Pre-Reading Task
‘God could not be everywhere, so he made mother.’ What does this statement mean? Is the comparison between God and mother justified? Share your views with the class.
Answer – This beautiful statement means that a mother’s love, care, and presence are as divine as God’s. Since God cannot be physically present with every child to nurture, protect, and guide them, He created mothers to do so. A mother is the first caregiver, protector, and teacher of a child. Her love is selfless, unconditional, and endless — just like God’s.
Yes, the comparison between God and mother is justified. Just like God, a mother forgives her child’s mistakes, showers love without expectation, and makes sacrifices silently for the well-being of her children. In every stage of life, a mother supports her child emotionally, mentally, and physically. While God may be abstract or unseen, a mother is a living, breathing embodiment of divine care.
The word ‘mother’ brings up certain emotions in everyone. Think of some words that you would like to associate with this most wonderful creation of God and write them in the web chart below.
[ LOVE ] [ SACRIFICE ] [ CARE ] [ PROTECTOR ] [ GUIDE ][ SUPPORT ] [ INSPIRATION ]
Word Meaning
Word/Phrase | Meaning (English) | Meaning (Hindi) |
Sea waves | Waves in the ocean | समुद्र की लहरें |
Golden sand | Yellowish sand found on beaches | सुनहरी रेत |
Pilgrims’ faith | Belief of religious travelers | तीर्थयात्रियों की आस्था |
Caring arms | Loving and protective embrace | प्यार भरी और सुरक्षा देने वाली बाहें |
War days | Time during World War II | युद्ध के दिन (द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के समय) |
Challenge and toil | Difficulties and hard work | कठिनाई और परिश्रम |
Saintly teacher | A spiritual or holy teacher | संत तुल्य शिक्षक |
Transformed | Changed completely | पूरी तरह बदल दिया |
Pious strength | Strength gained from religious devotion | धार्मिक आस्था से प्राप्त शक्ति |
Kneeling and bowing | Sitting and bending in prayer | घुटनों के बल झुककर प्रार्थना करना |
Grace of the Almighty | Blessings from God | ईश्वर की कृपा |
Strong piety | Deep religious devotion | गहरी धार्मिक श्रद्धा |
Envy | Jealousy | ईर्ष्या |
Full moon night | Night when the moon is fully visible | पूर्णिमा की रात |
Judgment Day | The day when God will judge all souls | न्याय का दिन (परलोक का निर्णय दिवस) |
Distribute newspapers | To give newspapers to people | समाचार पत्र बाँटना |
Business times | Time devoted to work or trade | व्यापार का समय |
Tenderly | Gently, with care | कोमलता से |
Lap | Upper part of thighs when sitting | गोद |
Without fear | Bravely | बिना डर के |
Grace | Blessing, kindness | कृपा, आशीर्वाद |
Summary in English: My Mother
In the poem ‘My Mother’, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam pays a heartfelt tribute to his mother, portraying her as a divine and guiding force in his life. He recalls his childhood in Rameswaram during the difficult war days, when life was full of hardships. Despite the struggle—walking miles for education, working, and studying—his mother’s deep devotion, love, and prayers gave him strength and spiritual energy. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering faith in God helped shape his character. He remembers an emotional moment when he slept in her lap, and her tears and tender care comforted him. The poem ends with a belief that they will reunite on the Judgment Day. It is a touching portrayal of a mother’s selfless love and spiritual strength.
सारांश हिंदी में:
‘मेरी माँ’ कविता में डॉ. ए. पी. जे. अब्दुल कलाम ने अपनी माँ को एक दिव्य और मार्गदर्शक शक्ति के रूप में स्मरण किया है। वे अपने बचपन की कठिन संघर्षमयी परिस्थितियों को याद करते हैं, जब उन्हें शिक्षा पाने और काम करने के लिए मीलों चलना पड़ता था। इन संघर्षों के बीच उनकी माँ की भक्ति, प्रेम और प्रार्थनाएँ उन्हें आंतरिक शक्ति प्रदान करती थीं। माँ का दूसरों की मदद करना, निःस्वार्थ सेवा भाव और ईश्वर में अटूट विश्वास उनके जीवन की प्रेरणा बने। वे एक मार्मिक क्षण को याद करते हैं जब वे माँ की गोद में सोए थे और माँ के आँसू और कोमल स्पर्श ने उनका दुख दूर कर दिया था। कविता का अंत इस विश्वास के साथ होता है कि वे माँ से पुनः न्याय के दिन मिलेंगे। यह कविता माँ के निःस्वार्थ प्रेम और आध्यात्मिक शक्ति का सजीव चित्रण है।
