Strong Roots LAQs

  1. Describe Kalam's childhood.Or, How was the childhood of Kalam? 

Ans. In 'Strong Roots', the excerpt of the autobiography entitled 'Wings of Fire' by the Former President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, we are taken down to the memory lane of his childhood days. He was born into a middle-class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram, located in the erstwhile Madras state. His parents Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma were regarded as an ideal couple for their benevolent and simplistic approach to life. Kalam was one of many children. He was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. They used to live in their ancestral house, which was built in the middle of the 19th century on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram. It was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick. Though Kalam's austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries, but he used to provide them with all necessary amenities, in terms of food, medicine or clothing. Kalam used to eat with his mother in the floor of kitchen. And he had a vivid memory of the high priest of Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, a close friend of his father and their discussion of spiritual matters. They lived amidst communal harmony and amity. Thus, in every way, the author had a secure childhood, materially and emotionally.

2. "I normally ate with my mother" Who ate with his mother? Name his mother? Where did he eat with his mother? – What did he eat with his mother? [1+1+1+3 = 6] [H.S. – 2018,2022]

Ans. A. P. J Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, and the author of the autobiographical excerpt 'Strong Roots', ate with his mother. 

The name of Kalam's mother was Ashiamma who was an ideal helpmate of his father. 

Kalam ate with his mother, sitting on the floor of the kitchen. 

 Kalam's mother used to place a banana leaf before him, on which she then ladled rice and aromatic sambar, a variety of sharp, home-made pickle and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney which he used to eat. 

3. Describe the house of Kalam. 

Ans. In 'Strong Roots', the excerpt of the autobiography entitled 'Wings of Fire' by the Former President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, we are taken down to the memory lane of his childhood days. He was born into a middle-class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram, located in the erstwhile Madras state.They used to live in their ancestral house, which was built in the middle of the 19th century on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram. It was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick and was about a ten minutes walk from the Shiva Temple which made Rameswaram so famous to pilgrims.

4. " Our locality was predominantly Muslim" . . . Who is the speaker? How does the speaker describe the locality? What picture of communal harmony do you find in the description? [1+2+3= 6] [H.S. – 2017] 

Ans. The speaker of the above extract is A. P. J. Abdul kalam, the former President of India, and the author of the autobiographical excerpt 'Strong Roots'. 

The locality in which Kalam used to live with his family was though predominantly Muslim, but there were quite a lot of Hindu families as well. Both these communities used to live amicably with each other. His house was about a ten minute walk from the Shiva Temple which made Rameswaram so famous to pilgrims. There was even an old Mosque to where his father used to take him for evening prayers. 

The picture of communal harmony can be found in two references. One is, the people of different religious creed used to wait for his father outside the mosque to offer him bowls of water to dip his fingertips in them and say a prayer. This water was then carried home for invalids. Such trust and respect is definitely a sign of communal harmony. The other instance is his father's close bonding of friendship with the high priest of Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry and their discussion of spiritual matters. Indeed, there was an air of amity in the locality. 

5. ‘The people of different religions would be sitting outside waiting for him’ – Who is referred to here as ‘him’? Where did the people wait? Why did they wait there? What would happen thereafter? [1+1+2+2 = 6] [H.S. – 2020]

Ans. In the above extract from ' Strong Roots', Kalam's father Jainulabdeen is referred to as 'him'. 

The people of different religions, as had been described by Kalam in his autobiographical excerpt ' Strong Roots' , used to wait outside the old mosque in their locality. 

The people waited for him outside the mosque to offer him bowls of water so that he would dip his fingertips in them and sanctify the water with a prayer to cure the invalids. 

After being cured when the people visited their house to thank him, his humble and selfless father ased them to thank Allah, the merciful. 

6. ‘His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm’ – Who is the speaker? Whose answer is being referred to here? What was the answer? [1+1+4 = 6] [H.S. – 2019]

Ans. The speaker of the above extract is Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, and the author of the autobiographical excerpt 'Strong Roots'. 

