Chapter -1 : How I Taught My Grandmother to Read || Poem: Bharat Our Land

CBSE Class 9 English Notes

Curated & Guided by Pratap Sanjay Sir

Classroom Notes • English Literature (Class IX)

Teacher: Pratap Sanjay Sir | Revision: Term Exam Special

Chapter 01 Prose

Author: Sudha Murty

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

"A deeply inspiring real-life incident celebrating the zeal (उत्साह) for education, respect for teachers, and the ageless spirit of learning."

Core Essence of the Story (कहानी का मुख्य संदेश): Learning has no age bar (सीखने की कोई उम्र सीमा नहीं होती)! With unyielding determination (अटल दृढ़ संकल्प) and hard work, 62-year-old Krishtakka transformed her helplessness (लाचारी) into empowering self-reliance (आत्मनिर्भरता).

Dramatis Personae (Key Characters / मुख्य पात्र)

Sudha Murty (The Narrator / कथावाचिका)

A 12-year-old granddaughter residing in a quiet village of North Karnataka. Loving, bright, and empathetic (संवेदनशील), she becomes her grandmother's dedicated and affectionate (स्नेहशील) tutor (शिक्षिका).

Krishtakka (Avva / दादी माँ)

The 62-year-old grandmother. Illiterate (निरक्षर/अनपढ़) because early marriage and domestic chores prevented schooling, but possessed extraordinary grit (दृढ़ इच्छाशक्ति), razor-sharp memory, and an ardent (उत्कट/तीव्र) passion to learn.

Triveni (Renowned Kannada Author / प्रसिद्ध कन्नड़ लेखिका)

A celebrated Kannada novelist. Her serialised (धारावाहिक) stories dealt with realistic, complex psychological (मनोवैज्ञानिक) struggles of ordinary rural folks with genuine empathy.

Kashi Yatre (The Serialised Novel / उपन्यास)

Triveni's celebrated novel in the weekly magazine Karmaveera. An elderly woman sacrifices her pilgrimage (तीर्थयात्रा) savings to marry off a destitute (बेसहारा/दीन-हीन) orphan girl, placing human compassion (दया/करुणा) above religious rituals (धार्मिक कर्मकांड).

Comprehensive Summary & Plot Flow (विस्तृत सारांश)

1. Life in the Village & The Karmaveera Weekly: When Sudha Murty was around 12 years old, transport facilities (यातायात साधन) in remote North Karnataka villages were poor, causing newspapers and weekly magazines to arrive with a delay. Triveni was the most popular Kannada writer of that era. Her novel Kashi Yatre was published in weekly installments in Karmaveera.

2. Avva's Weekly Ritual & Deep Attachment: Grandmother Krishtakka had never attended school due to childhood poverty and early marriage. However, she was deeply captivated (आकर्षित) by Kashi Yatre. Every Wednesday, the young narrator would read the latest episode aloud. Avva listened with rapt concentration (एकाग्रता), memorised each scene, and later engaged in lively debates (चर्चा/बहस) about the heroine’s selfless choices with friends at the temple courtyard.

3. The Crisis of Helplessness (लाचारी और दुख का क्षण): The narrator left the village for a week to attend a relative's wedding in a neighbouring village. In her absence, the weekly edition arrived. Krishtakka desperately wanted to know the climax (चरमोत्कर्ष), opened the magazine, lovingly touched the Kannada letters and pictures, but could not decipher (पढ़/समझ) a single syllable. Her inability brought agonizing (अत्यधिक कष्टकारी) tears of embarrassment (शर्मिंदगी) and inadequacy.

4. The Vow at Sixty-Two (62 वर्ष की उम्र में दृढ़ संकल्प): Upon her granddaughter’s return, Krishtakka tearfully confessed her deep sorrow. Refusing to remain dependent (आश्रित) on others, she firmly announced: "For learning there is no age bar." (सीखने की कोई उम्र नहीं होती)। She resolved (संकल्प लिया) to master the Kannada alphabet and set a strict deadline: the auspicious Saraswati Puja day during Dassara (Vijayadashami).

