Bihar Board class 9 English Prose chapter 8 solutions are presented for free here. Using this guide, you will have accurate and simplified solutions for all the questions asked in chapter 8 – “My Childhood”.
Chapter 8 of the Bihar Board Class 9 English book, titled “My Childhood,” offers a glimpse into the early life of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, one of India’s most respected figures. Set in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, during the 1940s, the chapter recounts Kalam’s experiences growing up in a middle-class family. It highlights the values he learned from his parents, his friendships that crossed religious boundaries, and the influence of his teachers.
Bihar Board Class 9 English Prose Chapter 8 Solutions
Contents
- 1 Bihar Board Class 9 English Prose Chapter 8 Solutions
- 1.1 A. Answer the following questions orally
- 1.2 B.1.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements
- 1.3 B.1.2. Answer the following questions very briefly
- 1.4 B.2.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements
- 1.5 B. 2.2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the text
- 1.6 B. 2. 3. Answer the following questions very briefly
- 1.7 B.3.1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the text:
- 1.8 B.3.2. Answer the following questions briefly.
- 1.9 B.3.3. Answer the following questions very briefly:
- 1.10 C. Long Answer Type Questions
| Subject | English |
| Class | 9th |
| Chapter | 8. My Childhood |
| Author | |
| Board | Bihar Board |
A. Answer the following questions orally
Question 1. Who is the only scientist to have become the President of India?
Answer: Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is the only, scientist to have become the president of India.
Question 2. Name any three scholars who have been the present of India?
Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Dr. S.P. Radha Krishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain.
Question 3. Who is called the Missile man of India?
Answer: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is called the Missile man of India.
Question 4. Do you remember any childhood experience of your own? If yes, narrate your experience.
Answer: During a morning walk with my father, I was tempted by a beautiful garden full of colorful flowers, especially roses. As I sneaked in to pick some flowers, a fierce dog suddenly started barking at me, frightening me badly. The house owner came to my rescue and kindly advised me not to enter others’ gardens without permission, teaching me an important lesson about respecting boundaries.
B.1.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements
- Kalam was born in a high-class family. F
- Kalam was eight years old when the Second World War broke out. T
- India joined the Allied Forces. T
- Jalaluddin helped Kalam earn his first wages. F
- Kalam is now ashamed of how he earned his own money for the first time. F
- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in a Tamil family at Rameswaram in Madras. T
B.1.2. Answer the following questions very briefly
Question 1. Who were the parents of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam?
Answer: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s father was Jainulabdeen and mother was Ashiamma.
Question 2. When was his ancestral house built?
Answer: His ancestral house was built in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Question 3. When did the Second World War break out?
Answer: The Second World War broke out in 1939 A.D.
B.2.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements
- Kalam had three close friends: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Siva Prakasan. T
- All the three boys were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. T
- The ancestral business of their family was cooking. F
- Events from the Ramayana and from the life of the Prophet were the bedtime stories that his mother and grandmother used to tell the children. T
B. 2.2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the text
- Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry was the high priest of Rameshwaram Temple.
- During the annual Shri Sita Ram Kalyanam Ceremony our family used to arrange boats for a special platform for carrying idols from the temple to the marriage site.
- Kalam used to wear a cap which marked him as Muslim.
- He used to sit in front row next to Ramanadha Sastry.
B. 2. 3. Answer the following questions very briefly
Question 1. What qualities did he inherit from his parents?
Answer: Kalam inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father, while his mother instilled in him faith in goodness and deep kindness.
Question 2. What was the occupation of his family?
Answer: Kalam’s family business involved transporting religious idols on specially equipped boats for ceremonies and weddings.
Question 3. How did the new teacher behave with Kalam and what did he do?
Answer: The new teacher, exhibiting prejudice, instructed Kalam to sit on the back bench, separating him from his Muslim friend.
Question 4. What profession did his three friends adopt on growing adult?
Answer: As adults, Ramanatha Sastry became a temple priest, Aravindan started a pilgrim transport business, and Sivaprakasan became a railway catering contractor.
Question 5. How many brothers and sisters did Kalam have?
Answer: Kalam had four siblings: three brothers and one sister.
B.3.1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the text:
- Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of sprit.
- The Second World War broke out in 1939 .
- Rameswaram. his birthplace, is an island town .
- He had a very secure childhood both materially and emotionally.
- Samsuddin helped Kalam to cam his first wages.
- Kalam’s ancestral house was built in the middle of nineteenth (19th). century.
B.3.2. Answer the following questions briefly.
