Strong Roots SAQ
Strong Roots – The 1st Chapter of Dr Kalam’s Best-selling Autobiography Wings of Fire
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam [1931-2015]
SAQ – 1 /2 Marks
SET – I
1. *What is Kalam’s full name?
👉Kalam’s full name is Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam.
2. *In which town was Dr APJ Abdul Kalam born? [WBCHSE H.S. 2016]
👉Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was born in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras state.
3. “I was born into a middle-class Tamil family” Who is referred to as ‘I’ here? When was he born?
👉Here ‘I’ refers to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
He was born in 1931 in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras state.
4. What was the financial condition of APJ Kalam’s family?
👉Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s father had neither much formal education nor much wealth. The family was a middle-class Tamil family.
5. *What, according to Kalam, did his father possess?
👉According to Kalam, his father possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit.
6. *What did Abdul Kalam’s father use to avoid? [WBCHSE H.S. 2019, 2022]
👉Abdul Kalam’s father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries.
Related Question
*What did Kalam’s father avoid in his daily life? [WBCHSE H.S. 2024]
👉Kalam’s father avoided all inessential comforts and luxuries in his daily life.
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7. *What was the name of Abdul Kalam’s mother? [WBCHSE Sample Question]
👉The name of Abdul Kalam’s mother was Ashiamma.
8. *In whom did Abdul Kalam’s father have an ideal helpmate? [WBCHSE H.S. 2015]
👉Abdul Kalam’s father had an ideal helpmate in Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma.
9. How generous was Kalam’s mother?
👉Kalam’s mother was very generous. Everyday along with all the members of their own family she fed many outsiders in their house.
10. *How were APJ Abdul Kalam’s parents regarded?
👉APJ Abdul Kalam’s parents were regarded as an ideal couple.
11. *How was Abdul Kalam’s mother’s lineage different from his father’s? [WBCHSE H.S. 2020]
👉Abdul Kalam’s mother’s lineage was the more distinguished than his father’s. One of her forebears having been bestowed the title of ‘Bahadur’ by the British.
12. *Who was bestowed the title of ‘Bahadur’ in ‘Strong Roots’? [WBCHSE H.S. 2017]
👉One of Kalam’s mother’s forebears was bestowed the title of ‘Bahadur’ in ‘Strong Roots’.
13. *How does Kalam describe his appearance? [WBCHSE Sample Question]
👉Kalam describes his appearance as a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.
14. *When was the ancestral house of Kalam built?
👉The ancestral house of Kalam was built in the middle of the 19th century.
15. *Describe the ancestral house of Kalam. [WBCHSE H.S. 2018]
👉The ancestral house of Kalam was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick, on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
16. *What did Kalam’s father avoid in terms of bringing up his children?
👉Kalam’s father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries in terms of bringing up his children.
17. *Where did Kalam usually eat in his childhood?
👉In his childhood Kalam usually ate with his mother, sitting on the floor of the kitchen.
18. *What served as a natural plate on which APJ Abdul Kalam could have his meals?
👉A banana leaf served as a natural plate on which APJ Abdul Kalam could have his meals.
19. *What would Kalam usually have in lunch?
👉In lunch Kalam usually had rice and aromatic sambar, a variety of sharp, home-made pickle and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney.
20. *What made Rameswaram famous to pilgrims?
👉The Shiva temple made Rameswaram famous to pilgrims.
21. *How far was the famous Shiva temple of Rameswaram from Kalam’s house?
👉The famous Shiva temple of Rameswaram was about a ten-minute walk from Kalam’s house.
22. *How was the locality where Kalam lived?
👉The locality where Kalam lived was predominantly Muslim, but there were quite a lot of Hindu families too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbours.
23. Why was Kalam’s father well-known in his locality?
👉Kalam’s father was well-known in his locality for his philanthropic attitude to all the people of his locality.
24. *Where did Kalam’s go for the evening prayers? [WBCHSE Sample Question]
👉Kalam’s father went to a very old mosque in their locality for the evening prayers.
25. *Where would Kalam’s father take him to?
👉Kalam’s father would take him to the very old mosque in their locality where he would go for the evening prayers.
26. *When would Kalam’s father take Kalam to the local mosque?
👉Kalam’s father would take Kalam to the local mosque for the evening prayers.
27. *Mention the language in which prayers are chanted in the mosque.
