My Childhood
Factual Questions and Answers:
1. Where was the author born?
·
The
author was born in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras State.
2. What was the author's father's name?
·
The
author's father's name was Jainulabdeen.
3. Describe the author's ancestral
house.
·
The
author's ancestral house was a fairly large pucca house made of limestone and
brick, built in the middle of the nineteenth century.
4. How did the author contribute during
the Second World War?
·
The
author collected tamarind seeds and sold them to a provision shop during the
Second World War.
5. Who helped the author earn his first
wages during the war?
·
The
author's cousin, Samsuddin, helped him earn his first wages by catching
newspaper bundles thrown from a moving train.
6. What qualities did the author inherit
from his father?
·
The
author inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father.
7. Describe the author's childhood
friends.
·
The
author had three close friends in his childhood: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan,
and Sivaprakasan, all from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families.
8. What ceremony did the author's family
participate in annually?
·
The
author's family participated in the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony.
9. What was the incident at the
Rameswaram Elementary School involving the author?
·
The
author was asked to move to the back bench by a new teacher because he was
sitting with a Hindu priest's son.
10.How did Lakshmana Sastry react to the
incident at school?
·
Lakshmana
Sastry, the high priest and father of the Hindu boy, confronted the teacher and
demanded an apology or his resignation.
11.Who was the author's science teacher
and what efforts did he make?
·
The
author's science teacher was Sivasubramania Iyer, who made efforts to break
social barriers so that people from varying backgrounds could mingle easily.
12.How did Sivasubramania Iyer react
when his wife refused to serve the author in their kitchen?
·
Sivasubramania
Iyer served the author with his own hands, defying his wife's refusal.
13.What historical event marked the end
of the Second World War in the text?
·
The
end of the Second World War marked the imminent freedom of India.
14.What declaration did Gandhiji make in
the text regarding India's future?
·
Gandhiji
declared, "Indians will build their own India."
15.Where did the author request
permission to study, and what was his father's response?
·
The
author requested permission to study at the district headquarters in
Ramanathapuram, and his father encouraged him to go, quoting Khalil Gibran.
16.What metaphor did the author's father
use to express the idea of growth?
·
The
author's father used the metaphor of a seagull flying across the sun, alone and
without a nest, to express the idea of growth.
17.What did Khalil Gibran's quote
emphasize about children?
·
Khalil
Gibran's quote emphasized that children are not the possessions of their
parents but the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
18.What did the author's father say
about giving love and thoughts to children?
·
The
author's father said, "You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
for they have their own thoughts."
19.What did the author's family do
during the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony?
·
The
author's family arranged boats with a special platform to carry idols of the
Lord from the temple to the marriage site during the annual Shri Sita Rama
Kalyanam ceremony.
20.Who was the son of Pakshi Lakshmana
Sastry, and what did he later take over?
·
Ramanadha
Sastry, the son of Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, later took over the priesthood of
the Rameswaram temple from his father.
Inferential Questions and Answers:
1. Why did the author's family
participate in the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony?
·
The author's family participated in the
ceremony due to their religious and cultural practices, as mentioned in the
text about arranging boats with a platform for carrying idols of the Lord.
2. What can be inferred about the
author's father's attitude toward material comforts?
·
The author's father, despite not seeking many
material comforts, ensured that all necessities for the family, such as food,
medicine, and clothes, were provided.
3. Why did the author feel sad when
asked to move to the back bench at school?
·
The author felt sad because the new teacher
asked him to move based on religious differences, separating him from his Hindu
friend, Ramanadha Sastry.
4. How did Lakshmana Sastry's actions
impact the young teacher?
·
Lakshmana Sastry's strong stance and demand
for an apology or resignation impacted the young teacher, leading to regret and
a change in behavior.
5. What does Sivasubramania Iyer's
invitation to the author for a meal signify?
·
Sivasubramania Iyer's invitation signifies his
effort to break social barriers and promote harmony by inviting a Muslim boy to
dine with his orthodox Brahmin family.
6. Why did the author's father quote
Khalil Gibran when discussing the author's departure?
·
The quote about the seagull and the sun
suggests that the author's father viewed the departure as a necessary part of
the author's growth and independence.
7. What can be inferred about the social
dynamics in Rameswaram during the Second World War?
·
The text implies that the small society of
Rameswaram was rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups, as
mentioned in relation to the incident at the school.
8. Why did the author's family arrange
boats with a special platform during the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony?
·
The family arranged boats to carry idols of
the Lord, indicating a deep religious and cultural significance attached to the
annual ceremony.
9. How did Sivasubramania Iyer challenge
societal norms?
·
Sivasubramania Iyer challenged societal norms
by spending time with the author and encouraging him to strive for education,
breaking barriers despite his orthodox background.
10.What does the author's father's quote
from Khalil Gibran suggest about his perspective on parenting?
·
The quote suggests that the author's father
believed in allowing children to grow independently, acknowledging their
individuality and unique path in life.
Extrapolating Questions and Answers:
1. How might the author's childhood
experiences with friends of different religious backgrounds influence his
attitude toward diversity later in life?
·
The
author's positive experiences with friends from diverse backgrounds in
childhood might contribute to a more inclusive and tolerant attitude towards
diversity in his adult life.
2. Considering the author's early
exposure to social inequality, how could this experience shape his views on
social justice and equality in the future?
·
The
author's early experience of social inequality at school might lead him to
develop a strong sense of commitment to social justice and equality, advocating
for fairness in society.
3. Given Sivasubramania Iyer's efforts
to break social barriers, what impact might the author's relationship with his
science teacher have on his willingness to challenge societal norms in the
future?
·
The
positive influence of Sivasubramania Iyer on the author might lead him to
become someone who challenges societal norms, fostering inclusivity and
breaking barriers in his future endeavors.
4. Considering the author's family's
involvement in religious ceremonies, how might his upbringing influence his
values and beliefs as he grows older?
·
The
author's early exposure to religious ceremonies and traditions within his
family might shape his values and beliefs, possibly leading to a strong
connection to his cultural heritage in the future.
5. Based on the author's father's
emphasis on growth and independence, how might the author approach challenges
and opportunities in his adult life?
·
The
emphasis on growth and independence from the author's father may lead him to
approach challenges with resilience and view opportunities as essential for
personal and professional development in his adult life.
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