Class : 9 – Lesson (6) My Childhood
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
📚 Introduction to the Lesson
My Childhood is an autobiographical extract from the memoir Wings of Fire written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India and one of the country’s greatest scientists. In this chapter, Kalam recalls his early life in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The lesson highlights themes of simplicity 🟢, religious harmony 🟣, hard work 🟠, and values imparted by parents and teachers 💡. Through personal anecdotes, Kalam reveals how his childhood shaped his personality and inspired him to reach great heights.
👨🎨 About the Author
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) was an Indian scientist, aerospace engineer, and the 11th President of India (2002–2007). Known as the “Missile Man of India 🚀”, he played a key role in India’s space and missile development programs. Despite his global fame, he remained humble, rooted in simplicity, and deeply spiritual.
💡 Themes of the Lesson
🟢 Simplicity in upbringing.
🔵 Religious tolerance and communal harmony.
🟡 Importance of parental values.
🟠 Hard work and honesty.
🟣 Inspiration from teachers and elders.
⚪ Faith in education as the path to success.
🎬 Main Episodes of the Story
1️⃣ Family and Background
Kalam was born in 1931 into a middle-class Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was neither rich nor highly educated but was wise, simple, and spiritual. His mother, Ashiamma, was kind and generous, often feeding outsiders along with the family. Kalam describes his house as modest but filled with love, discipline, and a deep sense of morality.
2️⃣ Lessons from Parents
Kalam’s father taught him honesty, integrity, and the value of self-discipline. His mother instilled faith, kindness, and a spirit of service. These lessons remained lifelong pillars of Kalam’s personality. He grew up believing that true wealth lies not in possessions but in values.
3️⃣ Early Influences
Kalam was deeply influenced by his father’s religious devotion and simplicity. His father believed that every human being is part of a larger spiritual whole and that prayers transcend barriers of caste and creed. Kalam observed this harmony at home, where Hindu friends and Muslim traditions coexisted peacefully.
4️⃣ Religious Harmony in Childhood
Kalam’s best friends were from Hindu families. He often visited temples with them and witnessed mutual respect between different communities. His father regularly discussed spiritual matters with Hindu priest Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry and Christian priest Reverend Father. These interactions reinforced in young Kalam the value of religious tolerance and unity 🌍.
5️⃣ Incidents of Social Discrimination
One day, Kalam was sitting beside his close friend in a classroom when the new teacher scolded him for mixing with a Hindu boy. He was humiliated and made to sit at the back. This pained Kalam deeply. His friend’s father, however, took strong action against the teacher and insisted on equality. The incident left a lasting mark on Kalam, strengthening his belief that caste and religion should never divide people.
6️⃣ Role of Teachers
Teachers played a crucial role in Kalam’s growth. One of them, Sivasubramania Iyer, invited Kalam to his home for a meal. At first, Iyer’s conservative wife refused to serve a Muslim boy, but later she overcame her prejudice. This incident further highlighted the challenges of social barriers and the importance of open-mindedness.
7️⃣ Kalam’s Dreams and Aspirations
Even as a child, Kalam was curious, hardworking, and determined. Selling newspapers as a boy to support his family, he learned the dignity of labour. His exposure to different religions, cultures, and values made him broad-minded. He aspired to rise beyond limitations and serve the nation through science and education.
🎭 Style, Tone, and Devices
✨ Tone – Reflective, sincere, and inspiring.
✨ Imagery – Descriptions of Rameswaram’s serene environment and modest home life.
✨ Contrast – Discrimination by a teacher vs. unity shown by elders.
✨ Symbolism – Parents’ lives symbolize discipline, honesty, and devotion; teachers symbolize the fight against social barriers.
✨ Narrative Style – Simple, autobiographical, and motivational.
🕊️ Lessons and Takeaways
✔️ True wealth lies in values, not possessions.
✔️ Respect for all religions builds harmony.
✔️ Parents’ teachings shape character.
✔️ Social discrimination must be rejected.
✔️ Education and determination can overcome all barriers.
✔️ Humility and service to others bring greatness.
🌟✨ Summary (Approx. 150 words) ✨🌟
My Childhood by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is an autobiographical piece describing his early years in Rameswaram. Born into a middle-class Muslim family, Kalam lived a simple yet disciplined life. His father, Jainulabdeen, and mother, Ashiamma, taught him honesty, kindness, and self-reliance. Kalam grew up amidst religious harmony, sharing strong bonds with Hindu friends and observing mutual respect among communities. An incident of discrimination in school hurt him, but his friend’s father stood against injustice, leaving a lifelong impression on him. His teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, also inspired him to overcome social barriers. Kalam worked hard as a boy, selling newspapers to support his family, which taught him the dignity of labour. The lesson conveys that simplicity, unity, tolerance, and education are the true foundations of success. It shows how childhood values and influences shaped Kalam into one of India’s most respected leaders and visionaries.
