Unity in Diversity in India

TS 10th Class English 21st Lesson Questions and Answers Unity in Diversity in India

Question(A).
In the lesson, My Childhood, the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, you have read about the ill-treatment meted out to Kalam. Recall that episode and write a script for a short play based on it. You may include the following details. The new teacher asking Kalam to sit on the back bench. Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry feeling utterly downcast. Their complaining to their parents against the teacher. Lakshmana Sastry summoning the teacher. The teacher regretting his behaviour?

Answer: Title of the Play Script: My childhood - A Day I Got Separated from My Friend

Scene (Location/Setting) :
1. A School Classroom
2. A House (Ramanadha Sastrys parents house)
3. A House (Kalams parents house)
Characters : i) The New Teacher
4. Kalam
5. Ramanadha Sastry
6. Lakshmana Sastry
7. Kalams father
8. 20 to 30 pupils of 5th standard

(It is the fifth standard classroom, Rameswaram elementary school. The pupils are sitting in the,classroom. The new teacher enters the room.) Pupils : Good morning, sir Teacher : Good morning, students. I am, your new English teacher. Now introduce yourselves. (Kalam, Ramanadha Sastry and one or two pupils sit in the front row. They introduce themselves.) Teacher : Wait, wait. Your name is Kalam and you wear a cap. Are you a Muslim ? Kalam : Yes, sir. Teacher : 1f so, how can you sit beside a Brahmin ? Kalam : Why cant ¡ , sir ? He is my close friend. Teacher : No, no, you shouldnt sit here. Go and sit on the last bench. Ramanadha Sastry : But, why are you asking him to go there ? He always sits beside me. Please, sir, dont get us separated. Teacher : Kalam, you must go to the last row. Kalam : O.K. sir. (heavily) (Kalam sits in the last row. Both the friends are utterly downcast. They go to their homes in the evening.) (It is the house of Kalam. Enter Kalam.) Kalams lather : Why are you looking so sad, my son ? Kalam : Today, a new teacher came to our class. Kalams father : So, What ? Kalam : He separated me from my close friend Ramanadha Sastry. He made me sit in the last row. You know dad, I always sit beside Sastry only. Kalams father : But, why did he ask you to sit there in the last row ? Kalam : I think, its because of our religion. You know Sastry is a Hindu. The teacher couldnt see it and made us separated. I hate our new teacher. Kalams father : Dont be so sad. I shall come to your school tomorow and talk with your teacher. (It is the house of Ramanadha Sastry. Enters Ramanadha Sastry.) Lakshmana Sastry : Why are you looking dull, my son ? Ramanadha Sastry : A new teacher separated my close friend, Kalam from me. I dont like him at all. Lakshmana Sastry : But, Why ? Ramanadha Sastry : He could not stomach a Hindu priests son sitting with a Muslim boy, In accordance with our social ranking as the new teacher saw it, Kalam was asked to sit on the back bench. So Kalam shifted to his seat in the last row. You know dad, I always sit beside my friend, Kalam. Lakshmana Sastry : Dont worry, I shall come to your school to talk with him. Ramanadha Sastry : Thank you, dad. (The next day Lakshmana Sastry calls the new teacher.) Lakshmana Sastry : Good morning sir. Teacher : Good morning; what can I do for you sir ? Lakshmana Sastry : Are you the new teacher ? Teacher : Yes, sir. Lakshmana Sastry : I am Ramanadha Sastrys father. Why did you separate Kalam from my son ? They are good friends. Teacher : Kalam is a Muslim and you are a Brahmin. Lakshmana Sastry : You shouldnt spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children. Teacher : But, sir Lakshmana Sastry : You should either apologize or quit the school and this place. Teacher : I am very sorry. My apologies to you. I wont repeat it, sir. Lakshmana Sastry : Thats good

Question(B).
In the autobiography of the former President, Late Abdul Kalam, My Childhood, the new teacher asked about Abdul Kalam to sit in the last row instead of sitting in the front row next to Ramanadha Shastry. Both of them felt sad. Now, Write an imaginary conversation between the friends; Abdul Kalam and Ramanadha Shasry about the behavior of the new teacher. (June 2018)?

