🌙 My Childhood

🌙 My Childhood

✨ Summary in Simple Words

🏡 The lesson is an autobiographical excerpt written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s former President.

👶 It highlights his childhood in Rameswaram, a small town in Tamil Nadu.

👨‍👩‍👦 He belonged to a middle-class Muslim family that lived a simple life.

🙏 His father, Jainulabdeen, was deeply spiritual, honest, and wise though not wealthy.

🤲 His mother, Ashiamma, was generous, kind, and fed many outsiders daily.

🎒 Kalam’s childhood was filled with love, discipline, and values.

🤝 His close friends came from different religions, showing harmony and unity.

📖 Teachers like Sivasubramania Iyer motivated him to overcome social barriers.

🌟 The experiences of his childhood shaped him into a man of humility, vision, and character.

🌟 Theme

🕊️ Secularism & Unity – Respecting every religion and tradition.

🌱 Values & Discipline – Importance of honesty, kindness, and humility.

🚀 Dreams & Inspiration – Teachers and parents inspire children to achieve success.

⚖️ Equality – Social divisions like caste and religion should never stop growth.

🎭 Characters

👦 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (narrator) – A curious, simple, disciplined child who later became a scientist and President.

👨 Jainulabdeen (father) – Wise, deeply spiritual, honest, respected though not wealthy.

👩 Ashiamma (mother) – Loving, kind-hearted, generous, cared for all.

👨‍🏫 Sivasubramania Iyer (teacher) – Broad-minded, inspired Kalam to dream big and rise above caste barriers.

👬 Friends – Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, Sivaprakasan – showed communal harmony.

📘 NCERT Textbook Questions with Answers

❓ Q1: Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?

👉 Ans: Abdul Kalam’s house was in Rameswaram, a famous town in Tamil Nadu. It was situated on Mosque Street and was a large ancestral home made of limestone and bricks where his family had lived for generations.

❓ Q2: What do you think Dinamani is the name of?

👉 Ans: Dinamani was the name of a well-known Tamil newspaper. Kalam read it regularly during his childhood. By reading it, he gathered information about the world outside his small town of Rameswaram.

Q3: Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?

👉 Ans: Abdul Kalam had three close friends – Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Later in life, Ramanadha became a temple priest, Aravindan started a transport business, and Sivaprakasan worked as a railway catering contractor.

❓ Q4: How did Kalam earn his first wages?

👉 Ans: During the Second World War, newspapers were dropped in bundles for distribution. Kalam helped his cousin deliver these newspapers in Rameswaram. This work gave him his first wages, filling him with pride and confidence.

❓ Q5: What characteristics did Kalam inherit from his parents?

👉 Ans: From his father, Kalam inherited honesty, self-discipline, and a deep sense of spirituality. From his mother, he inherited compassion, generosity, and faith in goodness. These values shaped his personality and future life.

❓ Q6: “His wife was horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy sitting with her son and eating in her kitchen.” Explain.

👉 Ans: This refers to the orthodox wife of Kalam’s teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer. She opposed Kalam, a Muslim boy, eating in her kitchen. However, Iyer himself served Kalam food and encouraged him to visit again, showing broad-mindedness.

❓ Q7: What did Sivasubramania Iyer say to Kalam’s father?

👉 Ans: Iyer told Kalam’s father that if his son was to succeed in life, he must be supported and encouraged to rise above social barriers of caste and religion. Education, he felt, was the key to progress.

❓ Q8: How did Kalam describe his childhood?

👉 Ans: Abdul Kalam described his childhood as simple, secure, and full of affection. Though his family was not wealthy, he was provided with a safe environment, good values, and freedom to learn from his surroundings.

❓ Q9: How did Kalam’s father show wisdom and generosity?

👉 Ans: Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, was not rich but was respected for his wisdom and generosity. He guided pilgrims, provided boats, and lived a disciplined spiritual life. He taught Kalam simplicity, honesty, and value-based living.

❓ Q10: How did the Second World War give Kalam a new opportunity?

👉 Ans: During the Second World War, newspaper delivery became important. Kalam’s cousin received the contract, and Kalam helped him. This gave him his first earning opportunity, teaching him dignity of labour and independence at a young age.

