BEEHIVE

CLASS – IX
UNIT - 6
MY CHILDHOOD
 ABOUT THE AUTH0R
• Birth : 15 oct 1931, Rameswaram
• Died : 27 July 2015, Shillong
• Full name : Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
• Awards : Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan,
Hoover Medal, Ramanujan Award
• Education : Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an Indian
aerospace scientist and politician who served as
the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born and
raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and
aerospace engineering.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• In order to reform social systems that are infected by prejudices of caste
and status, one must be ready to confront obstacles without losing one’s
cool.
• To instill values of generosity, kindness and communal harmony among
the children.
• Mutual trust and ease of communication help to resolve all hindrances.
• Tolerance, expectance, broad-mindedness and brotherhood are essential
for an all round growth.
 KALAM’S FAMILY
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in the town of Rameswaram to
father Jainulabdeen and mother Ashiamma.
• Kalam’s father was not educated or rich but he was wise and
generous.
• His mother was a kind and generous lady who fed a number
of people daily.
• They lived in their ancestral house in the Mosque’s street in
Rameswaram,
• His father believed in simple living so he avoided all
luxuries.
• However, their house had all things of daily need.
 KALAM’S FIRST EARNING
• Abdul Kalam was eight years old when the second
world war broke out.
• Suddenly, there was a great demand for tamarind
seeds.
• He used to collect those seeds and sell them in the
market.
• He got one anna (about six paisa) for a day’s
collection.
• His cousin, Samsuddin distributed papers in
Rameswaram.
• He needed a helping hand so he employed Abdul
Kalam.
• Kalam was proud on earning his own money for the
first time.
 HINDU – MUSLIM HARMONY
• Abdul Kalam was greatly inspired by his parents.
• He learnt honesty and self-discipline from his
father.
• He inherited goodness and kindness from his
mother.
• He had three close friends – Ramanadha Sastry,
Aravindan and Sivaprakasan.
• All these boys belonged to orthodox Hindu
Bramhin families.
• The children never felt any religious differences
among themselves.
• During the annual Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam
ceremony, Kalam’s family arranged boats for
carrying idols of the lord.
• At bed time, his father and grandmother told the
children stories from the Ramayana and those of
Prophet Mohammad.
 NEW TEACHER’S BEHAVIOUR
• Abdul Kalam was in fifth standard, a new teacher came.
• Kalam was sitting with Ramanadha Sastry in the first row.
• The new teacher could not tolerate a muslim boy sitting
with a hindu priest son.
• He asked Abdul Kalam to sit on the back bench.
• Both Abdul Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry became sad.
• Later Sastry’s father reprimanded the teacher for his
communal behavior.
• He told him either to apologise or leave the school and the
island.
• Finally the teacher realizes his mistake and felt sorry for
his behavior.
 THE SCIENCE TEACHER : A TRUE REFORMER
• Sivasubramania Iyer, the science teacher was a high cast
Bramhin.
• He did not believe in social and religious barriers.
• One day he invited Abdul Kalam to his home for a meal.
• Iyer’s wife refused to serve a muslim boy in her kitchen.
• Iyer served Abdul Kalam with his own hands and sat down
beside him to eat his meal.
• The teacher invited Abdul Kalam again for dinner the next week.
• When Kalam went there, this time Iyer’s wife took him inside her
kitchen and served him food.
• Mr. Iyer’s goodness had reformed his wife too.
 FATHER’S PERMISSION

• The Second World War was over and India’s

freedom was imminent.
• Abdul Kalam asked his father’s permission to
go and study at Ramanathapuram.
• His father gladly allow him to go.

FATHER’S CONSOLATION TO MOTHER

• When Abdul Kalam was to leave for further studies, his mother
became sad.
• Kalam’s father consoled her with his words of wisdom.
• He gave reference from Khalil Gibran.
• He told that the children were not theirs; They were the sons
and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
• He also told that their (children’s) thoughts were their own.
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. When and how did Prof. Kalam earn his first
ANNOTATIONS money? (30 – 40 words)
2. How did the new teacher start spreading the
communal differences? (30 – 40 words)
3. What made Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife
1. Erstwhile – former change her mind? (30 – 40 words)
2. Undistinguished – ordinary 4. How does Abdul Kalam describe his three
3. Austere - severe or strict in manner or close friends? (80 – 100 words)
attitude
4. Allied forces - armies from different
countries who are fighting on the same side in
a war
5. Casualty - a person killed or injured in a war
or accident
6. Perturbed – disturbed, feeling anxiety or
concern
7. Unprecedented – as never before