Question 1. Point out the modes and manners of Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s Science teacher?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s Science teacher, actively worked to break social barriers by spending extra time with Kalam and even inviting him for meals at his home.
Question 2. Who was the eleventh President of India?
Answer: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as the eleventh President of India from 2002 to 2007.
Question 3. Who was the man whose projects in space, defence and nuclear technology guided India into the twenty-first century?
Answer: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s pioneering work in space, defense, and nuclear technology propelled India into the twenty-first century.
Question 4. Where did Kalam go for his higher studies after leaving Rameswaram?
Answer: After leaving Rameswaram, Kalam pursued his higher studies at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
B.3.3. Answer the following questions very briefly:
Question 1. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer invite Kalam to his house? What was the reaction of Iyer’s wife?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam to his house for a meal to promote religious tolerance and break social barriers. However, Iyer’s wife, being very conservative, initially reacted with disapproval to having a non-Brahmin boy dine in her kitchen.
Question 2. When was India’s freedom declared imminent?
Answer: India’s freedom was declared imminent after the end of World War II in 1945, as the British government began serious discussions about granting independence to India.
C. Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Elucidate the circumstances leading to a materially and emotionally secured childhood of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Answer: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s childhood was materially and emotionally secure due to his family’s circumstances. He grew up in an ancestral house with his parents and four siblings. Although his father avoided unnecessary luxuries, he ensured that all essential needs were met, including food, medicine, and clothing. This balanced approach provided Kalam with a sense of security and stability. The strong emotional bonds within his family, coupled with their modest yet sufficient lifestyle, contributed to Kalam’s well-rounded upbringing. This secure foundation played a crucial role in shaping his future success.
Question 2. Describe the circumstances which helped Kalam in earning his first wages during the outbreak of the Second World War.
Answer: During World War II, India was forced to join the Allied Forces, leading to a state of emergency. As a result, trains no longer stopped at Rameswaram station, and newspaper bundles were thrown from moving trains. Kalam’s cousin Samsuddin needed help collecting these bundles and offered Kalam the job. This opportunity allowed Kalam to earn his first wages, filling him with pride and joy. The experience not only provided him with financial independence but also instilled a strong work ethic. It marked an important milestone in Kalam’s life, teaching him the value of hard work and self-reliance.
Question 3. What relationship did Kalam have with his three friends- Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan.
Answer: Kalam shared a close friendship with three boys from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Despite their different religious backgrounds, they never felt any divide among themselves during their childhood. Their bond was so strong that when Kalam faced discrimination at school, Ramanadha felt deeply hurt and wept in solidarity. This friendship exemplified the power of unity beyond religious differences. It also laid the foundation for Kalam’s lifelong belief in religious harmony and tolerance.
Question 4. Describe the circumstances that led to Kalam’s punishment by his new teacher when he was in standard fifth.
Answer: When Kalam was in fifth standard, a new teacher joined their class. This teacher, upon seeing Kalam (a Muslim student) sitting next to Ramanadha Sastry (a Hindu priest’s son), was unable to accept this arrangement. Driven by his own prejudices and social perceptions, the teacher ordered Kalam to move to the back bench. This incident highlighted the prevalent social biases of the time. It also served as a stark contrast to the harmonious friendships Kalam had formed with his classmates, regardless of their religious backgrounds.
Question 5. How was the teacher compelled to withdraw the punishment inflicted on A. P.J. Abdul Kalam?
Answer: Lakshmana Sastry, Ramanadha’s father and the head priest of the temple, intervened when he learned about the incident. He summoned the teacher and, in the presence of the children and their parents, sternly reprimanded him for spreading social inequality and communal intolerance. Sastry gave the teacher an ultimatum: either apologize or leave the school. Realizing the gravity of his actions, the teacher was compelled to withdraw his punishment and apologize. This incident demonstrated the power of standing up against discrimination and the importance of community leaders in promoting social harmony.
Question 6. How did Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, try to break social barriers in the small town of Rameswaram?
Answer: Sivasubramania Iyer, Kalam’s science teacher, actively worked to break social barriers in Rameswaram. He invited Kalam, a Muslim student, to his home for a meal, challenging the prevailing social norms. When his orthodox wife initially refused to serve Kalam, Iyer himself served the meal and sat with Kalam to eat. On Kalam’s next visit, the teacher’s wife, having reconsidered her stance, welcomed Kalam into her kitchen and served him herself. This gradual change illustrated how persistent efforts can overcome deep-rooted prejudices. Iyer’s actions set an example of inclusivity and respect for all, regardless of religious or social backgrounds.
