Lesson
-4
My Childhood
Do you know any
stories from Mahatma Gandhi's life?
My father bought a
book named "Shravana Pitrabhakti Natak". I read it with intense
interest. I was shown the picture of Shravana carrying his blind parents in a
'Kanwar'. The book and the picture left a lasting impression on my mind.
"Here is an
example for you to copy", I said to myself. The play
"Harishchandra" also captured my heart. I was never tired of watching
it. Still both Harishchandra and Shravana are living realities for me. I am
always moved if I read those plays.
I was
about seven when my father left Porbander for Rajkot. There I was put in a
primary school. I do not remember having ever told a lie during my school days,
either to my teachers or to my schoolmates. I was very shy and avoided all
company. My books and my lessons were my only companions.
Once
Mr. Giles came for inspection. He gave us five words to write as a spelling
exercise. One of the words was 'kettle'. I misspelt it. The teacher tried to
prompt me but I didn't want to be prompted. I didn't copy the spelling from my
neighbour's slate. All students spelt every word correctly, only I was stupid.
After the inspection was over, the teacher pointed out my stupidity. Why didn't
I copy from my neighbour? This had no effect on me.
1.
Word power
Choose from the
given words and fill in the blanks:
(impression, lie,
reality, copied, power)
The life of Mahatma
Gandhi left a lasting impression on
my mind. Till today Gandhiji is a living reality for Indians. He is
an example to be copied. He
did not remember having told a lie during his school days. He taught us
the power of non-violence
and non-cooperation.
2.
Comprehension questions
Answer these questions:
Q.1. What was the task that Mr. Giles set?
Ans. - Once Mr.
Giles came for inspection. He gave five words to write as a spelling exercise.
Q.2. Why didn't Gandhiji copy?
Ans. - Gandhiji
always believed in truth, therefore he disliked to copy.
Q.3. What left a lasting impression on Gandhiji's
mind?
Ans. - The book
"shravana Pitra Bhakti Natak" and picture of shravan carrying his
blind parents in kanwar, left a lasting impression on his mind.
Q.4. Why were
"Shravana" and "Harishchandra" important to Mahatma Gandhi?
Ans. - Mahatm
Gandhi was very much impressed by the characters of shravana and harishchandra
therefore they were important for him.
Q.5. Are they important to you and why?
Ans. - Yes,they are equally important to us also, because
of their, truthfulness and 'pitrabhakti' of Harishchandra and Shravana
respective.
3.
Grammar in use
1) Make sentences of your own, using the past
tense of the verbs given:
cook,
play, clean, think
1. Example : I liked the book.
a. I cooked food.
b. I played cricket.
c. She cleaned the office
d. He thought about you.
make, write, ride,
give
2. Example : He ran home.
a. He made his home.
b. She wrote a letter.
c. Shyam rode on a house.
d. Ram gave me a pen.
try, fry, copy
3. Example : The baby cried.
a. I tried to learn English.
b. She fried the onions.
c. He never copied in his life
put, hit, read
4. Example : I cut a mango.
a. He put his book on the table.
b. He hit the ball with a bat.
c. He read the book.
2) Here are a few sentences written in simple
present tense. Read them and change into simple past tense:
[
Ramu says this about his grand father]
My grandfather
wakes up early in the morning. He goes to market. He buys fruit, chocolates and
vegetables. He comes home. Then he has lunch and rests for a while.
In the evening, he
tells us stories from the Panchatantra. He relates to us several events from
his life.
We like our
grandfather.
Ans. –
[ Ramu says this about his grand father]
My grandfather woke up early in the morning. He went
to market. He bought fruit, chocolates and vegetables. He Came home. Then he had lunch and rested for a while.
In the evening, he told us stories from the Panchatantra. He related to us several events from his life.
We like our grandfather.
3) Complete the following chart:
Write the three
forms of the verbs given below:
Verb - I | Verb - II | Verb - III |
---|---|---|
Remember | Remembered | Remembered |
Avoid | Avoided | Avoided |
Prompt | Prompted | Prompted |
Purchase | Purchased | Purchased |
Capture | Captured | Captured |
Tire | Tired | Tired |
Move | Moved | Moved |
4. Let's
talk
[Work
in pairs]
Discuss in pairs
and find answers to the following questions:
1. When was Mahatma Gandhi born?
Ans. – Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 at
Porbandar in Gujarat.
2. What was his father's name?
Ans. – His father’s name was Karamchand Gandhi.
3. What was his mother's name?
Ans. – His mother’s name was putlibai.
4. When did he go to London?
Ans. – He went to London for higher education after
copleting his secondary education in 1881.
5. Why did he go to South Africa?
Ans. – He went to South Africa to plead in a case.
5.
Let's write
Talk to your friend
about Gandhiji and his life and write things that you would like to follow.
Choose from the given words. (Self-help, simplicity, truthfulness,
non-violence, vegetarianism)
Ans. -
You | Your Friend |
---|---|
1. Self help | 1. Simplicity |
2. Truthfulness | 2. Vegetarianism |
3. Non-violence | 3. Truthfulness |
4. Simplicity | 4. Non-violence |