My Childhood
My Childhood is an extract from the autobiography of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, recalling his early years and the values of unity and learning he grew up with. The page gives a clear summary, the theme and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of Kalam's childhood.
- Understand the theme of communal harmony.
- Explain how social barriers were challenged.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
In this extract from his autobiography, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam recalls his childhood in the town of Rameswaram. He describes his loving, close-knit family and his honest, generous father. He grew up among friends of different religions, and his account shows the harmony in which Hindus and Muslims lived. He also recalls two contrasting incidents: a new teacher who made him sit at the back of the class because he was a Muslim, and his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, who deliberately challenged such prejudice by inviting Kalam, against social custom, to dine at his home. Kalam also worked hard as a boy, helping to earn money, and from early on he was eager to study and improve himself.
Theme
The central theme is communal harmony, the importance of breaking social barriers, and the value of education and good mentors. The lesson shows how people of different religions can live together in friendship, how prejudice can and should be challenged, and how hard work and the right teachers help shape a person's future.
Key people and incidents
Kalam's father, Jainulabdeen, taught him honesty and kindness by example. His friend Ramanadha Sastry and others belonged to different communities, showing everyday harmony. The episode of the prejudiced new teacher is contrasted with the noble act of Sivasubramania Iyer, who broke social barriers to treat Kalam as an equal, leaving a deep impression on the boy.
About the author
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a distinguished Indian scientist who later became the President of India. This extract from his autobiography 'Wings of Fire' offers a glimpse of the humble, value-rich childhood that shaped one of India's most respected and inspiring figures.
Key definitions
- Autobiography
- The story of a person's life written by themselves.
- Communal harmony
- Peaceful, friendly relations between people of different religions.
- Prejudice
- An unfair opinion about someone, e.g. based on religion.
- Mentor
- A wise, trusted teacher or guide, like Sivasubramania Iyer.
Solved examples
Q1. Where did Kalam spend his childhood?
Solution: In the town of Rameswaram.
Q2. How did the new teacher show prejudice?
Solution: By making Kalam sit at the back of the class because he was a Muslim.
Q3. How did Sivasubramania Iyer challenge prejudice?
Solution: By inviting Kalam, against social custom, to dine at his home.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the lesson is fiction (it is from Kalam's autobiography).
- Forgetting the contrast between the prejudiced teacher and Sivasubramania Iyer.
- Confusing the names of Kalam's father and teachers.
- Missing the theme of communal harmony and breaking barriers.
My Childhood — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
My Childhood is an extract from the autobiography of:
Practice questions
Short answer
Whose autobiography is this extract from?
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's autobiography.
How did the new teacher show prejudice?
By making Kalam sit at the back because he was a Muslim.
How did Sivasubramania Iyer break barriers?
By inviting Kalam, against custom, to dine at his home.
Long answer
How does 'My Childhood' show the importance of communal harmony and breaking social barriers?
The lesson shows the importance of communal harmony through Kalam's account of his early life in Rameswaram, where people of different religions lived together in friendship. Kalam, a Muslim boy, had close friends from other communities, such as Ramanadha Sastry, and grew up surrounded by mutual respect. The theme of breaking social barriers is brought out sharply through two contrasting incidents. In one, a new teacher, full of prejudice, made Kalam sit at the back of the class simply because he was a Muslim — an act of injustice. In the other, his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, deliberately challenged such narrow attitudes by inviting Kalam to dine at his home, against the social customs of the time, and treating him as an equal. This noble act left a deep impression on the young Kalam. Together, these experiences show that prejudice should be rejected and that people must rise above barriers of religion and caste.
What values did A.P.J. Abdul Kalam learn in his childhood?
Kalam's childhood instilled in him several lasting values. From his father, Jainulabdeen, he learned honesty, kindness and simplicity, not through lectures but through his father's own example of an upright and generous life. From growing up among friends and neighbours of different religions, he learned the value of communal harmony and respect for all people. The episode with Sivasubramania Iyer taught him the importance of courageously breaking unjust social barriers and treating everyone as equal. He also learned the dignity of hard work, helping to earn money as a boy, and developed a strong love of learning and a desire to improve himself through education. These values — honesty, harmony, equality, hard work and the pursuit of knowledge — shaped his character and helped him grow into one of India's most respected scientists and, later, its President.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why was Sivasubramania Iyer's action especially courageous?
Because he openly went against the social customs of his time to treat a Muslim boy as an equal, risking criticism in order to oppose prejudice.
How can friendships across religions, as in Kalam's childhood, strengthen society?
They build mutual respect and understanding, breaking down prejudice and helping people of different communities live together in peace and harmony.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Extract from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's autobiography; childhood in Rameswaram.
- Honest father (Jainulabdeen); friends across religions (e.g. Ramanadha Sastry).
- Prejudiced new teacher vs noble Sivasubramania Iyer (invited Kalam to dine, breaking custom).
- Hard work and love of learning; theme = communal harmony, breaking barriers, education.
Key takeaways
- People of different faiths can live in harmony.
- Unjust social barriers should be challenged.
- Good mentors and hard work shape a life.
Frequently asked questions
Whose childhood does the lesson describe?
That of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Where did Kalam grow up?
In Rameswaram.
What is the theme?
Communal harmony, breaking social barriers, and the value of education and mentors.