📌 Summary
The story shows the emotional bond between a girl and her grandmother. The grandmother was illiterate and depended on her granddaughter to read stories. When the girl went away, she felt helpless and decided to learn reading at age 62. With hard work and determination, she became independent and even respected her granddaughter as a teacher.
📌 Message
• There is no age limit for learning
• Education gives independence
• Hard work and determination lead to success
📌 Word Meanings
Protagonist – Main character
Episode – Part of a story
Determination – Strong will
Obstacle – Difficulty
Embarrassed – Feeling shy
Affectionate – Loving
📌 Reflect & Respond
Q1. Why is literacy important?
• To gain knowledge
• To become independent
• To communicate effectively
• To get better opportunities
Q2. Which language do your grandparents speak?
They speak Gujarati and Hindi.
Q3. How do they spend their time?
They pray, read books, and watch TV.
Q4. What do they enjoy watching you do?
They enjoy watching me use mobile phones.
📌 Check Your Understanding
Cause & Effect (Key Points)
• Grandmother was illiterate → Could not read
• Narrator went away → Grandmother felt helpless
• She regretted → Decided to learn
True / False
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
📌 Extract Based Questions
Why was narrator surprised?
Because she had never seen her grandmother cry.
What does grandmother’s determination show?
It shows strong will and belief in learning.
📌 Long Answer Questions
Why did grandmother want to learn?
She wanted to become independent and read stories on her own.
What lesson does the story teach?
The story teaches that learning has no age limit and education is important for independence.
📌 II. Answer the Following Questions
Q1. 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 illiterate and dependent on others. In her time, elders felt ashamed to admit that they could not read or write, so she did not want to ask anyone for help.
Q2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Ans. The narrator laughs because she thinks it is unusual for a 62-year-old woman to start learning. She believes it is too late to learn at that age.
Q3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?
Ans. The story of Kashi Yatre plays an important role as it inspires the grandmother. It makes her realize the importance of reading and becomes the main reason she decides to learn the Kannada alphabet.
Q4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Ans. It reflects her determination, self-respect, and desire to become independent. It also shows that she believes in lifelong learning.
Q5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
Ans. This action shows respect for the teacher and the value of education. It teaches us that knowledge is greater than age and we should respect anyone who teaches us.
Q6. 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 that determination and hard work can help us overcome any difficulty. It shows that nothing is impossible if we have strong willpower.
Q7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Ans. The story clearly shows that education brings independence and confidence. The grandmother becomes self-reliant after learning to read, which proves the importance of education in life.
📌 Vocabulary
sink or swim – succeed or fail
on and off – sometimes
mix and match – combine things
part and parcel – essential part
📌 Grammar (Tense)
Simple Past → She went to school
Past Perfect → She had learned reading
Example:
By the time she came, I had finished work.
📌 Writing Task
Write a letter to the editor about adult literacy.
Main Points:
• Importance of education
• Role of students
• Social awareness
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