STRONG ROOTS

                     STRONG ROOTS

                                      Dr. APJ. ABDUL KALAM

1. "I would say mine was a very secure childhood"- Why does Kalam consider his childhood to be materially and emotionally secure?

In his autobiographical excerpt, 'Strong Roots' Abdul Kalam illustrates his birth and genealogy. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the fifth of seven children of Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma. Although his parents were tall and handsome, Kalam was a very ordinary looking boy. His mother's ancestor was awarded the title of 'Bahadur' by the British.They lived in a pucca house on Mosque Street in Rameshwaram. His father kept himself away from comforts.Yet he did not compromise with his children on food, clothing and medicine. Kalam's mother was very careful about his diet and served rice, sambar, pickles, chutney etc. 

Thus, we may conclude that Kalam's childhood was very safe from both earthly and emotionally.

2. Write a note on Kalam's neighbourhood and locality.

Or

Where did Kalam live? How does he present the secular neighbourhood of the locality?

APJ Abdul Kalam found his roots in his autobiographical essay 'Strong Roots' in a pucca house of Mosque Street in Rameshwaram. The area was inhabited by Muslims but many Hindu families lived there.

The two communities lived cordially in this secular environment. His devout father prayed in the old mosque and accepted people of all faiths. He would purify the water they brought in the bowl by chanting prayer and relieving the disease. After all, all the people in the place where he lived were friendly to each other.

3.Who was Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry? How was he related to Kalam's family? Why does Kalam mention his name?

Pakshi Lakshmana Shastry was  the high priest of Rameshwaram temple. He was a very close friend of Kalam's father, Jainulabdeen. Despite being from a Muslim family, Kalam was proud to grow up in a secular environment. Kalam often witnessed in his childhood, how his father Jainulabdeen and Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry discussed spiritual matters with each other in their own traditional attire. Kalam highlighted the incident to show the prevailing secularism and the atmosphere of mutual trust and love in India.

4. "Despite these disadvantages, he possessed..."

Who is he ? What are his  disadvantages ? What does he possess despite the disadvantages ?Describe the man.

                                  Or,

Write a short character sketch of APJ Abdul Kalam's father as described by the author himself.

In this biographical essay 'Strong Roots', 'he' refers to APJ Abdul Kalam's father Jainulabdeen.

His disadvantages are that he is neither much formally educated not does he have much money.

Despite such difficulties, he was an idol of innate wisdom and generosity of mind. 

Jainulabdeen was tall and handsome and had a great personality. He was a pious man who led a very simple and disciplined life. His father used to read namaz daily before dawn. He was a hardworking man. He had a unique ability to describe complex spiritual matters in very simple Tamil. He believed that adversities give people a chance to self-examine. He had a deep sympathy for those who were in trouble and feared fate. He acted as a mediator to subdue demonic forces in those people. He was a religiously liberal thinker and respected all religions. 

5. "Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection." _____How does APJ Abdul Kalam's father explain the line?

APJ Abdul Kalam has praised his father in his autobiographical essay, 'Strong Roots'. APJ Abdul Kalam's father told him that God exists in every human being. Since every human being is a part of this universe, one should not be afraid of sufferings. Rather, he should understand the cause of his suffering. Jainulabdeen believed that pain and problems have a utility of their own. A difficult time takes a test on every individual, and makes him or her more adept at dealing with such situations later and also helps him or her to know his or her abilities better.

That is why it always gives people a chance to self-examine in difficult times. This kind of positive attitude of Kalam's father inspires him even more and he has tried to follow his father's teachings in his life.

6. What had remained the routine for Abdul Kalam's father even when he was in his late sixties? what had Abdul Kalam tried to follow in his life ?

Abdul Kalam's father lived a very simple and disciplined life. He used to start his day by reading namaz at four in the morning every day.

He walked about four miles every day to his little coconut orchard and returned home with a dozen of coconuts over his shoulder. When he returned home, he would take his breakfast. He continued this routine even after his late sixties. Besides, he used to go to the mosque for evening prayers. He spent time discussing spiritual matters with Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry.

Abdul Kalam followed his father's spirituality in his own world of science and technology. He tried to understand the fundamental truths that his father had told him. He was convinced that a cosmic force would lift us out of our confusion, misery, Melancholy, failure, etc., and lead us in the right direction.

7. "I normally ate with my mother."--- who ate with his mother? Name his mother. where did he eat with his mother? What did he eat with his mother?

In this autobiographical essay,  'Strong Roots', India's famous scientist and 11th President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam used to sit and eat with his mother.

His mother's name is Ashiamma.

Kalam and his mother ate purely South Indian food. Kalam's mother used to place a banana leaf in front of him and on top of that she would add rice and some aromatic sambar, a variety of sharp homemade pickle and dollop of coconut chutney.

Finally we can say that Kalam used to eat the above meals sitting on the kitchen floor with his mother.