Theme
This story, written by the renowned writer Sudha Murty, is primarily based on the following themes:
- Importance of Education - This story highlights the grandmother's intense desire to be educated, as she not only was excited to know about the latest episode of Kashi Yatre featured in the magazine Karmaveera but also wanted to be self-reliant, even at the age of sixty-two. This shows that education is quite crucial in order to lead a respectable life in society.
- Determination and Hard Work - This story highlights the hard work and determination shown by the grandmother, as she was able to learn the Kannada alphabet in a very short period. This shows that one can achieve their goals if one is determined and has willingness to work hard.
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NCERT Questions
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
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.
(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
(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.
(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender 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
Answers
(i) A. strong-willed
(ii) emotional
(iii) The line 'we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house.' indicates a rural setting. The use of the word 'Avva' to address the grandmother indicates the traditional custom. The term 'Avva' means 'mother' in the Kannada language spoken in North Karnataka.
(iv) The lines 'Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.' establish a tender atmosphere.
(v) C. the grandmother's regret over her lack of education
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.’
(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.
(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)
(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 ___________________.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answers
(i) B. She desires self-sufficiency.
(ii) age limit
(iii) because she believed it was an unusual decision and would be very difficult for her to learn at such an old age.
(iv) Hardworking and determined
(v) The author assumes that the grandmother was too old to learn. She judged the grandmother's ability to learn on the basis of her age and physical condition, overlooking her determination and intense desire to become independent.
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?
Ans. She was embarrassed because she did not want others to know about her inability to read. She felt dependent and helpless in the absence of her granddaughter despite belonging to a well-off family. She decided to wait for the author to return and read the story for her.
2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother's determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Ans. She laughed at her grandmother initially because she believed learning at the age of sixty-two was unusual and very difficult. She underestimated her grandmother's ability to learn, focusing on her old age and physical condition and overlooking her determination and intense desire to become educated.
3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother's life and the story?
Ans. The story of Kashi Yatre played a major role in the life of the grandmother. As in the story, the old lady had an unfulfilled desire to go to Kashi, the grandmother also had an unfulfilled desire to be educated. The grandmother was too excited to know about the latest episode of the story, which inspired her to learn the alphabet and become independent.
4. What does the grandmother's desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Ans. The grandmother's desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflects her strong determination and willingness to work hard to achieve her goals, even at the age of sixty-two. It shows her belief in being self-reliant, as she did not want to remain dependent on others for reading and believed that there was no age limit for education.
5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother's action of touching the narrator's feet?
Ans. The grandmother's action of touching the author's feet highlights the values of respect and humility. It teaches us that teachers should be respected regardless of their age or gender. Furthermore, it encourages us to show gratitude towards those who help us become educated and self-reliant.
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.'
Ans. This line highlights the main theme of the story that strong determination can help us achieve our goals and overcome any adversity in our lives. The grandmother's strong will-power helped her learn the Kannada alphabet in a very short period, even at the age of sixty-two.
7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Ans. The story highlights that education helps us become self-reliant and live with dignity and confidence. The grandmother felt helpless when she was unable to read and had to depend on others. After becoming educated, she became truly self-reliant.
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