NCERT Solutions 09th English Chapter 1 How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

1.Write about the following memories or experiences. Share your views with the class.
(i) A memorable holiday spent with your grandmother
(ii) A story told by your grandmother
(ii) The things you admire the most about your grandmother
(iv) The difference between your mother and your grandmother
Answer:
(i) A memorable holiday spent with my grandmother

Grandmothers are more than mothers. I still remember how I spent a holiday with my grandmother. It was quite a long time since I met her. I found her standing at the village bus-stand to receive me. She was really excited. She had prepared some of my favourite dishes only for me. She took me to the fields. We stopped at the canal. What a sight! Children were diving into it from a wooden bridge. I enjoyed fresh sugarcanes. It was evening. A herd of cattle was returning home. My grandmother would not let me sleep early. She had many interesting stories to tell. She talked of her youth, her good old times and her hobbies. She kissed me affectionately before I went to bed.

(ii) A Story told by my grandmother

It is difficult to imagine a grandmother without her fanciful stories. My grandmother is a great story-teller. Her narrative skill is very real and convincing. She will make you believe even the incredible. She has stored many stories in her rpemory. Her favourite story is of Savitri and Yama. Savitri’s husband was cutting wood in the forest. He fell down from a tree and died. The God of death, Yama came to take him to the other world. Savitri would not let him come near the dead body of her husband. She remained glued to the dead body for many days. She didn’t eat and sleep. The God of death was moved. He had never seen such a devoted and determined wife. He was pleased and restored Savitri’s husband to life.

(iii) The things I admire the most about my grandmother

My grandmother is my role-model. I am very much impressed with her personality. But there are certain things which I admire the most in her character. The first thing is her sense of discipline. She is very regular and punctual. She gets up at 5 a.m. in the morning. She is ready for her prayers before 6 a.m. She has always a fixed time for everything. I like her deep faith in God. Her sense of cleanliness is extremely praiseworthy. She looks noble and dignified in her spotless white clothes. All these things make her a very pleasing and dignified personality.

(iv) The difference between my mother and my grandmother

Human relations generally defy comparisons. But still there are certain basic differences between my mother and my grandmother. I am also different from my mother. So is my grandmother from her daughter-in­law. Basically it is a generation gap. My grandmother is conservative. She is highly religious. She has deep faith in God and fate. But my mother is a working woman. She has a progressive outlook towards life and people. She is not so religious. She believes that everyone has a right to lead one’s own kind of life. My grandmother thinks that home and children are the most important things for any woman. My mother thinks of other things as well. She believes that a woman must have freedom to decide what is good or bad for her.

2.Have you ever been on a trip to any place in India, where you didn’t know the language spoken locally? How did you feel? How did you manage to communicate?
Answer:

During my tour to Tamil Nadu, I happened to visit a small village. It is near the temple town of Kanchipuram. Actually, I went there to buy some sarees for my mother and my elder sister. I went to a handloom shop. The shopkeeper welcomed me with folded hands and wished ‘namaskaram’. I did the same. I said ‘sarees ’. He responded by saying “ilia’ or ‘Yella or something like that. He said something to the helpers. I could not understand even a word. Many new sarees of different colours were laid before me. I picked up one and asked the price. He raised three fingers—I couldn’t make out whether he was asking for three hundred or three thousand. A man who knew some Hindi saved me from the embarrassment. I paid six thousand and bought two sarees. Only then I realised that I was a stranger in my own country and I determined to learn at least one language that is spoken in South India.

3.Now that you have enjoyed reading the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct option
(a) The grandmother could relate to the central character of the story ‘Kashi Yatre’ as_______
(i) both were old and uneducated.
(ii) both had granddaughters who read to them.
(iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.
(iv) both were determined to learn to read.
Answer:
(iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.
(b) Why did the women at the temple discuss the latest episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’?
(i) to pass their time.
(ii) the writer, Triveni, was very popular.
(iii) they could relate with the protagonist of the serial.
(iv) women have a habit of discussing serials.
Answer:
(ii) the writer, Triveni, was very popular.
(c) The granddaughter found her grandmother in tears on her return as__________
(i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story Kashi Yatre’ on her own.
(ii) the grandmother had felt lonely.
(iii) the grandmother wanted to accompany her granddaughter.
(iv) she was sad she could not visit Kashi.
Answer:
(i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story Kashi Yatre’ on her own.
(d) Why did the grandmother touch her granddaughter’s feet?
(i) As a mark of respect to her teacher.
(ii) It was a custom in their family.
(iii) Girls should be respected.
(iv) She had read the story of Kashi Yatra’ to her.
Answer:
(i) As a mark of respect to her teacher.
4.Here are some direct quotations from the story. Identify the speaker and write what each quotation suggests about the speaker. You can use the adjectives given in the box and may also add your own.

	Speaker	Quotation	Quality Highlighted
(a)		‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you O.K.?’
(b)		‘At times, I used to regret not going to school, so I made sure that my children and grandchildren studied well.’
(c)		‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can I help you in anyway?’
(d)		‘We are well-off, but what use is money when I cannot be independent.’
(e)		‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during Dassara as the deadline.’
(f)		‘For a good cause if you are determined you can overcome any obstacle.’
(g)		I am touching the feet of a teacher not my granddaughter.’

Answer:

	Speaker	Quotation	Quality Highlighted
(a)	The narrator	‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you O.K.?’	concerned sympathetic, helpful
(b)	The grandmother	‘ At times, I used to regret not going to school, so I made sure that my children and grandchildren studied well.’	wise, understanding
(c)	The narrator	‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can I help you in anyway?’	Sympathetic/helpful, amiable
(d)	The grandmother	‘We are well-off, but what use is money when I cannot be independent.’	prudent
(e)	The narrator	‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during Dassara as the deadline.’	determined, religious
(f)	The grandmother	‘For a good cause if you are determined you can overcome any obstacle.’	enthusiastic; diligent
(g)	The grandmother	I am touching the feet of a teacher not my granddaughter.’	respectful, humble