My Childhood
By A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Page 75 – Thinking about the Text
Q1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
His house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, a small island town in Tamil Nadu.
Q2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Dinamani is the name of a local newspaper. The reason is that Kalam mentions trying to trace the war’s stories through it.
Q3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
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Ramanadha Sastry → became a priest in Rameswaram temple.
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Aravindan → arranged transport for pilgrims.
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Sivaprakasan → ran a catering business.
Q4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
During World War II, when newspapers had to be bundled and thrown out of a moving train, Kalam helped collect and distribute them, earning his first wages.
Q5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Yes, as a boy he helped his cousin Samsuddin, who ran a newspaper distribution business.
Q6. How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
(i) His father was honest, wise, simple, and self-disciplined.
(ii) His mother was generous, kind-hearted, and fed many people daily.
(iii) Kalam himself was short, with ordinary looks, and came from a modest family.
Q7. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
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From his father: honesty, self-discipline, and faith in goodness.
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From his mother: kindness and deep faith in goodness of others.
Page 76 – Thinking about Language
Q1. Match the phrases in Column A with meanings in Column B.
(i) Broke out → began suddenly
(ii) In accordance with → in agreement with
(iii) A helping hand → help
(iv) Could not stomach → could not tolerate
(v) At once → immediately
(vi) All day long → the whole day
Q2. Rewrite sentences using phrases. (Model answers)
(i) A fire broke out in the market yesterday.
(ii) The decision was taken in accordance with the rules.
(iii) The old man gave me a helping hand to cross the road.
(iv) She could not stomach his rude behaviour.
(v) He came at once when I called him.
(vi) They worked all day long without rest.
Extra Questions – My Childhood
Short Answer
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What does Kalam say about his early childhood?
He grew up in a simple house, in a loving family, learning values of honesty, kindness, and faith. -
Why does he mention his school friends?
To show the spirit of communal harmony, as they came from different religions but shared strong friendship. -
How did his teachers influence him?
They encouraged his curiosity and supported him despite social prejudices.
Long Answer
Q. What does the lesson My Childhood teach us about communal harmony?
Kalam’s childhood in Rameswaram is a powerful example of communal harmony. His close friends belonged to different religions, yet their bond was strong and respectful. Their families respected one another’s beliefs and lived peacefully. Even when a new teacher objected to Kalam sitting with his Hindu friend Ramanadha Sastry, the headmaster reprimanded the teacher. This shows that elders valued unity over discrimination. Kalam also recounts how his science teacher, a Hindu, invited him for a meal at his home, and his wife, initially hesitant, later served him food inside the kitchen. These incidents reflect the spirit of tolerance and respect that shaped Kalam’s values. The lesson shows that differences of religion should not divide people, and unity is India’s greatest strength.
Summary of My Childhood
The autobiographical chapter My Childhood is taken from A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s Wings of Fire. It gives us glimpses into his early life in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
Kalam was born in 1931 into a middle-class Tamil Muslim family. His father, Jainulabdeen, was an honest, simple, and self-disciplined man. His mother, Ashiamma, was kind and generous, feeding many people daily. Despite limited resources, the family lived with dignity and shared values of honesty, discipline, and faith. Kalam inherited these qualities from his parents.
Their ancestral home was a large pucca house on Mosque Street. Kalam grew up in a peaceful environment, where communal harmony was respected. His close friends — Ramanadha Sastry (a Brahmin), Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan — belonged to different religions, yet their friendship was strong. This showed the spirit of unity in diversity in India.
During World War II, Kalam earned his first wages by helping distribute newspapers. This gave him a sense of independence and self-worth.
Kalam also shares two incidents about social discrimination. In one, a new teacher objected to him sitting with Ramanadha Sastry, a Brahmin boy. This hurt both children deeply. However, the headmaster punished the teacher and upheld the value of equality. In another, his science teacher invited him home for a meal. Initially, the teacher’s orthodox wife refused to serve him food inside the house because he was Muslim. Later, however, she overcame her prejudice, symbolising progress toward equality.
Kalam recalls his teachers with gratitude. They encouraged his curiosity, ambition, and faith. These early influences shaped his future as a scientist and leader.
The lesson ends by showing how values learned in childhood — honesty, simplicity, discipline, kindness, and communal harmony — remain guiding forces throughout life.
Thus, My Childhood is not only about Kalam’s early years but also about lessons in unity, equality, and values that make him an inspiring role model.
Biography – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931–2015), fondly known as the “Missile Man of India,” was a renowned scientist and the 11th President of India.
He was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, into a modest family. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner, and his mother, Ashiamma, a homemaker. Despite financial constraints, Kalam’s parents instilled in him values of honesty, discipline, and humility.
Kalam studied physics at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, and later aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology. He joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and later the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was a key figure in India’s space programme and the development of ballistic missiles, earning him the title “Missile Man.”
