My Childhood is an autobiographical chapter written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and a renowned scientist. The lesson provides insights into his early life in Rameswaram, a small island town in Tamil Nadu. Born into a simple yet respectable family, Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister. His father, Jainulabdeen, was not formally educated but possessed great wisdom and honesty. His mother, Ashiamma, was a kind-hearted woman who fed and cared for many people in their neighborhood.
Kalam describes his house as modest but filled with love and discipline. The family lived a simple life, but his parents never made him feel deprived. He was taught the values of honesty, self-discipline, and faith. Kalam recalls how his father’s spiritual attitude and simplicity influenced him deeply. The family’s lifestyle emphasized moral values more than material comfort. Even though they followed the Islamic faith, they respected all religions and celebrated festivals together with their Hindu and Christian neighbors.
The chapter also highlights the communal harmony of Rameswaram. Kalam shares how his best friends — Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan — belonged to Hindu families, yet there was no religious divide among them. However, he also narrates an incident where a new teacher asked Kalam to sit at the back of the class because he was a Muslim, which deeply hurt him. His friend’s father took immediate action, teaching the teacher a lesson in equality and unity. This incident left a lasting impact on young Kalam, reinforcing his belief in the equality of all human beings.
In the final part of the chapter, Kalam speaks about his early inspirations. His teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, motivated him to study hard and encouraged him to dream big. Iyer invited Kalam for a meal at his home, breaking social barriers that existed at the time. The lesson concludes with a powerful message that strong values, humility, and determination can help anyone achieve success. Kalam’s childhood becomes a source of inspiration for all students, emphasizing that greatness begins with good thoughts, hard work, and noble character.
เคนिंเคฆी เคธाเคฐांเคถ
เคฎाเคฏ เคाเคเคฒ्เคกเคนुเคก เคกॉ. เค.เคชी.