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III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and th... - Beehive
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
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?
Answer 1
(i) The author mentions two main social groups in Rameswaram: the Orthodox Brahmins and the Muslims. These groups were easily identifiable by their attire. For instance, Abdul Kalam wore a cap which marked him as a Muslim, while his close friend Ramanadha Sastry wore the sacred thread, representing his Hindu Brahmin identity.
(ii) Although they belonged to different religions, they naturally shared deep friendships and experiences. Kalam’s three closest childhood friends were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, Kalam’s family would arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord. Furthermore, bedtime stories in Kalam's house included tales from the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet, told by his mother and grandmother.
(iii) The people who were aware of differences included the new young teacher at the elementary school and the science teacher’s wife, who initially refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen. On the other hand, those who tried to bridge these differences were Lakshmana Sastry (the high priest), who rebuked the new teacher, and Sivasubramania Iyer (the science teacher), who broke social barriers by inviting and serving Kalam himself.
(iv) One incident of creating differences was when the new teacher shifted Kalam to the back bench because of his religion. This was resolved when Lakshmana Sastry strictly told the teacher to apologize or leave the school. Another incident was the science teacher’s wife refusing to serve Kalam; this was resolved when the teacher showed patience and invited Kalam again, leading to a change in his wife’s behavior. People can change their attitudes by being confronted with the truth and by observing the inclusive behavior of others.
Answer 2
(i) Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. He felt that he needed to move out of his hometown to seek higher education and better opportunities for his future.
(ii) His father, Jainulabdeen, responded very wisely. He told Kalam that he knew he had to go away to grow. He gave the example of a seagull that flies across the sun alone and without a nest. He also quoted the philosopher Khalil Gibran to Kalam’s hesitant mother, saying, "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself."
(iii) These words mean that children have their own destiny and thoughts; parents should give them love but not impose their own thoughts on them. His father spoke these words to comfort Kalam’s mother, who was emotional about her son leaving home. He wanted to encourage Kalam to be independent and pursue his dreams, acknowledging that growth often requires leaving one's comfort zone.