The following are Value Based- Detailed Answer Type Questions. These are answered in 120 to 150 words. In CBSE Board class 9 these are asked for 6 marks. Let’s us dive in to understand the chapter How I taught My Grandmother to Read through detailed questions.
1.Imagine you are Sudha Murty’s grandmother. Write a letter to your son describing how you can now read Kanadda.
In your letter you should
• break the news of your success and what it means to you and Sudha
•describe what values you have learnt from being a student to your granddaughter
• appeal to him to do something for the education of girl children in the region
This is your mother Krishtakka writing to you. You are surprised, aren’t you?
Now even I can read and write, thanks to Sudha. A couple of months ago, she was away for a week to attend Sadhna’s wedding. So when ‘Karmaveera’, the weekly in which the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ is being serialized arrived, I was very upset because I couldn’t read it myself. I was too shy to ask anybody to read it out to me. That’s how my education, so to say, started.
Initially, when I talked about it to Sudha on her return, my proposal amused her, but when she saw my determination she agreed to be my teacher. Ashutosh, the child has taken a lot of pains to educate an old parrot like me. I was overwhelmed with great affection with which she taught me. She made me read, repeat, write and recite all the lessons she gave me. With her encouragement, I picked up Kannada alphabet in a matter of two and a half months. May God bless her! I have realized that it is never too late to learn if you work hard and you can learn from a child, too.
Now that you’re quite well-off, why don’t you start some project for the education of girl children of the region? That will bring you a lot of blessings and good wishes.
2.Krishtakka believed, ‘For learning there is no age bar’. How did she prove it practically?
Ans : Krishtakka didn’t get a chance to go to school as a child. Till the age of sixty-two, though she regretted not having gone to school, she made no efforts to learn to read and write. A small incident however changed her life completely. Her inability to read an episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’ on her own hurt her so much that she resolved to become ‘independent’ by learning Kannada alphabet. Though, her granddaughter initially made fun of her .intention, Krishtakka stuck to her resolve believing that there is no age bar for learning. She asked her granddaughter to be her teacher. Thus her experience re-inforced the all-important values of firm determination, will power and hard work. They helped her accomplish her mission to learn to read on her own by the Dassara festival, thus proving that one can learn at any age.
3.Suppose you are the grandmother. How did you feel when your granddaughter gave you the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ to read? Write your feelings in your diary. (Textual)
Ans : Wednesday, 8th July 20xx
I’m so thrilled and delighted today. It probably will prove to be the most memorable day of my life. Today it was ‘Saraswati Pooja’. As a mark of gratitude, I gave my little teacher, Sudha a frock material for having led me from darkness to light; from illiteracy to literacy; from dependence to independence. It gave me great pleasure to touch the feet of this little teacher of mine. As I bowed down this sensible child touched my feet too and to my utter surprise and delight she gifted me Triveni’s novel ‘Kashi Yatre’. Her thoughtfulness touched me very much and I blessed the child from the core of my heart. I wish all illiterate friends get granddaughters like Sudha so that they dispel darkness of illiteracy and relieve their grannies from the anguish of dependence.
4.Sudha Murty’s grandmother, although unlettered, was an enlightened woman who wanted to break the shackles of ignorance and illiteracy. Comment.
Ans : Although she was unlettered and unschooled, Sudha’s grandmother knew the importance of education and had keen interest in literature. Like an enlightened person, she would unfailingly follow the story of her favourite novel, with full concentration and reproduce it verbatim after listening to it. Then she would discuss it endlessly with other women of her age. Apart from it, she was fully aware of the handicap of being an illiterate. So, she made it a point that her children and grandchildren studied and did not remain illiterate like her.
Realizing that ignorance and illiteracy were obstacles in her true independence, she resolved to learn to read and asked Sudha to teach her so that she could be independent. Though initially amused at the proposal, Sudha came to respect her grandmother’s views and undertook to teach her. She was surprised at the old woman’s amazing interest, energy and concentration. Thus the old lady broke the shackles of ignorance and illiteracy and became an independent reader and learner.
5.Our scriptures teach us the great value of gratitude and humility. The grandmother’s character abounded in both these values as she had a good knowledge of scriptures. Comment.
Ans : Having been taught and thereby made independent by her granddaughter, the old lady felt so grateful to her that she touched the little girl’s feet as she had taught her to read and write very lovingly and that too, in a very short span of time.
The granddaughter, who was utterly surprised by this unusual gesture of the grandmother did reciprocate it by touching the old lady’s feet but failed to understand why the grandmother had reversed the tradition of the youngsters touching the feet of elders. The old lady then justified her action by explaining that ancient scriptures prescribe that a teacher should be respected, irrespective of the gender and age. This gesture brings out the grandmother’s humility and a great sense of gratitude that she had. She inspires the readers to express gratitude to those who do something for us with a great sense of humility and also to respect our teachers.
