Thinking about the Text (Page 75)
Activity
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Find Dhanuskodi and Rameswaram on the map. What language(s) do you think are spoken there? What languages do you think the author, his family, his friends and his teachers spoke with one another?
Tamil is spoken in Dhanuskodi and Rameswaram. The author, his family, his friends, and his teachers predominantly spoke Tamil with one another.
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
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1. Where was Abdul Kalam's house?
Abdul Kalam's house was a fairly large pucca house made of limestone and brick on Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
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2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. The author mentions attempting to trace war headlines in Dinamani.
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3. Who were Abdul Kalam's school friends? What did they later become?
Abdul Kalam's school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Ramanadha Sastry took over the priesthood of the Rameswaram temple, Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for pilgrims, and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
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4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin Samsuddin catch bundles of newspapers thrown from moving trains on the Rameswaram Road during the Second World War.
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5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Yes, he had earned money earlier by collecting tamarind seeds and selling them to a provision shop on Mosque Street for one anna per day.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)
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1. How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
(i) His father had neither much formal education nor wealth, but possessed great innate wisdom, an austere lifestyle, and true generosity of spirit. (ii) His mother was an ideal helpmate who fed numerous outsiders daily. (iii) The author describes himself as a short boy with rather undistinguished looks born to tall and handsome parents, enjoying a secure childhood.
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2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
He inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father, and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
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1. "On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups," says the author. (i) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable?
He mentions orthodox Hindu Brahmin families and Muslims. Yes, they were easily identifiable by external markers such as the sacred thread worn by Brahmins and the cap worn by Muslims.
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(ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences?
They were not only aware of differences but also naturally shared friendships and experiences, such as children sharing close friendships, families sharing bedtime stories from the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet, and arranging boats for temple festivals.
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(iii) The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?
People aware of differences include the new fifth-standard teacher and Sivasubramania Iyer's conservative wife. People who tried to bridge these differences include Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer.
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(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?
The first incident is when a new teacher separated Kalam from his Hindu friend in class due to communal intolerance; it was resolved when Lakshmana Sastry rebuked the teacher, leading to his reform through strong conviction. The second is when Sivasubramania Iyer's wife refused to serve a Muslim boy in her ritually pure kitchen; it was resolved when Iyer served Kalam himself and invited him back, changing his wife's attitude. People can change their attitudes through strong moral conviction, education, and interaction.
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2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
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(ii) What did his father say to this?
His father quoted Khalil Gibran, stating that children are not their parents' children but sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself, and that they must go away to grow like a seagull flying across the sun alone and without a nest.
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(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
His words mean that children have their own individuality and must be given freedom to pursue their destiny and education. He spoke them to encourage and reassure his hesitant wife and son.
Thinking about Language (Page 75-76)
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1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?
Volcanoes, violence, anger, laughter, or skin rashes can erupt. Waves, emotions, crowds, or electricity can surge.
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2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?
Trace means to find or discover by investigation, or to copy a drawing by drawing over its lines. The meaning closest to the text is to find or follow the course of something.
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3. Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look up the word distinguished and say what undistinguished must mean.)
Undistinguished means lacking distinctive or notable features; ordinary or plain.
II. 1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| A | Ans | B |
|---|---|---|
| (i) broke out | ( c ) | a. an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
| (ii) in accordance with | ( f ) | b. was not able to tolerate |
| (iii) a helping hand | ( d ) | c. began suddenly in a violent way |
| (iv) could not stomach | ( b ) | d. assistance |
| (v) generosity of spirit | ( a ) | e. persons with power to make decisions |
| (vi) figures of authority | ( e ) | f. according to a particular rule, principle, or system |
II. 2. Form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in- (including il-, ir-, im-).
- adequate — inadequate, acceptable — unacceptable, regular — irregular, tolerant — intolerant, demanding — undemanding, active — inactive, true — untrue, permanent — impermanent, patriotic — unpatriotic, logical — illogical, disputed — undisputed, accessible — inaccessible, coherent — incoherent, legal — illegal, responsible — irresponsible, possible — impossible.
IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form. (Page 76-77)
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1. In yesterday's competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.
In yesterday's competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
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2. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time.
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
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3. On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.
On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
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4. Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.
Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
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5. Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.
Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
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6. Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.
Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets. (Page 77)
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1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket
Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor's skull was fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers.
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2. Oil from Seeds
Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are ground to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.
Thinking about the Poem - No Men Are Foreign (Page 81)
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1. (i) "Beneath all uniforms..." What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
The poet is speaking about military uniforms worn by soldiers of different countries.
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(ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
The poet suggests that all people share the same human body, walk on the same earth, breathe the same air, are nourished by peaceful harvests, experience war and starvation, and possess hands, eyes, and strength won by love.
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2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.
The five ways in stanza 1 are: (1) Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes; (2) The land our brothers walk upon is earth like this; (3) We all shall lie in the earth; (4) They are aware of sun and air and water; (5) They are fed by peaceful harvests, by war's long winter starv'd.
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3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
The common features found in stanza 2 are: (1) Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read a labour not different from our own; (2) They have eyes like ours that wake or sleep; (3) Strength that can be won by love; (4) Common life in every land that all can recognise and understand.
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4. "...whenever we are told to hate our brothers..." When do you think this happens? Why? Who 'tells' us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say?
This happens during times of war or political conflict when vested interests or leaders incite hatred for their own gains. We should not do as we are told at such times. The poet says that by hating others, we dispossess, betray, and condemn ourselves, and defile the human earth.
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