanadha cried because he was emotionally affected by the separation and the injustice of the situation.

Key Concept: Gandhiji’s Declaration

b) Indians would build their own India

[Solution Description]

Gandhiji declared that Indians would build their own India, emphasizing self-reliance and the collective effort of the people to shape the nation’s future.

Key Concept: Role of Samsuddin

b) By distributing newspapers

[Solution Description] Due to the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram station, newspapers had to be thrown out from the moving train. Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers, needed help to catch these bundles. The narrator helped him in this task, earning his first wages through this job.

Key Concept: Sivasubramania Iyer’s Influence

b) To help Kalam achieve educational success

[Solution Description] Sivasubramania Iyer encouraged Kalam to aim high and develop himself so that he could be on par with the highly educated people of big cities. This shows his goal was to help Kalam achieve educational success.

Key Concept: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Childhood

a) Jainulabdeen

[Solution Description]

The passage mentions that Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born into a middle-class Tamil family and his father’s name was Jainulabdeen.

Key Concept: Story Perspective

c) He viewed religion as a source of harmony and tolerance

[Solution Description]

Kalam\’s father was a devout Muslim who believed in religious tolerance and harmony. He taught Kalam to respect all religions and emphasized the spiritual over the ritualistic aspects of faith. Therefore, he viewed religion as a source of harmony and tolerance.

Key Concept: Life’s Mission

c) Being a teacher to the Indian youth

[Solution Description]

President Kalam considered his mission in life to be a teacher to the Indian youth. He believed that proper education could nurture dignity and self-respect among young people.

Key Concept: Hardworking

b) To nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect

[Solution Description]

President Kalam emphasizes that proper education helps nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among youth, which is crucial for their development.

Key Concept: Breaking Caste Barriers

c) He served Kalam himself and ate with him

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer was not perturbed nor angry with his wife. Instead, he served Kalam with his own hands and sat beside him to eat his meal.

Key Concept: Character Analysis

b) She was horrified and refused to serve him

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being invited to dine in her ritually pure kitchen. She refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen, reflecting the rigid social norms of the time.

Key Concept: Mother’s Role

d) She fed many people daily

[Solution Description]

The passage mentions that the mother, Ashiamma, fed far more outsiders than the members of their own family. This indicates her role as a caregiver who provided food to many people daily.

Key Concept: Life Lessons, Determination, Childhood Influence

d) Real teaching combines theory with practical demonstrations

[Solution Description]

The lesson was that real teaching involves combining theoretical lessons with live practical examples. Abdul Kalam understood how birds fly through the combined efforts of the teacher’s explanation and the practical observation at Rameswarm shore. This experience shaped his future interest in flight and flight systems.

Key Concept: Ashiamma’s Kind-heartedness

c) She helps others without expecting anything in return

[Solution Description] Ashiamma is known for her kind-hearted and hospitable nature. She is always ready to help those in need, offering support without expecting anything in return. This trait makes her a beloved figure in her community.

Key Concept: Inherited Values

b) Mother

[Solution Description]

The narrator mentions that he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. This is explicitly stated in the text.

Key Concept: Kalam’s friendship with Ramanadha Sastry

c) Best friends

[Solution Description]

Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry were best friends during their childhood. They used to sit together in the front row of their class, share their lunch, and play together after school. Their friendship was a strong bond despite their different religious backgrounds.

Key Concept: Parental Advice

b) Give love but not thoughts

[Solution Description]

Kalam’s father advises that while parents can give love to their children, they should not impose their thoughts on them. Children should be allowed to develop their own thoughts and pursue their own paths.

Key Concept: Hard Work and Self-Reliance

c) He caught newspaper bundles from a moving train

[Solution Description]

Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by catching newspaper bundles thrown from a moving train. This was a result of the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram station during the Second World War.

Key Concept: Breaking Social Barriers

c) He served Kalam with his own hands.

