My Mother -APJ (NEP ALIGNED QIESTIONS)

My Mother

By Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

NEP 2020 Aligned | Competency Based Learning

Section 1: The Landscape & Divine Memory

"Sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims’ faith, Rameswaram Mosque Street, all merge into one, My Mother! You come to me like Heaven’s caring arms. I remember the war days when life was challenge and toil — Miles to walk, hours before sunrise..."

Assertion & Reasoning

Q1. Assertion (A): The poet compares his mother to "Heaven's caring arms".
Reason (R): Rameswaram was a holy place full of pilgrims.

• A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A. (The comparison is about her protective nature, not just the location).

Competency Based (Analysis)

Q2 (Analysis). "Life was challenge and toil." Analyse the context of this line.

• a) The poet was lazy and found work difficult.
• b) It refers to the hardships faced during World War II, where even a child had to work hard.

Source Based & Vocab

Q3. Which three elements merge into one memory?

• a) School, Books, Teacher
• b) Sea waves, Golden sand, Pilgrim's faith

Q4. Synonym for "Toil":

• a) Play
• b) Hard work/Exhausting labor

1. Assertion: B (Both True, but R doesn't explain A)

2. Analysis: (b) Hardships during World War II

3. Source: (b) Sea waves, Golden sand, Pilgrim's faith

4. Vocab: (b) Hard work

Section 2: The Routine & The War

"Walking to take lessons from the saintly teacher near the temple. Again miles to the Arab teaching school, Climb sandy hills to Railway Station Road, Collect, distribute newspapers to temple city citizens, Few hours after sunrise, going to school. Evening, business time, poor family. All this pain of a young boy, My Mother you transformed into pious strength..."

Competency Based

Q1 (Evaluation). "You transformed into pious strength." Evaluate the mother's role here.

• a) She did the work for him.
• b) Her spiritual support and love turned his physical pain into emotional strength.

Assertion & Reasoning

Q2. Assertion (A): The boy had a very busy schedule before going to regular school.
Reason (R): He had to attend religious classes and deliver newspapers to support the family.

• A) Both A & R True, R explains A

Source Based & MCQ

Q3. Why did he climb to the Railway Station Road? (a) To play (b) To collect newspapers

Q4. What word describes the teacher near the temple? (a) Strict (b) Saintly

Vocab & True/False

Q5 (Vocab). Meaning of "Pious": (a) Devoutly religious/Holy (b) Weak

Q6 (T/F). The boy worked in the evenings as well ("Evening, business time").

1. Evaluation: (b) Her spiritual support turned pain into strength

2. Assertion: A (Both True, R explains A)

3. Source: (b) To collect newspapers

4. Source: (b) Saintly

5. Vocab: (a) Devoutly religious

6. True/False: True

Section 3: The Sacrifice

"Five times kneeling and bowing with Namaz Shankara Five times kneeling... I still remember the day when I was ten, Sleeping on your lap to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters. It was full moon night, my world only you knew... Mother! Mother! When at midnight I woke with tears falling on my knee You knew the pain of your child, My Mother."

Competency Based (Empathy)

Q1 (Analysis). Why were the elder brothers and sisters envious?

• a) Because the poet got extra food.
• b) Because the poet was receiving special attention, sleeping on the mother's lap.

Situation Based

Q2. Imagine you are the poet at age 10. You wake up crying at midnight. How does the mother react?

• a) She scolds him for waking her up.
• b) She instantly understands his pain without him speaking.

Source Based & MCQ

Q3. How old was the poet in this memory? (a) Seven (b) Ten

Q4. "Kneeling and bowing" refers to: (a) Exercise (b) Prayer (Namaz)

True or False

Q5. It was a new moon night (dark night). (False - "Full moon night")

1. Analysis: (b) Special attention/Sleeping on lap

2. Situation: (b) She understands his pain

3. Source: (b) Ten

4. MCQ: (b) Prayer

5. T/F: False (Full moon)

Section 4: The Final Sacrifice & Reunion

"Your caring hands, tenderly removing the pain Your love, your care, your faith gave me strength To face the world without fear and with His strength. We will meet again on the great Judgment Day. My Mother!"

Competency Based

Q1 (Justification). "To face the world without fear." Justify how a mother's love leads to fearlessness in a child.

• (Hint: Security, confidence, foundation of faith)

Assertion & Reasoning

Q2. Assertion (A): The poet is confident about meeting his mother again.
Reason (R): He believes in the afterlife and the "Judgment Day".

• A) Both A & R True, R explains A

Vocab & Fill in Blanks

Q3 (Vocab). Antonym for "Tenderly": (a) Gently (b) Harshly

Q4 (FIB). The poet says her love gave him strength to face the world without ______.

Situation Based (Reflection)

Q5. If the poet were alive today, based on this poem, what value would he ask students to cherish most?

• a) Earning money
• b) Respecting parents and having faith

1. Justification: Unconditional love provides a secure base, boosting self-esteem and faith in God, removing fear.

2. Assertion: A (Both True)

3. Vocab: (b) Harshly

4. FIB: Fear

5. Situation: (b) Respecting parents and faith