How I Taught My Grandmother to Read: And Other Stories

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Passage: I could not understand why my sixty-two-year-old grandmother was telling me, a twelve-year-old, the story of her life in the middle of the night. One thing I knew, I loved her immensely and there had to be some reason why she was talking to me. I looked at her face. It was unhappy and her eyes were filled with tears. She was a good-looking lady who was almost always smiling. Even today, I cannot forget the worried expression on her face. I leaned forward and held her hand. Emotional Connection : The story establishes a strong emotional connection with readers by portraying the close bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother. This relationship resonates with many people, reminding them of the deep love and respect they have for their own grandparents. protagonist: the main character in a story or novel, often the central figure whose experiences and actions drive the narrative. After having read the story, you realise the anguish of the illiterate adults. You want to make your friends aware of it and contribute something in bringing about a change in the lives of the illiterate adults. Deliver a speech in the morning assembly at your school about the Importance of Adult Education and ways to implement it. Explanation of the Above Passage – In those days there was a writer in the Kannada language who was very popular at that time. Her name was Triveni, and she was a wonderful writer. She wrote about the complicated problems in the lives of ordinary people. These problems affected the emotional and mental state of their minds and were always interesting to read about. Although Kannada literature was fortunate to have a talented writer like Triveni, they turned unfortunate when she died at a very young age. Even later, after forty years, people continued to praise her work or novels because it was impressive how she discussed relatable problems in such easy-to-read and convincing language.

A diary entry is a purely personal piece of writing. The writer expresses his/her thoughts and feelings. Reactions to incidents are generally poured out in a diary. Hence expressions that are emotionally charged are used. When the Dussehra festival came as usual, the writer secretly bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time. Then suddenly her grandmother bent down and touched her feet. The author found this as extremely bizarre since elders never touch the feet of youngsters and thought that her grandmother had broken the rules of the tradition. But in response to that, her grandmother replied that she was touching the feet of a Guru (teacher), not her 12-year-old granddaughter as it was the custom that a teacher should be respected, irrespective of gender and age. She explained that her granddaughter was a very caring and loving teacher who taught her so well that she could easily read any novel confidently. This way, the author had helped her grandmother to become independent. Inter-generational Learning : The act of the granddaughter teaching her grandmother to read symbolizes the exchange of knowledge and wisdom between generations. It emphasizes the value of learning from one another within a family. Here are some direct quotations from the story. Identify the speaker and write what each quotation suggests about the speaker. You can use the adjectives given in the box and may also add your own.Power of Literature : The story underscores the transformative power of literature. The grandmother's fascination with the serialized story "Kashi Yatre" reveals how literature can transport readers to different worlds and provide solace and inspiration.

Grandmother comes across a post online: ‘Don’t let age be a concern. Live your dream!’ As grandmother, write a short paragraph expressing your heartfelt emotion on your achievement. i) determined: We know that the grandmother was determined because once she made up her mind to study . she set a date by which she wanted to become literate and accomplished it through perseverance and sincere hard work. The grandmother in the story wanted to go to Kashi because she believed it was the ultimate act of virtue (punya) for a Hindu to visit Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara. In this context, the story initially comforts the grandmother by providing entertainment and connection with her granddaughter. However, it also disturbs her comfortable acceptance of illiteracy and dependence, ultimately inspiring her to take action and embark on a journey of personal growth and independence. This transformation aligns with the idea that good fiction can both soothe and challenge the reader, prompting them to question their circumstances and strive for positive change. Passage: ‘When I was a young girl I lost my mother. There was nobody to look after and guide me. My father was a busy man. He got married again. In those days, people never considered education essential for girls, so I never went to school. I got married very young and had children. I became very busy. Later I had grandchildren and always felt so much happiness in cooking and feeding all of you. At times I used to regret not going to school, so I made sure that my children and grandchildren studied well …’The next day onwards, the narrator started her tuition. The grandmother was a wonderful student. She did amazing homework. She would read, repeat, write and recite. The narrator was her only teacher. The grandmother was her first student. When the grandmother read the title of the book effortlessly, it proved that she had succeeded in her quest to learn to read and write thus proving she had passed with flying colours. How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type In summary, the catalyst for the grandmother's transformation was her attempt to read "Kashi Yatre" independently, which led to the realization of her illiteracy and the subsequent determination to become literate. This example underscores how literature can have a profound impact on individuals, motivating them to challenge their limitations and strive for self-improvement.

Passage: When I was a girl of about twelve, I used to stay in a village in north Karnataka with my grandparents. Those days, the transport system was not very good, so we used to get the morning papers only in the afternoon. The weekly magazine used to come one day late. All of us would wait eagerly for the bus, which used to come with the papers, weekly magazines and the post. self-discovery: the process of gaining insight and understanding about one's own character, values, and identity. She was crying at her failed attempts to read the story. The author consoled her and promised to teach her from the next day. They fixed a deadline till the next Saraswati Puja to work according to a plan.Yes, there is much difference between my mother and my grandmother. It is not of temperament or disposition. But it is mainly of physical compulsions of life. My mother has most of the qualities of my grandmother. But she can’t exercise them due to her being in service. She is always short of time and is always in a hurry. However, she has a frugal mind and is very conscious of spending money. Today has been an extraordinary day, and I am overwhelmed with emotions. My precious granddaughter, the light of my life, surprised me with the most thoughtful and cherished gift I could have ever imagined - the novel "Kashi Yatre." Krishtakka was a devoted and hard working student and learned the language within the fixed time period. On the day of her graduation, she asked the author to accompany her inside the temple. She bent down and touched her feet and gave her cloth.

been translated into thirteen Indian languages. Her stories deal with common lives and human values such as charity, kindness and self-realisation. As a sensitive writer, she writes about the suffering of the people. The main characters in all her The grandmother reacted with great concentration and interest when the granddaughter read the serialized story to her. She would later discuss the story with her friends. It's at this point that the grandmother's transformation truly begins. She feels embarrassed and helpless but also determined. This experience disturbs her comfortable acceptance of her illiteracy and dependence on others for reading. It ignites a strong desire within her to become literate and independent. Thus, her sole responsibility became imparting her knowledge of alphabets to her grandmother while showing compassion to understand her student’s problem. The duty of the student is however best described in the act the grandmother displays. She bends down to wash the feet of her granddaughter. Not only was she a humble student, she was diligent and determined. How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context The grandmother wanted to show her respect for her granddaughter who had acted as her teacher and taught ‘ her to read and write.

Respect for Teachers : When the grandmother touches her granddaughter's feet as a mark of respect for her teacher, it highlights the significance of respecting educators and mentors. This gesture conveys that teaching and learning are deeply respected roles.