Circle of Learning • New NCERT textbook "Kaveri" (2026-27) • Reflect and Respond, Check Your Understanding (Parts I–III), Critical Reflection, Vocabulary and Structures, Listening, Speaking, Writing, Learning Beyond the Text, and the poem "I Cannot Remember My Mother" – complete answers
Reflect and Respond
From your experience with an elderly person, complete the graphic organiser on "Caring for the Elderly". Then discuss the points.
Answer
Sample answer:
Why should we care for the elderly? They have cared for us all their lives; they give us love, values and wisdom; in old age they need support.
What are the problems faced by the elderly? Weak eyesight and hearing, poor memory, illnesses, loneliness, difficulty in walking, and dependence on others.
What could be the possible reasons for the problems faced? Ageing of the body, lack of regular exercise, children living far away, busy family members with little time for them, and the fast-changing world (e.g. technology).
How can we take care of the elderly? Spend time talking and playing with them, give medicines on time, take them for check-ups, help them with technology, include them in decisions and treat them with respect, not like children.
Fill in the table for the words: frail, shuddered, poky, forbid, pottering, winced.
Answer
Word | I know this word. It has something to do with… | Meaning |
1. frail | health or old age | weak and delicate |
2. shuddered | fear or an unpleasant memory | shook or trembled suddenly because of fear or a horrible thought |
3. poky | size of a room or house | (of a room or house) uncomfortably small and cramped |
4. forbid | rules | to refuse to allow someone to do something |
5. pottering | doing small jobs | moving around doing small, unimportant tasks in a relaxed way |
6. winced | a reaction on the face | made a quick expression showing pain, discomfort or embarrassment |
(The first columns – "Not heard this word before" / "Have heard but don't know the meaning" – are ticked according to each student's own knowledge.)
Think of a tradition, story, or recipe passed down by grandparents or an elderly relative. What does it mean to you? How does it connect you to your growing-up years?
Answer
Sample answer: My grandmother taught me her recipe for coconut laddoos, which she learnt from her own mother. Every Diwali we make them together in her kitchen. For me, the recipe is not just about sweets; it carries her stories of childhood festivals in the village. Making the laddoos reminds me of sitting on the kitchen floor as a small child, waiting for the first one, and it makes me feel connected to the generations before me.
Check Your Understanding (Part I)
Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Answer
Grandpa hated the noise and bustle of the "horrible, crowded city" and the "poky little flat". He missed his quiet brick house with the big mango tree, and he resented being forbidden to go out on his own after looking after himself for most of his life.
Answer
Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
She was worried about his safety. In the past month, he had been hospitalised after absent-mindedly taking a double dose of medicines, and he had once got lost on a walk and forgotten the way home.
Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
Answer
No. Ravi "winced at the over-loud tone his mother used when speaking to Grandpa, as though she were speaking to a child". He also hushed his mother when she talked about Grandpa's memory in front of him, showing that he respected Grandpa's feelings.
Answer
Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
Not fully. He had promised not to let Grandpa go out alone, but Grandpa cleverly trapped him and walked out on his own. Ravi could only try to keep the promise in spirit by following Grandpa secretly to make sure he came to no harm.
Check Your Understanding (Part II)
Complete the flow chart by describing Grandpa's day out.
Answer
Blank | Answer |
Grandpa first stops at 1. ______ | the children's park |
buys 2. ______ and watches ______ | a paper-cone of peanuts; the children play |
Grandpa next goes to 3. ______ | the tea stall |
Ravi gets scolded by 4. ______ and ______ | the lady selling plastic combs and the vendor selling ribbons and clips (the vendors under the banyan tree) |
Grandpa drinks 5. ______ and eats ______ | a sugary cup of tea; two bananas (and an ice cream) |
Grandpa then crosses the road and enters a 6. ______ | barber shop |
Next Grandpa walks quickly to a 7. ______ and ______ | bus stop; boards the first bus (as Ravi thinks) |
Answer
Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi's mother?
No. Grandpa was not lost at all. He had given his yellow cap to a stranger at the barber shop, so Ravi followed the wrong man. Grandpa found his way home on his own and was found asleep in his bed.