Understanding the Story
A. As the poet thinks of his mother, several images flash across his mind. Write those images in the web chart below.
Answer – Sea waves
Golden sand
Pilgrims’ faith
Rameswaram Mosque Street
War days
Walking miles to school
His mother’s lap
Her prayers and care
B. The poet has beautifully described some personal qualities of his mother. In the table given below, Column A has a list of qualities and Column B has extracts from the poem that suggest those qualities. Match the columns. Some words are given in italics to help you.
Column A Column B
Helpful you always gave and gave with faith in Him.
Understanding your caring hand tenderly removing the pain,
Religious you knew the pain of your child.
Tender shared your best with whoever needed the most.
Answer –
Column A (Qualities) | Column B (Extracts) |
Helpful | Shared your best with whoever needed the most. |
Understanding | You knew the pain of your child. |
Religious | With kneeling and bowing five times. |
Tender | Your caring hand tenderly removing the pain. |
C. The poet’s childhood days were full of struggle. Find out a few things that the poet had to do in his childhood to help the family.
Answer – Walked miles before sunrise to study from a saintly teacher.
Attended the Arab teaching school.
Collected and distributed newspapers to citizens.
Helped in the family’s business before studying at night.
D. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
- You come to me like heaven’s caring arms.
I remember the war days when life was challenge and toil—
Miles to walk, hours before sunrise,
(a) Who are ‘you’ and ‘me’ in die above lines?
Answer – ‘You’ refers to the poet’s mother, and ‘me’ refers to the poet, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
(b) Identify the figure of speech used in the first line and explain it.
Answer – The figure of speech is a simile. The poet compares his mother’s presence to the comforting arms of heaven using “like”.
(c) Mention two things that made the poet’s life difficult.
Answer – Walking miles before sunrise.
The struggles during the war days (World War II).
(d) Why did the poet have to walk so much early in the morning?
Answer – He walked miles early in the morning to attend lessons from a saintly teacher and to reach the Arab teaching school.
- All this pain of a young boy,
My Mother you transformed into pious strength
With kneeling and bowing five times
(a) Who is the young boy?
Answer – The young boy is Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam himself.
(b) What pain is he talking about?
Answer – He refers to the physical hardship, long walks, and responsibilities he bore during his childhood.
(c) What was this pain transformed into? How did this transformation take place?
Answer – The pain was transformed into pious strength through the spiritual faith and strength he gained from his mother’s devotion and prayers.
(d) What do you understand by ‘kneeling and bowing five times’?
Answer – It refers to the Islamic practice of praying five times a day, showing the mother’s strong religious faith.
HOTS
How did the poet’s mother act as a source of inspiration to the poet?
Answer – The poet’s mother inspired him through her deep faith in God, her strength during hardships, and her unconditional love. She turned the poet’s childhood struggles into spiritual strength and taught him patience, discipline, and compassion through her actions and prayers. Her selflessness and devotion helped the poet grow into a confident and strong individual who could face the world with courage.
Life Skills
There are many ups and downs in man’s life but one should not lose hope.’
Discuss this statement with reference to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who became the President of India.
Answer – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam faced poverty and hardships in his childhood. He walked long distances to study and supported his family financially. Despite these challenges, he stayed focused, worked hard, and never gave up. His dedication to learning and service led him to become a great scientist and eventually the President of India. His life shows that challenges should be faced with hope and determination to achieve success.
Values
‘Sleeping on your lap to the envy of elder brothers and sisters…’
Why were the elder brothers and sisters envious of the poet? Is envy good? Discuss.
Answer – The elder brothers and sisters were envious because the poet received special affection and attention by sleeping in their mother’s lap. This moment of closeness was something they too desired. However, envy is a negative emotion and can harm relationships. Instead of envy, one should learn to appreciate others’ happiness and understand that love is shared in different ways within a family.
Writing Skills
The word ‘mother’ evokes powerful emotions in everyone. Think about your mother and write a short poem about her, thanking her for everything she does for you.
