Class 12 Chapter 2.2 Solution
Strong Roots
1. MCQs Question Answer
1. When Kalam’s father was offered bowls of water, he would sanctify it by
a) pouring medicine
b) saying a prayer
c) adding syrup
d) by dipping his fingertips and saying a prayer ✔
2. During meals the food was served on
a) steel utensils
b) dishes
c) banana leaves ✔
d) plastics
3. When people, after being cured, thanked Kalam’s father, he would smile and
a) ask them to thank Allah ✔
b) utter prayers
c) ask them to thank the priest
d) ask them to offer something to the poor
4. The synonym of the word ‘normally’ is
a) casually
b) occasionally
c) specially
d) generally ✔
5. The synonym of the word ‘aromatic’ is
a) armorial
b) pleasant
c) fragrant ✔
d) sweet
6. The synonym of the word ‘predominantly’ is
a) mostly ✔
b) predictably
c) slowly
d) clearly
7. “/ ———- ate with my mother sitting on the floor of the kitchen.”
a) personally
b) generally
c) normally ✔
d) usually
8. “The Shiva temple, which made Rameswaram so famous to pilgrims, was about a from our house.”
a) ten-minute walk ✔
b) five-minute walk
c) eight-minute walk
d) twenty-minute walk
9. “Our locality was
a) predominantly Hindu
b) predominantly Muslim ✔
c) partially Hindu
d) partially Muslim
10. “There were quite a lot of Hindu families, too, living amicably with their neighbours.”
a) Christian
b) Buddhist
c) Jain
d) Muslim ✔
11. “There was a very old mosque in our locality where my father would take me for
a) morning prayers
b) evening prayers ✔
c) teaching Arabi
d) religious education
12. APJ Abdul Kalam was born into a
a) middle class family ✔
b) upper class family
c) lower middle class family
d) upper middle class family
13.APJ Abdul Kalam was born in a
a) Bengali family
b) Oriya family
c) Tamil family ✔
d) Telugu family
14. APJ Abdul Kalam was born in the island town of
a) Goa
b) Port Blair
c) Rajasthan
d) Rameswaram ✔
15. Jainulabdeen is the name of APJ Abdul Kalam’s
a) mother
b) father ✔
c) brother
c) uncle
16. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father had
a) much formal education
b) much wealth
c) much formal education and wealth
d) neither much formal education nor much wealth ✔
6. The name of Abdul Kalam’s mother is
a) Ashiamma ✔
b) Ashima
c) Shiamma
d) Hiamma
17. Kalam’s father had
a) great innate wisdom
b) a true generosity of spirit
c) great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit ✔
d) neither innate wisdom nor a true generosity of spirit
18. Jainulabdeen found an ideal helpmate in
a) P. L. Sastry
b) Jalaludeen
c) bdul Kalam
d) Ashiamma ✔
19. According to APJ Abdul Kalam,
a) far more outsiders ate with them than all the members of their family put together ✔
b) less number of outsiders ate with them than all the members of their family put together
c) as many outsiders ate with them as all the family members
d) some outsiders ate with the members of his family
20. APJ Abdul Kalam’s parents were widely regarded as an
a) sympathetic couple
b) contemplating couple
c) ideal couple ✔
d) idle couple
21. The title ‘Bahadur’ was bestowed on
a) APJ Abdul Kalam
b) Abdul Kalam’s father
c) one of the forebears of Kalam’s father
d) one of the forebears of Kalam’s mother ✔
22. According to APJ Abdul Kalam, his parents were
a) tall
b) tall and handsome ✔
c) handsome
d) short but handsome
23. In his childhood, Kalam lived in their
a) ancestral house ✔
b) rented house
c) newly built house
d) hut
24. The ancestral house of APJ Abdul Kalam was
a) a fairly small pucca house
b) a fairly large pucca house ✔
c) a fairly small hut
d) a newly built large house
25. The ancestral house of APJ Abdul Kalam is situated on
a) the Temple Road in Rameswaram
b) the Mosque Street in Rameswaram ✔
c) the Church Street in Rameswaram
d) the Vivekananda Street in Rameswaram
26. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father had no fascination for
a) inessential comforts and luxuries ✔
b) all sorts of comforts and luxuries
c) all modern amenities
d) all essential comforts and luxuries
27. In Kalam’s estimate, he had a
a) very insecure childhood
b) very painful childhood
c) very uncertain childhood
d) very secure childhood ✔
28. The synonym of the word ‘erstwhile’ is
a) former ✔
b) present
c) latter
d) next
29. The synonym of the word ‘state’ is
a) announce
b) structure
c) province ✔
d) place
30.The synonym of the word ‘innate’ is
a) inborn ✔
b) inner
c) improper
d) special
2. Very Short Question Amswer
1. Whom does the opening pronoun ‘I’ refer to in ‘Strong Roots’? [
Ans. In ‘Strong Roots’ the opening pronoun ‘I’ refers to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
2. Where was APJ Abdul Kalam born?
Or, In which town was Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam born?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam was born at Rameswaram in Tamilnadu.