The thoughtful answer from Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, is referred to here.

When innocent Kalam asked his father to tell people to help themselves with an understanding that adversity leads to self scrutiny, Kalam’s father calmly gave him the following answer. Whenever human beings find themselves alone or stuck in a difficult situation, they looked for a company that could guide them to either come out of the situation or to tackle them. In this regard, Kalam’s father acted as a mediator. He strived to propitiate the demonic forces with prayer and offerings. Though he accepted that this was not the correct approach. But in hard times men seek this help. He thus remarked that one should introspect the relevance of his sufferings and act accordingly.

7. How did Kalam portray his father in the text 'Strong Roots'? 

Ans. ' Strong Roots' is an excerpt from Kalam's autobiography Wings of Fire, in which Kalam described his parents. His father, Jainulabdeen had neither much formal education nor much wealth; despite these disadvantages, he possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit. Though his austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries, but, he provided them with all necessities in terms of food, medicine or clothing. His father was his spiritual mentor who could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil. He once told him that in his own time, in his own place, in what he really is, and in the stage he has reached-good or bad-every human being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine Being. So we need not to be afraid of difficulties, sufferings and problems. Because adversity always presents opportunities for introspection. He also remembered that his father used to start his day at 4 am by reading the namaz before dawn. After the namaz, he used to walk down to a small coconut grove we owned, about four miles from our home. He would return with about a dozen coconuts tied together thrown over his shoulder, and only then would he have his breakfast. This remained his routine even when he was in his late sixties. Jainulabdeen had an immense ideological and spiritual influence upon Kalam. 

8. What was the daily routine of Kalam's father? 

Ans. ' Strong Roots' is an excerpt from Kalam's autobiography Wings of Fire, in which Kalam described his parents. Kalam's father was a self- restraint, self- disciplined man. Kalam described that his father used to start his day at 4 am by reading the namaz before dawn. After the namaz, he used to walk down to a small coconut grove we owned, about four miles from our home. He would return with about a dozen coconuts tied together thrown over his shoulder, and only then would he have his breakfast. This remained his routine even when he was in his late sixties. Jainulabdeen had an immense ideological and spiritual influence upon Kalam. 

9. What spiritual thoughts were taught to Kalam? Or, " My father could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple, down to earth Tamil"--- How did Kalam's father convey the thought of spirituality to Kalam? How Kalam's was influenced by him? [4+2=6]

Ans. Strong Roots' is an excerpt from Kalam's autobiography Wings of Fire, in which Kalam described his parents.His father was his spiritual mentor who could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil. He once told him that in his own time, in his own place, in what he really is, and in the stage he has reached-good or bad-every human being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine Being. So we need not to be afraid of difficulties, sufferings and problems. Because adversity always presents opportunities for introspection. 

Kalam, throughout my life, tried to emulate his father in his own world of science and technology. He had endeavoured to understand the fundamental truths revealed to him by his father, and felt convinced that there exists a divine power that can lift one up from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure, and guide one to one’s true place. And once an individual severs his emotional and physical bond, he is on the road to freedom, happiness and peace of mind.

10. "Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you?" Who says this and to whom? What is referred to by the word ‘this’? Why do the people come to the person spoken to? [1+1+3+1 = 6] [H.S. – 2015]

Ans. Kalam, in his innocent childlike quest asked the above quoted extract to his father. 

' This ' referred to the following calm answer given to Kalam by his father. Whenever human beings find themselves alone or stuck in a difficult situation, they looked for a company that could guide them to either come out of the situation or to tackle them. In this regard, Kalam’s father acted as a mediator. He strived to propitiate the demonic forces with prayer and offerings. Though he accepted that this was not the correct approach. But in hard times men seek this help. He thus remarked that one should introspect the relevance of his sufferings and act accordingly. 

The people came to Jainulabdeen, Kalam's father for his spiritual guidance as he was but a go-between in their effort to propitiate demonic forces with prayers and offerings.