Answer – My Mother – My Blessing
You are the sunshine of my day,
The calm that takes my fears away.
Your gentle touch, your loving smile,
Makes every moment so worthwhile.
You teach, you care, you always give,
In your love, I truly live.
Through sleepless nights and busy days,
You guide me with your quiet ways.
Thank you, Ma, for all you do,
For every dream you help come true.
In every prayer, my heart does say,
I love you more with every day.
Additional Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Answers
- What does the poet compare his mother to in the poem?
- a) Sea waves
- b) Heaven’s caring arms
- c) Golden sand
- d) A temple
Answer: b) Heaven’s caring arms
- Where did the poet live as a child, according to the poem?
- a) Temple City
- b) Rameswaram Mosque Street
- c) Arab teaching school
- d) Near the beach
Answer: b) Rameswaram Mosque Street
- During which historical event does the poet recall his childhood struggles?
- a) World War I
- b) Indian Independence
- c) World War II
- d) The Great Depression
Answer: c) World War II
- What task did the poet perform before sunrise during the war days?
- a) Studying at night
- b) Walking to take lessons from a saintly teacher
- c) Collecting newspapers
- d) Kneeling and bowing five times
Answer: b) Walking to take lessons from a saintly teacher
- What did the poet do a few hours after sunrise?
- a) Went to the Arab teaching school
- b) Distributed newspapers
- c) Went to school
- d) Helped his mother pray
Answer: c) Went to school
- What did the poet’s mother transform his pain into?
- a) Courage
- b) Pious strength
- c) Wisdom
- d) Patience
Answer: b) Pious strength
- How many times did the poet’s mother kneel and bow daily?
- a) Three times
- b) Four times
- c) Five times
- d) Six times
Answer: c) Five times
- What quality of his mother does the poet highlight as a source of strength for her children?
- a) Her wisdom
- b) Her strong piety
- c) Her courage
- d) Her patience
Answer: b) Her strong piety
- What did the poet’s mother always share with others?
- a) Her knowledge
- b) Her best, with faith in God
- c) Her wealth
- d) Her stories
Answer: b) Her best, with faith in God
- How old was the poet when he recalls sleeping on his mother’s lap?
- a) Eight
- b) Nine
- c) Ten
- d) Eleven
Answer: c) Ten
- What caused the envy of the poet’s elder siblings?
- a) His mother’s faith
- b) Him sleeping on his mother’s lap
- c) His education
- d) His hard work
Answer: b) Him sleeping on his mother’s lap
- What time of night does the poet recall waking with tears?
- a) Sunset
- b) Midnight
- c) Dawn
- d) Evening
Answer: b) Midnight
- What did the poet’s mother do when he woke with tears?
- a) She prayed for him
- b) She tenderly removed his pain
- c) She told him stories
- d) She sang to him
Answer: b) She tenderly removed his pain
- What did the poet gain from his mother’s love and care?
- a) Wealth
- b) Strength to face the world
- c) Knowledge
- d) Fame
Answer: b) Strength to face the world
- Where does the poet hope to meet his mother again?
- a) In heaven
- b) On the great Judgement Day
- c) In Rameswaram
- d) At the temple
Answer: b) On the great Judgement Day
- What natural elements does the poet associate with his mother in the opening lines?
- a) Sea waves and golden sand
- b) Mountains and rivers
- c) Stars and moon
- d) Forests and lakes
Answer: a) Sea waves and golden sand
- What was the poet’s routine in the evening during his childhood?
- a) Studying at night
- b) Business times before studying
- c) Walking to the temple
- d) Praying with his mother
Answer: b) Business times before studying
- What emotion does the poet express towards his mother at the end of the poem?
- a) Gratitude and hope
- b) Sadness and regret
- c) Anger and frustration
- d) Fear and doubt
Answer: a) Gratitude and hope
- What does the poet mean by “My world only you knew”?
- a) His mother knew his dreams
- b) His mother understood his entire world
- c) His mother controlled his life
- d) His mother taught him everything
Answer: b) His mother understood his entire world
- What role does faith play in the poet’s mother’s life, according to the poem?
- a) It guides her daily actions
- b) It makes her strict
- c) It causes her pain
- d) It isolates her from others
Answer: a) It guides her daily actions
Short Questions and Answers
- Question: What does the poet compare his mother to?
Answer: Heaven’s caring arms.
