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CBSE Class 9 English Question 37 of 38

My Childhood — Question 40

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40
Question
How was the Science teacher Siva Subramaniam Iyer, though an orthodox. Brahmin with a very conservative wife, a friend of Abdul Kalam. Give incidents to support your
Answer

(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
The Science teacher, Siva Subramaniam Iyer, wanted to break the social barriers between the Hindus and the Muslims. He wanted Kalam to be very highly educated as he recognized his intelligence. One day, he invited him over to a meal. His orthodox wife was totally horrified at the idea of a Muslim boy dining in her ritually pure kitchen. He did not mind anything said by his very conservative wife. He rather served the food to Abdul by his own hands. He also sat with him and dined together as well as invited him over again for another meal the coming weekend. Thus, this shows that he was a friend of Abdul Kalam even though Kalam was a Muslim and he himself was an orthodox Brahmin.

Overview: My Childhood

APJ Abdul Kalam describes growing up in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, in a Muslim family. His father Jainulabdeen was an honest, self-disciplined boat owner; his mother Ashiamma was generous. Kalam's closest friends were Hindu — Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. When a new teacher tried to separate Kalam from a Hindu friend, the issue was resolved through dialogue. Kalam was shaped by his parents' values, his teachers' guidance, and Rameswaram's organic communal harmony.

Key Points

  • Born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu — island town
  • Father Jainulabdeen: honest, self-disciplined, austere
  • Mother Ashiamma: kind, generous — fed many people daily
  • Close friends: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, Sivaprakasan (all Hindu)
  • New teacher separated Kalam from Hindu friend due to religion
  • Kalam's father and school headmaster resolved the issue
  • Rameswaram was a model of communal harmony
  • Hindu and Muslim traditions coexisted naturally
  • Kalam credits parents and teachers for shaping his values
  • Theme: communal harmony, influence of family, overcoming prejudice

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Rameswaram demonstrate communal harmony?
In Rameswaram, Hindus and Muslims lived together peacefully. Kalam's Muslim family had close Hindu friends. His father had deep knowledge of both Hindu and Muslim traditions. The town's famous temple and Kalam's mosque coexisted. This organic harmony shaped Kalam's secular values.
What was the incident with the new teacher?
A new teacher, seeing a Muslim boy (Kalam) sitting next to a Hindu Brahmin boy (Ramanadha Sastry), made Kalam sit at the back of the class. When Kalam's father and the school headmaster spoke to the teacher, he apologised and the discrimination ended.

Common Mistakes

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Scoring Tips

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