How I Taught My Grandmother to Read & Bharat Our Land

1. Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?
My grandparents speak Marathi and Hindi. (Write your own answer.)

2. How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?
They read, pray, walk in the garden and watch the news. I play carrom with them and listen to their stories.

3. What is your favourite experience with them?
My favourite experience is visiting the village fair with my grandfather.

4. What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?
They cannot use a smartphone easily. They enjoy watching me make video calls and look up recipes for them.

(i) The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was ______.
A. strong-willed

(ii) Grandmother did not reply because she might have been too ______ to respond.
emotional

(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
“In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house.” The narrator also calls her grandmother ‘Avva’.

(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?
“Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.”

(v) Which aspect is NOT emphasised in the extract?
C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education

(i) What does the statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
B. She desires self-sufficiency.

(ii) The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no ______.
age limit

(iii) The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision because ______.
she thought her grandmother was too old to learn. Her hair was grey, her hands were wrinkled, she wore spectacles and she worked a lot in the kitchen.

(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
She is determined. She is hardworking.

(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
The narrator judges her only by her age and looks. She thinks grey hair and spectacles mean she cannot learn. She does not see her strong will.

1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her?
She was an elderly lady from a well-off family. She felt ashamed to let others know that she could not read. Asking for help made her feel dependent and helpless.

2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at sixty-two?
The narrator was only twelve. She childishly thought that learning was only for the young. She made fun of her grey hair, wrinkled hands and spectacles.

3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in the grandmother’s life and the story?
The grandmother saw herself in the old lady of the novel. Her strong wish to know the story made her feel helpless. This pushed her to learn to read. So the novel starts and ends her journey to literacy.

4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
It shows her self-respect and courage. She wants to be independent. It also shows that she believes learning has no age bar.

5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
A teacher must be respected, whatever the age or gender. Knowledge is greater than age. We should be humble and grateful to those who teach us.

6. What does the line, ‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle,’ tell us about the theme of the story?
The theme is that determination can overcome every difficulty. Age, lack of schooling and busy work did not stop the grandmother. Her will made her literate.

7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
The story shows it very effectively. Though the family was well-off, the grandmother felt dependent because she could not read. Once she learnt to read, she felt free and confident. So education gives true independence.

1. The word ‘mighty’ refers to the ______ of the Himavant.
greatness and strength (huge height)

2. The question mark at the end of the fourth and sixth line is used to ______.
(ii) emphasise a point

3. Why does the poet use the word ‘generous’ to describe the Ganga?
The Ganga gives water freely to millions of people. It makes the land fertile and supports life. So it is called generous.

4. Why has the movement of the river been described as graceful?
The river flows smoothly and calmly. Its flow looks beautiful and dignified.

5. The poet is implying that the Upanishads are ______ in their wisdom.
unmatched

1. How does the poem reflect a strong connection to cultural identity and heritage?
The poet repeats “is ours” for the Himalayas, the Ganga and the Upanishads. He praises sages, music, Brahma-knowledge and the Buddha. This shows that India’s nature, faith and wisdom are part of our identity.

2. What can you infer about the poet’s attitude towards India from the refrain?
The poet loves and respects India deeply. He feels very proud and wants everyone to praise her.

3. What does ‘many a sage has sanctified this land’ suggest about India’s spiritual heritage?
It suggests that many saints lived and prayed here. Their wisdom made the land pure and holy. India has a rich spiritual heritage.

4. How does the poet connect warriors and music to India’s greatness?
Brave warriors show India’s courage. The divinest music shows its rich art and culture. Both together make India great.

5. How does this poem foster a sense of national pride?
It lists the unmatched mountains, rivers, scriptures and great people of India. The refrain keeps praising her. Reading it, we feel proud to belong to such a land.