Answer: A conversation between Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry: Kalam : Today I am very sad at what our new teacher has done. Ramanadha Sastry : I an very upset too. I dont understand whats wrong with the teacher. Kalam : I dont understand the teachers attitude too. Till now no one had ever objected to our sitting together. Ramanadha Sastry : Yes. But why does this teacher object us? Kalam : I think our new teacher looked at me wearing a cap and you a sacred thread. It doesnt take him long to understand that I am Muslim and you are Hindu. Ramanadha Sastry : May be, he didnt like it and asked you to sit at the last bench. This made me sad and downcast. As a teacher he should not do such things. Kalam : Yes. This action of the new teacher amounted to spreading the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. This really broke my heart as such things had never been known earlier among us in the island, Ramanadha Sastry : But I dont want to accept this action of our new teacher as it amounts to breaking communal harmony of all castes, religions and faiths here. Kalam : I dont want to accept his action too as we have been living like a big family. Ramanadha Sastry : I am surely going to complain about this to my parents. Kalam : Yes. I will do the same too. Our parents always feel proud of living in complete harmony. Ramanadha Sastry : Let us hope we shall sit together by tomorrow with the help of our parents. Kalam : I wish the same too. OK, bye. Ramanadha Sastry : Bye. We shall meet tomorrow with a new hope that everything will settle by tomorrow

Question©.
You have read the lesson My Childhood. In that lesson, you have read that when Kalam wanted to go to Ramanadhapuram for higher studies, Kalams mother was hesitant, Kalams father tried to console and comfort her. Write a possible conversation between Kalams mother and father in this context?

Answer: Mother : Kalam wants to go to Ramanathapuram. Father : I know. He has already told me. Mother : I am not prepared to live without him. Father : You should understand his needs. Mother : What happens If he doesnt go for higher studies ? Father : It is his desire. We should understand him. Mother : Anyhow, I dont like to send him to Ramanathapuram. What would you like to say ? Father : I cannot ask him to stay with us. I know Kalam can become a great man. Mother : Dont you understand the mothers heart ? Father : I can understand. But you should understand that your children are not your children. They are the Sons and daughter of Lifes longing for itself. Mother : Cant we make Kalam educate from our vIllage ? Father : Its not possible. You should understand that you can give him your love but not your thoughts. He has his own thoughts. Mother : 0k! I need some more time to be comforted. Father : 0k! Take your own time. Mother : May God give him bright future ! Father : Certainly. God would give him bright future

Question(D).
In the lesson My Childhood, you must have read about the annual Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony when Kalams family arranged the boats to Rama Tirtha. Describe the ceremony in your own words?

Answer: Though Rameswaram was a small town, the people celebrate the Kalyana Mahotsavam of Lord Rama and Sita in a grand manner. All the people of Rameswaram, irrespective of their religion congregate at Lord Ramas temple. There is shehnai, dholak and all other bands to take Lord Rama on procession. The temple chariot is elegantly decorated with flowers and garlands for the procession of Lord Rama and Sita

The Idols, kept on the heads of the couple of endowment department are grandly and carefully lodged in the chariot amidst the praises and laurels of Lord Sri Rama. They were toured in the streets of Rameswaram. Huge gatherings follow the charlot and some hold the ropes tied to the chariot with great respect and devotion. The deities are honoured and offerings are made by people, throughout the procession

The idols of Lord Rama and Sita carried in my fathers boat and some elite people accompany the deities to Rama Tirtha where the Kalyana Mahotsavam is celebrated. The other devotees follow the boat to the Tirtha and the occasion of Kalyanam (marriage) is performed in a pompous and grandeur style. The people in thousands view the occasion thinking It ¡s their greatest fortune to indulge in such ceremonious and festive celebration

Question?.
Once Kalam was invited to his science teachers house for a meal. The science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer told his wife about this for which she strongly opposed due to her orthodoxy. Taking this incident as the main theme write a skit recalling the incident in the text My Childhood?