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PASSAGE
📖 Passage
“In the very childhood itself, I was convinced that the seeds of our growth are sown in our minds. We lived in our ancestral house, which was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick. I was one of many children—a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. We lived in the Muslim-dominated locality of Rameswaram.”
🌟 Questions and Answers
1️⃣ Question: What does Kalam mean when he says “the seeds of our growth are sown in our minds”?
🟢 Answer: Kalam means that success and development begin with thoughts and determination. A person’s mindset shapes their future achievements.
2️⃣ Question: How does Kalam describe his ancestral house?
🟢 Answer: Kalam describes his ancestral house as a fairly large pucca house made of limestone and brick, reflecting simplicity yet stability in his family background.
3️⃣ Question: What did Kalam say about his physical appearance compared to his parents?
🔵 Options:
A. He was tall and handsome like his father.
B. He was fair and beautiful like his mother.
C. He was short with undistinguished looks, unlike his tall and handsome parents.
D. He resembled both his parents equally.
🟢 Answer: C. He was short with undistinguished looks, unlike his tall and handsome parents.
4️⃣ Question: What does the description of Kalam’s house and neighbourhood reveal about his upbringing?
🟢 Answer: It shows that he grew up in modest surroundings, in a Muslim-dominated locality, where life was simple but values and discipline shaped his character.
5️⃣ Question: Assertion (A): Kalam’s early life shows that physical appearance defines a person’s worth.
Reason (R): He felt inferior because he did not resemble his handsome parents.
🔵 Options:
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
🟢 Answer: D. Both A and R are false.
6️⃣ Question: How does this passage reflect the foundation of Kalam’s later success in life?
🟢 Answer: It shows that despite modest looks and simple surroundings, Kalam believed growth begins in the mind. This conviction, learned in childhood, later guided him to greatness.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1️⃣ Question: Who is the author of My Childhood?
🟢 Answer: The lesson is written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
2️⃣ Question: Where was Kalam born and in which year?
🟢 Answer: He was born in 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
3️⃣ Question: How does Kalam describe his family background?
🟢 Answer: Kalam belonged to a middle-class Tamil Muslim family. His father was a simple, honest man, and his mother was kind and generous.
4️⃣ Question: What qualities of his parents influenced Kalam the most?
🟢 Answer: From his father he learned honesty, self-discipline, and simplicity, while from his mother he learned kindness, faith, and generosity.
5️⃣ Question: What was the significance of Kalam’s ancestral house?
🟢 Answer: It was a large pucca house of limestone and brick, symbolising stability and tradition, where Kalam grew up in modest but value-rich surroundings.
6️⃣ Question: Which incident in school hurt Kalam deeply?
🟢 Answer: A new teacher made him sit at the back bench because he was a Muslim boy sitting beside a Hindu friend. This discrimination hurt him deeply.
7️⃣ Question: How was the discrimination issue resolved?
🟢 Answer: His Hindu friend’s father, a respected man, confronted the teacher and insisted on equality, which restored Kalam’s dignity.
8️⃣ Question: What lesson did Kalam learn from this school incident?
🟢 Answer: He learned that social barriers like caste and religion are man-made and must be opposed with courage and fairness.
9️⃣ Question: Who was Sivasubramania Iyer, and how did he influence Kalam?
🟢 Answer: He was Kalam’s science teacher who encouraged him to think freely and break social barriers. He even invited Kalam to his home, setting an example of equality.
🔟 Question: Why did Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife initially refuse to serve Kalam food?
🟢 Answer: She had orthodox beliefs and could not accept a Muslim boy dining in her kitchen, though later her attitude softened.
1️⃣1️⃣ Question: What work did Kalam do as a child to support his family?
🟢 Answer: He sold newspapers in his childhood to earn money and contribute to the family income.
1️⃣2️⃣ Question: What does the lesson teach about communal harmony?
🟢 Answer: The lesson shows that Hindus, Muslims, and Christians in Rameswaram respected each other’s beliefs, reflecting unity in diversity.
1️⃣3️⃣ Question: What message does My Childhood convey?
🟢 Answer: The lesson conveys that simplicity, honesty, religious harmony, education, and determination are the foundations of success and that childhood values shape a person’s destiny.
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