STRONG ROOTS
– A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Ans:- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam has very skilfully presented many essential truths to us through his childhood incidents depicted in “Strong Roots”. In his childhood Kalam accompanied his father to mosque to pray. He did not know the meaning of the Arabic prayer chanted there but he was convinced that the prayer reached God. Once he asked his father about the relevance of prayer. His father simply answered that there was nothing complex or mysterious about prayer. He replied that prayer is a medium of communion of the spirits. Through the prayer a man can go beyond his physical existence and becomes a part of cosmos. And there one cannot find division of wealth, age, caste or creed. Thus prayer helps us to overcome the narrowness of mind and control our negative emotions like anger and hatred.
2. What religious attitude we get from “Strong Roots”. Or. Describe the communal harmony in “Strong Roots”.
Ans:- Dr. Kalam has presented a fine picture of communal harmony in the autobiography “Wings of Fire “from where “Strong Roots “has been extracted. Dr. Kalam was born in a middle class Muslim Tamil family of Rameswaram. His father was a religious person. Naturally Kalam was brought up in a religious atmosphere. There was a famous Shiva temple. Their locality was predominantly Muslim but there lived many Hindu families too. They lived friendly and cordially. There was an old mosque where Kalam’s father would go every evening to pray. Kalam was unable to understand the meaning of Arabic prayer yet he was convinced that they reached God. Pakshmi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple was close friend of his father though they were from different religions. People of different community also depend on his father for their goodness.
3. What was Kalam’s father’s attitude to adversity? How did this influence him?
Ans:- Dr. Kalam told his son about the relevance of adversity in the autobiographical extract “Strong Roots”. According to Kalam’s father, every human being is specific element within the whole of the manifest divine being. One should not be afraid of sufferings, difficulties and problems. Rather we should try to understand the relevance of our sufferings and problems. These have certain usefulness. Only a difficult situation can test our endurance and own mistakes. It also makes us fit for all difficult situations. Thus adversity always presents opportunities for introspections.
Kalam followed his father’s words in his world of science and technology. He was convinced that there exists a divine power in every human being. One should take adversity as a blessing to strengthen the inner spirit or divine power. This power helps to get rid of misery, melancholy and failure. He even realised that it could guide a person to his true place.
4. “Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you” – Who said this to whom? What is meant by the word ‘this’? Why did people come to the person? What did he answer?
Ans:- “Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you”, in the autobiography “strong Roots”, Dr. Kalam asked this to his father Jainulabdeen.
‘This’ means the spiritual concept of Kalam’s father about man’s existence on the earth.
People would come to Kalam’s father for help and advice in their trouble.
His father answered very intelligently. Whenever human beings find themselves alone, they look for a company to help them. Every anguish and desire has special helper. Kalam’s father just works as a media to please the demonic forces with prayer and offerings. According to his father, it is not a correct method to overcome any trouble. He says one must understand the difference between a fear ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfilment within ourselves.
5. What had remained the routine for Abdul Kalam’s father even when he was in his late sixties? What does Kalam say about his emulation of his father?
Ans:– In the autobiography “Strong Roots”, we see that Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen would start his day at 4 am by reading the namaz. Then he used to walk to their small coconut grove about 4 miles away from their house. He would return with about a dozen coconuts over his shoulder. Only then he would have his breakfast. This remained his routine even when he was in his late sixties.
Throughout his life Kalam tried to emulate his father in his own world of science and technology. His father revealed to him that there exists a divine power in every human being. This power can lift one from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure and guide one to one’s goal. Once an individual could sever his emotional and physical bond, he could achieve freedom, happiness and mental peace.
6. Describe in your own words what Kalam recollects about his ancestral house and family at the beginning of the autobiography Strong Roots.
Ans-In the autobiography ‘Strong Roots’ of A. P. J. Kalam, we get a clear picture about Kalam’s ancestral home and family. Kalam was born in a middle class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram. His father Jainulabdeen had not much formal education and wealth but had great innate wisdom and true generosity of spirit. His father was very kind. One of his mother’s forebears was given the title of ‘Bahadur’ by the British. He was short and undistinguished and one of many children of his parents. His ancestral house was built in the 19th century. It was a fairly large pucca house made of limestone and brick on the mosque street in Rameswaram. He had a much secured childhood with food, medicine, clothing, etc.
7. “Father always smiled and asked them to thank Allah”- who were they referred to here? Why did they offer thanks? Which quality of his father is referred here?
Ans- “Father always smiled and asked them to thank Allah”- this line has been taken from the autobiography ‘Strong Roots’ written by Abdul Kalam. Here ‘they’ were referred to people of different religions. They would come to Kalam’s father and wait for him outside the mosque.
Coming out from the mosque, his father would dip his fingertips in the bowl of water of the waiting people. Then he would say a prayer. This water was carried home of them. After being cured many of them offered thanks.
Klaam’s father was really a helpful person. He would get a great pleasure to help others. He had a great respect and humbleness for the almighty Allah. According to him only Allah can change our life. So he always smiled and asked people to thank Allah.
8. Describe the locality where kalam lived. Or describe Kalam’s neighbourhood.
Ans:- Kalam lived in the island town of Rameswaram. It was then a part of Madras state under the British rule. His ancestral house was on the mosque street. His locality was predominantly Muslim but many Hindu families also lived there. Rameswaram was famous for its Shiva temple. The Hindus and Muslims lived there in harmony. Even the high priest of Shiva temple Pakshmi Lakshman Sastry was close friend of Kalam’s father. At last we can say that Kalam lived in a secular and integrated locality in peace.
9. “Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you” – Who said this to whom? What is meant by the word ‘this’? Why did people come to the person? What did he answer?
Ans:– “Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you”, in the autobiography “strong Roots”, Dr. Kalam asked this to his father Jainulabdeen.
‘This’ means the spiritual concept of Kalam’s father about man’s existence on the earth – every human being must not be afraid of problems, sorrows and sufferings rather face problems as opportunities for introspection.
People would come to Kalam’s father for help and advice in their trouble.
His father answered very intelligently. Whenever human beings find themselves alone in troubles and sufferings, they look for a company to help them. Common people have a faith in spiritual power. They believe Kalam’s father will drive away demonic forces with prayer and offerings. According to his father, it is not a correct method to overcome any trouble. He says one must understand the difference between a fear ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfilment within ourselves.
10. “This is not a correct approach at all and should never be followed”- who makes the above remark and in what context? Which approach is referred to here? How will it be made right?
Ans- In the autobiography Strong Roots written by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen makes the remark. When Kalam asks his father to tell people about the right approach to solve problem, his father makes the above remark.
When people find themselves in trouble they find a helper. They have a faith in spiritual power. They try to propitiate demonic forces with prayers and offerings. And Kalam’s father works here as a media. This approach is referred to here.
About the correct approach Kalam’s father says that one must understand the difference between a fear ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfilment within ourselves.
“The roots of education are bitter but the fruit is sweet”
Excellent sir. It really helps to grow up our skills