CLASS-9 ENGLISH

BEEHIVE
CHAPTER: My Childhood
Notes
Introduction:
Abdul Kalam’s autobiography is titled “Wings of Fire” and the chapter ‘My Childhood’ talks about
the childhood of A.P.J Abdul Kalam. He was the President of India and a great scientist too. APJ
Abdul Kalam talks about his upbringing, his parents and siblings. He tells us about his friends and
all those things that influenced his childhood.

Theme:
The theme of "My Childhood" is that our life is shaped by our experiences and the people around
us. Kalam's secure childhood , inspiring parents , supportive friends and honest teacher instilled
great values in him that gave him 'Wings of Fire'.
Summary:
My Childhood” is an extract taken from the biography of APJ Abdul Kalam - ‘Wings of Fire’. He
was a great scientist and also the 14th President of India. He was born in a middle - class Muslim
family in 1931 in the island town of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
In his childhood he was greatly influenced by his parents, his teachers and his friends. His father,
Jainulabdeen, was not highly educated but he was a generous and kind person. He was not rich but
provided a secure childhood to Abdul and his siblings. Abdul inherited honesty and self-discipline
from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.
Kalam earned his first wages by working as a helping hand to his cousin, Samsuddin, who
distributed newspapers in Rameswaram.
In his childhood he had three close friends- Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindam and Sivaprakashan.
Once when he was in fifth standard, a new teacher asked him not to sit in the front row along with
the high caste Brahmin boys. Abdul found Ramanadha Sastry weeping as he went to the last row.
This made a lasting impression on Abdul.
Abdul was also greatly influenced by his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer. He learnt the lesson
of breaking social barriers from him. Iyer invited him to his home for a meal. His wife refused to
serve food to a Muslim boy in her pure kitchen. Iyer served him with his own hands and sat down
beside him to eat his meal. He convinced his wife to serve meal with her own hands and thus was
successful in changing her conservative attitude.
For higher education, Abdul Kalam sought permission from his father to leave Rameswaram and
study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. His father said that Abdul had to go a long
way in life just like a seagull bird which flies long distances. He calmed down APJ’s reluctant
mother by quoting Kahlil Gibran’s poem ‘Your children’. He said that her children could not be
dominated by her because they had their own thoughts. They did not belong to her but were a result
of life’s desire for itself. He asked her to give them freedom to fulfil their thoughts.
Detailed Explanation:

Prof. Abdul Kalam’s birth and childhood:

This lesson tells us about Prof. Abdul Kalam’s childhood. He is one of the world’s greatest
scientists. His father’s name was Jainulabdeen. His mother’s name was Ashiamma. He was born
in 1931 at Rameswaram. His parents were neither much educated nor rich. Yet they were very
generous and kind. Many outsiders ate with the family everyday.

His house and family:

Abdul Kalam had three brothers and one sister. They lived in their old ancestral house. It was a
large pucca house. It was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.

His first earning:

Abdul Kalam was only eight years old when the Second World War broke out in 1939. There was
suddenly a great demand for tamarind seeds. Abdul Kalam would collect these seeds and sell them
in the market. His cousin Samsuddin distributed newspapers. He employed Abdul Kalam as a
helping hand. In this way, the child Abdul earned his first wages.
New teacher’s casteist action:
Abdul Kalam’s parents highly influenced him. Some of his friends and teachers also influenced
him. He was in the fifth standard at Rameswaram Elementary School. A new teacher came to the
class. Abdul was sitting with his close friend Ramanadha Sastry in the front row. The new teacher
could not tolerate a Hindu priest’s son sitting with a Muslim boy. He asked Abdul to sit on the
back bench.
Effect of the teacher’s action:
He was very sad and so was Ramanadha Sastry. Abdul found Sastry weeping as he went to the last
row. This made a lasting impression on Abdul. Later Ramanadha Sastry’s father called the teacher.
He asked him not to spread the poison of social separation among the children. The teacher felt
sorry for the same.
His science teacher’s anti-casteist action:
Abdul’s science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer was a high-caste Brahmin. His wife was very
conservative. But he did his best to break social barriers. One day he invited Abdul to his home
for a meal. His wife refused to serve Abdul in her kitchen. Then Sivasubramania served Abdul
with his own hands. He sat down beside him to eat his meal. The teacher invited Abdul to come
again the next weekend. He went to his house next week. His wife took Abdul inside her kitchen.
She served him food with her own hands.
Abdul Kalam’s inheritance of human values:
From his father, Abdul inherited honesty and self-discipline. Abdul grew up. He asked his father’s
permission to study at Ramanathapuram. His father allowed him to do so. He consoled his wife
who had grown emotional.

How Abdul Kalam’s father consoled Kalam’s mother:

When Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram and go to a bigger city for higher studies his
father referred to Khalil Gibran, the Persian philosopher. He told his mother that her children were
not hers. They were the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They came through her and
not from her. She might give them her love. But their thoughts were theirs.
MINDING MAPPING OF THE LESSON: