English Beehive class 9 my childhood value based questions
Answers
Q1. Teachers can either ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives. Cite two incidents from “My Childhood” to prove the truth of this statement.
Ans: Abdul Kalam’s life was influenced in a major way by some experiences that he had during his school days. They were instrumental in shaping his character and later on his career.
Once, when he was in the fifth standard, a new teacher came to his class. He did not like Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry, a Brahmin. So, he shifted Kalam to the back seat simply because it was in accordance with the social ranking of that time. This was a heart-breaking experience for Kalam. This poison of social inequality and communal intolerance could have demoralized the young Kalam if his friend’s father, Lakshmana Sastry had not intervened. He ensured that the teacher not only regretted his action but also reformed himself.
Another experience that made Kalam a stronger and wiser person was when his science teacher Sivasubramania lyer invited him to his house for a meal. During the meal Iyer noticed that Kalam was upset at his wife’s attitude, so he invited Kalam to another dinner the following weekend saying, “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted”.
These two experiences could have had disastrous consequences for Kalam in particular and Rameswaram society in general, had they not been dealt with Farsight and wisdom by kalam’s teachers. Thus, from these incidents, it is clear that teachers can ‘make’ or ‘break’ their students’ lives.
Q2. Suppose you are the new teacher who had sent Kalam to the last row in the class. You realise your mistake after the Hindu priest Lakshmana Sastry reprimanded you. Write a diary entry in about 150 words expressing your regret at your behaviour.
Ans:(Day and Date) (Time)
Dear Diary
My first day at the Rameswaram Elementary School was very eventful. Although I was supposed to teach I actually learnt a valuable lesson myself.
On entering the fifth standard, I noticed a boy in a Muslim cap sitting in the front row next to a Brahmin boy wearing the sacred thread. I coup I do not tolerate this and I asked the Muslim boy, whose name was Abdul Kalam, to go to the last row. The boy and his friend both looked sad but my order was followed.
In the evening, Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple and the Brahmin boy’s father sent for me. He reprimanded me for poisoning young and innocent minds about the differences based on class and community. He asked me to either apologise or to quit the school and the island. I was shaken as the warning had come from none other than the high priest himself.
I was totally ashamed of my mean behaviour. I regretted having victimized an innocent boy and belittling his religion. I offered my sincere regret and resolved never to let any such prejudice to influence my decisions. I am grateful to Lakshmana Sastry for showing me the right path.
Krishnan Iyenger
Question 1: Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s house was on mosque street in Rameshwaram.
Question 2: What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: The fact that Abdul Kalam used to read headlines, to know about the WWII and the fact that he assisted his cousin in collecting newspaper bundles thrown from the train indicate that Dinamani is the name of a newspaper.
Question 3: Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Answer: One of his friends Ramanadha Shastry became a priest in Rameshwaram, Arvindam went into a business of tour operator and Shivaprakasham became a catering contractor with Southern Railways.
Question 4: How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer: When stoppage of trains was cancelled at Rameshwaram because of WWII, then his cousin asked him for help in collecting newspaper bundles which were thrown from the moving train. This task helped Abdul Kalam earn his first wages.
Question 5: Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Answer: Before the newspaper episode there was unusually huge demand of tamarind seeds. Abdul Kalam used to collect tamarind seeds and used to sell them for a princely some of one annah a day.