📝 Extra Short Question Answers (for Practice)

(Now lengthened to 30–35 words each)

1. ✍️ Who wrote My Childhood?
   👉 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s former President, wrote My Childhood. It is an excerpt from his autobiography Wings of Fire, where he describes his simple, disciplined, and value-based early life in Rameswaram.
2. 🏡 Where was Kalam born?
   👉 Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram, a small island town in Tamil Nadu. It is famous for the Rameswaram temple and pilgrims. His family’s ancestral house was located on Mosque Street.
3. 👨 What was his father’s name?
   👉 His father’s name was Jainulabdeen. He was not a wealthy man but was respected for his honesty, wisdom, spirituality, and generosity. He strongly influenced Kalam’s thoughts and character.
4. 👩 What was his mother’s name?
   👉 His mother’s name was Ashiamma. She was kind, caring, and hospitable. She fed many people daily and inspired Kalam with her compassion, simplicity, and faith in goodness.
5. 👪 What kind of family did Kalam belong to?
   👉 Kalam belonged to a middle-class Tamil Muslim family. They were not wealthy but lived a simple and disciplined life, rich in spiritual and moral values that guided his growth and character.
6. 🚤 What did his father do for a living?
   👉 His father provided boats to pilgrims visiting Rameswaram and supported his family with honesty and dignity. Though financially modest, he was respected by the community for his wisdom and spiritual strength.
7. 🍲 How was his mother described?
   👉 His mother, Ashiamma, is described as a gentle and generous lady. She served food to many outsiders daily and lived a life of kindness and faith, which greatly inspired Kalam.
8. 🏠 How was his house?
   👉 Kalam lived in a large ancestral house built of limestone and bricks. It was simple but strong, reflecting the modest yet secure environment in which he spent his childhood.
9. 😀 What kind of childhood did Kalam have?
   👉 Abdul Kalam had a secure and happy childhood. Although his family was not rich, he never lacked love, care, discipline, or values, which gave him confidence and strength for life.
10. 👬 Who were his close friends?
    👉 His close friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. They belonged to Hindu families, but their friendship with Kalam reflected harmony, secularism, and unity beyond caste or religion.

🌈 Synonyms (with line numbers)

🔵 1. Profoundly (Line 3) – Deeply, intensely
🟡 2. Conceived (Line 5) – Imagined, formed, thought of
🟢 3. Daunting (Line 14) – Intimidating, discouraging, challenging
🟣 4. Intrigued (Line 18) – Fascinated, attracted, interested
🔴 5. Aspiring (Line 22) – Ambitious, hopeful, eager
🔵 6. Tingling (Line 25) – Prickling, vibrating, shivering
🟡 7. Extraordinary (Line 29) – Remarkable, amazing, unusual
🟢 8. Commended (Line 38) – Praised, admired, applauded
🟣 9. Enormous (Line 43) – Huge, immense, gigantic
🔴 10. Accomplished (Line 47) – Skilled, expert, proficient
🔵 11. Impressed (Line 54) – Influenced, affected, inspired
🟡 12. Multinational (Line 61) – International, worldwide, global
🟢 13. Troupe (Line 65) – Group, company, band
🟣 14. Meticulously (Line 70) – Carefully, thoroughly, precisely
🔴 15. Individual (Line 74) – Person, being, human

🌈 Antonyms (with line numbers)

🔵 1. Profoundly (Line 3) × Superficially
🟡 2. Conceived (Line 5) × Forgotten
🟢 3. Daunting (Line 14) × Encouraging
🟣 4. Intrigued (Line 18) × Bored
🔴 5. Aspiring (Line 22) × Unambitious
🔵 6. Tingling (Line 25) × Numb
🟡 7. Extraordinary (Line 29) × Ordinary
🟢 8. Commended (Line 38) × Criticised
🟣 9. Enormous (Line 43) × Tiny
🔴 10. Accomplished (Line 47) × Unskilled
🔵 11. Impressed (Line 54) × Unmoved
🟡 12. Multinational (Line 61) × Local
🟢 13. Troupe (Line 65) × Individual
🟣 14. Meticulously (Line 70) × Carelessly
🔴 15. Individual (Line 74) × Group, collective