🌟 Summary of “My Childhood”

This chapter is an extract from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s autobiography Wings of Fire. He describes his early life, family, and the values he learned in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

• Kalam was born into a middle-class Tamil Muslim family. His father Jainulabdeen was honest and generous; his mother Ashiamma was kind and caring.
• He had a secure and peaceful childhood.
• During World War II, he helped his cousin distribute newspapers and earned his first wages.
• His close friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan — all from Hindu Brahmin families. Despite religious differences, they shared strong friendship.
• An incident at school, when a teacher discriminated between Hindu and Muslim students, left a deep mark on him. The teacher later apologized.
• His science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, encouraged him to break social barriers and think big.
• Kalam’s father inspired him to go out and learn, quoting that “children are not their parents’ property but life’s longing for itself.”

The chapter teaches values of unity, equality, discipline, education, and respect for all religions.

🇮🇳 हिंदी अनुवाद (Summary in Hindi)

यह पाठ डॉ. ए.पी.जे. अब्दुल कलाम की आत्मकथा “Wings of Fire” से लिया गया है। इसमें उन्होंने अपने बचपन के अनुभवों का वर्णन किया है।

• अब्दुल कलाम एक मध्यमवर्गीय तमिल मुस्लिम परिवार में रामेश्वरम में जन्मे।
• उनके पिता जैनुलाब्दीन ईमानदार और उदार व्यक्ति थे, जबकि उनकी माँ अशियम्मा दयालु और धार्मिक प्रवृत्ति की थीं।
• उनका बचपन सुरक्षित और सुखद था।
• द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के समय उन्होंने समाचारपत्र बाँटने का काम किया और पहली बार पैसे कमाए।
• उनके तीन हिंदू मित्र थे — रमणाध शास्त्री, अरविंदन और शिवप्रकाशन — जिनसे उनकी गहरी मित्रता थी।
• एक शिक्षक द्वारा धार्मिक भेदभाव की घटना ने उन्हें गहराई से प्रभावित किया।
• उनके विज्ञान शिक्षक श्री शिवसुब्रमण्यम अय्यर ने उन्हें समाज की रूढ़ियों से ऊपर उठने की प्रेरणा दी।
• उनके पिता ने उन्हें जीवन में आगे बढ़ने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया और कहा कि “बच्चे हमारे नहीं, बल्कि जीवन की आकांक्षा हैं।”

यह पाठ हमें धर्मनिरपेक्षता, मेहनत, विनम्रता, और समानता का संदेश देता है।

🪶 Word Meanings

📘 Textbook Question Answers

I. Answer in one or two sentences

1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
   👉 On Mosque Street in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of?
   👉 It is a Tamil newspaper, as Kalam read war news from it.
3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends?
   👉 Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.
4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
   👉 By helping his cousin distribute newspapers during World War II.
5. Had he earned any money before that?
   👉 Yes, by selling tamarind seeds to a provision shop.

II. Short Paragraph Answers (about 30 words)

1. Describe his father, mother, and himself.
   👉 His father was simple, wise, and honest; his mother was kind and caring; Kalam himself was short, ordinary-looking, but curious and hardworking.
2. What characteristics did he inherit from his parents?
   👉 Honesty and self-discipline from his father; faith in goodness and kindness from his mother.

III. Long Answer Questions

1. How was society of Rameswaram rigid, and who tried to break barriers?
   👉 Society was divided by religion and caste. Some, like the new teacher, encouraged division, while others like Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer promoted unity and equality.
2. Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram? What did his father say?
   👉 He wanted to study further in Ramanathapuram. His father said that like a seagull, he must fly away to grow and fulfill his destiny.

🧭 Important CBSE Exam Questions

1. What lesson do we learn from “My Childhood”?
   👉 We learn the importance of equality, religious harmony, discipline, and the value of good parenting and teachers.
2. How did Kalam’s father and teacher influence his life?
   👉 His father taught him simplicity and wisdom, while his teacher inspired him to dream big and break social barriers.
3. What incident shows religious discrimination in the story?
   👉 When a new teacher asked Kalam to sit separately from his Hindu friend because of religious difference.
4. How did Kalam’s early life shape his personality?
   👉 His humble upbringing, disciplined family, and inspiring mentors developed his integrity, patriotism, and scientific curiosity.

