NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6: My Childhood & No Men Are Foreign

Summary and Themes of 'My Childhood'

'My Childhood' is an extract from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's autobiography, 'Wings of Fire'. It provides a vivid glimpse into his early life in the island town of Rameswaram. Kalam describes his secure childhood, supported by his honest and wise father, Jainulabdeen, and his kind mother, Ashiamma. The chapter highlights the strong communal harmony in his town. Kalam recalls his close friendship with three orthodox Hindu boys, and how their families never felt any religious differences. A key incident involves a new teacher who tries to segregate Kalam based on his religion, but is firmly corrected by Kalam's friend's father, Lakshmana Sastry. Another powerful influence was his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, a progressive Brahmin who challenged social barriers by inviting Kalam to dine in his home. These events instilled in Kalam a belief in tolerance, perseverance, and the importance of breaking social barriers.

Analysis of the Poem 'No Men Are Foreign'

The poem 'No Men Are Foreign' by James Kirkup is a beautiful and simple plea for peace and universal brotherhood. The poet argues that beneath all superficial differences of country, language, or appearance, all human beings are the same. We all walk on the same Earth, share the same sun, air, and water. The poem points out that everyone has hands that work and eyes that wake and sleep. When we are told to hate others, we are actually turning against ourselves, betraying our shared humanity. The poet uses the metaphor of 'uniforms' to represent the different countries or groups that divide us, but underneath them, a single body breathes. The central message is that war is unnatural because it is a war against our own kind. By hating our 'brothers,' we defile the very Earth we all share. It's a timeless reminder to embrace unity over division.

How to Write a Character Sketch: Sivasubramania Iyer

1. Step 1: Introduce the Character — Start by identifying the character and their role in the story. For example, 'Sivasubramania Iyer was Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's science teacher and a pivotal figure in his childhood.'
2. Step 2: Identify Key Personality Traits — List adjectives that describe the character. Sivasubramania Iyer can be described as progressive, rebellious, caring, and influential. He was a man who wanted to break down social barriers.
3. Step 3: Provide Textual Evidence — Support each trait with specific examples from the chapter. To show he was progressive, mention how he invited Kalam, a Muslim boy, to his home for a meal, despite being an orthodox Brahmin. To show his rebellious and determined nature, mention how he served Kalam himself when his wife refused, and invited him again the next week.
4. Step 4: Explain the Character's Impact — Conclude by explaining the character's influence on the protagonist. 'Sivasubramania Iyer taught Kalam a crucial lesson: that if one is determined to change the system, one must confront prejudice and social norms. His actions strengthened Kalam's resolve to succeed in a world full of divisions.'

Exam Tips: Answering Thematic Questions

When asked about the themes of 'My Childhood' (like communal harmony) or 'No Men Are Foreign' (like universal brotherhood), don't just state the theme. Structure your answer in three parts:

1. State the Theme Clearly: Begin with a direct statement. For example, "The chapter 'My Childhood' strongly portrays the theme of communal harmony prevalent in Rameswaram."
2. Provide Multiple Examples: Support your statement with at least two different examples from the text. For 'My Childhood,' you could mention Kalam's friendship with Hindu boys and the incident where Lakshmana Sastry defended him. For 'No Men Are Foreign,' you could quote lines about sharing the same sun and air.
3. Conclude with the Significance: End your answer by explaining why this theme is important in the context of the story or poem. This shows a deeper understanding.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: How did Dr. Kalam's science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, influence him?
  A: Step 1: Identify the teacher's key actions. Sivasubramania Iyer was Kalam's science teacher. He was a progressive thinker who wanted to break social barriers between different religious and social groups.
  Step 2: Describe the significant incident. He invited Kalam to his home for a meal. When his wife refused to serve a Muslim boy in her 'ritually pure' kitchen, Iyer served Kalam with his own hands and ate beside him. He also invited Kalam again for the next weekend.
  Step 3: Explain the impact of these actions. This experience taught Kalam that problems and prejudices must be confronted if one wants to bring about change. Iyer's words, "Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted," became a lifelong lesson for Kalam, strengthening his resolve.
  Final answer: Sivasubramania Iyer influenced Kalam by teaching him science, but more importantly, by giving him a practical lesson in confronting social prejudice with determination and courage, which shaped his character.

• Q: What incidents from 'My Childhood' show that communal harmony existed in Rameswaram?
  A: Step 1: Recall Kalam's description of his locality. Kalam states that his locality was predominantly Muslim, but many Hindu families lived there amicably with their Muslim neighbours.
  Step 2: Mention his childhood friendships. Kalam's three close friends—Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan—were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. As children, they never felt any difference among themselves because of their religious backgrounds.
  Step 3: Describe the incident with the teacher. When a new teacher tried to make Kalam sit on the back bench, Ramanadha Sastry's father, Lakshmana Sastry, summoned the teacher and sternly told him not to spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. He forced the teacher to apologize.
  Final answer: The peaceful co-existence of Hindus and Muslims, Kalam's close friendships with Brahmin boys, and the firm stand taken by Lakshmana Sastry against religious discrimination are strong indicators of the communal harmony in Rameswaram during Kalam's childhood.

• Q: According to the poet of 'No Men Are Foreign', how are all people alike?
  A: Step 1: Identify the core argument of the poem. The poet argues that beneath outward appearances and 'uniforms' (representing different countries), all human beings are fundamentally the same.
  Step 2: List the commonalities mentioned in the poem. The poet points out that everyone has a similar body ('a single body breathes'). We all walk on the same Earth, and upon death, will lie in it. We all share the same sun, air, and water. We have hands that work and eyes that wake and sleep.
  Step 3: Explain the shared human experience. The poem emphasizes that everyone experiences joy and sorrow, and peace and the hardships of war affect us all equally ('peaceful harvests' and 'winter's starv'd').
  Final answer: In 'No Men Are Foreign', the poet shows that all people are alike because we share the same planet, the same natural resources, the same basic physical body, and the same fundamental human experiences of life, work, peace, and suffering.

• Q: What is the central idea of the poem 'No Men Are Foreign'?
  A: Step 1: State the main message directly. The central idea of the poem is the concept of universal brotherhood and the fundamental oneness of all humanity, irrespective of national, racial, or religious differences.
  Step 2: Explain how the poet develops this idea. The poet systematically breaks down the artificial barriers that divide people. He emphasizes that the 'foreign' people we are taught to hate are just like us—they live, breathe, work, and feel in the same way. The poet argues that there are no 'foreign' countries, only one single Earth that is home to all.
  Step 3: Describe the poem's warning. The poem warns that when we wage war against others, we are essentially harming ourselves. Hating our 'brothers' is a betrayal of humanity and leads to the defilement of our common home, the Earth.
  Final answer: The central idea of 'No Men Are Foreign' is to promote global unity by highlighting that all human beings are part of one large family. It is a powerful anti-war message that urges readers to reject hatred and division and embrace their shared humanity.

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