Class 9 English How I Taught My Grandmother to Read NCERT KAVERI Summary, Explanation and Questions Answers
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read – Class 6 English NCERT (Kaveri) Summary, Explanation and Questions Answers
Table of Contents
📚 Table of Contents
Introduction to How I Taught My Grandmother to Read – Class 6 English NCERT Chapter
“How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” is a touching story written by Sudha Murty. It shows the importance of education and teaches us that there is no age limit for learning. The story highlights the strong bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter and how determination leads to success.
Complete Summary of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
The narrator lived with her grandparents in a village. Her grandmother loved listening to a Kannada novel Kashi Yatre, which the narrator read to her every week.
When the narrator was away, her grandmother could not read the story and felt helpless. She decided to learn reading and writing at the age of sixty-two.
With great determination and the help of her granddaughter, she learned to read. On the day of Dassara, she read the novel herself and showed respect to her granddaughter as her teacher.
Paragraph-wise Analysis of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
Paragraph 1
Original Paragraph
When I was a girl of about twelve, I used to stay in a village in north Karnataka with my grandparents. Those days, the transport system was not very good, so we used to get the morning paper only in the afternoon. The weekly magazine used to come one day late. All of us would wait eagerly for the bus, which used to come with the papers, weekly magazines and the post.
At that time, Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language. She was a wonderful writer. Her style was easy to read and very convincing. Her stories usually dealt with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people and were always very interesting. Unfortunately for Kannada literature, she died very young. Even now, after forty years, people continue to appreciate her novels.
Word Meanings
transport system – system of travel
eagerly – with excitement
convincing – believable
psychological – related to the mind
Simple Explanation
The narrator describes her childhood in a village where newspapers and magazines arrived late. People waited eagerly for them. She also introduces Triveni, a famous Kannada writer whose stories were very popular and meaningful.
Paragraph 2
Original Paragraph
One of her novels, called Kashi Yatre, was appearing as a serial in the Kannada weekly Karmaveera then. It is the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi or Varanasi. Most Hindus believe that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshwara is the ultimate punya. This old lady also believed in this, and her struggle to go there was described in that novel. In the story there was also a young orphan girl who falls in love but there was no money for the wedding. In the end, the old lady gives away all her savings without going to Kashi. She says, ‘The happiness of this orphan girl is more important than worshipping Lord Vishweshwara at Kashi.’
My grandmother, Krishtakka, never went to school so she could not read. Every Wednesday the magazine would come and I would read the next episode of this story to her. During that time she would forget all her work and listen with great concentration. Later, she could repeat the entire text by heart.
Word Meanings
ardent desire – strong wish
orphan – child without parents
concentration – full attention
Simple Explanation
The story Kashi Yatre is about sacrifice and kindness. The narrator’s grandmother, who could not read, loved listening to it. She listened carefully and remembered everything.
Paragraph 3
Original Paragraph
My grandmother too never went to Kashi, and she identified herself with the novel’s protagonist. So more than anybody else she was the one most interested in knowing what happened next in the story and used to insist that I read the serial out to her. After hearing what happened next in Kashi Yatre, she would join her friends at the temple courtyard... At that time, I never understood why there was so much of debate about the story.
Once I went for a wedding with my cousins to the neighbouring village... I went for a couple of days but ended up staying there for a week. When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations.
Word Meanings
identified – felt connected
debate – discussion
thoroughly – completely
Simple Explanation
The grandmother loved the story deeply and discussed it with others. When the narrator stayed away for a week, the grandmother became sad because she could not read the story herself.
Paragraph 4
Original Paragraph
‘When I was a young girl, I lost my mother. There was nobody to look after and guide me... At times I used to regret not going to school...’
I could not understand why my sixty-two-year-old grandmother was telling me... Her eyes were filled with tears... ‘Yes, I need your help... I saw the picture... I could not understand anything that was written... I felt very dependent and helpless... What use is money when I cannot be independent?’
Word Meanings
regret – feel sad about
dependent – relying on others
independent – self-reliant
Simple Explanation
The grandmother shares her past and regrets not studying. She feels helpless because she cannot read the story herself and wants to become independent.
Paragraph 5
Original Paragraph
‘I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards... I want to be independent.’
I saw the determination on her face... ‘For a good cause... there is no age bar.’
The next day onwards I started my tuition. Avva was a wonderful student... She would read, repeat, write, and recite...
Word Meanings
determination – strong will
tuition – teaching
recite – repeat aloud
Simple Explanation
The grandmother decides to learn reading. She works very hard and becomes a dedicated student.
Paragraph 6
Original Paragraph
The Dassara festival came as usual. Secretly I bought Kashi Yatre... She bent down and touched my feet... ‘I am touching the feet of a teacher... Now I am independent...’
She opened it and read immediately the title Kashi Yatre by Triveni... I knew then that my student had passed with flying colours.
Word Meanings
respect – honour
tradition – custom
passed with flying colours – succeeded very well
Simple Explanation
On Dassara, the grandmother reads the book herself. She touches her granddaughter’s feet to show respect as a teacher. This shows her success and independence.
Main Themes and Lessons – How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
1. Importance of Education
Education helps people become independent.
2. No Age Limit for Learning
Learning can happen at any age.
3. Determination and Hard Work
Strong will leads to success.
4. Respect for Teachers
Teachers deserve respect regardless of age.
Questions Answers of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Class 6 English NCERT (Poorvi)
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.Extract 1
When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried.
‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’
I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka.
She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.
Questions and Answers
(i) Complete the following sentence with the appropriate option.
The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was ________________________.
A. strong-willed
B. understanding
C. considerate
D. bold
Answer:
A. strong-willed
(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too ________________________ (emotional/tired) to respond.
Answer:
emotional
(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
Answer:
The line “we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house” indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?
Answer:
The line “Her affectionate hands touched my forehead” establishes a tender and emotional atmosphere.
(v) Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?
A. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother
B. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
D. the narrator’s concern for her grandmother
Answer:
C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
Extract 2
‘I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.’
I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her.
‘Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen...’
Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.
‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.’
Questions and Answers
(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
A. She wanted to be literate.
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
Answer:
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
(ii) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.
The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no ___________________. (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers)
Answer:
age limit
(iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because ___________________.
Answer:
The narrator laughs because she believes that her grandmother is too old to learn and finds the idea unusual.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Answer:
Determination
Hardworking nature
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answer:
The narrator assumes that her grandmother cannot learn due to her old age, without considering her determination and capability.
II Answer the following questions
1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
Answer:
The grandmother felt embarrassed because she did not want others to know that she was illiterate. She felt dependent and helpless.
2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Answer:
The narrator laughs because she thinks that learning at such an old age is difficult and unusual.
3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?
Answer:
The story inspires the grandmother to learn reading. It becomes the main reason for her determination to become independent.
4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Answer:
It reflects her strong determination, desire for independence, and willingness to learn despite her age.
5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
Answer:
It teaches us that teachers should be respected regardless of age and that learning is a noble act.
6. What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story?
‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.’
Answer:
This line shows that determination and hard work can help overcome any difficulty in life.
7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer:
The story clearly shows that education helps people become independent. The grandmother’s transformation proves that learning gives confidence and self-reliance.
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