My Childhood Summary ||Beehive|| Class 9 English
Short Summary Of My Childhood
This story is about Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s early life, as described in his autobiography “Wings of Fire.” He was born into a middle-class Tamil Muslim family in the island town of Rameswaram. His family included his parents, three brothers, and a sister. Despite their lack of formal education, his parents were hardworking and instilled values of honesty and self-discipline in their children.
Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, was a devout Muslim who believed in simple living and high thinking. His mother, Ashiamma, was a kind and generous woman. The family lived in an ancestral house and maintained a secular outlook, participating in Hindu festivals and respecting all religions.
Kalam had three close friends: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan, who were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. Their friendship was free from religious discrimination, and they shared a strong bond.
One significant incident in Kalam’s childhood was when a new teacher asked him to sit at the back of the class because he was a Muslim. This upset his friend Ramanadha, whose father later confronted the teacher, insisting on equality and respect for all students.
Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, played a crucial role in his life. Despite his wife’s initial reluctance, Iyer invited Kalam to his home for a meal, demonstrating his belief in breaking social barriers.
These experiences and the values imparted by his family and friends greatly influenced Kalam, shaping him into the person he became.