👉In the mosque prayers are chanted in Arabic language.
Related Question
*In which language were the prayers chanted in the mosque? [WBCHSE H.S. 2023]
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28. What did little Kalam think of the prayers?
👉Though little Kalam had not the faintest idea of the meaning of the Arabic prayers chanted, he was totally convinced that they reached God.
29. What usually happened when Kalam’s father came out of the mosque after evening prayers?
👉After evening prayers when Kalam’s father came out of the mosque, people of different religions would be sitting outside waiting for him.
30. What did people do with the water?
👉 The sanctified water was then carried home for invalids.
31. *When did people come to thank Kalam’s father?
👉After being cured, people came to thank Kalam’s father.
32. What did Kalam’s father say when people thanked him after being cured?
👉 When people thanked Kalam’s father after being cured, he always smiled and asked them to thank Allah, the merciful.
33. *Who was the high priest of Rameswaram temple? [WBCHSE H.S. 2015]
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry was the high priest of Rameswaram temple.
Related Questions
[I] *Who was the priest of the Rameswaram temple? [WBCHSE H.S. 2022]
[II] *Who was the priest of the Shiva temple in ‘Strong Roots’? [WBCHSE H.S. 2017]
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry was the priest of the Shiva temple in ‘Strong Roots’.
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34. *Who was a very close friend of Abdul Kalam’s father? [WBCHSE H.S. 2020]
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple was a very close friend of Abdul Kalam’s father.
Related Question
*Whom did Kalam consider to be a very close friend of his father? [WBCHSE H.S. 2019]
👉Kalam considered Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple to be a close friend of his father.
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35. *Who would wear traditional attire in ‘Strong Roots’?
👉 Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen and his friend Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple would wear traditional attire in ‘Strong Roots’.
36. *What was the one vivid memory that Kalam shares about his father and the head priest of the temple?
👉The one vivid memory that Kalam shares about his father and the head priest of the temple was that the two men each in traditional attire discussing spiritual matters.
37. *What did Kalam ask his father?
👉Kalam asked his father about the relevance of prayer.
38. *What does Kalam’s father say about the relevance of prayer? [WBCHSE H.S. 2018]
👉Kalam’s father says about the relevance of prayer that there is nothing mysterious about prayer.
Related Question
*What does Kalam’s father say about the importance of prayer? [WBCHSE H.S. 2022]
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39. *What, according to Kalam’s father, makes possible a communion of the spirit between people?
👉According to Kalam’s father, prayer makes possible a communion of the spirit between people.
40. *How did Kalam’s father convey spiritual concepts?
👉Kalam’s father conveyed spiritual concepts in very simple down-to-earth Tamil.
41. What, according to Kalam’s father, is man an expression of?
👉According to Kalam’s father, man is an expression of the whole of the manifest divine being.
42. *What, according to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, does adversity always present? [WBCHSE H.S. 2016]
👉According to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s father, adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.
43. “For quite some time he said nothing,” Who said nothing and why?
👉Dr Kalam’s father said nothing as if he was judging the capacity of Kalam to comprehend his words.
44. How did his father’s answer inspire him?
👉His father’s answer inspired him with a strange energy and enthusiasm.
45. According to Kalam’s father, what do human beings do in their loneliness?
👉According to Kalam’s father, human beings in their loneliness, as a natural reaction, start looking for company.
46. *What do men, according to Jainulabdeen, want when they reach an impasse?
👉According to Jainulabdeen, when men reach an impasse, they want someone to show them the way out.
47. *What was the role of Kalam’s father in propitiating the demonic forces?
👉The role of Kalam’s father was mere a mediator in propitiating the demonic forces.
48. How do you know that Kalam’s father was acknowledged as a spiritual person?
👉From the discussion of the spiritual matters with the high priest of Rameswaram temple I come to know that Kalam’s father was acknowledged as a spiritual person.
49. What do you mean by fear-ridden vision of destiny?
👉 By ‘fear-ridden vision of destiny’ Dr Kalam means the fatalistic vision of destiny created out of fear for the divinity that shapes our life.
50. According to Jainulabdeen, what are the differences of which two visions one must understand?
👉According to Jainulabdeen, one must understand the difference between a fear-ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfillment within ourselves.
51. *When did the father of APJ Abdul Kalam get up from bed? [WBCHSE Sample Question]
👉The father of APJ Abdul Kalam got up from bed at 4 am before dawn.
