How I Taught My Grandmother to Read – Revision Notes

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read is a story authored by Sudha Murty. It is the first chapter in the NCERT new textbook for grade 9 English. Here is the summary of the story How I Taught My Grandmother to Read.

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Summary of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

1. Life in the Village

The narrator recalls her childhood when she was about twelve years old and stayed with her grandparents in a village in North Karnataka. During that time, transportation was poor, so newspapers and weekly magazines arrived late. The whole family eagerly waited for the bus that brought letters, newspapers, and magazines. One popular Kannada weekly magazine carried a serial novel called Kashi Yatre, written by the famous Kannada author Triveni. The novel told the emotional story of an elderly woman who longed to visit Kashi (Varanasi) for religious fulfillment.

2. Grandmother’s Interest in the Story

The narrator’s grandmother, Krishtakka (whom she lovingly called Avva), could not read because she had never attended school. Every Wednesday, when the magazine arrived, the narrator would read the latest episode of Kashi Yatre aloud to her grandmother. Avva listened with great interest and concentration. She related deeply to the story because the protagonist was also an elderly woman with strong desires and emotions. After listening, she would discuss the story with her friends in the temple courtyard.

3. The Grandmother’s Realization

One time, the narrator went to a neighboring village for a wedding and stayed away for a week. During her absence, the magazine arrived as usual. When she returned, she saw her grandmother crying. Avva explained that she had opened the magazine and saw the pictures but could not read the text. She felt helpless and dependent on others because she was illiterate. This realization made her feel deeply embarrassed and sad.

4. Determination to Learn

Determined to become independent, Avva decided to learn the Kannada alphabet. She asked her granddaughter to teach her and set a goal: by the time of the Dassara festival and Saraswati Puja, she wanted to read a novel on her own. Despite her age of sixty-two, she worked very hard—reading, writing, and practicing daily. The narrator became her teacher, and Avva proved to be a dedicated student.

5. Success and Respect for the Teacher

By the time Dassara arrived, Avva successfully learned to read. The narrator gifted her the novel Kashi Yatre. In a touching moment, the grandmother bent down and touched her granddaughter’s feet to show respect to her teacher. She explained that a teacher deserves respect regardless of age. The narrator realized that her grandmother had passed her learning test with great success and pride.

Important Questions of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

Here are 5 subjective questions with answers based on the story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read.”

1. Why was the narrator’s grandmother so interested in the story Kashi Yatre?

Answer:
The narrator’s grandmother was very interested in the story Kashi Yatre because she could closely relate to the main character of the novel. The story described an old woman who had a strong desire to visit Kashi (Varanasi), which is considered a sacred pilgrimage place for Hindus. Similarly, the grandmother also had many unfulfilled wishes in life because she had not received an education and had spent her life taking care of her family. Since she could not read, she depended on her granddaughter to read the story aloud every week. She listened with great attention and even discussed the story with her friends. The emotional struggles of the character made the story meaningful and engaging for her.

2. What incident made the grandmother decide to learn how to read and write?

Answer:
The grandmother decided to learn how to read and write when the narrator went away to attend a wedding in another village. During her absence, the weekly magazine arrived with the next episode of Kashi Yatre. The grandmother opened the magazine but could not read the words. She could only see the pictures and felt helpless and dependent on others. She felt embarrassed to ask anyone else to read it for her. This made her realize the importance of education and independence. As a result, she decided to learn the Kannada alphabet and become literate so that she could read on her own.

3. Describe the efforts made by the grandmother to learn reading and writing.

Answer:
The grandmother showed great determination and dedication in learning to read and write. She asked her granddaughter to teach her the Kannada alphabet and set a goal to read a novel independently by the time of the Dassara festival. Despite being sixty-two years old, she worked very hard every day. She practiced reading, writing, and repeating the lessons regularly. She completed all her homework sincerely and never gave up, even though learning at that age was difficult. Her strong willpower and discipline helped her achieve her goal successfully.

4. Why did the grandmother touch the narrator’s feet on the day of Dassara?

Answer:
On the day of Dassara, the grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect and gratitude. In Indian tradition, touching someone’s feet is a way of showing respect to elders, teachers, or spiritual guides. Even though the narrator was much younger, the grandmother considered her a teacher who had helped her become literate. She believed that a teacher deserves respect regardless of age or gender. By touching her granddaughter’s feet, she expressed her appreciation for the knowledge and guidance she had received.

5. What message does the story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” convey?

Answer:
The story conveys several important messages about education, determination, and respect for teachers. It shows that learning has no age limit and anyone can gain knowledge if they are determined. The grandmother’s efforts prove that strong willpower and hard work can help overcome difficulties. The story also highlights the importance of education in making a person independent and confident. Additionally, it emphasizes the respect that should be given to teachers, regardless of their age or position. Overall, the story inspires readers to value education and lifelong learning.