How I Taught My Grandmother To Read — Summary & Question Answers (Sudha Murty)

How I Taught My Grandmother To Read — Question Answers & Solutions

Author: Sudha Murty | Class: CBSE Class 9 English

Table of Contents

• Textbook Questions & Answers
• Extra Questions & Character Sketches
• Value-Based Questions
• Writing Skills: Letter & Diary Entry
• Theme Analysis: “I Want to Be Independent”

Textbook Questions & Answers

Q1. What made Triveni a popular writer?
Ans: Triveni was a popular Kannada writer who wrote stories dealing with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people. Her simple, easy-to-read, and convincing style made her widely loved by readers.

Q2. Why did the grandmother depend upon her granddaughter to know the story?
Ans: The grandmother never went to school due to her mother's early death and her own marriage at a very young age. Because she was illiterate and could not read the weekly magazine herself, she depended entirely on her granddaughter to read the latest episodes of Kashi Yatre aloud.

Q3. Pick out two sentences which state that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened in the story.
Ans: The following sentences reflect the grandmother's deep involvement and eagerness:

• “During that time, she would forget all her work and listen with the greatest concentration.”
• “My grandmother too never went to Kashi, and she identified herself with the novel’s protagonist.”

Q4. Did the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?
Ans: Yes, the grandmother succeeded in accomplishing her desire to read. She requested her granddaughter to teach her the Kannada alphabet and set a strict deadline (Saraswati Puja/Dussehra) for herself. She grasped lessons quickly, completed all assigned homework on time, and constantly practiced reading, writing, and reciting until she became fluent.

Q5. Which of the following traits would be relevant to the character of the narrator’s grandmother? (Determined / Selfish / Emotional / Mean)
Ans: The grandmother is a determined and emotional person. She displayed immense determination by setting a firm deadline to become literate at the age of sixty-two, overcoming her fear of failure through relentless hard work. She is also emotional, as shown by her tears of helplessness and her deep reverence for her teacher.

Extra Questions & Character Sketches

Q1. Write the character sketch of the grandmother (Krishtakka).
Ans: Krishtakka is an affectionate, sincere, and religious woman who was deprived of education in childhood due to the early demise of her mother and early marriage. Despite living a contented family life, her inability to read the novel Kashi Yatre in her granddaughter's absence made her realize her dependence. She exhibits exceptional grit, dedication, and humility by choosing to learn the alphabet at sixty-two and honoring her young granddaughter as her guru by touching her feet.

Q2. List the key character traits of the narrator and grandmother:

Sudha Murty (Narrator):

• Caring and empathetic granddaughter
• Patient, disciplined teacher
• Respectful of elders and traditions

Krishtakka (Grandmother):

• Determined, diligent, and hardworking
• Humble with deep respect for learning
• Devout, emotional, and self-reliant

Q3. Why did the grandmother decide to learn reading and writing at the age of 62?
Ans: While the narrator was away attending a wedding, the magazine containing the novel arrived, but Krishtakka could not read it. Experiencing utter helplessness and realizing her dependence on others, she resolved to learn the alphabet and become completely self-reliant.

Q4. What is described in the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’?
Ans: Kashi Yatre tells the story of a devout elderly woman who dreams of traveling to Kashi to worship Lord Vishweshwara. However, in the end, she chooses to spend all her pilgrimage savings to support a young orphan girl’s marriage, realizing that helping a fellow human being is the highest form of worship and spiritual merit (punya).

Q5. How does Krishtakka justify touching her granddaughter’s feet?
Ans: Krishtakka explains that she touched her feet not as an elder to a granddaughter, but as a devoted student to a teacher. She quotes scriptures stating that a guru must always be revered regardless of age or gender.

Value-Based Questions

Q1. “Service to humanity is service to God.” Justify this in the context of the novel Kashi Yatre.
Ans: In Kashi Yatre, the protagonist sacrifices her lifelong dream of visiting the holy city of Kashi to provide financial security for a poor orphan girl. The novel emphasizes that true religious virtue does not lie merely in rituals or pilgrimages, but in selfless compassion and helping those in genuine need.

Q2. “The best way to help an illiterate person is to empower them with literacy.” Discuss.
Ans: Literacy brings self-worth, dignity, and true independence. By teaching her grandmother to read, the young narrator didn't just solve an immediate problem—she removed a barrier of helplessness, proving that educating someone empowers them for a lifetime.

Writing Skills Practice

1. Informal Letter: Narrator sharing her experience of teaching her grandmother

12, Lotus Apartments
Korapur Village, Karnataka

25th June, 2014

Dear Rudra,

I am writing to share an extraordinary experience that recently unfolded in my life. I have become a teacher at the age of twelve—and my first student is my own grandmother!

When she first asked me to teach her the Kannada alphabet, I giggled and teased her about her grey hair and wrinkled hands. But her sincere determination silenced my jokes. She told me that genuine willpower knows no age bar.

Teaching her has been inspiring. Her discipline, regular revision, and immense dedication are unbelievable. On Dussehra, when she successfully read the novel independently, she touched my feet to honor me as her teacher. It has been one of the most rewarding moments of my life.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm regards,
Sudha Murty

2. Diary Entry: A neighbor's perspective on Avva’s literacy journey

Thursday, 12th October

Today I witnessed something truly remarkable in our neighborhood. Our 62-year-old neighbor, Avva, has successfully learned how to read and write fluent Kannada!

Watching a young 12-year-old girl patiently teach her grandmother, and seeing Avva practice her letters with childlike sincerity after finishing household chores, has been deeply inspiring. It is a powerful reminder that curiosity and learning have no age limits. I truly admire Avva's grit and Sudha's patience.

Theme Analysis: “I Want to Be Independent”

Education is the bedrock of self-reliance and dignity. Without literacy, individuals remain dependent on others even for simple daily tasks. Krishtakka’s distress upon being unable to read Kashi Yatre highlighted her intellectual handicap. Rather than resigning herself to helplessness, her desire for independence motivated her to master reading at sixty-two. Her journey proves that determination can overcome any social or age barrier.

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