How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

Chapter 1

 

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read 

Word Meaning

 

 

Themes:

The central theme of the story is the importance of education and the idea that learning has no age limit. Another important theme is self-reliance and independence. The grandmother decided to become literate and independent.

The story also illustrates the deep bond of love, respect, and mutual learning between generations. The story also conveys a strong message about women empowerment and breaking social barriers.

 

Character Sketch of the Grandmother:

The grandmother is a loving and affectionate person who shares a close bond with her granddaughter. She is humble and eager to learn, as she accepts her granddaughter as her teacher despite her old age. She is also determined and hardworking, practicing regularly to achieve her goal. Her desire to become literate shows her self-respect and wish for independence. Overall, she is an inspiring example of lifelong learning.

 

Additional Questions:

Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

a)    Why did the grandmother feel helpless during the narrator’s absence? What decision did she take afterward?

b)    How did the grandmother show her determination to learn reading and writing?

c)    Describe the relationship between the grandmother and the narrator.

d)    Why did the grandmother touch the feet of the narrator? What does this reveal about her character?

e)    What role did the novel Kashi Yatre play in the grandmother’s life?

Extract-Based Questions

Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

“I felt so very dependent and helpless. I knew I could not read and write. I was determined that I would learn to read and write before Dasara.”

a)    Who is the speaker in the above lines?

b)    Why did the speaker feel helpless?

c)    What resolution did the speaker make?

d)    What does this decision reveal about the speaker’s character?

e)    Name the festival mentioned in the extract.

f)      

Check Your Understanding

 

No.	Statement	True / False
1.	The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence.	True
2.	The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away.	False
3.	The narrator was the grandmother’s first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada.	True
4.	The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning.	True
5.	The grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher.	True
6.	The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read.	False

Answer the following Questions.

 

Answers to 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. The grandmother felt embarrassed because she was old and still could not read or write. She did not want to depend on others for something as simple as reading a story. Her helplessness made her realize the importance of education and self-reliance. She wanted to be independent and not feel ashamed of her illiteracy.

 

2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?

Ans. The narrator laughed because she thought learning at the age of sixty-two would be very difficult and unusual. She believed old people generally do not start studying at that age. However, she later understood her grandmother’s strong determination and respected her decision.

 

3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?

Ans. Kashi Yatre was very important to the grandmother because she eagerly listened to it every week and became emotionally attached to the characters. When she could not read it during the narrator’s absence, she felt helpless. This inspired her to learn reading and writing. Thus, the novel became the reason for her transformation.

 

4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?

Ans. It reflects her determination, self-respect, and desire for independence. She wanted to overcome her weakness and not depend on others. Her willingness to learn at an old age also shows that she valued education deeply and believed learning has no age limit.

 

5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?

Ans. This action teaches respect for knowledge and for the teacher, regardless of age. Though the narrator was much younger, the grandmother honored her as her guru. It shows humility and the belief that education is greater than age or status.

 

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 determination and lifelong learning. The grandmother proved that age, social barriers, and lack of formal education cannot stop a person who is truly determined. Her success shows that strong willpower helps in overcoming difficulties and achieving goals.

 

7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?

Ans. The story highlights this very effectively through the grandmother’s experience. She felt dependent and helpless because she could not read on her own. Her decision to become literate gave her confidence and freedom. It shows that education is not only about knowledge but also about dignity, self-respect, and independence.

 

Vocabulary and Structures in Context

 

I The expression ‘hide and seek’ is used in the text.  This is called a binomial.

Binomials are expressions consisting of two words, usually linked by a conjunction like ‘and’ or ‘or’, that are commonly used together in a fixed order. For example: odds and ends, right or wrong.

Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary

1. Sink or swim — (vii) succeed or fail without help

2. On and off — (v) sometimes, occasionally

3. Mix and match — (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities

4. All or nothing — (viii) something to be done completely or not at all

5. Part and parcel — (ii) complete part of or belong to

6. Pick and choose — (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.)

7. Sooner or later — (iv) at sometime in the future

8. Leaps and bounds — (vi) increase or develop very quickly

 

IV In the sentence, “I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours”, the phrase “passed with flying colours” is an idiom. It means outstanding performance Now, match the idioms related to ‘learning’ given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

 

1. To hit the books — (iii) to study seriously

2. To draw a blank — (v) to be unable to remember

3. To learn the ropes — (vi) to understand how to do an activity

4. To rack one’s brain — (ii) to think very hard

5. To learn by heart — (i) to memorise something

6. Burn the midnight oil — (iv) to study or work late into the night

 

a. When the delegates arrived (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker had already begun (already begin) the session.

b. After the students had learned (learn) how to identify fake news online, they started (start) verifying information before sharing it.

c. Before Kiran started (start) using digital payment platforms, she had ensured (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.

d. By the time Varun recognised (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he had exhausted (exhaust) most of his savings.

e. When Raghu logged in (log in) to the cyber security webinar, the instructor had already discussed (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.

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Part II: Financial Planning Passage

 Last year, my parents and I took (take) a financial planning course. When we  reviewed (review) our expenses, we realised we  had spent (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents  had discussed (discuss) ways to save, I  opened (open) a savings account. By the time we  set (set) our budget, the course  had already introduced (already introduce) investment strategies. We  hurried (hurry) to take notes, but many participants had completed (complete) their financial plans. Despite that, we  enjoyed (enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.

 Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?

 The grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her because of her deep sense of self-respect and dignity. As an older, well-off, and respected woman in the village, she did not want to reveal her illiteracy to others, as it made her feel vulnerable and helpless. 

 

Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?

The narrator initially laughs because she views her grandmother’s goal through the lens of stereotypes regarding age. To the young narrator, the idea of a sixty-two-year-old starting school-level work seems impractical and even comical.

What signifi cance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?