เคे. เค เคฌ्เคฆुเคฒ เคเคฒाเคฎ เคी เคเคค्เคฎเคเคฅा เคชเคฐ เคเคงाเคฐिเคค เคเค เคช्เคฐेเคฐเคฃाเคฆाเคฏเค เค เคง्เคฏाเคฏ เคนै। เคเคธเคฎें เคฒेเคเค เคจे เค เคชเคจे เคฌเคเคชเคจ, เคชเคฐिเคตाเคฐ, เคถिเค्เคทा เคเคฐ เคเคจ เคฎूเคฒ्เคฏों เคा เคตเคฐ्เคฃเคจ เคिเคฏा เคนै เคिเคจ्เคนोंเคจे เคเคจเคे เคต्เคฏเค्เคคिเคค्เคต เคो เคเคाเคฐ เคฆिเคฏा। เคกॉ. เคเคฒाเคฎ เคा เคเคจ्เคฎ เคคเคฎिเคฒเคจाเคกु เคे เคฐाเคฎेเคถ्เคตเคฐเคฎ เคจाเคฎเค เคฆ्เคตीเคช เคจเคเคฐ เคฎें เคนुเค เคฅा। เคตे เคเค เคธाเคงाเคฐเคฃ เคฒेเคिเคจ เคธुเคธंเคธ्เคृเคค เคฎुเคธ्เคฒिเคฎ เคชเคฐिเคตाเคฐ เคธे เคฅे। เคเคจเคे เคชिเคคा เคैเคจुเคฒाเคฌ्เคฆीเคจ เคเค เคงाเคฐ्เคฎिเค เคเคฐ เคเคฎाเคจเคฆाเคฐ เคต्เคฏเค्เคคि เคฅे, เคเคฌเคि เคเคจเคी เคฎाเคคा เค เคถिเคฏเคฎ्เคฎा เคฆเคฏाเคฒु เคเคฐ เคชเคฐोเคชเคाเคฐी เคธ्เคตเคญाเคต เคी เคฅीं। เคชเคฐिเคตाเคฐ เคธाเคงाเคฐเคฃ เคीเคตเคจ เคीเคคा เคฅा, เคฒेเคिเคจ เคเคธเคฎें เค เคจुเคถाเคธเคจ, เคธाเคฆเคी เคเคฐ เคช्เคฐेเคฎ เคฅा।
เคเคฒाเคฎ เค เคชเคจे เคเคฐ เคो เคธाเคฆा เคฒेเคिเคจ เคถांเคคिเคชूเคฐ्เคฃ เคฌเคคाเคคे เคนैं। เคเคจเคे เคฎाเคคा-เคชिเคคा เคจे เคเคจ्เคนें เคเคญी เค เคญाเคต เคा เค เคจुเคญเคต เคจเคนीं เคนोเคจे เคฆिเคฏा เคเคฐ เคเคจ्เคนें เคธเคฆैเคต เคจैเคคिเคเคคा, เคเคฎाเคจเคฆाเคฐी เคเคฐ เคเคค्เคฎ-เคธंเคฏเคฎ เคा เคชाเค เคชเคข़ाเคฏा। เคเคจเคे เคชिเคคा เคा เคเคง्เคฏाเคค्เคฎिเค เคฆृเคท्เคिเคोเคฃ เคเคฐ เคฎाँ เคी เคฆเคฏाเคฒुเคคा เคจे เคเคจเคे เคตिเคाเคฐों เคो เคเคนเคฐाเค เคธे เคช्เคฐเคญाเคตिเคค เคिเคฏा। เคฏเคน เค เคง्เคฏाเคฏ เคงाเคฐ्เคฎिเค เคธौเคนाเคฐ्เคฆ เคा เคธुंเคฆเคฐ เคเคฆाเคนเคฐเคฃ เคช्เคฐเคธ्เคคुเคค เคเคฐเคคा เคนै, เคเคนाँ เคนिंเคฆू เคเคฐ เคฎुเคธ्เคฒिเคฎ เคชเคฐिเคตाเคฐ เคเคชเคธी เคธเคฎ्เคฎाเคจ เคเคฐ เคช्เคฐेเคฎ เคे เคธाเคฅ เคฐเคนเคคे เคฅे।
เคฒेเคเค เค เคชเคจे เคฆोเคธ्เคคों เคฐเคฎเคฃाเคฅ เคถाเคธ्เคค्เคฐी, เค เคฐเคตिंเคฆเคจ เคเคฐ เคถिเคตเคช्เคฐเคाเคถเคจ เคा เคเคฒ्เคฒेเค เคเคฐเคคे เคนैं, เคो เคนिंเคฆू เคชเคฐिเคตाเคฐों เคธे เคฅे। เคเค เคฌाเคฐ เคเค เคจเค เคถिเค्เคทเค เคจे เคเคฒाเคฎ เคो เคฎुเคธ्เคฒिเคฎ เคนोเคจे เคे เคाเคฐเคฃ เคชिเคเคฒी เคชंเค्เคคि เคฎें เคฌैเค เคจे เคो เคเคนा। เคฏเคน เคฆेเคเคเคฐ เคเคจเคे เคฎिเคค्เคฐ เคे เคชिเคคा เคจे เคเคธ เคถिเค्เคทเค เคो เคกाँเคा เคเคฐ เคงाเคฐ्เคฎिเค เคธเคฎाเคจเคคा เคा เคชाเค เคชเคข़ाเคฏा। เคเคธ เคเคเคจा เคจे เคเคฒाเคฎ เคे เคฎเคจ เคฎें เคฎाเคจเคตเคคा เคเคฐ เคธเคฎाเคจเคคा เคे เคธिเคฆ्เคงांเคค เคो เคเคฐ เคฎเคเคฌूเคค เคिเคฏा।
เค ंเคค เคฎें, เคเคฒाเคฎ เค เคชเคจे เค เคง्เคฏाเคชเค เคถिเคตเคธुเคฌ्เคฐเคฎเคฃ्เคฏเคฎ เค เคฏ्เคฏเคฐ เคा เคเคฒ्เคฒेเค เคเคฐเคคे เคนैं, เคिเคจ्เคนोंเคจे เคเคจ्เคนें เคฌเคก़े เคธเคชเคจे เคฆेเคเคจे เคเคฐ เคเคจ्เคนें เคชूเคฐा เคเคฐเคจे เคी เคช्เคฐेเคฐเคฃा เคฆी। เค เคฏ्เคฏเคฐ เคी เคจे เคธเคฎाเค เคी เคธंเคीเคฐ्เคฃ เคธोเค เคो เคคोเคก़เคคे เคนुเค เคเคฒाเคฎ เคो เค เคชเคจे เคเคฐ เคญोเคเคจ เคे เคฒिเค เคเคฎंเคค्เคฐिเคค เคिเคฏा। เคฏเคน เค เคง्เคฏाเคฏ เคธिเคाเคคा เคนै เคि เคธเค्เคे เคฎूเคฒ्เคฏ, เคตिเคจเคฎ्เคฐเคคा, เคชเคฐिเคถ्เคฐเคฎ เคเคฐ เคฆृเคข़ เคธंเคเคฒ्เคช เคे เคฌเคฒ เคชเคฐ เคोเค เคญी เคต्เคฏเค्เคคि เคฎเคนाเคจเคคा เคช्เคฐाเคช्เคค เคเคฐ เคธเคเคคा เคนै। เคเคฒाเคฎ เคा เคฌเคเคชเคจ เคนเคฎें เคฏเคน เคช्เคฐेเคฐเคฃा เคฆेเคคा เคนै เคि เคฎเคนाเคจเคคा เคी เคถुเคฐुเคเคค เค เค्เคे เคตिเคाเคฐों เคเคฐ เคเคฐ्เคฎों เคธे เคนोเคคी เคนै।