Answer
How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa?
Ravi would feel great relief and joy, along with deep affection for Grandpa. He might also feel a little foolish for having followed the wrong person all over the city.
Do you think Ravi's mother will get to know about what had happened?
Answer
Only partly. Ravi will not tell her, as he would have to admit he let Grandpa go out alone. Grandpa, however, cleverly hints that Ravi "just disappeared", so she learns that Ravi left the house but not the whole story.
Check Your Understanding (Part III)
Describe how Ravi's emotional reaction upon finding Grandpa safe at home reveals his feelings towards his grandfather.
Answer
Ravi felt "great delight and relief" on hearing Grandpa snoring. He knelt by the bed, put his cheek against Grandpa's face and, "overcome with affection", hugged him. This shows how deeply Ravi loves and cares for his grandfather.
What might be the significance of Grandpa's habit of giving gifts to everyone on his birthday rather than receiving them?
Answer
It shows Grandpa's generous, loving nature and his joy in giving. He still thinks of his family as his "babies" and celebrates his birthday by making them happy. It also shows that, though old, he still sees himself as the caring head of the family rather than a dependant.
Why do you think Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift? What might this suggest about Grandpa's awareness of Ravi's actions earlier in the day?
Answer
The book was a playful hint. Grandpa says it will teach Ravi "how to avoid getting fooled when one is trailing a suspect". This suggests Grandpa knew all along that Ravi was following him and deliberately fooled him by giving his yellow cap to a stranger.
Critical Reflection
Extract 1: "Grandpa hated the noise and bustle of city life ... because there was no one at home to help him up."
Answer
(i) Choose the emotion displayed by the Grandfather. (A. regretful B. apologetic C. nostalgic D. wistful)
C. nostalgic
(ii) Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because ______.
he was used to the peace and quiet of his small town, where it was so quiet at dusk that "you can even hear a leaf fall".
(iii) Why did Grandpa come to the city despite his dislike for city life?
Answer
He had slipped and fallen in his garden and lain outside all night because there was no one to help him up. He was getting too old to live alone, so his daughter brought him to live with her.
(iv) Choose an expression similar in meaning to 'you can even hear a leaf fall'.
D. pin drop silence
(v) State one advantage and one disadvantage of the Grandfather living in the house in town.
Advantage: he enjoyed peace, quiet, his garden and his independence.
Disadvantage: he lived alone, so there was no one to help him in an emergency, such as when he fell.
Extract 2: "'I had a quiet morning, but I don't know about Ravi ...' ... 'Have you forgotten?' exclaimed Ravi's mother, impatiently."
Answer
(i) Choose the option that displays the tone of the Grandfather's response.
C. calm
(ii) Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
Answer
Grandpa told his mother that Ravi had disappeared instead of looking after him. Ravi could not explain without admitting he had let Grandpa go out alone, and he was puzzled about how Grandpa knew he had been away.
(iii) Ravi's mother was impatient because ______.
she thought her father had forgotten that Ravi's birthday was three months ago, and she believed his memory was failing.
(iv) True or false: Grandfather forgot that Ravi's birthday was three months ago.
False. He gave gifts to everyone on his own birthday, which his daughter had forgotten.
(v) Why did Grandpa say he didn't know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Answer
He was teasing Ravi. He knew Ravi had been secretly following him, but he pretended to know nothing, turning the tables on Ravi and hinting at the truth in a playful way.
Answer the following questions.
Answer
Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Answer
(i) He remembers thousands of chess games, such as Karpov's opening move against the computer and Bobby Fischer's match against Spassky.
(ii) He remembers his own birthday and his habit of giving gifts to every child in the house, while his daughter forgets it. He also finds his way home alone and cleverly fools Ravi.
Give two characteristic traits of each of the following characters: (i) Grandfather (ii) Ravi (iii) Ravi's mother
(i) Grandfather: independent and self-respecting; witty and mischievous (also generous and sharp-minded).
(ii) Ravi: caring and responsible; loyal and sensitive to others' feelings (also determined).
(iii) Ravi's mother: caring and anxious about her father; over-protective and impatient (she treats him like a child).
