Question

Read the following passage and do the activities:
A1 True or False:
Rewrite the following statements and state whether they are ‘true’ or ‘false’.
(i) Mashelkar’s mother did menial work to bring him up.
(ii) Mashelkar’s father died when he was twelve.
(iii) Mashelkar was born in a very rich family.
(iv) Tatas added much value to Mashelkar’s life. 

I start with my greatest guru-my mother. I was born in a very poor family and my father died when I was six. We moved to Mumbai and my mother did menial work to bring me up. Two meals a day was a tough challenge. I studied under street lights and I walked barefoot until, I think, I was twelve. I remember when I passed the seventh standard and I wanted to go into the eighth standard, our poverty was such that even to secure 21 rupees for secondary school admission became a big challenge. We had to borrow from a lady, who was a housemaid in Chaupati in Mumbai. That was the tough life I had.

In fact, I remember, my passing the SSC Examination-i.e. 11th standard. Those days it used to be not 10th standard or 12th standard but 11th standard. I stood 11th among 1,35,000 but I was about to leave higher education and find a job. What helped me was the scholarship by Sir Dorab Tata Trust. It was just 60 rupees per month and would you believe that 60 rupees per month from Tatas added so much value to my life that I have been able to stand here today before you to speak to you.

 I am on the Board of Tatas now and it is very interesting that the same Bombay House where I used to go to collect that 60 rupees per month now one goes and sits there like a Director on the Board of Tata Motors. The turn that these 40 years have taken is very interesting. It has all been possible because of the chance I got to do higher studies at the insistence of my mother. She gave me the values of my life. She was one of the noblest parents I have met in my life.

So, my greatest guru was my mother. My second guru was Principal Bhave, about whom I made a mention earlier. He taught us Physics. Because it was a poor school, I remember, it had to innovate to convey to the young students the message of Science. 

A2  Complete: 
 Complete the following sentences and write:
(i) Mashelkar was inspired by his greatest guru _______
(ii) Mashelkar studied under _______
(iii) Principal Bhave taught _______
(iv) The scholarship by _______ Trust helped him in higher education. 

A3 Find the meaning:
Choose the appropriate meaning of the underlined words from the given alternatives:
(i) We moved to Mumbai and my mother did menial work.
(a) skilled
(b) hard
(c) unskilled
(d) of low status

(ii) Because it was a poor school, it had to innovate to convey to the young students the message of science.
(a) do a cheap experiment
(b) introduce new things
(c) avoid
(d) try hard

(iii) I got to do higher studies at the insistence of my mother.
(a) firm saying
(b) being inspired
(c) being inspected
(d) being instigated 

(iv) That was the tough life I had.
(a) difficult
(b) soft
(c) cheap
(d) simple 

A4  Match:
Match the following sentences with their tags: 

	'A'		'B'
(i)	I stood 11th   among 1,35,000	(a)	aren’t I?
(ii)	I am on the Board of Tatas	(b)	didn’t we?
(iii)	It was a poor school	(c)	didn’t I?
(iv)	We moved to Mumbai	(d)	wasn’t it?

A5  Personal Response: 
 “Mother is the greatest Guru.” Discuss.

Answer 1

A1 
(i) True
(ii) False
(iv) False
(V) True

A2
(i)  Mashelkar was inspired by his greatest guru His mother.
(ii) Mashelkar studied under street lights
(iv) Principal Bhave taught Physics. 
(V) The scholarship by Sir Dorab Tata Trust helped him in higher education. 

A3
(i) We moved to Mumbai and my mother did menial work. - of low status
(ii) Because it was a poor school, it had to innovate to convey to the young students the message of science - introduce new things
(iii) I got to do higher studies at the insistence of my mother - firm saying 
(iv) That was the tough life I had - difficult 

A4

	'A'		'B'
(i)	I stood 11th  among 1,35,000	(c)	didn’t I?
(ii)	I am on the Board of Tatas	(a)	aren’t I?
(iii)	It was a poor school	(d)	wasn’t it?
(iv)	We moved to Mumbai	(b)	didn’t we?

A5 As Mashelkar has spoken in the passage, his mother was his greatest guru. We all can relate to this line, as every person's mother is the first teacher one can have. Our mother gives us the values that we take with us throughout life, and they constantly push us ahead to achieve what we aim for. They would sacrifice their own personal wants and needs in order to ensure their children's well-being- meanwhile imparting the pearls of wisdom to their children.