52. *How did Jainulabdeen start his day?
👉Jainulabdeen started his day at 4 am by reading the namaz before dawn.
53. *What was the schedule of Kalam’s father after namaz?
👉After the namaz, Kalam’s father used to walk down to a small coconut grove they owned, about four miles from their home.
54. *How far was the coconut grove from Abdul Kalam’s house?
👉The coconut grove was about four miles from Abdul Kalam’s house.
55. Till when did he maintain this routine?
👉Kalam’s father maintained this routine even when he was in his late sixties.
56. *How has Kalam tried to emulate his father?
👉Kalam has tried to emulate his father in his own world of science and technology.
57. What can the divine power do, according to Kalam?
👉According to Kalam, the divine power can lift one up from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure, and guide one to one’s true place.
58. *How, according to Kalam, does one achieve freedom, happiness and peace of mind?
👉According to Kalam, one achieves freedom, happiness and peace of mind when once an individual severs his emotional and physical bond.
59. *What power, according to Kalam, shapes our life?
👉According to Kalam, divine power shapes our life.
60. *What were the necessary things Kalam’s father provided to his family? [WBCHSE H.S. 2023]
👉The necessary things Kalam’s father provided to his family were the things in terms of food, medicine or clothing.
61. *What were the names of Kalam’s parents? [WBCHSE H.S. 2024]
👉The names of Kalam’s parents were Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma.
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SET – II
1. When did the father of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam get up from bed?
👉The father of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam got up from bed at 4 am before dawn.
2. How was the house of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam?
👉The house of of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick.
3. How does Kalam describe his appearance?
👉Kalam describes his appearance as a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.
4. Where did Kalam’s father go for the evening prayers?
👉Kalam’s father went to a very old mosque in their locality for the evening prayers.
5. Name a distinguished friend of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s father.
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple was a distinguished friend of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s father.
6. What was the name of Abdul Kalam’s mother?
👉The name of Abdul Kalam’s mother was Ashiamma.
7. What did Kalam usually have in lunch?
👉Kalam usually had in lunch rice and aromatic sambar, a variety of sharp, home-made pickle and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney.
8. How far was Rameswaram temple from Kalam’s house?
👉Rameswaram temple was about a ten-minute walk from Kalam’s house.
9. What was the ethnic character of Kalam’s locality?
👉Kalam’s locality was predominantly Muslim, but there were quite a lot of Hindu families too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbours.
10. Where would Kalam go to pray to God?
👉Kalam would go to a very old mosque in their locality to pray to God.
11. Why did not Kalam understand the prayer?
👉Kalam did not understand the prayer because the prayer was chanted in Arabic.
12. Who awaited Kalam’s father outside the mosque?
👉People of different religions awaited Kalam’s father outside the mosque.
13. Where was Kalam born?
👉Kalam was born into a middle-class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras state.
14. Who was the ideal helpmate of Kalam’s father?
👉Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma was the ideal helpmate of Kalam’s father.
15. How did Kalam look like in his childhood?
👉Kalam looked like a short boy with rather undistinguished looks in his childhood.
16. When was Kalam’s ancestral house build?
👉Kalam’s ancestral house was built in the middle of the 19th century.
17. Why did the people carry bowls of water to their house?
👉The people carried bowls of water to their house for invalids.
18. Who was Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry?
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple was a very close friend of Kalam’s father.
19. Who was Kalam’s father close friend?
👉Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple was a very close friend of Kalam’s father.
20. What was one of the most vivid memories of Kalam’s early childhood?
👉One of the most vivid memories of Kalam’s early childhood was of the two men (Kalam’s father and Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple), each in traditional attire, discussing spiritual matters.
21. How did prayer help men according to Kalam’s father?
👉According to Kalam’s father, prayer made possible a communion of the spirit between people.
22. How did Kalam’s father look upon human being?
👉Kalam’s father looked upon human being as a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine being.
23. What did Kalam’s father think about adversity?
👉Kalam’s father thought that adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.
24. What would Kalam’s father do after the namaz at dawn?
👉After the namaz at dawn, Kalam’s father would walk down to a small coconut grove they owned, about four miles from their home.
25. Who, according to Kalam, lifts up a man from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure?
👉According to Kalam, the divine power lifts up a man from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure.
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