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How I Taught My Grandmother to Read | Class 9 English | Detailed Explanation With Summary & NCERT Solution
- M
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Lesson Architecture
Competency Based Questions
Author Introduction:
Sudha Murty is a renowned Indian author, social worker, and philanthropist.
She is known for writing simple yet meaningful stories based on real-life experiences.
She has been awarded prestigious honours like the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
Her writing focuses on values like empathy, education, humility, and human relationships.
She is also associated with the Infosys Foundation, contributing to social causes.
Her stories are widely appreciated for their simplicity, moral depth, and emotional appeal.
Theme
Lifelong Learning : The story strongly conveys that learning is a continuous process and age is never a barrier to education.
Power of Education : Education is shown as a tool that brings independence, confidence, and self-respect.
Determination and Willpower : The grandmother’s journey highlights that strong determination can overcome any limitation, even old age.
Self-Reliance and Dignity : The story emphasizes that being able to read and write gives a person freedom from dependence and a sense of dignity.
Role Reversal in Relationships : The granddaughter becomes the teacher, showing that learning can happen from anyone, regardless of age or status.
Emotional Bond Between Generations: The relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter reflects love, respect, and mutual growth.
Value of Respect for Teachers: The grandmother touching her granddaughter’s feet highlights the Indian tradition of respecting the teacher (Guru).
Importance of Realisation and Self-Improvement: The turning point comes when the grandmother realizes her weakness and decides to improve, showing the importance of self-awareness.
Cultural and Moral Values : The story subtly reflects Indian cultural values, traditions, and festivals (like Dussehra) symbolizing victory—here, the victory of knowledge over ignorance.
Short Summary of the Story
The story is about a young girl and her grandmother who was illiterate. The grandmother loved listening to stories, especially a serial called Kashi Yatre, which her granddaughter read aloud to her.
One day, the girl had to go away for a few days. During her absence, the grandmother realized her helplessness as she could not read the story on her own. This made her feel dependent and sad.
Determined to overcome this, she decided to learn how to read and write, despite her old age. When the granddaughter returned, the grandmother requested her to become her teacher.
With dedication and hard work, the grandmother learned to read. On the festival of Dussehra, she read a passage on her own and touched her granddaughter’s feet as a mark of respect for being her teacher.
The story beautifully conveys that education brings independence and self-worth at any stage of life.
Word Meanings ( Page-wise)
Page 1: Introduction & Story Setting
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Novel | A long fictional story | The grandmother enjoyed listening to the novel daily. |
Episode | A part of a serial story | She waited eagerly for the next episode. |
Magazine | A periodical publication | The story was published in a weekly magazine. |
Curious | Eager to know something | She was curious about the ending of the story. |
Village | A small rural settlement | The story is set in a village. |
Page 2: Emotional Attachment to the Story
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Devoted | Very loving or loyal | She was devoted to listening to the story. |
Characters | People in a story | She loved the characters deeply. |
Journey | Travel from one place to another | The novel described a journey to Kashi. |
Pilgrimage | A religious journey | Kashi is a famous place of pilgrimage. |
Eagerly | With excitement and interest | She waited eagerly every week. |
Page 3: Granddaughter Leaves – Problem Arises
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Wedding | Marriage ceremony | The narrator went to attend a wedding. |
Helpless | Unable to act independently | The grandmother felt helpless alone. |
Depend | Rely on someone | She depended on her granddaughter. |
Illiterate | Unable to read or write | She realized she was illiterate. |
Upset | Sad or disturbed | She felt upset when she could not read. |
Page 4: Realisation and Decision
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Ashamed | Feeling embarrassed | She felt ashamed of her condition. |
Determined | Having a strong decision | She was determined to learn reading. |
Resolve | Firm decision | She made a resolve to study. |
Effort | Hard work | She put great effort into learning. |
Courage | Bravery to face difficulty | It took courage to start learning at her age. |
Page 5: Learning Process Begins
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Practice | Repeating to improve | She practiced reading every day. |
Discipline | Self-control and routine | She followed strict discipline. |
Teacher | One who teaches | Her granddaughter became her teacher. |
Lesson | A unit of learning | She completed her lesson daily. |
Improve | Become better | Her reading improved gradually. |
Page 6: Achievement and Success
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Dussehra | Festival of victory | She achieved success on Dussehra. |
Achievement | Something successfully done | Learning to read was her achievement. |
Respect | Admiration | She showed respect to her teacher. |
Touch feet | Traditional sign of respect | She touched her granddaughter’s feet. |
Confidence | Self-belief | Reading gave her confidence. |
Page 7: Message and Conclusion
Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Independence | Freedom from reliance | Education gave her independence. |
Literacy | Ability to read and write | Literacy changed her life. |
Dignity | Sense of self-worth | She gained dignity through learning. |
Inspiration | Motivation to do something | Her story is an inspiration. |
Knowledge | Information and understanding | Knowledge brings empowerment. |
Detailed Page-wise Explanation
Page 1: Introduction of Characters and Setting
The story begins with the narrator introducing her grandmother, who was very fond of listening to stories. She lived in a village and had never been to school. Despite being illiterate, she had a strong interest in literature, especially religious and emotional stories.
The narrator reads out a popular Kannada serial called Kashi Yatre to her every day. The grandmother listens with great enthusiasm and curiosity.