- Question: Where did the poet live as a child?
Answer: Rameswaram Mosque Street.
- Question: During which historical event did the poet face childhood struggles?
Answer: World War II.
- Question: What did the poet do before sunrise during the war days?
Answer: Walked to take lessons from a saintly teacher.
- Question: What did the poet do a few hours after sunrise?
Answer: Went to school.
- Question: What did the poet’s mother transform his pain into?
Answer: Pious strength.
- Question: How many times did the poet’s mother kneel and bow daily?
Answer: Five times.
- Question: What quality of his mother gave her children strength?
Answer: Her strong piety.
- Question: What did the poet’s mother always share with others?
Answer: Her best, with faith in God.
- Question: How old was the poet when he slept on his mother’s lap?
Answer: Ten.
- Question: What caused the envy of the poet’s siblings?
Answer: Him sleeping on his mother’s lap.
- Question: What time of night did the poet wake with tears?
Answer: Midnight.
- Question: What did the poet’s mother do when he woke with tears?
Answer: She tenderly removed his pain.
- Question: What did the poet gain from his mother’s love and care?
Answer: Strength to face the world.
- Question: Where does the poet hope to meet his mother again?
Answer: On the great Judgement Day.
- Question: What natural elements are associated with the poet’s mother?
Answer: Sea waves and golden sand.
- Question: What was the poet’s evening routine as a child?
Answer: Business times before studying.
- Question: What emotion does the poet express at the poem’s end?
Answer: Gratitude and hope.
- Question: What does “My world only you knew” mean?
Answer: His mother understood his entire world.
- Question: What role does faith play in the poet’s mother’s life?
Answer: It guides her daily actions.
Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion) andAnswers
- Question:
Assertion (A): The poet’s mother transformed his childhood struggles into strength.
Reason (R): She instilled pious strength in him through her daily prayers.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the poet states his mother transformed his pain into “pious strength,” as the poem notes. The reason explains this by highlighting her daily prayers—“kneeling and bowing five times”—as the source of this strength, as the poem details, directly linking her faith to his resilience.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The poet’s mother was a source of strength for her children.
Reason (R): She always shared her best with others, showing selflessness.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the poet states “Your strong piety is your children’s strength,” as the poem notes. The reason is true since she “always shared her best,” as the poem states, but this selflessness is not the direct source of the children’s strength, which comes from her piety, as the poem emphasizes, making R not the correct explanation.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The poet felt a deep emotional connection with his mother.
Reason (R): She tenderly removed his pain when he woke with tears at midnight.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the poet’s intimate memories, like “My world only you knew,” show a deep connection, as the poem notes. The reason explains this by detailing her tender care—“removing the pain” when he woke with tears—as the poem states, directly illustrating the emotional bond through her nurturing actions.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The poet’s childhood was filled with hardships during the war days.
Reason (R): He had to walk miles to school and distribute newspapers before sunrise.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the poet describes his childhood as “challenge and toil” during the war days, as the poem notes. The reason explains this by detailing his tasks—“miles to walk” for lessons and distributing newspapers—as the poem states, directly showing the hardships he faced, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The poet believes he will reunite with his mother in the afterlife.
Reason (R): His mother’s faith in God gave him hope for a future meeting.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the poet hopes to meet his mother “on the great Judgement Day,” as the poem concludes. The reason explains this by linking his hope to her faith—“You always gave with faith in Him”—as the poem notes, directly tying his belief in reunion to the spiritual foundation she provided, supporting the assertion.
Long Questions and Answers (80-90 words)
- Question: How does the poet use imagery to depict his mother’s nurturing role, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer: The poet uses vivid imagery, comparing his mother to “heaven’s caring arms,” as the poem states, evoking a sense of divine comfort and protection, as “sea waves, golden sand” merge with her, symbolizing her boundless love. Her “caring hands, tenderly removing the pain” on a full moon night, as the poem notes, further paints her as a nurturing figure, revealing her selfless, compassionate character, as her actions—“always shared your best”—show, highlighting her role as a source of emotional and spiritual strength for her children, as the poem emphasizes.
- Question: Discuss the significance of the war days in the poem and how they shape the poet’s perception of his mother’s influence.