3. Into what type of family was Abdul Kalam born?
Ans. Abdul Kalam was born into a middle class Tamil family.
4. Who were Kalam’s parents?
Or, What was the name of Kalam’s father?
Ans. Jainulabdeen was APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, and Ashiamma was his mother.
5. In whom did Abdul Kalam’s father have an ideal helpmate?
Or, Who was the ideal helpmate of Kalam’s father? [
Ans. In Ashiamma, APJ Abdul Kalam’s father had an ideal helpmate.
6. “I was born into a middle class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram…..”-Who is the speaker here?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam, a great Indian scientist, is the speaker here.
7. “…he possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit”. Who is ‘he’?
Ans. Here ‘he’ refers to APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, who was a pious man.
8. “I do not recall the exact number of people she fed every Ans day…”-Who is ‘she’?
Ans. Here ‘she refers to APJ Abdul Kalam’s mother. Ashiamma who was very affectionate
9. What was the name of Abdul Kalam’s mother?
Ans. The name of APJ Abdul Kalam’s mother was Ashiamma.
10. How does Kalam describe his appearance?
Or, How would Kalam look in his boyhood?
Ans. Kalam describes himself as a short boy with rather undistinguished looks.
11. How were Kalam’s parents looked upon by others?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam’s parents were widely regarded as an ideal couple.
12. What type of text is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s ‘Strong Roots’? Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s ‘Strong Roots’ is an autobiography.
13. How would Kalam’s father start his day
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father would start his day at 4 am by reading the namaz.
3. Short Qiuestion Answer
1. What does Kalam write about his father’s education and weaith?
Ans. According to APJ Abdul Kalam, his father, Jainulabdeen, had neither much formal education nor much wealth.
2. What, according to Kalam, did his father possess?
Ans. According to APJ Abdul Kalam, his father possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit.
3. However, all necessities were provided for…”-What basic necessities does the speaker mention here?
Ans. The speaker, APJ Abdul Kalam, mentions food, medicine and clothing as basic necessities. [বক্তা এপিজে আব্দুল কালাম ain এখানে মুখ্য প্রয়োজনীয় জিনিস বলতে খাদ্য, ওষুধ ও বস্ত্রের কথা উল্লেখ করেছেন।]
4. Why has Kalam used the adjective ‘austere’ to describe his father?
Ans. While describing his father, APJ Abdul Kalam has used the adjective ‘austere’ to point out his father’s plain and simple life-style. [বাবার বর্ণনা দিতে গিয়ে এপিজে আব্দুল কালাম ‘austere’ বিশেষণটি ব্যবহার করেছেন তাঁর বাবার সহজসরল জীবনধারাকে তুলে
5. How was the house of APJ Abdul Kalam?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam lived in their ancestral house which was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick.
6. What is said about Kalam’s mother’s lineage?
Or, Why was the lineags of Kalam’s mother more distinguished?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam’s mother’s lineage was more distinguished than that of his father since one of her ancestorshad been bestowed the title of ‘Bahadur’ by the British.
7. How does Kalam compare his looks in childhood with that of his parents? [
Ans. In APJ Abdul Kalam’s opinion, he was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks while his parents were tall and handsome.
8. How was Kalam’s ancestral house?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam’s ancestral house which was built in the middle of the 19th century was a fairly large, pucca house, made of limestone and brick
9. How many people did Kalam’s mother feed everyday?
Ans. Although APJ Abdul Kalam could not recall the exact number of people his mother fed every day, he was sure that more outsiders ate with them than the total number of family members.
10. Who actually penned ‘Strong Roots’?
Ans. Arun Tiwari penned ‘Strong Roots’ by collecting Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s recollections of childhood and family background.
11. What is the source of ‘Strong Roots’?
Ans. ‘Strong Roots’ is the first chapter of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s best-selling autobiography, ‘Wings of Fire’ (1999).
12. What would Kalam’s father do after the namaz?
Ans. After reading the namaz, APJ Abdul Kalam’s father would walk down to their coconut grove and return with about a dozen coconuts.
13. How would Kalam’s father carry home the coconuts?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father would carry home the coconuts tied together and thrown over his shoulder.
14. When would Kalam’s father have his breakfast?
Ans. After the namaz and his usual visit to the coconut grove, APJ Abdul Kalam’s father would have his breakfast.
15. How long did Kalam’s father maintain a strict routine-bound life?
Ans. In APJ Abdul Kalam’s estimate , his father maintained a strict routine-bound life up to his late sixties.
4. Long Qustion Answer
1. Give a brief account of Kalam’s childhood, as presented in his ‘Strong Roots’.
Or, What does APJ Abdul Kalam say about his childhood?
Or, What did APJ Abdul Kalam say of his childhood in ‘Strong Roots’?
Ans. The family in which Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born and brought up was a middle class Tamil family. His parents were an ideal couple. Although Kalam’s family was not an affluent one, he was given everything he needed. All necessities in terms of food, medicine and clothing were provided for Kalam in his childhood. He had a congenial family atmosphere. He had no emotional disturbance or material want. He was brought up in happiness. So Kalam claims that he had a secure childhood.
