NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 6 My Childhood

Short Note:

• This chapter is an excerpt from 'Wings of Fire', the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who later became a renowned scientist and the President of India.

• Kalam grew up in a modest, close-knit family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, where his father was a boat owner and a man of great wisdom despite limited formal education.

• He describes his childhood friendships with Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan, which crossed religious lines and taught him early lessons in secularism and unity.

Short Note:

• Kalam recalls helping his cousin Samsuddin distribute newspapers to earn his own pocket money, showing his early sense of responsibility and independence.

• He describes an incident where a new teacher seated him separately because he was a Muslim sitting beside a Brahmin boy, which upset both families, until a more broad-minded teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, corrected the situation and promoted harmony.

• His interactions with his science teacher and his fascination with the flight of birds sparked his early interest in aeronautics.

Short Note:

• The chapter highlights the values of hard work, humility, communal harmony and the influence of good mentors and family members in shaping a person's character and ambitions.

• It shows how a modest upbringing, combined with strong values and curiosity, can lay the foundation for great achievements later in life.