“His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm:”-What was the question? What answer is referred to here?

APJ Abdul Kalam says this to his father, Jainulabdeen.

Jainulabdeen has explained to his son that every human being is an integral part of the entire spiritual cosmos. Instead of being afraid of difficulties, sufferings and problems, one must try to find the relevance of sufferings in human life as adversity provides people with the opportunity for introspection. This philosophical teaching of Jainulabdeen is referred to as ‘this’. 

Jainulabdeen told Kalam as a reply to his question that whenever people are alone, as an obvious reaction, they look for companionship. He also added, that whenever people are in problem, they look for someone’s assistance. Whenever people reach an impasse, they seek someone to help them find a solution.

The distressed people come to Jainulabdeen for they consider him to be a medium in their effort to please the demonic forces with prayers and offerings.

“When my father came out of the mosque after the prayers, people of different religions would be sitting outside, waiting for him.” – What would usually happen when Kalam’s father came out of the mosque after the prayers? Why did the people of different religions wait for the narrator’s father? When would his father smile and ask people to thank Allah?


While explaining some spiritual concepts to Kalam, Jainulabdeen told him that every human being is a specific element within the entire manifest divine being. He also said that instead of being afraid of difficulties and adversities, one must try to find out the relevance of one’s suffering because adversities always provide opportunities for introspection. On this, Kalam asked his father why he had not told these to the people who came to him to seek his advice and help. Jainulabdeen replied that humans, whenever to find themselves alone, start looking for company. If they face any difficulty they look for someone to help them. They hope that someone will show them the way out from an impasse. Hence, despite considering this to be a wrong approach, he helped the distressed with his prayers to provide emotional support to them. He did this out of sheer sympathy and love for them. He acted as a ‘go-between’ in order to appease the demonic forces in their lives. That is why he could not tell them, what he had told his son about spirituality.

“This is not a correct approach at all…”—Who said this? What is the approach’? Why is the approach not correct?

“One must understand the difference between a fear-ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfilment within ourselves.”-What do you mean by “.. fear-ridden vision of destiny”? What is the other vision? Which is to be preferred and why?

What kind of a childhood did APJ Abdul Kalam have?

How did Kalam’s father function as a religious healer? How much successful was he?

What was Kalam’s father’s response to his son’s query about prayer and spirituality?

What information do we get about the daily routine of Kalam’s father from the autobiographical piece Strong Roots’? How did it inspire young Kalam?

What had remained the routine for Abdul Kalam’s father even when he was in his late sixties? What does Abdul Kalam say about his emulation of his father?

How did his father’s attitude to adversity influence the young Kalam?

How did Kalam’s father influence Kalam’s perception and interpretation of divine power? How, according to Abdul Kalam, can an individual achieve freedom, happiness and peace of mind?

What do you learn from APJ Abdul Kalam’s autobiography?

How does Abdul Kalam express his gratitude towards his father?

Discuss the central idea of the story “Thank You Ma’am.”

Discuss the significance of the title of “Thank You Ma’am”.

What features of the character of Mrs Luella Bates are exposed in the short story “Thank You Ma’am”?

“The boy wanted to say something else other than “Thank you, ma’am” to Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones’ – Who was the boy? Why did he want to say something else other than “Thank you, Ma’am” to the woman?

Sketch the character of Roger.

“…and shook him until his teeth rattled.” Who is mentioned as “him'”? Who shook him? Why was he shaken?