Character Sketch
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Dr. Kalam, as a child in the memoir, is depicted as a sensitive, secure, and hardworking boy shaped by a harmonious environment. He inherits honesty and self-discipline from his father, and faith and kindness from his mother. He is curious, secular, and possesses a strong desire to learn. His childhood in Rameswaram, surrounded by friends of different religions, fosters in him a deep-seated belief in social equality and religious harmony, which became the foundation for his future as the "People's President."
Lakshmana Sastry: Lakshmana Sastry was a high priest and the father of Kalam's close friend, Sivasubramania Iyer. He is a man of strong principles and social justice. When the new teacher asks Kalam to sit at the back, Sastry confronts the teacher, calls the segregation social discrimination, and warns him to reform or leave. He represents the voice of righteous authority that upholds secular values and fights against prejudice in the society.
Sivasubramania Iyer: Sivasubramania Iyer was Kalam's science teacher and a progressive thinker. He was a Brahmin who defied social norms to invite the young Muslim Kalam to his home for a meal, encouraging his wife to serve food himself when she hesitated. He inspired Kalam to break free from societal constraints and pursue higher education. He symbolizes enlightened mentorship and the power of education to transcend social barriers.
10 Previous Year Questions & Solutions
1. Describe Kalam's childhood in Rameswaram. (2019)
Answer: Kalam's childhood in Rameswaram was secure, happy, and spiritually rich. He lived in a large ancestral house, his father owned a boat, and the family was well-respected. The town was communally harmonious, with close friendships between Hindu and Muslim families. He helped his cousin sell newspapers and himself collected tamarind seeds. This environment of hard work, simplicity, and inter-religious camaraderie provided a strong, value-based foundation for his character.
2. What incident does Kalam describe involving his new teacher in the fifth standard? What was its outcome? (2020)
Answer: A new teacher in Kalam's school could not tolerate a Muslim boy (Kalam) sitting with a Hindu priest's son (Ramanadha Sastry). He asked Kalam to go and sit on the back bench. Both children were distressed. When Ramanadha Sastry's father, Lakshmana Sastry, learned of this, he summoned the teacher. He sternly told the teacher that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and asked him to apologize or leave. The teacher reformed his behavior, and the old seating arrangement was restored.
