How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read is a heart-touching story about the importance of education and determination.
The story is narrated by Sudha Murty. During her childhood, she lived with her grandparents in a village in north Karnataka. Every Wednesday, she used to read a Kannada serial story called Kashi Yatre to her grandmother, who was illiterate and could not read on her own.
Once, the narrator went to a wedding and stayed away for a week. During that time, the grandmother could not read the next episode of the story and felt very helpless and dependent. She realised the importance of education and decided to learn reading and writing at the age of sixty-two.
The narrator became her teacher and taught her the Kannada alphabet. The grandmother worked very hard and finally learned to read the novel independently by the time of Dassara festival.
At the end, the grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her teacher. The story teaches us that there is no age limit for learning and that education gives confidence and independence.
Check Your Understanding-I
I Complete the cause and effect table given below based on Part I of the story. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1. The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late. | (i) The villagers waited eagerly for the bus carrying newspapers and magazines. |
| 2. The grandmother, Krishtakka, never went to school. | (ii) She could not read the novel by herself. |
| 3. The narrator read Kashi Yatre to her grandmother every week. | (iii) She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends. |
| 4. The narrator went to a wedding for a week. | (iv) The grandmother could not read the latest episode and cried. |
| 5. In those days, girls were not encouraged to study. | (v) The grandmother regretted not going to school. |
| 6. The grandmother regretted not going to school. | (vi) She decided to learn reading and writing. |
Check Your Understanding-II
State whether the following sentences are true or false.
| No. | Statement | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence. | True |
| 2. | The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away. | False |
| 3. | The narrator was the grandmother’s first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada. | True |
| 4. | The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning. | True |
| 5. | The grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher. | True |
| 6. | The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read. | False |
Critical Reflection – Extract 1
When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried.
‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’
I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka.
She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.
Questions and Answers
(i) Complete the following sentence with the appropriate option.
The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was ________________.
A. strong-willed
B. understanding
C. considerate
D. bold
Answer: A. strong-willed
(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too ________________________ (emotional/tired) to respond.
Answer: emotional
(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
Answer:
Answer: The line “we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house” indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?
Answer: “Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.”
(v) Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?
A. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother
B. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
D. the narrator’s concern for her grandmother
Answer: C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
Critical Reflection – Extract 2
‘I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.’
I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her.
‘Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen...’
Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.
‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.’
Questions and Answers
(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
A. She wanted to be literate.
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
Answer: B. She desires self-sufficiency.
(ii) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.
The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no ___________________. (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers)
Answer: age limit
(iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because ___________________.
Answer: She thought that old people could not learn at that age.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Answer: Determination and Hardworking nature
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answer: The narrator assumes that her grandmother is too old to learn because of her age, grey hair, and wrinkled hands.
II Answer the Following Questions
1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
Answer: The grandmother felt embarrassed because she was old and still could not read or write. She did not want others to know that she depended on someone else for reading the story. Her inability to read made her feel helpless and dependent. This incident made her realise the true value of education and independence in life.
2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Answer: The narrator initially laughed because she thought that learning at the age of sixty-two was unusual and difficult. She believed old people could not study like young children. Seeing her grandmother’s grey hair, wrinkled hands, and old age, she childishly assumed that learning would not be possible for her grandmother.
3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?
Answer: Kashi Yatre played an important role in the grandmother’s life. She deeply connected herself with the old lady in the novel and eagerly waited for each episode. When she could not read the story herself, she realised the importance of literacy. Thus, the novel became the main reason behind her decision to learn reading and writing.
4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Answer: The grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflects her determination, courage, and self-respect. Even at the age of sixty-two, she was ready to work hard to become independent. She proved that age cannot stop a person from learning if there is strong determination and a sincere desire to improve oneself.
5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
Answer: The grandmother touching the narrator’s feet teaches us that teachers deserve respect regardless of age or relationship. She respected her granddaughter as her teacher because she helped her gain knowledge and independence. This action also highlights Indian culture and values where education and teachers are given the highest respect in society.
6. What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story?
“For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.”
Answer: This line highlights the main theme of the story — determination and hard work can help people overcome difficulties. The grandmother’s strong will helped her learn reading despite her old age. The statement also teaches that no goal is impossible if a person is sincere, confident, and ready to work with dedication.
7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer: The story effectively shows that education gives confidence, self-respect, and independence. The grandmother felt helpless because she could not read on her own. After learning the Kannada alphabet, she became independent and confident. The story clearly teaches that education is important for everyone and that learning can change a person’s life positively.
