STRONG ROOTS

 

STRONG ROOTS

           APJ Abdul Kalam

1. "We lived in our ancestral house."- Who is the speaker? When was the house built? What kind of house was it? How did the inmates(বাসিন্দা) of the house lead their lives in the house?

Dr. Kalam talks about his childhood in 'Strong Roots' which is taken from Kalam's autobiography 'Wings of Fire'.

The house was built in the 19th century.

The house consisted of a fairly large terraced(পাকা বাড়ি) house built of limestone and brick and was located on Mosque Street in Rameswaram.The house was a 10 minute walk from the famous Shiva temple.

Kalam was born in a middle class Tamil family and lived with his parents and siblings(নিজের ভাই বোন) in their ancestral home. Kalam remembers that his mother Ashiamma used to feed the family members and many outsiders every day.

The residents of the house lived a simple and peaceful life. They avoided all unnecessary comforts and luxuries. However Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma never deprived the children of their basic needs like food, medicine,clothes. Kalam's parents' care and love protected Kalam's childhood emotionally and materially.

2."Our locality was predominantly Muslim," - Who is the speaker? How does the speaker describe the locality? What picture of communal harmony do you find in this description?

The speaker here is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Kalam spent his childhood with his parents and siblings at their ancestral home in Rameswaram. The famous Shiva temple of Rameswaram was located in their area.  Although the area was predominantly Muslim, several Hindu families lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbours.

The area where Kalam's family lived was a perfect picture of communal unity(সাম্প্রদায়িক ঐক্য). Kalam used to go with his father for prayers in a very old mosque in their area. Residents (বাসিন্দা)of Rameswaram, regardless(নির্বিশেষে) of their religion, would wait outside the mosque to receive the blessings of Kalam's father and receive the enchanted water(মন্ত্রপুত জল) to heal the sick. Many times many people recovered and came to his house to thank him. Pakshi Lakshmana Shastri, the head priest of the Shiva temple in Rameswaram, respected Kalam's father and they used to discuss spiritual matters together. There was a bond of absolute friendship(নিখুঁত বন্ধুত্ব) and brotherhood between the two. In this city there was a sense of brotherhood among all religions alike.

3. Describe the childhood of Abdul Kalam.

or/

Why does Kalam feel that he had a secure childhood?

We have found in Kalam's autobiographical excerpt 'Strong Roots' that Kalam had a secure childhood both materially and emotionally. He lived in his ancestral home in the island town of Rameswaram along with other members of his family. His father Jainulabdeen  led a very pious (ধার্মিক)and simple life and was deeply respected by both Hindus and Muslims. He could explain complex spiritual doctrines(আধ্যাত্মিক মতবাদ) in simple Tamil. As a child, Kalam and his brothers and sisters were provided with all the basic needs like food, medicine, clothing but unnecessary comforts and luxuries were avoided. Kalam's mother Ashiamma worked tirelessly(অক্লান্ত) to provide food for her large family and numerous(অসংখ্য) outsiders.  Kalam affirms(জোর দিয়ে বলা) that his father's strict daily routine, his careful education, and his mother's care helped shape(গড়ে তোলা) his personality(ব্যক্তিত্ব).

4. "I normally ate with my mother."- Who ate with his mother? Name of his mother. Where did he eat with his mother? What did he eat with his mother?

Renowned Indian scientist and 11th President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam used to eat with his mother.

His mother's name is Ashiamma.

Abdul Kalam used to eat with his mother sitting on the kitchen floor of his ancestral home in Rameswaram.

Kalam and his mother used to eat pure South Indian food. Kalam's mother would spread banana leaves on top of which she would ladle rice and fragrant sambar with a variety of tangy(ঝাঁজালো) home-made pickles and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney.Kalam used to eat the above dishes very happily sitting on the floor of his kitchen with his mother.

5. Who was Pakshi Laxmana Shastry? How was he related to Kalam's father? What vision of his father and Pakshi Laxmana Shastry lingered in his memory? Why did Kalam mention his name?

Pakshi Laxmana Shastry was the head priest of the then Rameswaram temple in Madras province.