Answer
Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Answer
Grandpa had a sugary cup of tea, two bananas and an ice cream, though sugar and bananas were forbidden at home for health reasons. Ravi knew these could harm his health and that his mother "would faint" if she saw it.
Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer
No. Ravi had to crouch behind a bush, was scolded by a child's mother and had to crawl out of the park, was shouted at by vendors under the banyan tree, was thrown out of a ladies' salon, and had to sprint to catch a bus. In the end, he followed the wrong person.
'Ravi is a good detective'. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
Answer
For: He was determined and alert; he followed Grandpa through the park, the tea stall, across the road and even onto a moving bus, and noticed the coffee stain on the cap.
Against: He was easily noticed by others, and he was fooled by the yellow cap, following a stranger instead of Grandpa.
Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Answer
Yes. He told Ravi's mother that Ravi had "just disappeared", and he gave Ravi a book of detective stories, saying it would teach him how to avoid getting fooled while trailing a suspect. The "twinkle in Grandpa's eye" also suggests he knew.
In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
Answer
Ravi's mother needs Vitamin-M. She wished for a memory vitamin for old people, but it was she who forgot her father's birthday, even though she had circled it in red on the calendar. Grandpa, whom she thought forgetful, remembered everything important.
Give an example where you might have experienced or observed age-based discrimination, when opinions were disregarded because of age.
Answer
Sample answer: When my family was planning a trip, my suggestion of a heritage town was ignored because I was "too young to understand". Similarly, I have seen my grandfather's advice on buying a house brushed aside because people felt he was "old-fashioned". Later, both suggestions proved sensible. This shows that opinions should be judged on their merit, not on the age of the speaker.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
Classify the words into movement words (Column 1) and sound words (Column 2). Then fill in the blanks in the passage.
Answer
Column 1 (Movement) | Column 2 (Sound) |
pottering, twirling, crouch, bustle, crawl, creeping, ducked, zigzagging, evicted, briskly, sprinting, jumping, darted, trailing | boomed, thudded, shrieks, whirr, grunted, snoring |
Detective Shankar, 1. trailing the mysterious suspect through the dimly lit side lanes, away from the 2. bustle of the city, quickened his pace 3. briskly. The suspect's heavy footsteps 4. thudded across the street, unaware of the pursuit. Shankar, 5. twirling his magnifying glass, had to 6. crouch behind the market stalls, 7. creeping through the lanes to avoid being seen. Shankar 8. grunted when he hit himself against a pole. This alarmed the suspect and he 9. darted into the night leaving only the distant 10. whirr (or snoring) of the sleeping city behind.
Fill in the boxes with words synonymous with DILEMMA: QU_ND_ _Y and PR_D_C_M_NT.
Answer
1. QUANDARY
2. PREDICAMENT
Fill in the table (part of speech, meaning, synonym, antonym).
Answer
Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
1. craftily | adverb | in a clever, cunning way | cunningly, slyly | openly, honestly |
2. dilemma | noun | a situation in which one must make a difficult choice | quandary, predicament | certainty, solution |
3. furious | adjective | extremely angry | enraged, livid | calm, pleased |
4. boomed | verb | spoke or sounded in a loud, deep voice | thundered, roared | whispered, murmured |
5. humiliation | noun | a feeling of shame and loss of dignity | disgrace, embarrassment | pride, honour |
6. attire | noun | clothes, especially of a particular kind | clothing, dress, outfit | nakedness (undress) |
Match the emotions/expressions in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. One meaning is extra.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. embarrassed | (v) felt uncomfortable |
2. countered | (iv) reply to an argument |
3. flushed | (vi) became red in the face |
4. stricken | (i) affected severely by an unpleasant feeling |
5. gleam | (iii) expression of emotion |
Extra meaning: (ii) to be confused
Underline the prepositions in the phrases, then fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
Answer
Prepositions: 1. across, to 2. over 3. under 4. behind
I walked (i) through the village, crossed a bridge (ii) over a brook, and found a quiet garden (iii) near a cottage. Sitting on a bench (iv) in the garden, I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Later, I strolled (v) along a riverbank, exploring the forest and heading (vi) into the unknown.
