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My Childhood
Question
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2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
(ii) What did his father say to this?
(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Answer

(i) Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram for further studies. He wanted to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. 

(ii) Kalam's father said that he knew that one day Kalam had to go away to grow. He gave him the analogy of a seagull that flies across the sun alone and without a nest. He then quoted Khalil Gibran to Kalam's mother saying that her children were not their own children. They were the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through their parents, but not from them. They may give them their love, but not their thoughts as the children have their own thoughts.
(iii) Abdul Kalam’s father’s words bear great meanings. First, he inspired his son to go ahead above giving the example of the seagull. Secondly, he explained Kalam’s mother to give his son opportunities to get higher education and to make progress. I think he spoke those words to encourage Abdul Kalam and to control the emotional attachment of his wife for Kalam. 

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Some More Questions From My Childhood Chapter

Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?

What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.

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

How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?

What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

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 (for example, by the way they dressed)?
(ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share
friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s
house; of who his friends were; and of what used to take place in the
pond near his house.)
(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?
(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and
also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
(ii) What did his father say to this?
(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:
erupt    surge   trace   undistinguished   casualty

Look these words up in a dictionary which gives examples of how they are used.
Now answer the following questions.
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?
2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?
3. Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished mean.)