Pakshi Laxmana Shastry was a very dear and close friend of Kalam's father Jainulabdeen.

In Abdul Kalam's memory, the two men were exchanging spiritual thoughts in the guise of their respective religions(নিজের ধর্মের পোশাক পরিহিত হয়ে) in a friendly manner.

Kalam  mentions the name of Pakshi Laxmana Shastry to indicate the influence(প্রভাব) of brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims that prevailed in the island town of Rameswaram during Kalam's early childhood. The relationship between the two friends symbolizes unity in diversity(বৈচিত্রের মধ্যে ঐক্য) and conveys a message of religious tolerance(ধার্মিক সহনশীলতা) and love between different communities.

6. "people of different religions would be sitting outside, waiting for him."---who is referred to as 'him'? Where did the people wait? Why did they wait there? What would happen thereafter?

Here 'him' means Jainulabdeen, the narrator's father.

Outside a very old mosque in Abdul Kalam's area, people lived and waited for his father.

They were waiting there to offer a pot full of water to Abdul Kalam's father. They believed that Kalam's father possessed special spiritual powers and could heal the crippled(পঙ্গু) and weak. 

When Jainulabdeen would come out of the mosque after the evening prayer, he would dip his fingertips into the offering water pot and recite a prayer. This holy water was then taken home with the belief that it would cure the sick.

7. What did Kalam's father tell him about the relevance of prayer?

What was Kalam's father's response to his son's query about prayer and spirituality?

In the passage called 'Strong Roots' we see that Kalam believed that prayer reached God. As he grew older, he questioned his father about the relevance of prayer.  Kalam's father gave a very meaningful reply. Jainulabdeen said there was nothing mysterious in prayer. Rather, he believed that prayer establishes a relationship between different human souls. Prayer helps to become a part of this universe. When we pray we are above caste, creed, money, age etc. So prayer helps us overcome narrow mindedness(মনের সংকীর্ণতা) and isolationist tendencies(বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদী মনোভাব) and control negative emotions like anger, hatred. Every human being is God's creation and divine power resides within them. So a person should not be afraid of suffering and problems but should try to find out their relevance and causes. Adversity should be treated as an opportunity for introspection.  Thus Kalam's father enriched divine knowledge of Kalam.

8. "Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection."- How does APJ Abdul Kalam's father explain the line?

Or.

How did his father's attitude to adversity influence the young Kalam?

Kalam pays a special tribute (বিশেষ শ্রদ্ধা জ্ঞাপন) to his father in 'Strong Roots'. The man of spiritual wisdom once explained to Kalam that every human being is a special part of God. Being a special part of the divine being, man should find the relevance of suffering without being afraid of it. Jainulabdeen believed that adversity and suffering have their own utility(উপযোগিতা).  An adverse situation puts a person through a test of endurance(সহনশীলতা) and prepares him to face all kinds of situations.  Jainulabdeen's positive outlook(সদার্থক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি) on adversity deeply influenced(অভিভূত করা) the boy Kalam. He realises that God is omnipresent(সর্বস্থায়ী) and frees the individual(প্রত্যেক আলাদা ব্যক্তিকে) from misery, sorrow and failure besides guiding him to follow the right path to the heavenly main attainment(স্বর্গীয় মোক্ষ লাভ). Kalam tried to follow his father's teachings throughout his life.

9. Why don't you say this to the people who come to you....? Who says this and to whom? What is referred to by the word 'this'? Why do people come to the person spoken to?

APJ Abdul Kalam said this to his father Jainulabdeen.

In the biographical story of Kalam 'Strong Roots', Jainulabdeen tells his son that every human being is an integral part of this entire spiritual universe. So without fearing difficulties, sufferings and problems, one should find the relevance of sufferings in human life. Because adverse situations provide opportunities for people for introspection. This philosophical teaching of Jainulabdeen's is referred to as 'this'.

People in distress would come to Kalam's father as they considered him a means of propitiating (দমন করা) evil forces with offerings and prayers. They also came to him believing that he possessed (অধিকারী হওয়া)a spiritual power that would help them recover from their ailments(রোগ ব্যাধি).