Table of Contents
Strong Roots Question Answer
2015
Q. “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
i) APJ Abdul Kalam says this to his father, Jainulabdeen.
ii) The word “this” refers to the spiritual and philosophical advice Kalam’s father had just shared about understanding the relevance of suffering and adversity.
iii) People come to Jainulabdeen, Kalam’s father, seeking help and advice in times of distress. They look to him for prayers and guidance to alleviate their troubles, viewing him as an intermediary who can connect them with divine assistance.
2016
Q. What had remained the routine for Abdul Kalam’s father even when he was in his late sixties? What does Abdul Kalam say about his emulation of his father? 3+3
i) Abdul Kalam’s father continued his routine of starting his day at 4 am with the namaz, walking to their coconut grove four miles away to collect coconuts, and only then having breakfast. This routine persisted even in his late sixties.
ii) Abdul Kalam says he has tried to emulate his father in his own field of science and technology. He strives to understand and apply the fundamental truths his father taught him, believing in a divine power that guides one from confusion and failure to true purpose and peace.
2017
Q. “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 this description? 1 +3 +2
i) The speaker is APJ Abdul Kalam.
ii) Kalam describes his locality as predominantly Muslim but also home to many Hindu families. Despite religious differences, the community lived together harmoniously. He highlights the peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between the two communities, as well as the spiritual bond shared by his father and the Hindu high priest.
iii) The description portrays a picture of communal harmony, where Muslims and Hindus lived amicably, respected each other’s beliefs, and shared a sense of unity despite their religious differences.
2018
Q. “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
i) APJ Abdul Kalam ate with his mother.
ii) His mother’s name was Ashiamma.
iii) He ate with his mother on the floor of the kitchen.
iv) He ate rice with aromatic sambar, a variety of sharp homemade pickle, and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney, all served on a banana leaf.
2019
Q. “His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm.”- Who is the speaker? Whose answer is referred to here? What was the answer? 1+1+4
i) The speaker is APJ Abdul Kalam.
ii) The answer referred to is that of Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen.
iii) Jainulabdeen explained that when people are in distress, they seek help from others, often attributing their aid to demonic forces. He emphasized that one should understand the difference between a fear-ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to find the enemy of fulfillment within ourselves, guiding one to overcome difficulties by introspection.
2020
“People of different religions would be sitting outside waiting for him.”- Who is referred to as ‘him’? Where did the people wait? Why did they wait there? What would happen thereafter? 1+1+2+2
i) ‘Him’ refers to APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen.
ii) The people waited outside the mosque where Jainulabdeen performed his evening prayers.
iii) They waited there to seek blessings and prayers from Jainulabdeen, believing in his spiritual guidance and ability to help them with their troubles.
iv) After prayers, Jainulabdeen would dip his fingertips in bowls of water offered by the people and say a prayer. The water was then taken home by the people to use for curing illnesses or seeking blessings.
2021
No exam due to Covid-19
2022
Q. “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?
i) APJ Abdul Kalam ate with his mother.
ii) His mother’s name was Ashiamma.
iii) He ate with his mother on the floor of the kitchen.
iv) He ate rice with aromatic sambar, homemade pickle, and fresh coconut chutney served on a banana leaf.
2023
[MCQ] After reading the namaz before dawn, Abdul Kalam’s father used to (a) people meet people of different religions (b) go to the mosque (c) meet Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry (d) go to the coconut grove.
Ans: (d) go to the coconut grove.
[SA1] What were the necessary things Kalam’s father provided to his family?
Ans: The necessary things Kalam’s father provided to his family included food, medicine, and clothing.
[SA2] In which language were the prayers chanted in the mosque ?
Ans: The prayers chanted in the mosque were in Arabic.
[LSA] “One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two men …” Whose childhood memories are referred to ? Who were the two men ? What was their topic of discussion? What answer did the narrator get regarding his answer on prayer? 1+2+1+2
i) The childhood memories are those of APJ Abdul Kalam.
ii) The two men were the high priest of Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, and Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen.
iii) They were discussing spiritual matters.
iv) The narrator was told that prayer facilitates a communion of the spirit between people, transcending physical boundaries and divisions, connecting individuals with the cosmos.
2024
[MCQ] Kalam’s ancestral house was made of (a) limestone and brick (b) cement and brick (c) mud and brick (d) bamboo and tin shed
Ans: (a) limestone and brick
[SA1] What were the names of Kalam’s parents?
Ans: The names of Kalam’s parents were Jainulabdeen (father) and Ashiamma (mother).
[SA2] What did Kalam’s father avoid in his daily life?
Ans: Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, avoided all inessential comforts and luxuries in his daily life.
[LSA] “There was a very old mosque in our locality where my father would take me for evening prayers.” Who waited for Kalam’s father outside the mosque? Why did they wait there? Why did some of them thank Kalam’s father ? What would Kalam’s father then say to them? 1+2+1+2
i) People of different religions waited for Kalam’s father outside the mosque.
ii) They waited there to seek blessings and prayers from Kalam’s father, believing in his spiritual guidance and ability to help them with their troubles.
iii) Some of them thanked Kalam’s father after being cured of illnesses.
iv) Kalam’s father would then ask them to thank Allah, the merciful, attributing the cures to divine intervention.