6.You are the narrator in the story ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’. Write a letter to your friend telling him why you have decided to become a teacher. Write the letter in about 150 words.
You are the narrator in the story, ‘How I Taught My Grandmother To Read’. Write a letter your friend in about 150 words telling him why you have decided to teach Kannada language to your grandmother.
The narrator is awestruck by her grandmother’s narration of the story after readingthe novel. She writes a letter to her cousin about the grandmother’s willingness, determination to learn and the narrator’s experience of teaching her Avva.
Write a letter to your friend expressing how impressed you were by your grandmother’s interest and inclination to read and write and how you helped it.
Your grandmother has displayed qualities of a truly religious student. As a granddaughter write a letter to her appreciating her strength and determination.
Ans. Sai Apartment
Korapur Village Karnataka
Dear Ashmit ,
Today, I am going to share my first teaching experience. I know you must be shocked to hear this, a 12 year old child acted as a teacher for someone, but yes, it’s true. It is more surprising that my first student is my own grandmother. When she asked me to teach her Kannada language alphabet, I thought she was joking. I laughed at her and made fun of her. But, she did not mind my laughing and she just smiled. I told her that she was old, her hair were grey, her hands wrinkled and that she worked so much in the kitchen. She said that for a good cause, if one is determined, one can overcome any obstacle. She also convinced me that for learning there is no age bar. There was something in her words that compelled me to start teaching her. She was a wonderful student. Her seriousness, and determination were amazing. The amount of home-work she did, was outstanding. I was overwhelmed by her response. She took me truly as her teacher. She even touched my feet not as a granddaughter but as a teacher. She was my only student and I was her only teacher. Beside teachings her, I also had a new learning experience of my life. Rest I shall write in my next letter.
7.‘I want to be independent’. What does it tell you about the theme of ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ ?
Ans. This statement was spoken by the grandmother of the story How I taught My Grandmother to Read. It tells that even the most mature and grown up people believe that education makes us independent. It is very difficult to cope up with the present world and its challenges without the education. It is very clear with the statement that educated people are independent. One can realize one’s true self only with education. The best example is the grandmother-who may be late to start her learning. She was at the age of 62 when she decided to start learning, but her wish is really to be independent with the ultimate tool that is education. when the grandma was unable to read she felt sorrow at her helplessness. She determined herself to get education and to become independent by becoming literate. Thus we can say that ‘I want to be independent’ means the will of Grandmother to be educated.
8.Imagine, you are grandmother of ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’. After learning how to read and write, write a letter of thanks to your granddaughter for what she has done for you.
12 January, Katlampur
My dear Sudha,
How are you ? Hope, you are fine and in the best of health. I feel very proud and happy that I am communicating with you through a letter. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me, to read and write. You have been a patient, kind and a dedicated teacher. You understood my desire to read and learn and respected my decision. You supported me throughout this journey and had been my guide and mentor. I feel blessed to have a granddaughter like you. I cannot express my gratitude to you. I was feeling helpless and sad when I realized my, inability to read the episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’. Then, I understood the importance of education and learning. You devoted your time and patience in teaching me besides taking care of your own studies. At such a small age, you have done a great work which even elders sometimes fail to do. I can read and write fluently at this age and it never ceases to wonder me. I cannot express what I felt when I read the entire novel of ‘Kashi Yatre’ for the first time. It was a dream that came true for me. You, my child, are also my teacher and deserve all the respect and honour.
I want to thank you again for your help. I look forward to your reply. Love,
9.Write a brief character sketch of grandmother from the story How I taught My Grandmother to Read.
Ans- Krishtakka, the grandmother is a sixty two year old lady. She has a loving and caring nature. She is enthusiastic.. She had some adverse circumstances due to which she could not go to school and remained uneducated. When she felt the need of education to read ‘Kashi Yatre’ she regrets on not being educated. She feels that money is of no use if one has to depend on others. She was firmly determined that she had to start her education without considering her age. It was her determination, strong will power, hard work and self confidence that helped her to get success in learning to read and write within a short period of time.
10. Short speech / paragraph on importance of adult education within 150 words and ways to implement it.
“For learning age is no bar” doesn’t this message highlight the importance of adult education in India. Comment
Ans- This has rightly been said that for any good cause age is no bar. The grandmother proved it also by achieving the task within the limited time. Education is very important for all age group people and it is a lifelong process. Education process is not limited to any age, person, place or other limitation of the life. It can continue all throughout the whole life because it does not end with the schooling. Individual education plays great role in the development and growth of life, person, society and country. Being a democratic country without education people cannot use their rights. India is a sovereign democratic republic country struggling hard for becoming the developed country like many other countries in the world. If we want to be developed we have to be educated.