2. Write about Dr. Kalam’s ancestry.
Ans. In ‘Strong Roots, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has mentioned only a part of his ancestry. His parents were Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma. His father was neither formally (ফরমালি) educated nor very rich. But he was very generous. He had an innate wisdom. His mother came of a more distinguished family than his father. One of her ancestors had been given the title of ‘Bahadur’ by the British. She was an ideal life-partner of Kalam’s father. She was equally generous. She would feed many outsiders everyday. It was her affectionate nature.
3. How does Dr. Kalam remember his mother in ‘Strong Roots’?
Ans. In the autobiographical writing ‘Strong Roots, Dr. APJ
Abdul Kalam has expressed his deep admiration for his parents. His mother, Ashiamma, came of a distinguished family. One of her ancestors had been given the title of ‘Bahadur by the British. She was generous and affectionate by nature, an ideal helpmate to his father. Everyday she would feed many outsiders. In his childhood, Kalam had a strong attachment (অ্যাটাচমেন্ট) with his mother. He would eat with his mother, sitting on the floor of the kitchen. She would serve rice, aromatic sambar, home-made pickle and fresh coconut chutney. Dr. Kalam has fond memories of his mother.
4. What does Dr. Kalam tell about his meals in childhood?
Ans. In the autobiographical writing ‘Strong Roots, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam tells about his meals in childhood. Everyday he would eat with his mother, sitting on the floor of the kitchen. She would serve rice, aromatic sambar, home made pickle and fresh coconut chutney. Dr. Kalam has fond memories of his mother.
5. How does Dr. Kalam describe his neighbourhood?
Or, “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?
Ans. In his autobiographical writing, ‘Strong Roots, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has given a description of his locality. He was born in Rameswaram, an island town. It was then a part of Madras state under the British rule. He lived in his ancestral house on the Mosque Street. Rameswaram was very famous to pilgrims because of the Shiva Temple which was near his house. The locality was predominantly Muslim. But a lot of Hindu families also lived there. People of both religions, the Hindus and the Muslims, lived in harmony and peace. In the locality, there was a very old mosque where his father would take him for evening prayers.
6. What does Dr. Kalam say about his childhood experience in the mosque?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born and brought up in a middle class Tamil family in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a devout Muslim. There was a very old mosque near his ancestral house on Mosque Street. During Kalam’s childhood, his father would take him to the mosque for evening prayers. As he was not familiar with Arabic, he could not understand the meaning of the Arabic
prayers. But he was convinced that those prayers would reach God. Outside the mosque, people of different religions would wait for his father. They would offer him bowls of water. He would transform this water into sacred water by dipping his fingertips and saying a prayer. This sacred water was used as medicine for invalids.
7. What picture of communal harmony do you find in the extract from APJ Abdul Kalam’s autobiography?
Ans. In the autobiographical piece ‘Strong Roots’ Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has presented a fine picture of communal harmony that prevailed in Rameswaram during his childhood days. Although Rameswaram was famous for the Shiva temple, there were mosques too. The locality in which Kalam lived was predominantly Muslim. But there were a lot of Hindu families, too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbours. Kalam recounts a vivid memory of his childhood. Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple, was an intimate friend of his father’s. Although they belonged to two different religious communities, they had friendly discussions on spiritual matters. There was no enmity or rivalry between them.
8. “Whenever they are in trouble, they look for someone to help them.” Who thought so? Who are ‘they’? Explain the statement.
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, thought so. • Here ‘they’ refer to human beings facing trouble in life. • Once APJ Abdul Kalam’s father was explaining his spiritual concept regarding man’s position in the universe and the role of adversity in life. On hearing this, Kalam asked his father why he would not explain this to the seekers of help and advice. In response to Kalam’s query, his father said this as a part of his explanation. Every human being wants to lead a happy and comfortable life. But in life, troubles come and destroy our comfort and happiness. In the wake of trouble, human beings lose calmness of mind and cannot face it alone. So they look for someone who can help them in overcoming the trouble to bring back happiness.
9. How, according to Jainulabdeen, do human beings react to trouble and impasse?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, was a close observer of human life and situations, as reflected in ‘Strong Roots’ by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He observed that human beings face recurrent anguish longing and desire, and each type of sorrow finds its own helper. In life, human beings may reach an impasse and find no way out. In such a situation, they look for a guide who can show them the way out. Similarly, whenever they are in trouble that destroys happiness and peace, they look for someone to help them. In a troublesome situation, human beings get confused and lose calmness of mind. Only a true guide can provide them with strength and energy required for overcoming the trouble.
10. “Every recurrent anguish, longing and desire finds its own special helper.”-Who said this? How did he act as a special helper?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, said this. • Dr. Kalam’s father acted as a special helper to the people who came to him in distress. People often come to him for help and advice. He believed that for people in distress he played the role of a mediator. Common men thought some demonic forces were responsible for their misery. So they wanted to please and calm those evil forces by offering prayers and gifts. In their attempts to appease demonic forces with prayer and offerings, Kalam’s father acted a medium.