Q. Who is the author of My Childhood?
Ans. My Childhood is an autobiographical account by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Q. Where was A. P. J. Abdul Kalam born?
Ans. He was born in Rameswaram, an island town in Tamil Nadu, India.
Q. What were Kalam’s parents’ names?
Ans. His father was Jainulabdeen and his mother was Ashiamma.
Q. How did Kalam describe his parents?
Ans. He described his parents as generous, wise and deeply caring people who led a simple life.
Q. What was Kalam’s family financial condition?
Ans. His family was not wealthy, but it was rich in values, generosity and spiritual strength.
Q. What work did Kalam do as a young boy during the Second World War?
Ans. He helped collect and distribute tamarind seeds and later assisted his cousin Samsuddin in newspaper distribution.
Q. Who was Samsuddin?
Ans. Samsuddin was Kalam’s cousin who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram.
Q. Who was Ramanadha Sastry?
Ans. Ramanadha Sastry was Kalam’s close childhood friend and the son of the high priest of the Rameswaram temple.
Q. What incident showed religious discrimination at school?
Ans. A new teacher objected to Kalam, a Muslim boy, sitting beside Ramanadha Sastry, a Hindu boy, in the front row.
Q. How did Ramanadha Sastry’s father react to the teachers behaviour?
Ans. Lakshmana Sastry firmly asked the teacher to correct his discriminatory attitude or leave the school.
Q. Who was Sivasubramania Iyer?
Ans. He was Kalam’s science teacher who encouraged independent thinking and challenged social barriers.
Q. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer invite Kalam to his home?
Ans. He wanted to share a meal with Kalam and challenge the social prejudice that prevented people of different communities from eating together.
Q. Why did Iyer’s wife initially refuse to serve Kalam?
Ans. She followed traditional social prejudices and was unwilling to serve a Muslim boy in her kitchen.
Q. How did Iyer respond when his wife refused to serve Kalam?
Ans. He served Kalam himself and later encouraged his wife to overcome her prejudice.
Q. What lesson did Kalam learn from his father?
Ans. He learned simplicity, self-discipline, generosity and faith in God.
Q. How did Kalam’s parents influence his character?
Ans. Their kindness, simplicity and respect for others helped shape his moral values.
Q. What does the chapter teach about religious harmony?
Ans. It shows that people of different religions can live together with mutual respect and friendship.
Q. How did Kalam respond to social discrimination?
Ans. He learned from the principled adults around him and developed respect for equality and human dignity.
Q. Why was Kalam’s childhood important to his later life?
Ans. His childhood experiences shaped his values, scientific curiosity and commitment to social harmony.
Q. What is the central message of My Childhood?
Ans. The chapter emphasizes equality, communal harmony, good values, education and the importance of overcoming prejudice.