English: Class 9 — Chapter 1: How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

The story, written by Sudha Murty, is a touching narrative about a twelve-year-old girl who helps her illiterate sixty-two-year-old grandmother, Krishtakka (Avva), learn to read and write.

• The Weekly Ritual: The narrator lived in a remote village in north Karnataka. Every Wednesday, the weekly magazine Karmaveera would arrive, featuring the serialised novel Kashi Yatre by the popular writer Triveni. Since Avva could not read, the narrator would read the weekly episode aloud to her.
• The Connection: The novel told the story of an old woman who desired to go to Kashi but sacrificed her savings to help an orphan girl get married. Avva deeply identified with the protagonist, as she too had never been to Kashi.
• The Crisis: The narrator went to a neighboring village for a wedding and stayed for a week. During this time, the magazine arrived, but Avva was unable to read it. She felt helpless, dependent, and deeply embarrassed to ask anyone else for help.
• The Resolution: Upon the narrator's return, Avva tearfully expressed her regret over her lack of education. She declared her determination to learn the Kannada alphabet, setting the festival of Dassara (Saraswati Puja) as her deadline.
• The Achievement: Under the narrator's guidance, Avva worked incredibly hard. By Dassara, she was able to read the newly published novel Kashi Yatre independently. In a gesture of gratitude, Avva touched her young granddaughter's feet, honoring her as her teacher.

• Krishtakka (Avva): A determined, strong-willed, and humble sixty-two-year-old woman. Despite her age, she possesses a passionate desire for self-sufficiency and believes that "for learning there is no age bar." Her act of touching her granddaughter's feet shows her deep respect for education and teachers, transcending traditional age barriers.
• The Narrator (Sudha Murty): A twelve-year-old girl who is affectionate and observant. Though she initially laughs childishly at her grandmother's ambition, she quickly becomes a dedicated, supportive, and proud teacher.

• Literacy and Independence: The story highlights how illiteracy breeds dependency and helplessness, whereas education empowers individuals with self-reliance and dignity.
• Lifelong Learning: Avva's journey proves that age is never an obstacle to acquiring knowledge if one possesses determination and willpower.
• The Teacher-Student Bond: The narrative redefines traditional hierarchies, showing that respect is due to a teacher regardless of age or gender.

• Ardent: Keen, passionate, or enthusiastic.
• Savouring: Enjoying something to the fullest.
• Immensely: Extremely or vastly.
• Taken aback: Surprised or shocked by something unexpected.
• Passed with flying colours: An idiom meaning to achieve outstanding success or performance.
• Binomials: Fixed phrases of two words joined by a conjunction:
  • Sink or swim: Succeed or fail without help.
  • On and off: Sometimes, occasionally.
  • Mix and match: Put different things together to get a range of possibilities.
  • All or nothing: Something to be done completely or not at all.
  • Part and parcel: An essential or integral part of something.
  • Pick and choose: Choose only the best.
  • Sooner or later: At some time in the future.
  • Leaps and bounds: Progressing or developing very quickly.

The text introduces the use of the Past Perfect Tense to indicate the earlier of two completed actions in the past.

• Rule: The more recent action is expressed in the Simple Past, while the earlier action takes the Past Perfect (had + past participle).
• Example 1: By the time I reached (Simple Past) the party, everyone had finished (Past Perfect) eating.
• Example 2: When she returned (Simple Past) home, her brother had finished (Past Perfect) the project.

Written by the legendary poet Subramania Bharati, "Bharat Our Land" is a patriotic ode celebrating the physical grandeur, rich spiritual heritage, and intellectual legacy of India (Bharat).

• Natural Grandeur: The poet praises the mighty Himavant (Himalayas) as unparalleled on Earth and the generous, graceful river Ganga.
• Spiritual & Intellectual Wealth: The sacred Upanishads, the realization of Brahma-knowledge, and the teachings of the Buddha (Dhamma) are highlighted as the core of India's philosophical legacy.
• Heroism & Wisdom: The land is sanctified by gallant warriors, wise sages, and divine music, making it a "sunny golden land" of richness and glory.

• Himavant: Symbolises strength, permanence, and majestic protection.
• Ganga: Symbolises purity, life-giving generosity, and grace.
• Upanishads: Symbolise deep wisdom, spiritual enlightenment, and philosophical heritage.
• Sunny Golden Land: Imagery representing prosperity, richness, and divine glory.

• Ode: A formal, lyrical poem expressing deep admiration, praise, and reverence for a subject.
• Refrain: The repetition of the line "she's peerless, let's praise her!" to reinforce national pride and adoration.
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration used for dramatic effect, such as "there's no equal anywhere on earth."
• Allusion: Indirect references to historical, religious, or cultural elements (e.g., Gautama Buddha, Upanishads, Himavant).