Page 2: Grandmother’s Emotional Attachment
The grandmother becomes deeply involved in the story. She eagerly waits to know what happens next. Her emotional connection with the characters reflects her sensitive nature. She is particularly interested in the old woman’s journey to Kashi, which creates a parallel with her own life and desires.
Page 3: Turning Point – Granddaughter Leaves
The narrator goes to attend a wedding, leaving the grandmother behind. During this time, the grandmother is unable to read the next episode of the story. This moment becomes a turning point as she realizes her dependence on others due to illiteracy.
Page 4: Realization and Determination
The grandmother feels deeply helpless and ashamed. She decides that she must learn to read and write, no matter how old she is. Her decision shows strong determination and self-respect. She does not want to remain dependent anymore.
Page 5: Learning Begins
When the granddaughter returns, the grandmother requests her to teach her. The roles reverse—now the young girl becomes the teacher. The grandmother studies sincerely, practicing daily with discipline and dedication.
Page 6: Achievement and Emotional Climax
On the festival of Dussehra, the grandmother successfully reads a passage on her own. This moment symbolizes victory, learning, and empowerment. She touches her granddaughter’s feet, showing respect to her teacher. This act reflects humility and the importance of education.
Page 7: Message and Conclusion
The story concludes with a powerful message. Learning has no age limit, and education gives confidence, dignity, and independence. The relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter highlights love, respect, and mutual growth.
Page-wise Hindi Translation of the Story
NCERT Solution Check Your Understanding
Page 6-7
Page 7
II. Do you think the narrator expected to see her grandmother in tears when she returned to the village? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: No, the narrator did not expect to see her grandmother in tears. She was unaware of the deep emotional impact caused by her absence. For the narrator, reading the story aloud was a routine activity, but for the grandmother, it was a source of joy and connection. When she could not read the story on her own, she felt helpless and dependent. This emotional realization led to her tears. Thus, the narrator was surprised because she had not anticipated how important reading had become in her grandmother’s life.
III. How might the narrator help her grandmother to fulfil her desire to learn to read and write?
Answer: The narrator can help her grandmother by becoming her teacher and guiding her patiently. She can start with basic alphabets, simple words, and gradually move to sentences. Regular practice, encouragement, and a supportive environment will help the grandmother gain confidence. By reading stories together and revising lessons daily, the narrator can make learning enjoyable. Her patience and dedication will play a key role in helping her grandmother achieve her goal of becoming literate.
Page 10
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried. ‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’ Kaveri 10 I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka. She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.
(i) Complete the sentence
The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was __________.
Correct Answer: A. strong-willed
Explanation:The line shows that the grandmother is emotionally strong and does not easily break down, even in difficult situations. This reflects her inner strength and resilience.
(ii) Why did the grandmother not reply ?
Answer: The grandmother did not reply because she was too emotional to respond. Seeing her helplessness due to illiteracy made her deeply upset, and she was overwhelmed with feelings, which prevented her from speaking.
(iii) Identify the clue that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
Answer: The line “Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.” reflects a rural and traditional setting.Additionally, references like speaking in Kannada (North Karnataka) and the simple household environment suggest a traditional village lifestyle.
(iv) Which lines establish a tender atmosphere?
Answer: The lines that create a tender and emotional atmosphere are: “Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.” This line shows love, care, and emotional bonding between the grandmother and granddaughter.
(v) Which aspect is NOT emphasised in the extract?
Options:
A. emotional turmoil of the grandmother
C. grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
D. narrator’s concern for her grandmother
Correct Answer: C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
Explanation: In this extract, the focus is on emotions and bonding, not yet on regret about education. That realization comes later in the story.
2.‘ I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.’
I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her.
‘Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen...’ Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.
(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
Options:
A. She wanted to be literate.
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
Correct Answer: B. She desires self-sufficiency.
Explanation:The grandmother’s statement reflects her strong desire to become independent and not depend on others for reading. It highlights her dignity and self-respect.
(ii) Fill in the blank
The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no __________.
Options: (age limit / gender bias / cultural barriers)
Correct Answer: age limit
Explanation:Her decision to learn at the age of sixty-two proves that education is not restricted by age.
(iii) Complete the sentence
The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because __________.
Answer:The narrator laughs because she finds it unusual and surprising that an elderly woman wants to start learning the alphabet at such an advanced age. She initially underestimates her grandmother’s determination.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Answer:
Determination – She firmly decides to learn despite her age.
Perseverance – She is ready to work hard and overcome all obstacles.
(Other acceptable answers: strong-willed, self-respecting, disciplined)
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answer: The narrator assumes that her grandmother cannot learn because of her old age. She laughs at her decision without considering her determination. This shows she judges her grandmother based on age, not ability.
Vocabulary Structures in Context | Page 13
Page 14
Read the following words from the text given in the box below.
III Identify any five words with prefixes from the story and make sentences using each.
Word | Prefix | Sentence |
Independent | in- | Education made the grandmother independent. |
Unable | un- | She felt unable to read the story alone. |
Illiterate | il- | The grandmother did not want to remain illiterate. |
Return | re- | The narrator returned after the wedding. |
Disrespect | dis- | We should never disrespect our teachers. |
IV. In the sentence, “I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours”, the phrase “passed with flying colours” is an idiom. It means outstanding performance.
Idiom: “Passed with flying colours”
Meaning: Outstanding performance
Sentence:The grandmother passed with flying colours when she successfully read the story on her own.
Page 15
Page 15-16 ( Past Perfect Tense)
Page 16
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