How I Taught My Grandmother To Read ... Sudha Murthy

Questions-Answers:

1.    What made Triveni a popular writer?

Triveni was a Kannada writer who used to write stories dealing with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people in a very simple, easy to read and convincing style. This made Triveni a popular writer.

2.    Why did the grandmother depend upon her granddaughter to know the story?

Grandmother did not go to school because of her mother death in her childhood and her early age marriage. She liked the story of Triveni’s struggle to go to Kashi Yatra as she could relate herself with Triveni. Her granddaughter could read. So, she depended upon her granddaughter to know the story.

3.    Pick out two sentences which state that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened in the story.

Following are the sentences which state that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened in the story:

-      During that time, she would forget all her work and listen with greatest concentration.

-      My grandmother too never went to Kashi, and she identified herself with the novel’s protagonist.

4.    Did the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?

The grandmother succeeded in accomplishing her desire to read. She requested her granddaughter to teach her how to read. She also decided her dead line to complete the task. She grasped things very quickly and did all the assigned homework on time. She would read, repeat, write and recite whatever she was taught. This is how she succeeded in accomplishing her desire to read.

5.    Which of the following traits would be relevant to the character of the narrator’s grandmother? Why?

a)    Determined

b)    Selfish

c)    Emotional

d)    Mean

The grandmother is a determined person. I feel so because she not only showed her curiosity to learn reading but also decided the dead line for her own. She, in order to learn reading, grasped things very quickly, and did all the assigned work on time.

Extra Questions

1.    Write the character sketch of the grandmother from the story ‘How I taught My Grandmother To Read’.

Answer:

Sudha Murthy’s ‘How I Taught My Grandmother To Read’ is the story of transformation of her grandmother who depends upon the granddaughter for reading her favourite novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ to becoming an independent reader.

Krishatkka is the grandmother who could not get education because of the death of her mother in her young age. Also, educating a girl was not considered essential. She accepted the fate and continued to be happy with the family. She adjusted herself with the circumstances. She likes kids and her family.

Grandmother is a religious person. She goes to temple and shares the religious story ‘Kashi Yatre’ with her friends. She is also interested to go on a pilgrimage at Kashi. She is a very determined person. She decides to be an independent reader and also decides the deadlines for her task. She is not money minded because she is not more concerned about money but about being independent. She is very emotional. When she could not find anyone to read Kashi Yatre, she cries a lot. She also cries when she talks with the writer about her inability to read the novel. Kshitakka is a good student as she can grasp the things very quickly. She also respect her teacher (her granddaughter) by touching her feet.

2.    Make a list of qualities of the two characters of this story.

Sudha Murthy (the narrator):

-      Caring

-      Understanding

-      Respect

Grandmother:

-      Determined

-      Adjusting with the situation

-      Respect

-      Practical

-      Religious and cultured

-       Emotional

3.    Why did the grandmother think of learning to read and write at the age of sixty-two?

Grandmother realised the importance of education in her granddaughter’s absence. She had been unable to read the latest episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’. She felt helpless at her inability to read. She had depended on her granddaughter but then she decided to learn the alphabet and become self-reliant.

4.    Why was ‘Kashi Yatre’ grandmother’s favourite novel ? Give two reasons to support your answer.

‘Kashi Yatre’ was grandmother’s favourite novel as she identified herself with the novel’s protagonist, who never went to school and her ardent desire was to go to Kashi which was believed to be the ultimate punya.

5.    What is described in the novel, ‘Kashi Yatre’ ?

‘Kashi Yatre’ was the story of an old woman who wished to visit Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara. She was a devout woman who wished to perform the ultimate act of Punya. But, she chooses to help an orphan girl with her savings and believes it is more important than going to Kashi.

6.    What were the obstacles the grandmother faced when she was a young girl?

The grandmother lost her mother when she was very young. She had nobody to look after her and guide her. She never went to school and got married at a very young age. Then, she had children and became busy.

7.    Grandmother gave a gift to her granddaughter. What was that and why did she give it?

Grandmother gave a frock material to the granddaughter. It was a mark of affection, love and respect. Her granddaughter had taken on the role of a teacher and had patiently taught her to read. Grandmother wanted to show her gratitude and also wanted to please the little girl who was now her teacher.