Answer: Sivasubramanla Iyer leaves his slippers outside and enters his house. His wife in the kitchen, saw him, ran out to hand over a mugful of water to wash his legs

Iyer : Thank you, dear. Have you finished cooking ? Wife : Not yet, t shall serve you within fifteen minutes. lyer : No hurry. Ill wait because we have a guest today. Wife : May I know who he is ? Iyer : He is known to you. Today my dearest student Kalam will accompany me for meal. Wife : What ! Are you going to dine with him ; a Muslim ? Iyer : Why not ? Forget about the caste and religious segregations, Wife : Dont you remember we belong to a staunch orthodox family ? tyer : Any how I have decided to do it. Wife : I cant beer sitting a Muslim in my Kitchen Iyer : We can eat together In our front room WIfe : Do as a you wish. But I cant serve a Muslim Iyer : No problem. Myself, I can do it. (Iyer serve and they ate together)

Question(F).
Robert is a foreigner, who has come to visit India and eager to know about her great culture. He asks Vikram, a famous tourist guide to tell him about the greatness of India. Write a possible conversation between the visitor and the guide?

Answer: Robert : I want to know about the greatness of India and her culture. Please tell me. Vikram : With pleasure. Unity in diversity is the main characteristic feature of India. Here are many religious, regions, customs and languages but all of us are living together for centuries. Though there may be minor disputes all of us are united and all of us are Indians. Robert : Its really a great thing that crores of people with so many diversities are living together. Please tell me about your cultural heritage. Vikram : We are inheritors of several grand treasures in the fields of music, fine arts, dance, drama and sculpture. Robert : What about your traditions ? Vikram : Our sage and seers have left behind a tradition of piety, penance, spiritual greatness, tolerence and conquest of passion etc. Robert : Tell me about your spiritual values. Vikram : Our spiritual values Include meditation and contemplation, charity and love, universal brotherhood etc. Robert : Thank you very much sir. I have to leave Vikram : Always welcome to you, for your great Interest

(Q - 29) :

Question(A).
In the lesson My Childhood, you must have read about the simplicity of Kalams family. Imagine you are Kalam and write a diary entry on your familys upbringing?

Answer: 12th August 1939 7 pm. I am fortunate to be born to these noble parents. My father, though being with less education has inculcaated high qualities in all of us. He has been an exemplar for me and to the other siblings with his generosity, wisdom and truthfulness. I adore him for his simple life and high thinking. My mother is an ideal partner throughout his life respecting his Ideologies and principles. She is patient, considerate and kind to everyone. She has been a good mother, life partner and host. Her hospitality, and smiling attire allures all

My parents never found any difference between me and my brothers. Is it not so nice of them ? My father never cared for wealth and never Imposed any rules or restrictions on us. Though we lead a very simple life, we are happy and contented with what we have. We inherited all these characteristic features from our father. It is gods grace we had such ideal couple as our parents. Thank you God, for everything ! Kalam

Question(B).
In the lesson My Childhood, you have read that the new teacher in Kalams school, didnt allow Kalam to sit next to his close friend Ramanadha Sastry. This amazed every student in the class. Imagine that you were one of the students and write a diary entry about the incident?

Answer: 12th, August Monday 9 pm It was a very strange day today ! Something unexpected has happened in our school life. Ramanadha and Kalam were such a intimate friends in the whole school. And everybody was aware of it. But today, the new teacher has tried to break their friendship

All of us in the class were shocked to hear the new teacher asking Kalam to take the back seat because he is a Muslim. How mean of him ! Till today, there was no such discrimination made in the class. Even Ramas father or Kalams father never found fault with the friendship of their sons. Ramas father though being the head priest and also a high caste community member never discouraged or disqualified the mingling of Rama and Kalam

But today, the new teacher humiliated Kalam sitting In the first row with Ramanadha. I could see the tears In Ramas eyes. I cant look Into the face of Kalam. It was so pathetic ! For five years, I have been observing Rama and Kalam moving together. This teacher should have at least waiter for a time to know the intimate relationship of both. I am very sorry for both of our friends. Lokanadhan V Class

Question©.
The poet, in his poem, "A Plea for India", says that we are proud to be a strong nation. You have come to know that we need to be more dedicated to make our nation a strong united one. Now, prepare a message, as an Indian, how we should be to make our country strong and united?

Answer: We should keep our nation strong and not to disturb the nation with internal disputes - based on caste, religion region, or financial status. Every Indian requested to maintain our unity. We should stop, violence so that we shall become strong. We should not cheat anybody, Our unity is our strength; dont forget it. Be united and be strong