5. Relentless Practice & The Ultimate Reverence (श्रद्धा और कृतज्ञता): Avva practiced tirelessly—reciting, writing, and doing homework late into the night. By Dassara, she read Kashi Yatre fluently and independently. In a deeply poignant (हृदयस्पर्शी) gesture, Avva bent down and touched the feet of her 12-year-old granddaughter. When the surprised child asked why, Avva explained that she was honoring a Guru / Teacher who had guided her from the darkness of illiteracy into the light of knowledge, fulfilling the sacred ethos (संस्कार) that a teacher must be respected irrespective (बिना भेदभाव) of age or gender.

Major Themes to Remember (मुख्य विषय)

• Lifelong Learning: Education transcends (परे है) age, physical barriers, and social conventions.
• Empowerment & Self-Respect: Literacy transforms helpless dependency into dignified autonomy (स्वायत्तता).
• Reverence for Teachers (गुरु-सम्मान): Sincere gratitude acknowledges wisdom and guidance, ignoring chronological age.
• Compassion over Ritual (कर्मकांड से बढ़कर दया): As seen in Triveni's story, helping human beings in distress is superior to external pilgrimages.

Fast Exam Bullet Points (त्वरित पुनरावृत्ति)

• ✔ Written by renowned author & philanthropist (परोपकारी) Sudha Murty.
• ✔ Grandmother's name: Krishtakka (Avva = Mother in Kannada).
• ✔ Novel serial: Kashi Yatre by Triveni in weekly Karmaveera.
• ✔ Felt helpless (असहाय) when narrator was away at a wedding.
• ✔ Age when Krishtakka started learning: 62 years.
• ✔ Target deadline achieved: Saraswati Puja during Dassara.
• ✔ Grandmother touched granddaughter’s feet as respect to her dedicated teacher.

Important Exam Questions & Answers

Q1. Why did grandmother identify herself with the protagonist of Kashi Yatre?

Krishtakka had never visited Kashi (Varanasi) to worship Lord Vishveshwara, nor had she received formal education. Like the elderly lady in Triveni's novel who had an ardent desire for salvation and selfless empathy, Krishtakka possessed deep faith and a compassionate heart. Hence, she identified completely with the character's journey.

Q2. Why was grandmother in tears when the narrator returned from the wedding?

In Sudha Murty’s absence, the weekly magazine arrived. Grandmother held the magazine, gazed at the pictures, and rubbed her hands over the Kannada letters, but was unable to read a single word. Her inability to find out what happened next in Kashi Yatre made her realize the crushing burden of her illiteracy, leaving her feeling helpless and tearful.

Q3. Why did the grandmother touch the feet of her 12-year-old granddaughter?

Traditionally, elders do not touch the feet of younger relatives. However, Krishtakka explained that she was touching the feet of her Guru (Teacher), who had patiently guided her from illiteracy to self-reliance. She demonstrated that knowledge and teachers deserve absolute reverence regardless of age or gender.

Kaveri Textbook • English Literature

Chapter 01 Poetry (Kaveri)

Poet: Subramania Bharati (Mahakavi Bharati)

Bharat Our Land

"A stirring patriotic ode (प्रशंसात्मक गीत) celebrating India’s matchless geographic grandeur (भौगोलिक भव्यता), spiritual wisdom, and timeless civilizational greatness."

Poetic Essence (कविता का सार): India is the "Golden Land" (स्वर्णिम भूमि)—she is peerless (अद्वितीय/जिसका कोई मुकाबला न हो), blessed with the mighty Himavant, generous Ganga, sacred Upanishads, and the peaceful teachings of Buddha.

About the Poet: Subramania Bharati (1882–1921)

Mahakavi Subramania Bharati was a renowned Tamil poet, patriotic freedom fighter, and social reformer (समाज सुधारक). His passionate verses aroused national unity, pride in motherland Bharat, and inspired Indians to break the shackles of bondage.

