Questions:
- Where was A.P.J. Abdul Kalam born? Answer:
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).
- What was the occupation and background of Kalam’s father? Answer:
Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, had little formal education and wealth, but he had great innate wisdom and generosity of spirit.
- What does Kalam say about his family life and childhood? Answer:
Kalam describes his childhood as very secure, both materially and emotionally. His father was austere but provided for all necessities, and his mother was very generous in feeding outsiders.
- What business did Kalam start at a young age during the Second World War? Answer:
During the Second World War, Kalam collected tamarind seeds from the trees and sold them to a provision shop.
- How much money did Kalam earn by collecting and selling tamarind seeds? Answer:
Kalam earned one anna a day by selling the tamarind seeds to the provision shop.
- Who told Kalam stories about the Second World War? Answer:
Kalam’s brother-in-law, Jallaluddin, used to tell him stories about the war, which Kalam later tried to find in the headlines of the newspaper, Dinamani.
- How did Kalam feel about his first wages? Answer:
Kalam felt a sense of pride when he earned his first wages, which were from helping his cousin deliver newspapers.
- What did Kalam inherit from his parents? Answer:
Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.
- Who were Kalam’s close friends during his childhood? Answer:
Kalam’s close friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. They were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families.
- How did the religious differences between Kalam and his friends affect their friendship? Answer:
Despite their religious differences, Kalam and his friends never felt any separation or distinction among themselves. They enjoyed a close friendship based on mutual respect.
- What was the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony in Kalam’s village? Answer:
The Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony was an annual event during which Kalam’s family arranged boats with a special platform to carry idols from the temple to the marriage site.
- What was the experience Kalam had with his teacher in the fifth standard? Answer:
A new teacher asked Kalam, a Muslim boy, to sit on the back bench, as he did not approve of Kalam sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry, the Hindu priest’s son. Kalam felt very sad, and so did Ramanadha Sastry.
- What action did Ramanadha Sastry’s father take in response to the teacher’s behavior? Answer:
Ramanadha Sastry’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, summoned the teacher and told him to either apologize or leave the school. The teacher ultimately regretted his behavior.
- How did Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, try to break social barriers? Answer:
Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin, tried to break social barriers by encouraging Kalam to rise above the divisions of caste and religion and aim for an education comparable to that of people in big cities.
- How did Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife react when Kalam was invited to their home for a meal? Answer:
Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy being served in her ritually pure kitchen, so she refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen.
- How did Sivasubramania Iyer handle the situation with his wife? Answer:
Sivasubramania Iyer did not get angry with his wife. Instead, he served Kalam with his own hands and sat down to eat with him.
- What happened when Kalam visited Sivasubramania Iyer’s house the next week? Answer:
The next week, Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife overcame her reluctance and took Kalam inside her kitchen, where she served him food with her own hands.
- What quote did Kalam’s father use to give him permission to leave Rameswaram for his studies? Answer:
Kalam’s father quoted Khalil Gibran: “Your children are not your children. They come through you but not from you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.”
- What did Kalam’s father tell him about leaving home to grow and study? Answer:
Kalam’s father told him that like a seagull flying alone across the sun, Kalam must go away to grow and become independent.
- What did Kalam feel about his father’s words regarding his education and future? Answer:
Kalam felt reassured and encouraged by his father’s words, as they gave him the strength to leave home and pursue his education.
- How did Kalam’s early education influence his life later on? Answer:
Kalam’s early education, shaped by his parents’ values and his teachers’ guidance, played a crucial role in his development as a scientist and leader.
- What did Kalam learn from his teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, regarding social change? Answer:
Kalam learned from Sivasubramania Iyer that when one tries to change a system, there will always be problems to confront. This lesson helped him understand the importance of persistence in the face of challenges.
- What did Kalam’s teacher, Lakshmana Sastry, teach him about equality? Answer:
Lakshmana Sastry taught Kalam that social inequality and communal intolerance should not be tolerated, especially in the minds of innocent children. He took action to ensure fairness and equality in their education.
- What did Kalam’s childhood experiences teach him about communal harmony? Answer:
Kalam’s childhood experiences, such as his close friendship with boys from different religious backgrounds, taught him that communal harmony is possible when individuals respect each other’s differences.
- How did Kalam’s experiences in Rameswaram shape his character? Answer:
Kalam’s experiences in Rameswaram, such as his childhood friendships, his parents’ teachings, and the actions of his teachers, helped shape his character, instilling in him values of equality, humility, and perseverance.
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