Answer: The war days, referencing World War II, as the poem notes, highlight the poet’s childhood struggles—“miles to walk, hours before sunrise,” and distributing newspapers, as the poem states, shaping his perception of his mother’s influence, as she transformed this “pain of a young boy” into “pious strength,” as the poem describes. Her daily prayers—“kneeling and bowing five times”—during these hardships, as the poem details, instilled resilience in him, as “Your strong piety is your children’s strength” reveals, showing her as a pillar of faith and endurance amidst adversity, deeply impacting the poet’s growth, as the poem reflects.
- Question: Analyse the role of faith in the poet’s mother’s life and how it impacts her children, according to the poem.
Answer: Faith is central to the poet’s mother’s life, as her “kneeling and bowing five times” for God’s grace, as the poem states, reflects her strong piety, guiding her actions, as “You always gave with faith in Him” shows. This faith impacts her children by providing strength, as “Your strong piety is your children’s strength” indicates, enabling the poet to face the world fearlessly, as the poem notes. Her belief in divine justice—“We will meet again on the great Judgement Day”—also gives the poet hope, as the poem concludes, illustrating faith’s transformative power in their lives.
- Question: How does the poet convey his emotional bond with his mother through specific childhood memories in the poem?
Answer: The poet conveys his emotional bond through memories like sleeping on his mother’s lap at ten, as “to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters” shows, and waking at midnight with tears, as the poem notes, where her “caring hands, tenderly removing the pain,” as the poem states, soothed him, reflecting her deep understanding—“My world only you knew.” These intimate moments, set on a “full moon night,” as the poem describes, highlight her nurturing love, as “Your love, your care” gave him strength, as the poem emphasizes, showcasing their profound connection.
- Question: Explore the theme of maternal love in the poem and how it provides the poet with resilience to face life’s challenges.
Answer: Maternal love is a central theme, depicted as a divine force—“like heaven’s caring arms,” as the poem states—that provides the poet resilience, as “Your love, your care, your faith gave me strength,” as the poem notes. Her nurturing, seen in “tenderly removing the pain” when he cried, as the poem describes, and her piety—“kneeling and bowing five times”—transformed his struggles into “pious strength,” as the poem states, enabling him to face the world “without fear,” as the poem concludes, highlighting how her selfless love and faith empowered him to overcome life’s challenges, as the poet reflects.
- Question: Discuss how the poet’s childhood struggles during the war days reflect the socio-economic conditions of the time, and his mother’s role in mitigating them.
Answer: The poet’s struggles during World War II—“miles to walk” for lessons, distributing newspapers, and balancing school and business, as the poem notes—reflect the socio-economic hardships of the time, as limited resources and war disruptions forced children into labor, as historical context suggests. His mother mitigated these through her faith—“kneeling and bowing five times”—transforming his “pain” into “pious strength,” as the poem states, and her selflessness—“always shared your best,” as the poem describes, providing emotional support, as “Your strong piety is your children’s strength” shows, helping him endure and grow amidst adversity, as the poem reflects.
- Question: How does the poet use the setting of Rameswaram to symbolize his mother’s spiritual and nurturing presence in the poem?
Answer: The setting of Rameswaram—“sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims’ faith, Rameswaram Mosque Street,” as the poem opens—symbolizes the mother’s spiritual and nurturing presence, as these elements “merge into one, My Mother,” as the poem states, reflecting her sanctity, as the “saintly teacher near the temple” and her prayers—“kneeling and bowing five times”—echo the town’s devotional ethos, as the poem notes. Her nurturing, like the comforting “heaven’s caring arms,” mirrors Rameswaram’s serene landscape, as the poem describes, blending her love with the town’s spiritual essence, as “Your faith gave me strength” shows, highlighting her profound influence, as the poet reflects.
- Question: Examine the poet’s hope for a future reunion with his mother and how it reflects the spiritual values she instilled in him.
Answer: The poet’s hope to meet his mother “on the great Judgement Day,” as the poem concludes, reflects the spiritual values she instilled, as her “strong piety”—“kneeling and bowing five times”—and faith in God, as “You always gave with faith in Him” shows, shaped his belief in an afterlife, as the poem notes. Her prayers for “the Grace of the Almighty,” as the poem states, gave him resilience—“Your faith gave me strength”—and a spiritual outlook, as the poem describes, ensuring his hope for a divine reunion, as “We will meet again” reveals, underscoring her lasting spiritual impact on his life, as the poet expresses.