Absolutely ✅
Here are the Most Important CBSE Exam Questions 2025 from Chapter 6 – “My Childhood” by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Class 9 Beehive – English),
with detailed and exam-appropriate answers (as per CBSE pattern: short + long).

📘 CHAPTER 6 – MY CHILDHOOD (A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)

✨ Important CBSE Exam Questions 2025 with Answers

🧩 1-Mark / Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
👉 Abdul Kalam’s house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

Q2. Who were Abdul Kalam’s close childhood friends?
👉 Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.

Q3. What was Dinamani?
👉 Dinamani was a Tamil daily newspaper that Kalam read to follow war news.

Q4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
👉 He helped his cousin Samsuddin distribute newspapers and earned one anna a day.

Q5. What qualities did Kalam inherit from his parents?
👉 From his father, he inherited honesty and self-discipline; from his mother, faith in goodness and kindness.

✨ Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

Q1. What incident in the classroom left a deep impression on Abdul Kalam?

👉 When Kalam was in Class V, a new teacher asked him to sit on the back bench because he was a Muslim and his friend was a Hindu. This discrimination deeply hurt both boys. Later, Lakshmana Sastry, his friend’s father, made the teacher realize his mistake. The incident taught Kalam the value of equality and tolerance.

Q2. How did Abdul Kalam’s teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, influence him?

👉 Sivasubramania Iyer encouraged Kalam to think beyond social barriers. He treated him with respect and invited him home for a meal, ignoring religious taboos. His progressive thinking and encouragement motivated Kalam to dream big and achieve greatness.

Q3. What lesson did Kalam learn from his father about life and freedom?

👉 Kalam’s father believed that every child must grow independently. He told his wife that children are not their parents’ possessions but life’s longing for itself. This taught Kalam that true love means giving freedom to grow and find one’s own path.

Q4. Describe the social environment of Rameswaram during Kalam’s childhood.

👉 Rameswaram was a small, conservative town where people followed strict social and religious divisions. However, many, like Kalam’s father and teachers, worked to remove such barriers and promote equality and harmony.

Q5. What did Kalam learn from his early childhood experiences?

👉 He learned honesty, discipline, faith in humanity, and respect for all religions. He realized that true education and success come from hard work, humility, and compassion.

🧠 Long Answer Questions (5–6 Marks Each)

Q1. How does “My Childhood” reflect religious harmony and equality?

👉 In Rameswaram, though people belonged to different religions, they lived peacefully.
Kalam’s best friends were Brahmins, and they never felt any religious difference.
When a teacher discriminated against him, his Hindu friend’s father boldly opposed it.
His science teacher, though a Brahmin, treated him equally.
Through these incidents, the chapter highlights that true humanity lies in unity, equality, and mutual respect—values that define India’s secular spirit.

Q2. How did Abdul Kalam’s father and teacher shape his personality and vision?

👉 Kalam’s father taught him simplicity, honesty, and faith in God. He lived a disciplined life and valued hard work and prayer.
Sivasubramania Iyer, his science teacher, encouraged him to break social barriers and be ambitious.
These two figures shaped Kalam’s moral and intellectual foundation, helping him become a visionary scientist and the “People’s President.”
➡️ Lesson: A good family and inspiring teachers can build a great human being.

Q3. What message does the chapter “My Childhood” convey to students?

👉 The chapter conveys that childhood is the foundation of life.
It teaches values like honesty, discipline, equality, religious tolerance, and respect for others.
It also inspires students to dream big, work hard, and stay humble.
Kalam’s story reminds us that one’s background never limits success if one has determination and values.

Q4. Describe how social discrimination was challenged in the story.

👉 The new teacher discriminated between Hindu and Muslim students by separating them.
But Lakshmana Sastry, the temple priest, made the teacher realize that spreading communal hatred was wrong.
Later, Kalam’s science teacher invited him home, ignoring caste taboos.
These events show that social discrimination can be overcome by courage, education, and moral strength.

Q5. “Children are not their parents’ property but life’s longing for itself.”

Explain how Kalam’s father’s advice shows wisdom.
👉 When Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram for higher studies, his mother was hesitant. His father comforted her, saying children must grow and find their own destiny.
He quoted Khalil Gibran, “Your children are not your children…”
This advice shows his spiritual wisdom — that parents should love their children but allow them freedom to grow.
It reflects broad-minded parenting and emotional maturity.

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