Read the dialogues and choose the correct answers.
Answer
A. The words in the quotes are (i) interrogative sentences.
B. Sentences 1, 4, and 5 are (ii) Yes/No type interrogative sentences.
C. Sentences 2 and 3 are (iii) Wh- type interrogative sentences.
So, there are (iv) two types of interrogative sentences.
Complete the conversation between Arvind and Priya in reported speech.
Answer
Arvind asked Priya if she 1. helped in taking care of her grandparents at home, for which Priya replied in the affirmative and said that they 2. took turns making sure they were alright. Priya further asked Arvind 3. if he had grandparents living with him. Arvind replied in the negative and said that 4. he and his parents visited his grandpa every weekend. He further enquired 5. how she managed her grandparents' medical needs. Priya responded by saying that they 6. had a schedule for giving medications and visits to the doctor.
Listen and Respond
Listen to a podcast on meditation and complete the sentences with not more than three exact words.
Answer
Meditation is a form of yoga that usually refreshes the mind and helps with ______.
Answer
Meditation leads to a better health condition both ______.
Answer
Meditation also aids in lessening undesirable feelings and improving ______.
Answer
It is advised that we meditate every day so that it becomes a ______.
Answer
Meditating on a daily basis is beneficial in comfortably tackling ______.
Answer
1. stress management (the speaker says meditation is "commonly used for relaxation and stress management")
2. physically and emotionally
3. self-awareness
4. routine
5. exam-related pressure
Speaking Activity
Revisit the story, select different questions and practise speaking them aloud with the correct intonation.
Answer
Sample questions from the story with intonation:
• "Who are you?" (Wh- question) – falling intonation at the end.
• "What did you both do today?" (Wh- question) – falling intonation.
• "Has she told you not to let me go out on my own?" (Yes/No question) – rising intonation.
• "Are you playing hide and seek?" (Yes/No question) – rising intonation.
• "Shall we play chess or watch the cricket match on TV, Grandpa?" (choice question) – rise on "chess", fall on "TV" (rise-fall).
• "Have you forgotten?" (Yes/No question) – rising intonation.
Make a presentation about a brief personal experience related to taking care of an older person.
Answer
Sample presentation: The person I had the privilege of taking care of was my grandmother, after her knee surgery last summer. For three weeks, I took on the responsibility of giving her medicines on time, helping her walk with a walker and reading the newspaper to her. Caring for her taught me valuable lessons about myself, including patience – I learnt that I possess the ability to stay calm even when things are slow and difficult. One significant realisation was that small acts, like sitting with her in the evening, mattered more to her than anything else. Understanding her needs, I learnt that older people want to feel useful and respected, not pitied. Her challenges – pain, loneliness and frustration at being dependent – offered insights into the difficulties of ageing. Caring for her deepened my understanding of the ageing process, particularly how important it is to protect an older person's dignity and independence.
Writing Task
Write an article for your school magazine on 'Our Inspiring Elderly'.
Answer
Model answer:
Our Inspiring Elderly
by Kavya Menon, Class IX
In our busy lives, we often think of the elderly as people who need our help. We forget that they are also our greatest teachers, with a lifetime of experience, courage and wisdom to share.
The elderly inspire us in many ways. My grandfather, at seventy-eight, still walks five kilometres every morning and solves the crossword daily. Many senior citizens have proved that age is no barrier: Sudha Murty's grandmother learnt to read at sixty-two, and the grandfather in the story "Vitamin-M" remembered thousands of chess games and outwitted his own grandson. As the saying goes, "Old age is not a defeat but a victory."
Most elderly people have faced great hardships – wars, poverty, illness and loss – and yet they remain cheerful and generous. My grandmother lost her husband early but raised four children alone and educated them all. Her strength teaches me never to give up, and her calm advice helps me face my own small problems with patience.
The elderly are living libraries of values, stories and traditions. Let us spend time with them, listen to them and treat them with respect, not pity. When we value our elders, we not only make their lives happier but also enrich our own.
Learning Beyond the Text
Revisit the story and choose the image that correctly displays Grandpa's walking stick.