8.    How does Krishtakka justify the touching of her granddaughter’s feet ?

Krishtaka justifies the touching of her granddaughter’s feet as a gesture to show respect and gratitude to the latter, who though her granddaughter, was her teacher in the first place. To validate her action, she even makes a mention of the scriptures where it is written that a teacher should be respected irrespective of the gender and age.

Value based Questions

1.    The common belief is that God wishes us to serve him through his people, mankind. Do you agree with this faith? Justify you answer in context with the novel Kashi Yatra.

2.    The best way to thank an illiterate person is to make him/her literate. Give your views on this opinion and justify them with reference to How I Taught My Grandmother to Read.

2.

Grammar:

Writing Skills:

You are the narrator in the story ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’. Write a letter to your friend telling him why you have decided to become a teacher. Write the letter in about 150 words.

12-Lotus Appts.

Korapur Village

Karnataka

25^th June, 2014

Dear Rudra,

Today, I am going to share my first teaching experience. I know you must be shocked to hear this, a 10 year old child-a teacher! But yes, it’s true. And, imagine who’s my first student–my own grandmother. When she asked me to teach her Kannada language alphabet, I thought she was joking. I laughed at her, made fun of her. But, she just smiled. I told her that she was old, her hair were grey, her hands wrinkled and that she worked so much in the kitchen. She said that for a good cause, if one is determined, one can overcome any obstacle. She also convinced me that for learning there is no age bar.

There was something in her words that compelled me to teach her. I started my tuitions. She was a wonderful student. Her seriousness, tenacity and determination was amazing. The amount of home-work she did, was outstanding. I was overwhelmed by her response.

She took me truly as her teacher. She even touched my feet not as a granddaughter but as a teacher. She was my only student and I was her only teacher. Beside teachings her, I also had a new learning experience of my life.

Rest I shall write in my next letter.

Bye.

Regards,

Sudha Murthy

Imagine, the neighbour of the grandmother is watching the teaching and learning experience between Avva and the granddaughter. She is very much astonished and she writes a page in her diary about her experience of watching how learning at such an old age can be exciting. Prepare the diary entry.

Today, I am amazed to see the grit and determination of an old lady of age 62, who learned the words and letters of the language at this age. In my neighbourhood, there lives a girl of age 12 with her grandparents. The grandmother was fond of listening episodes of the famous novel, ‘Kashi Yatre’. Her granddaughter used to read it for her. But one day, when the granddaughter was out for a day, Avva (the grandmother) felt helpless on her inability to read the novel. That very day, she determined herself to learn the language and become independent. She asked her granddaughter to be her teacher. I also admire that the little girl who gave tuitions to her Avva at such a small age. Avva’s sincerity and diligence proved to be fruitful. She learnt at this age. This gave a lesson to all the neighbours that age is no bar for learning. Now, Avva is independent and can read the entire novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ of her own. I really envy Avva’s love for learning at this age. It is really exciting to watch Avva’s learning at such an old age. I wish all of us had this spirit of learning and also such a wonderful granddaughter like Sudha.

‘I want to be independent’. What does it tell you about the theme of ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ ?

It is very difficult to cope up with the present world and its challenges without the tool of education. Only educated people are independent. One can realize one’s true self only with education. The best example is the grandmother-who may be late at the age of 62 but understood the importance of education. She used to listen the story of the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ from her granddaughter. She liked the story very much as she used to identify herself with the protagonist as both of them were old and illiterate and had a desire to go to Kashi pilgrim. But, the incident of her inability to read the novel in the absence of her granddaughter made her realize her mental hadicap. She cried and felt sorrow at her helplessness. She determined herself to get education and to become independent by becoming literate. She took her granddaughter’s help and with her dedication and hardwork, achieved her goal. She set a deadline and attained it. The granddaughter gifted her favourite novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ which she read of her own. After reading it, she felt independent. She also proved that for learning, age is no bar. One can learn to read and write at any age, at any time.