[Solution Description] When Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam to his home for a meal, his wife refused to serve him in her ritually pure kitchen because he was a Muslim. Instead of getting angry or perturbed, Sivasubramania Iyer served Kalam with his own hands, demonstrating his commitment to breaking social barriers.

Key Concept: Character Traits

b) He was willing to break social barriers to promote equality.

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam to his home for dinner despite being an orthodox Brahmin with a conservative wife. This act shows his willingness to break social barriers and promote equality, reflecting his kind-hearted and hospitable nature.

Key Concept: Teacher’s Regret

b) He apologized and corrected his behavior

[Solution Description]

The teacher regretted his behavior and eventually reformed due to Lakshmana Sastry’s strong sense of conviction.

Key Concept: Friendship and Reaction

c) He was sad due to the communal discrimination faced by his friend.

[Solution Description]

Ramanadha Sastry cried because he was deeply saddened by the unfair treatment of his friend due to communal prejudice. This incident highlighted the strong bond of friendship between them, as Ramanadha felt the pain of the narrator being discriminated against.

Key Concept: Felt pride in earning his first wages

a) Samsuddin

[Solution Description]

The narrator mentions that his cousin Samsuddin helped him earn his first wages by assisting in catching newspaper bundles from a moving train.

Key Concept: Basic Concept

c) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

[Solution Description]

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is widely known as the “Missile Man of India” due to his significant contributions to the development of missile and space technology in India.

Key Concept: Bedtime Stories

b) Events from the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet

[Solution Description]

The bedtime stories told by Kalam’s mother and grandmother were events from the Ramayana and from the life of the Prophet.

Key Concept: About the Author

c) 2002

[Solution Description]

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became the President of India in 2002, as mentioned in the syllabus.

Key Concept: Basic Concept

c) Tamarind seeds

[Solution Description]

The passage mentions that during the Second World War, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. Kalam collected and sold these seeds to earn pocket money.

Key Concept: Autobiography

c) Wings of Fire

[Solution Description]

The autobiography of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as mentioned in the syllabus, is titled “Wings of Fire”. This book details his journey from childhood to becoming a renowned scientist and the President of India.

Key Concept: Concept: Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony

c) To carry the idols of the Lord

[Solution Description]

The special platform on boats was arranged to carry the idols of the Lord from the temple to the marriage site.

Key Concept: Kalam’s father’s lifestyle

b) Simple and minimalistic

[Solution Description]

The passage states that Kalam’s father was austere and avoided all inessential comforts and luxuries. This suggests he led a simple and minimalistic lifestyle.

Key Concept: Childhood Friends

c) Sivaprakasan

[Solution Description] Among Dr. Kalam’s childhood friends, Sivaprakasan became the catering contractor for the Southern Railways.

Key Concept: Historical Context, Economic Impact

c) 30 annas

[Solution Description]

Kalam earned one anna per day. Over 30 days, his total earnings can be calculated by multiplying the daily earnings by the number of days. Therefore, total earnings = 1 anna/day * 30 days = 30 annas.

Key Concept: Communal Intolerance

c) He felt very sad and wept

[Solution Description] Ramanadha Sastry looked utterly downcast and wept when Kalam shifted to the last row.

Key Concept: Early Work Experience

b) By selling newspapers

[Solution Description]

Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by selling newspapers to help his family financially.

Key Concept: Religious Tolerance

c) They felt no difference

[Solution Description]

The children did not feel any difference amongst themselves because of their religious differences and upbringing, as stated in the syllabus.

Key Concept: Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?

b) Priests, Businessmen, and Contractors

[Solution Description]

Abdul Kalam’s school friends included Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Later, Ramanadha Sastry became a priest, Aravindan became a transport businessman, and Sivaprakasan worked as a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.

Key Concept: Breaking Social Barriers

b) He invited a Muslim student to his home for a meal.