Answer
The second image (from the left) – the stick with a brass handle carved in the shape of an eagle's head and a polished mahogany shaft. The story describes it as a "beautiful shiny-black mahogany walking stick with a brass handle carved in the shape of an eagle's head".
Collect a few memorable photographs of yourself and your family. Make a slide show mentioning when and where each was clicked, who is in it and why it is memorable.
Answer
Sample slide: "Slide 1 – Clicked in December 2022 at Kanyakumari. In the photo are my grandparents, my parents and I watching the sunrise. It is memorable because it was my grandparents' first trip to the southern tip of India, and my grandfather told us stories of his own school trips." (Students prepare 5–6 such slides with their own photographs.)
Read the story 'The Lost Child' by Mulk Raj Anand and discuss it with your classmates and teacher.
Answer
Discussion points: A little boy at a spring fair keeps asking for toys, sweets, a garland and balloons, but moves on knowing his parents will refuse. When he realises he has lost his parents, he is terrified. A kind man picks him up and offers him all the things he wanted, but the child refuses everything and only cries, "I want my mother, I want my father!" The story shows that a child's real need is the love and security of family, not material things – much like Ravi's family realising the value of Grandpa in "Vitamin-M".
I Cannot Remember My Mother (Poem) – Reflect and Respond
Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them.
Answer
Sample list: (i) my mother singing a lullaby to put me to sleep; (ii) my first day at school, holding my father's hand; (iii) flying kites with my cousins on Makar Sankranti; (iv) the smell of my grandmother's kitchen; (v) learning to ride a bicycle in the park.
Discuss how children's relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.
Answer
Sample answer: A mother is usually a child's first source of love, comfort and security. Her lullabies, touch, cooking and words create a child's earliest and deepest memories. A warm relationship makes a child feel safe and confident, and even small things – a tune, a smell or a place – can later bring back strong emotions connected with her. If a mother is absent, the child may long for her and treasure even faint memories, as the poet does in this poem.
Match the words in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. hover | (v) linger or remain near a place |
2. hum | (i) sing a tune with your lips closed |
3. cradle | (vi) a small bed for a baby |
4. shiuli | (ii) a type of flower (coral jasmine) |
5. morning service | (iv) rituals conducted in a temple |
6. gaze | (iii) look steadily for a long time |
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Check Your Understanding
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
Answer
Stanza 1: 1. The poet remembers his mother while he plays with his playthings. 2. The poet remembers the tune of the song she hummed but not his mother herself (her face). Setting: indoor
Stanza 2: 1. The poet remembers his mother in the autumn season. 2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of shiuli flowers (and the scent of the morning service in the temple). Setting: outdoor
Stanza 3: 1. The poet feels that his mother gazes at him from the sky. Setting: indoor (he looks out from his bedroom window)
Give examples of references to senses from the poem.
Answer
Stanza | Lines from the Poem | Senses |
1 | "a tune seems to hover over my playthings, / the tune of some song that she used to / hum while rocking my cradle" | auditory |
2 | "the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air / the scent of the morning service in the temple / comes to me as the scent of my mother" | olfactory |
3 | "when from my bedroom window I send / my eyes into the blue of the distant sky, / I feel that the stillness of / my mother's gaze on my face / has spread all over the sky" | visual |
Complete the following.
Answer
Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) ______ and (ii) ______.
Answer
(i) "smell of the shiuli" (ii) "stillness ... spread ... sky" (also "my mother")
An example of onomatopoeia is ______.
Answer
"hum"
The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.
Answer
Each stanza is built on a sensory image: the sound of a tune hovering over playthings and a mother humming while rocking the cradle (auditory), the smell of shiuli flowers and the temple's morning service (olfactory), and the blue of the distant sky holding the stillness of the mother's gaze (visual). These images help the reader feel the mother's presence even though the poet cannot remember her.
Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because ______.
Answer
it has a gentle, musical flow, a repeated refrain, and beautiful, emotional imagery that touches the reader's heart.
What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?
Answer
The tone is nostalgic, tender and wistful. The poet longs for a mother he cannot remember and gently recalls her through a tune, a fragrance and the calm sky.
