Strong Roots

Zenith

Coaching Centre

Strong Roots

“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 the people come to the person spoken to?[1+1+2+2=6]

Ans. APJ Abdul Kalam says this to his father Jainulabdeen.

According to Jainulabdeen, “every human being is a specific element withing the whole of the manifest divine being. So, why be afraid of difficulties, sufferings and problems? When troubles come, try to understand the relevance of your sufferings. Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection”. This fact is referred to by the word ‘this’.

People come to the person spoken to because they are in trouble and in distress condition. They come to Kalam’s father for help and advice to get rid of their problems.

“I have endeavoured to understand the fundamental truths” – who is ‘I’ referred to here? What are the fundamental truths? Who revealed them to the speaker? [1+2+3=6]

Ans. ‘I’ referred to APJ Abdul Kalam, the author of the eassay ‘Strong Roots’.

Fundamental truths are that there exists a divine power that can lift one up from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure, and guide one to one’s true place. And once an individual severs his emotional and physical bond, he is on the road to freedom, happiness and peace of mind.

Jinulabdeen revealed them to his son APJ Abdul Kalam.

Who was a very close friend of Jainulabdeen? What did they discuss? What did Kalam’s father say about prayer?

Ans. The high priest of the Rameswarm temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, was a very close friend of Jainulabdeen.

They used to discuss spiritual matters.

According to Kalam’s father, there is nothing mysterious about prayer. Rather, prayer makes possible a communion of the spirit between people. When we pray, we transcend our body and become a part of the cosmos, which knows no division of wealth, age, caste or creed.

Grammar: Do as directed

1.     We lived in our ancestral house. It was built in the middle of the 19^th century. (complex)

2.     There was a very old mosque in our locality. My father would take me for evening prayers. (simple)

3.     This is not a correct approach at all. It should never be followed. (complex)

4.     Then he answered in a low, deep voice. His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm.

5.     He put his hands on my shoulders. He looked straight into my eyes. (simple)

6.     People regarded my parents as an ideal couple. (change the voice)

7.     My father could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil. (change the voice)