Core Pillars & Detailed Breakdown of the Poem

1. Incomparable Physical Majesty (अतुलनीय प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य)

The poet praises the mighty Himavant (Himalayas) which has no equal on earth, and the generous (उदार/दानशील) Ganga whose graceful flow bestows fertility, purity, and life across the land.

2. Deep Spiritual Foundations (आध्यात्मिक धरोहर)

India is sanctified (पवित्र) by the sacred Upanishads—holy scriptures (धार्मिक ग्रंथ) unmatched in philosophy. It is here that Brahma-knowledge (ब्रह्मज्ञान / ultimate truth) first took root and enlightened mankind.

3. Legacy of Peace & Dhamma (शांति और सदाचार)

On this blessed land, Gautama Buddha preached his noble Dhamma (धर्म/सत्य का मार्ग), spreading boundless compassion (करुणा), harmony, and peace throughout the ancient world.

4. Gallant Warriors & Sages (वीर योद्धा एवं तपस्वी ऋषि)

Gallant (शूरवीर/साहसी) warriors protected this holy soil with supreme bravery, while venerable sages (तपस्वी संत) sanctified it through spiritual wisdom. All auspicious (शुभ/कल्याणकारी) virtues are found here.

Poetic Devices (साहित्यिक अलंकार): Ode (प्रशस्ति काव्य): A lyrical poem expressing profound admiration and reverence.
Hyperbole (अतिशयोक्ति): Extreme deliberate exaggeration used to celebrate India's unique grandeur (e.g., "there's no equal anywhere on earth").

Poetic Themes (प्रमुख विषय)

• Fervent Patriotism (प्रबल देशभक्ति): Celebrating the unmatched glory of motherland Bharat.
• Hoary Antiquity (अति प्राचीन इतिहास): India’s ancient, unbroken heritage and wisdom across millennia.
• Natural & Spiritual Wealth: Purity of the Ganga, loftiness of the Himalayas, and teachings of the Buddha.

Quick Memory Snapshot (त्वरित बिंदु)

• ✔ Written by Tamil poet-patriot Subramania Bharati.
• ✔ Hailed as peerless (अद्वितीय) "Golden Land".
• ✔ Himavant signifies unshakeable stature and strength.
• ✔ Generous Ganga symbolizes holy purification and life.
• ✔ Sacred Upanishads represent profound ancient philosophy.
• ✔ Gautam Buddha preached non-violence, peace, and Dhamma.

Essential Questions & Answers (महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्नोत्तर)

Q1. What is the central idea / moral of the poem Bharat Our Land?

The poem is a patriotic tribute (श्रद्धांजलि) praising India's unparalleled natural magnificence, civilizational wisdom, and sacred spiritual heritage. It calls upon citizens to feel immense pride in their homeland and uphold its noble ethical traditions.

Q2. Why is India referred to as a "Golden Land" (स्वर्णिम भूमि)?

India is celebrated as the "Golden Land" not merely for agricultural fertility and material resources, but primarily for its golden spiritual heritage, eternal philosophical treatises (like the Upanishads), noble warriors, and moral greatness.

Q3. Why does the poet call the Ganga "generous" (उदार) and what do the Himalayas symbolize?

The poet describes the Ganga as "generous" because her holy waters selflessly nourish fields, sustain millions of lives, and wash away sins. The mighty Himavant (Himalayas) symbolizes steadfast protective power, unmatched elevation, and enduring strength.

👉 Your exercise link of this chapter: English class 9-chapter-1

Curriculum: Class IX (NCERT Kaveri English)

Written by Pratap Sanjay Sir

Class 9 Revision Quiz

1. At what age did Krishtakka decide to learn the Kannada alphabet?

2. Which festival was chosen as the target deadline by the grandmother?

3. Who is the poet of the Chapter 1 poem "Bharat Our Land"?

Answer the questions above to test yourself!