He also played a vital role in India’s nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998. His scientific leadership strengthened India’s defence and space capabilities.
In 2002, Kalam became the 11th President of India, serving until 2007. Known as the “People’s President,” he inspired millions, especially students, with his humility and vision for India’s development. His books, including Wings of Fire, Ignited Minds, and India 2020, continue to motivate young readers.
Kalam received the Bharat Ratna in 1997, along with many other national and international honours.
He passed away on 27 July 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong, doing what he loved most — inspiring students.
Kalam remains a symbol of integrity, simplicity, and inspiration, remembered as a true leader with a beautiful mind and spirit.
No Men Are Foreign
By James Kirkup
Page 80 – Thinking about the Poem
Q1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms …” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
He refers to military uniforms worn by soldiers of different countries, symbolising divisions created by nations.
(ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
He says that beneath different uniforms, all humans share the same body, breathe the same air, drink the same water, eat the same food, and depend on the same earth.
Q2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we are all alike.
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We all have the same body.
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We all breathe the same air.
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We all eat the same food.
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We all drink the same water.
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We all depend on the same earth for life.
Q3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
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Same sleep
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Same awakenings
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Same strength in labour
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Same life
Q4. “…whenever we are told to hate our brothers …” When do you think this happens? Why? Who tells us? Could this be avoided?
This happens during wars, political conflicts, and propaganda when leaders and governments incite hatred against other nations. Yes, it can be avoided through awareness, compassion, and recognising our shared humanity.
Q5. How does the poet propose to win over hatred?
By realising that no men are strange or foreign — all humans are alike and share the same world. This awareness helps us replace hatred with love and peace.
Extra Questions – No Men Are Foreign
Short Answer
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What message does the poet give?
That all humans are one, and wars only destroy peace and brotherhood. -
Why does the poet use the phrase “our brothers”?
To remind us that people of other nations are not enemies but part of one human family. -
What is the irony highlighted in the poem?
That when we fight others, we destroy ourselves because we all share the same earth.
Long Answer
Q. How does the poem show the futility of war?
The poem highlights that wars are meaningless because humans across the world are essentially the same. The poet points out that people everywhere eat, drink, sleep, and work in similar ways. Soldiers, though in different uniforms, share the same human body. When leaders incite hatred and war, it is a betrayal of humanity. War pollutes the environment, destroys lives, and causes suffering for all. The poet calls this “hells of fire and dust” which scar the innocent earth. By hating others, we harm ourselves, since we all belong to the same world. The poem teaches that recognising this shared humanity is the only way to abolish war and live in peace.
Summary of No Men Are Foreign
James Kirkup’s poem No Men Are Foreign delivers a powerful message of universal brotherhood and peace. It reminds us that differences of nationality, race, and religion are artificial divisions created by humans.
In the opening stanza, the poet says that beneath all uniforms — whether Indian, American, African, or any other — human beings are the same. They have the same body, breathe the same air, eat the same food, and depend on the same earth.
In the second stanza, he emphasises that all people share the same cycle of life: they sleep, wake, and work with equal strength. In essence, humanity is united in its experiences.
The third stanza warns that when leaders tell us to hate “our brothers,” we forget this unity. Wars cause destruction, pollute the earth, and create “hells of fire and dust.” Hatred and violence harm not just the so-called enemy but the entire human race.
In the final stanza, the poet pleads for peace. He reminds us that no men are strange, no countries foreign. By recognising our oneness, we can overcome hatred and live in harmony.
Thus, the poem is both a plea and a warning: a plea to live as one family of mankind and a warning that hatred leads only to self-destruction. Its message remains timeless and relevant in a world still troubled by conflict.
Biography – James Kirkup
James Kirkup (1918–2009) was an English poet, translator, and playwright known for his lyrical poetry and themes of peace and humanity.
He was born on 23 April 1918 in South Shields, England, into a working-class family. Despite hardships, he developed a passion for literature and began writing poetry at a young age.
Kirkup served in World War II but was deeply disturbed by the horrors of war. This experience strongly influenced his writing, which often carried anti-war themes and calls for peace. His poetry reflected compassion, sensitivity, and a belief in the unity of mankind.
He published numerous volumes of poetry, including The Submerged Village (1951) and A Correct Compassion (1960). He also wrote plays, memoirs, and translations, particularly of Japanese literature. He lived for many years in Japan, teaching English and immersing himself in Japanese culture, which influenced his work.
Kirkup’s poem No Men Are Foreign is part of school curricula worldwide. It reflects his lifelong commitment to the ideals of brotherhood and peace, urging people to look beyond superficial divisions.
He passed away on 10 May 2009 at the age of 91. Kirkup is remembered as a poet of peace, empathy, and global understanding. His works continue to inspire readers to embrace compassion and reject conflict.