Chapter 1: How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

• Author: Sudha Murty.
• Setting: A village in north Karnataka; the family reads a Kannada magazine serial.
• Story within the chapter: Kashi Yatre, a serialised story the grandmother enjoys.
• Important occasion: Dassara is the grandmother’s learning-goal deadline.
• Date note: The lesson does not specify an exact calendar year or date. The date of Dassara changes each year.
• Inventions and discoveries: No particular invention or scientific discovery is central to this story. Focus on literacy, determination and independence.

• Explain why the grandmother decides to become literate in later life.
• Describe the relationship between the narrator and her grandmother.
• Discuss literacy, independence, determination and respect for teachers.
• Understand the central idea and patriotic tone of the companion poem.
• Practise vocabulary, comprehension and paragraph writing.

The narrator remembers her childhood in a village in north Karnataka, where she lived with her grandparents. The family eagerly waited for newspapers and a weekly magazine to arrive by bus. The magazine carried a serialised story called Kashi Yatre, which the grandmother loved.

The grandmother could not read because she had not received formal schooling when she was young. She depended on her granddaughter to read each instalment aloud. When the granddaughter had to be away for a few days, the grandmother could not continue reading the story herself. This experience made her realise how much she wanted to read independently.

She decided to learn the Kannada alphabet and set herself a clear goal: she would be able to read by the festival of Dassara. Her granddaughter became her teacher. The grandmother practised with discipline and determination. When she finally read independently, she showed deep respect for her young teacher. The story reminds readers that learning has no age limit and education helps people become independent.

• Central idea: Education builds confidence and independence.
• Grandmother: Determined, eager to learn, humble and disciplined.
• Granddaughter: Patient and supportive; she becomes the grandmother’s teacher.
• Turning point: The grandmother cannot read the next magazine instalment when her granddaughter is away.
• Goal: Learn to read before Dassara.
• Message: It is never too late to learn; regular practice helps us reach a goal.

The grandmother

She is affectionate, determined, eager to learn and humble. She recognises a difficulty in her life and takes responsibility for overcoming it.

The granddaughter / narrator

She is caring, patient and supportive. She takes her grandmother’s wish seriously and teaches her with encouragement.

• Lifelong learning: A person can begin learning at any age.
• Literacy and independence: Reading gives people greater control over everyday life.
• Determination: A clear goal and regular practice help overcome difficulties.
• Respect for teachers: A teacher deserves respect because of the role of teaching, not because of age.
• Family support: Patient encouragement can help someone achieve a meaningful goal.

• Illiterate: unable to read and write.
• Determined: firmly decided to do something.
• Independent: able to do things without depending on others.
• Eager: very interested and excited to do something.
• Embarrassed: feeling shy or uncomfortable.
• Instalment: one part of a story published at a time.
• Appreciate: recognise the value of something.
• Respect: show regard for someone or something.

Central idea: The poem expresses pride in India’s natural beauty, cultural richness and achievements. It presents the country with admiration and encourages readers to value their homeland.

Tone: Patriotic, appreciative and celebratory.

Revision points: Identify the images of nature and achievement used by the poet. Explain how these images create a feeling of pride. Support answers with brief references to the poem rather than memorising long passages.

20 marks · Suggested time: 25 minutes

1. (2) Why was the grandmother unable to read the magazine herself?
2. (2) What did she decide to achieve by Dassara?
3. (3) Explain how the granddaughter supported her.
4. (3) Describe two qualities of the grandmother with reasons.
5. (5) “Education gives people independence.” Explain with reference to the story.
6. (5) Write a short paragraph about a time when someone helped you learn a new skill.

Self-check guide: Award marks for accurate understanding, relevant details, complete sentences, clear explanation and correct grammar. Questions 5–6 are open-ended; answers may differ.

20 marks · Suggested time: 25 minutes

1. (2) State the central idea of “Bharat Our Land”.
2. (2) Identify the tone of the poem and give one reason.
3. (3) Explain how a poet can create a feeling of pride through images of a country.
4. (3) Write meanings of: determined, appreciate, independent.
5. (5) Write a paragraph on “Respect for teachers”.
6. (5) Imagine you are teaching an older family member a new skill. Describe your plan in 80–100 words.

Self-check guide: Check that your answers explain ideas in your own words, use relevant examples and follow the word limit.

• Can I explain why the grandmother wanted to learn?
• Can I describe the narrator’s role?
• Can I explain the story’s message in my own words?
• Can I define the important vocabulary?
• Can I explain the central idea and tone of the poem?
• Have I attempted both mock tests without looking at the notes?