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer, despite being an orthodox Brahmin, tried to break social barriers. He invited the narrator, a Muslim boy, to his home for a meal. His wife initially refused to serve the narrator due to religious differences, but Sivasubramania Iyer served the narrator himself and ate with him, challenging societal norms.

Key Concept: Abdul Kalam’s School Friends

b) Scientists and Teachers

[Solution Description]

The syllabus specifies that Abdul Kalam’s school friends later became notable figures. This is directly mentioned in the syllabus under the questions section.

Key Concept: Concept: Breaking Social Barriers

c) He served Kalam with his own hands and ate with him

[Solution Description] Sivasubramania Iyer served Kalam with his own hands and sat down beside him to eat his meal.

Key Concept: Encouraged Kalam to challenge discrimination

b) He told Kalam to confront the problems if he decides to change the system

[Solution Description]

When Kalam hesitated to visit again the next weekend, Sivasubramania Iyer told him not to get upset, saying, “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.”

Key Concept: Social Barriers

b) He encouraged students to mingle and invited Kalam to his home for a meal

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer broke social barriers by spending time with students from different backgrounds, encouraging them to develop themselves, and even inviting Kalam, a Muslim boy, to dine at his home despite societal norms.

Key Concept: Outcome of the Incident

c) He regretted his behaviour and was reformed

[Solution Description]

The teacher regretted his behaviour and was ultimately reformed by the strong sense of conviction conveyed by Lakshmana Sastry.

Key Concept: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – The narrator and protagonist

a) Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, Sivaprakasan

[Solution Description]

Abdul Kalam’s school friends included Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. They later became a priest, a transport businessman, and a catering contractor respectively.

Key Concept: Reform through Conviction

c) He told the teacher to either apologize or quit

[Solution Description]

Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher and told him to either apologize or quit the school and the island, leading to the teacher’s regret and reform.

Key Concept: Incident at School

d) To sit on the back bench

[Solution Description]

The new teacher asked Abdul Kalam to go and sit on the back bench because he could not stomach a Hindu priest’s son sitting with a Muslim boy.

Key Concept: Kalam’s Childhood

b) Very secure both materially and emotionally

[Solution Description]

Abdul Kalam describes his childhood as very secure both materially and emotionally. This is evident from his description of his parents providing all necessities while avoiding inessential comforts.

Key Concept: Personal Decision

c) To study at Ramanathapuram

[Solution Description]

The narrator wanted to pursue higher education and therefore asked his father for permission to leave Rameswaram and study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.

Key Concept: Basic Concept

b) Introduce new arguments

[Solution Description]

A conclusion does not introduce new arguments or evidence; it summarizes and wraps up the discussion.

Key Concept: Jainulabdeen’s Family Life

b) By providing for all necessities

[Solution Description]

Jainulabdeen ensured that all necessities like food, medicine, and clothes were provided for the family, contributing to a secure childhood for APJ Abdul Kalam.

Key Concept: Religious Harmony

b) Spent time with Kalam and invited him to his home for a meal

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer, despite being an orthodox Brahmin, took steps to break social barriers by encouraging mingling among people from different backgrounds. He spent time with Kalam, a Muslim boy, and even invited him to his home for a meal, serving him himself when his wife refused.

Key Concept: Professions

c) Sivaprakasan

[Solution Description]

According to the syllabus, Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.

Key Concept: Basic Knowledge

c) Rameswaram

[Solution Description] From the text, it is clear that Abdul Kalam’s house was in Rameswaram.

Key Concept: Mother’s Daily Routine

b) More outsiders than family members

[Solution Description]

The text mentions that Ashiamma fed many people daily. Although the exact number is not recalled, it is certain that far more outsiders ate with them than all the members of their own family put together.

Key Concept: Breaking social norms

b) She was horrified and refused to serve him

[Solution Description]

Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy dining in her ritually pure kitchen. She refused to serve Abdul Kalam, reflecting the rigid social norms of the time.