Higher Secondary English Suggestion 2023
Prose
Strong Roots by A.P.J Abdul Kalam
Q:- "Why don't you
say this to the people who come to you for help and advice?"-
explain./"This is not a correct approach at all and should never be
followed."- explain./ "Adversity always presents opportunities for
introspection..."explain./"I have endeavoured to understand the
fundamental truths."- explain.
Ans:- The above line is taken from the
autobiographical sketch "Strong Roots", written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam.
When Kalam was a little boy, his used to take him to the nearby mosque for the
evening prayer.
When he came out of the mosque after the prayers, people of different
religions would be sitting outsides and waiting for him. There are bowls, full
of water in their hands. Kalam's father would dip his fingers in them and say a
prayer. This water then carried home for invalids. The people also came to
thank him after being cured. They believed that his father's prayer would cure
the disease. On his enquiry, his father his father confessed that there is
nothing mysterious about prayer. His father could convey complex spiritual
concepts in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil. According to him, every human
being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine Being. We
should face our sufferings, difficulties. Because, adversity always presents
opportunities for introspection.
Then little Kalam asked his father why did not he tell the fact to the
people who came. His father put his hands on his shoulder and looked straight
in his eyes. He tried to judge him if he would understand his words. His wise
father then answered, When we are in trouble, we always find a middle person
who can consol us as well as make communication between God and us.
The people who came to him in distress for special help, he tried to
join their effort to propitate divine forces with prayers and offerings. Though
he knew that it was not correct approach and it should not be followed. He
didn't tell them as they were ordinary ignorant people as well as they didn't
understand the complexness of the matter.