3. How did Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam's science teacher, break social barriers? (2022)
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer broke social barriers by inviting the young Muslim Kalam to his home for a meal. His conservative wife initially refused to serve food to a Muslim boy in her pure kitchen. Undeterred, Iyer himself served Kalam and sat beside him to eat, setting a personal example of equality. Later, he invited Kalam again, and this time his wife served him food from inside the kitchen, showing a change of heart. He demonstrated that social reform begins with personal courage.
4. What values did Kalam inherit from his parents? (2023)
Answer: From his father, Jainulabdeen, Kalam inherited honesty, self-discipline, and a deep sense of integrity. His father, though not wealthy, was a man of wisdom and generosity. From his mother, Ashiamma, Kalam inherited faith in goodness, kindness, and a nurturing spirit. She supported his dreams. Together, they provided a home filled with emotional and material security, where essential human values were more important than riches.
5. "Kalam's childhood was a secure one, both materially and emotionally." Justify. (2018)
Answer: Materially, Kalam's family, though not affluent, was never in want. They had a large ancestral house, his father owned a boat, and they had enough food. Emotionally, the security was profound. He received unconditional love and wisdom from his parents. He had a band of close friends from different religions, showing social acceptance. The community elders, like Lakshmana Sastry, upheld justice. This dual security gave him the confidence and ethical grounding to dream big without fear or prejudice.
6. What was the role of Kalam's friends in shaping his personality? (2021)
Answer: Kalam's friends—Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan—played a crucial role in shaping his secular and inclusive personality. Despite belonging to different religious backgrounds (Hindu priest, Hindu fisherman, and Christian), they formed a close-knit group. This childhood experience of pure, untainted friendship taught him that religion and social status were superficial divisions. It instilled in him a lifelong belief in communal harmony and equality, which defined his later public life.
7. How did the Second World War influence the young Kalam? (2019)
Answer: The Second World War brought sudden change and opportunity to Rameswaram. Train stoppages were canceled, affecting Kalam's cousin's newspaper business. To help, Kalam took up the job of selling newspapers. This was his first independent work experience. Furthermore, the war created a demand for tamarind seeds, which Kalam collected and sold. These early ventures gave him a taste of enterprise, responsibility, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
8. What does the chapter reveal about the social fabric of Rameswaram during Kalam's childhood? (2020)
Answer: The chapter reveals a social fabric in Rameswaram that was largely harmonious and integrated. Hindus and Muslims lived together, shared festivals, and respected each other's traditions. Religious identities were strong but did not hinder genuine friendship. However, it also shows that social prejudices (like the new teacher's bias) existed. Importantly, it highlights that the community had strong, principled leaders like Lakshmana Sastry who actively fought to preserve the secular and equal social order.
9. Why is the chapter titled 'My Childhood' significant for understanding Dr. Kalam? (2022)
Answer: The title 'My Childhood' is significant because it establishes the root of everything Dr. Kalam stood for as a scientist and President. His childhood experiences—the secular friendships, the lessons in justice from elders, the inspiration from teachers, and the values from his parents—directly shaped his philosophy of life. It shows that the "People's President," known for his vision and humility, was not made in a laboratory or office, but in the lanes and bylanes of Rameswaram.
10. What message does Dr. Kalam's childhood story give to modern India? (2023)
Answer: Dr. Kalam's childhood story gives a powerful message of communal harmony, the importance of righteous role models, and the transformative power of education. In a modern India often divided by religion and caste, his story is a reminder of a successful, inclusive model of coexistence. It teaches that true strength lies in unity, that teachers and parents shape the nation's future, and that values learned in childhood become the guiding principles for life and leadership.
