4. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in full Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, (born October 15, 1931, Rameswaram, India—died July 27, 2015,
Shillong), Indian scientist and politician who played a leading role in the development of India’s missile and nuclear weapons
programs. He was president of India from 2002 to 2007.Kalam earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute
of Technology and in 1958 joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In 1969 he moved to the Indian
Space Research Organisation, where he was project director of the SLV-III, the first satellite launch vehicle that was both designed and
produced in India. Rejoining DRDO in 1982, Kalam planned the program that produced a number of successful missiles, which helped
earn him the nickname “Missile Man.” Among those successes was Agni, India’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile, which
incorporated aspects of the SLV-III and was launched in 1989.
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12. My childhood summary deals with the famous biography “Wings of Fire” of the
celebrated Indian APJ Abdul Kalam. My Childhood refers to a section in this book.
This section or chapter talks about the early days’ of Kalam. Furthermore, the
chapter gives us an idea of how the childhood of Abdul Kalam prepared him to
become a successful scientist and president in the future. Much has to do with his
upbringing which Kalam discusses in this section from “Wings of Fire”. Moreover,
Kalam tells us about his parents and siblings here. He also mentions the important
role of his friends in his life. In short, one can say, that in My Childhood, Kalam
mentions everything that had an impact on his life. These things shaped him into
the successful man he became in the future.
SUMMARY
13. My Childhood (Vocabulary)
1. Erstwhile - former
2. Innate - inborn, (a quality or feeling) in one’s nature
3. Generosity of spirit - his soul sought to help others who were
needy
4. Undistinguished - ordinary or common
5. Austere - simple, strict and severe
6. Secure - safe
7. Tamarind seeds - kind of fruit
8. Princely sum - generous amount (here, ironic)
9. Anna - an old Indian coin, worth about six paise
10. Dinamani - a tamil daily newspaper
11. Isolated - Lonely, cut-off
12. Allied Forces - the armies of U.K., U.S.A. and Russia during the Second
World War
13. Casualty - loss
14. Suspension - end
15. Halt - stop
16. Filled the slot - fit into a place easily
17. Pride - sudden increase in the feeling of satisfaction derived from one’s
own achievements.
14. 19. Orthodox - strict
20. Could not stomach - could not tolerate
21. Downcast - sad or depressed
22. Summoned - called
23. Bluntly - speaking in a direct and honest way, even if this offends or upsets people.
24. Apologise - seek pardon
25. Quit - to leave
26. Conviction - a strong opinion or belief
27. Convey - communicated
28. Optimism - hope, cheer
29. Segregation separation
30. Longing - desire
31. Conservative - traditional
32. Rebel - in opposition
33. Mingle - interact with each other
34. On par - at the same level
35. Ritually pure - kept protected from all outside influences for the observances of religion
36. Perturbed - upset
37. Hesitation - doubt
38. Confronted - faced, tackled
39. Imminent - about to happen
40. Unprecedented never done or know before.
15. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
Question 1.
Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
Question 2.
What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. Abdul Kalam attempts to trace the
Second World War’s news in the headlines of this newspaper.
16. Question 3.
Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Answer:
Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan were his school friends. Ramanadha Sastry became a
priest of the Rameswaram temple. Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for visiting
pilgrims. Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
Question 4.
How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer:
Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by distributing newspapers.
Question 5.
Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Answer:
Yes, he earned money before also. He used to collect the tamarind seeds and sell them to a provision
shop on the Mosque Street. A day’s collection would fetch him the princely sum of one anna.
17. II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
Question 1.
How does the author describe:
1.his father
2.his mother
3.himself?
Answer:
1. The author describes his father as a wise and generous person. He felt happy when he helped
others. He did not have much formal education and riches. He was a man of confidence and great
wisdom. He avoided inessential comforts and luxuries.
2.His mother was a noble and kind- hearted woman. She used to feed a large number of people. She
had all the attributes of a typical Indian mother.
3.I was born into a middle-class Tamil family. I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born
to tall and handsome parents. I studied physics and aerospace engineering and became a scientist.
18. Question 2.
What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
Answer:
The author inherited humility and benevolence from his parents. He learnt lessons in honesty and
integrity from his parents. He was self-disciplined because of his parents’ exemplary life.
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in
two or three paragraphs each.
Question 1.
“ On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of
different social groups,” says the author.
(i). Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the
way they dressed)?
Answer:
The author talks about the people who belong to various castes and follow various religious
preachings. Yes, these groups were easily identifiable. Their dressing, traditions, culture and rituals
were different
19. (ii). Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences?
(Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were ; and of what used to take place in the
pond near his house.)
Answer:
They did share their personal experiences and friendships. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher who
separated the author and his friend in the class and told him that he should not spread the poison of social
inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children.
(iii)The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried
to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?
Answer:
The school teacher encouraged communal differences and Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer
discouraged this malpractice.
(iv). Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How
can people change their attitudes?
Answer:
The influential people can do both the things. A teacher has the ability to bridge communal differences and can
play with sentiments of the innocent and ignorant people. This is what the new teacher did. But the Science
20. Question 2.
(i). Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
Answer:
Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
(ii). What did his father say to this?
Answer:
His father said that he knew he had to go away to grow. He gave the example of a seagull and said that a
seagull flies across the sun alone and without a nest.
(iii). What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
Answer:
He spoke these words because he intended to hone his skills. He knew the harsh reality of life that children
may have to live far from their parents to make their career and earn their livelihood. So he showed his wisdom
and intelligence in uttering these words.
