My Childhood” by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Class 9 – UP Board)

My Childhood” by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Class 9 – UP Board) 

(B) Short Answer Type Questions

(30–40 words each)

1. Who were Abdul Kalam’s parents?
Abdul Kalam’s father was Jainulabdeen, a simple and honest boat owner in Rameswaram. His mother was Ashiamma, a kind and generous housewife. They were religious, hardworking and respected people in their locality.

2. What did Kalam’s father not possess, and what did he possess?
Kalam’s father did not possess much wealth or formal education. However, he possessed great wisdom, kindness, honesty and strong spiritual faith. He was a man of high principles and simple living.

3. As a child how was Kalam different from his parents?
Kalam had inherited qualities from his parents but he was more curious and ambitious. Unlike his father’s simple life, Kalam dreamed of achieving great things through education and hard work.

4. Where was his ancestral house, and how was it?
Kalam’s ancestral house was in Rameswaram. It was a large pucca house made of limestone and bricks. It was built in the middle of the Mosque Street and was a comfortable home.

5. According to Kalam, how was his childhood?
Kalam described his childhood as secure and happy. He grew up in a loving family, surrounded by good friends and supportive elders. He enjoyed harmony among people of different religions.

6. When did the Second World War break out? How old was Kalam then?
The Second World War broke out in 1939. At that time, Abdul Kalam was about eight years old.

7. There was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds. What did the boy do then?
When there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds, Kalam collected them and sold them to a provision shop. In this way, he earned his first small income.

8. What was the first negative effect when something like a state of emergency was declared?
The first negative effect was the cancellation of train stops at Rameswaram station. Newspapers had to be thrown from moving trains, creating difficulties in distribution.

9. How did the boy Kalam earn his own money for the first time?
Kalam first earned money by collecting and selling tamarind seeds. Later, he helped his cousin Samsuddin distribute newspapers and earned money regularly.

10. What did he inherit from his mother and father?
From his father, Kalam inherited honesty, discipline and faith in God. From his mother, he inherited kindness, generosity and a caring nature.

11. Who were Kalam’s three close friends during his childhood?
Kalam’s three close friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan. They belonged to orthodox Hindu families, yet they shared a strong bond of friendship.

12. What jobs did Aravindan and Sivaprakasan adopt?
Aravindan later started a transport business for pilgrims. Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.

13. How were idols of the Lord reached to the marriage site?
The idols of the Lord were taken to the marriage site in decorated boats across the sea. Kalam’s father helped in arranging the boats for the ceremony.

(C) Long Answer Type Questions

(About 60 words each)

1. Describe Abdul Kalam’s early life in your own words.
Abdul Kalam was born in a simple Muslim family in Rameswaram. His father was a boat owner and his mother was a kind housewife. Though the family was not rich, they were spiritually strong and honest. Kalam had a happy and secure childhood with good friends and religious harmony. He learned discipline, faith and hard work from his parents.

2. What happened when the new teacher arrived at the Rameswaram Elementary School? How was the problem solved?
When a new teacher joined the school, he asked Kalam to sit on the back bench because he was a Muslim and Ramanadha Sastry was a Brahmin. This hurt both boys. Ramanadha’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, strongly opposed this discrimination and advised the teacher to correct himself. The teacher realized his mistake and apologized.

3. Narrate Kalam’s two visits at Sivasubramania Iyer’s house.
Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s science teacher, once invited him to dinner. His wife refused to serve Kalam because he was a Muslim, so Iyer himself served him. The next week, when Kalam visited again, Iyer’s wife served him food herself. It showed a positive change in her attitude.

4. What did Kalam’s family do during the annual Shri Sita Ram Kalyanam ceremony?
During the annual Shri Sita Ram Kalyanam ceremony, Kalam’s family helped in arranging boats to carry the idols of Lord Rama and Sita to the marriage site. Though they were Muslims, they participated with devotion, showing religious harmony and mutual respect.