1. Who is the author of My Childhood?
Answer:- The author of My Childhood is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
2. Where was Abdul Kalam born?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram, an island town in Tamil Nadu.
3. What was the name of Abdul Kalam's father?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam's father's name was Jainulabdeen.
4. What was the name of Abdul Kalam's mother?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam's mother's name was Ashiamma.
5. During which war did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam earned his first wages during the Second World War.
6. What did Abdul Kalam sell to earn money before delivering newspapers?
Answer:- Before delivering newspapers, Abdul Kalam earned money by selling tamarind seeds.
7. Who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram?
Answer:- Samsuddin, Abdul Kalam's cousin, distributed newspapers in Rameswaram.
8. Who was Abdul Kalam's science teacher?
Answer:- Sivasubramania Iyer was Abdul Kalam's science teacher.
9. Who was the high priest of the Rameswaram Temple?
Answer:- Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry was the high priest of the Rameswaram Temple.
10. Which book is this chapter taken from?
Answer:- This chapter is taken from Abdul Kalam's autobiography, Wings of Fire.
B. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Abdul Kalam was born in:
(a) Chennai
(b) Rameswaram
(c) Madurai
(d) Delhi
Answer:- (b) Rameswaram
2. Abdul Kalam's father was known for his:
(a) Wealth
(b) Wisdom and honesty
(c) Political power
(d) Business
Answer:- (b) Wisdom and honesty
3. Abdul Kalam first earned money by helping:
(a) His father
(b) Samsuddin
(c) Aravindan
(d) Ramanadha Sastry
Answer:- (b) Samsuddin
4. Abdul Kalam's science teacher was:
(a) Ali Bux
(b) Sivasubramania Iyer
(c) Lakshmana Sastry
(d) Jallaluddin
Answer:- (b) Sivasubramania Iyer
5. Ramanadha Sastry was the son of:
(a) Samsuddin
(b) Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry
(c) Jainulabdeen
(d) Jallaluddin
Answer:- (b) Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry
6. Abdul Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his:
(a) Mother
(b) Teacher
(c) Father
(d) Brother
Answer:- (c) Father
7. Which newspaper did Abdul Kalam read?
(a) The Hindu
(b) Dinamani
(c) Indian Express
(d) Times of India
Answer:- (b) Dinamani
8. The chapter mainly highlights:
(a) Adventure
(b) Childhood values and communal harmony
(c) Sports
(d) Travel
Answer:- (b) Childhood values and communal harmony
C. Fill in the Blanks
1. Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram.
2. His father's name was Jainulabdeen.
3. His mother's name was Ashiamma.
4. Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping Samsuddin.
5. Before that, he earned money by selling tamarind seeds.
6. His science teacher was Sivasubramania Iyer.
7. Ramanadha Sastry later became the priest of the Rameswaram Temple.
8. The chapter is taken from Wings of Fire.
9. Abdul Kalam inherited kindness from his mother.
10. The chapter teaches the values of unity, hard work, and equality.
D. True or False
1. Abdul Kalam was born into a wealthy family.
Answer:- False
2. Abdul Kalam's father was an honest and wise man.
Answer:- True
3. Abdul Kalam's first earnings came from delivering newspapers.
Answer:- True
4. Before that, he sold tamarind seeds for money.
Answer:- True
5. Abdul Kalam's closest friends belonged to different religions.
Answer:- True
6. Sivasubramania Iyer encouraged social equality.
Answer:- True
7. The new teacher appreciated Kalam for sitting with Ramanadha Sastry.
Answer:- False
8. Lakshmana Sastry opposed communal discrimination.
Answer:- True
9. Abdul Kalam's father stopped him from leaving Rameswaram for higher studies.
Answer:- False
2-Mark Questions
1. Why did Abdul Kalam consider his childhood secure?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam considered his childhood secure because his parents provided all the basic necessities of life. He also received immense love, care, and moral guidance from his family.
2. How did the Second World War affect Abdul Kalam's life?
Answer:- During the Second World War, the train stopped halting at Rameswaram station. This created an opportunity for Abdul Kalam to help his cousin collect newspaper bundles, through which he earned his first wages.
3. How did Lakshmana Sastry oppose discrimination?
Answer:- Lakshmana Sastry strongly criticised the new teacher for discriminating against Abdul Kalam because of his religion. He asked the teacher to apologise or leave the school, which made the teacher realise his mistake.
4. What lesson did Sivasubramania Iyer teach Abdul Kalam?
Answer:- Sivasubramania Iyer taught Abdul Kalam the importance of equality and social harmony. He encouraged him to overcome social barriers and inspired him to achieve great success through education.
5. Why did Abdul Kalam admire his parents?
Answer:- Abdul Kalam admired his parents for their honesty, wisdom, kindness, generosity, and strong moral values. Their qualities greatly influenced his personality and future life.
4-Mark Questions
1. Describe the role of Abdul Kalam's parents in shaping his character.
Answer:- Abdul Kalam's parents played a significant role in shaping his personality. His father taught him honesty, self-discipline, simplicity, and wisdom, while his mother taught him kindness, generosity, and compassion.
Their values helped him become a responsible, humble, and successful person who respected all religions and people.
2. How does the chapter promote communal harmony?
Answer:- The chapter shows that people from different religions lived together peacefully in Rameswaram. Abdul Kalam's closest friends were Hindu boys, and both Hindu and Muslim families respected each other's beliefs.
People like Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer opposed religious discrimination and promoted equality. Their actions encouraged unity and mutual respect.
3. Explain the incidents that changed Abdul Kalam's thinking about equality.
Answer:- The first incident was when a new teacher separated Abdul Kalam from his Hindu friend because of religion. Lakshmana Sastry strongly opposed this discrimination.
The second incident occurred when Sivasubramania Iyer invited Abdul Kalam to his home despite social prejudice. Later, even his wife changed her attitude. These incidents taught Kalam the importance of equality and humanity.
4. Why is the chapter "My Childhood" inspiring?
Answer:- The chapter is inspiring because it shows how a simple boy from a modest family achieved success through hard work, determination, and good values. It also teaches honesty, communal harmony, equality, and respect for all religions.
5-Mark Questions
1. Give a character sketch of Abdul Kalam.
Answer:- Abdul Kalam was a humble, hardworking, honest, and determined boy. Though he came from a simple middle-class family, he was eager to learn and never hesitated to work hard. He earned money by selling tamarind seeds and later by helping distribute newspapers.
He respected all religions and believed in equality. Inspired by his parents and teachers, he developed qualities such as discipline, kindness, courage, and perseverance. These values helped him become one of India's greatest scientists and the President of India.
2. Describe the role of Sivasubramania Iyer in Abdul Kalam's life.
Answer:- Sivasubramania Iyer was Abdul Kalam's science teacher and an important source of inspiration. He believed in equality and wanted Abdul Kalam to become highly educated. Despite social prejudice, he invited Kalam to his home for a meal and personally served him when his wife refused.
He encouraged Kalam not to fear difficulties while bringing about social change. Eventually, his wife accepted Kalam warmly. Through his actions, Iyer taught Kalam the values of equality, courage, and determination.
3. What values do you learn from the chapter "My Childhood"?
Answer:- The chapter teaches many important values, such as honesty, hard work, discipline, kindness, generosity, and respect for all religions. It also highlights the importance of communal harmony, equality, and education.
VThe lives of Abdul Kalam's parents and teachers show that good character and determination are more valuable than wealth. The chapter inspires readers to overcome prejudice, work hard, and contribute positively to society.