What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?
Answer
The title immediately creates a mood of loss and longing. Yet, as the poem shows the mother's presence in sounds, smells and the sky, the mood becomes tender and comforting, telling us that love remains even when memories fade.
The poet uses 'I cannot remember my mother' as a refrain because ______.
Answer
it stresses the poet's sense of loss and longing, and each time it is followed by a way in which he does feel her presence, showing that his heart remembers her even if his mind cannot.
Identify the symbols used in the poem.
Answer
The hovering tune (her lullaby and love), the shiuli flowers and the scent of the morning service (her purity and gentle presence) and the blue sky (her calm, endless, protective gaze and love).
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Critical Reflection
Extract 1: "I cannot remember my mother / only sometimes in the midst of my play / a tune seems to hover over my playthings,"
Answer
(i) The poet is reminded of his mother during his ______.
play (playtime)
(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line 'a tune seems to hover over my playthings'?
Answer
C. It activates memories of the mother.
(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker's playtime?
Answer
It brings back a faint memory of his mother's lullaby and makes him feel that she is near him, comforting and watching over him while he plays.
(iv) True or false: The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.
True ("only sometimes in the midst of my play").
(v) How could the poet feel his mother's presence, even though she isn't there?
Answer
Through his senses and memory – the tune of her song, the fragrance of shiuli flowers and the temple service, and the stillness of the sky remind him of her love.
Extract 2: "I feel that the stillness of / my mother's gaze on my face / has spread all over the sky."
(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother's gaze spreading over the sky?
Answer
B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother's presence.
(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the 'stillness' of his mother's gaze?
Answer
D. a sense of serenity
(iii) True or false: The poet suggests that the mother's gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.
False. It is only a feeling ("I feel that"); the effect is symbolic, not physical.
(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother's gaze to the sky?
Answer
To show that her love is vast, calm and all-embracing, like the sky that is always above him, watching over and protecting him.
(v) The tone of the poet in the given extract is ______ because ______.
tender and reverent (peaceful); he feels his mother's loving gaze spread calmly across the whole sky.
Answer the following questions.
Answer
What is the emotional impact of the refrain, 'I cannot remember my mother'?
Answer
The refrain creates a feeling of sadness and longing, as the poet admits his loss again and again. But each time it is followed by a memory of her presence, so the impact is also touching – it shows that a mother's love lives on in the heart.
Interpret the connection between the poet's mother and (i) shiuli flowers (ii) humming tune.
Answer
(i) The fragrance of shiuli flowers in early autumn mixes with the scent of the temple's morning service, and this pure, sacred fragrance reminds him of his mother's gentle presence.
(ii) The humming tune is the lullaby his mother sang while rocking his cradle; when it seems to hover over his playthings, he feels her loving care.
What role does nature play in the poet's description of the memory of his mother?
Answer
Nature helps the poet feel his mother's presence. The fragrant shiuli flowers of autumn bring back her scent, and the calm blue sky seems to hold the stillness of her gaze. Through nature, the absent mother becomes present everywhere around him.
What can be inferred about the poet's perception of the mother–child relationship?
Answer
The poet sees the mother–child bond as deep and lasting, stronger than conscious memory. Even though he cannot remember her face, he feels her love through sounds, smells and sights. The relationship is spiritual and eternal – her love surrounds him like the sky.
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Vocabulary in Context
Classify the sensory words in the box into Visual, Auditory, Olfactory and Tactile.
Answer
Visual | Auditory | Olfactory | Tactile |
glowing, gigantic, minuscule, gloomy, vibrant, crimson | hiss, rustle, sizzle, deafening, squeaky, ear-splitting | aroma, stale, scent, pungent, stinky, fragrant | sticky, rough, chilled, smooth, slimy, fluffy, hairy |
Fill in the blanks in Sarojini Naidu's passage with sensory words from the box. There are two extra words.
Answer
1. scarlet 2. scents 3. sweetness 4. shrill 5. perfumes 6. essence 7. flaming
Extra words: sizzle, smooth
Completed passage: "...these scarlet lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous scents of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable sweetness; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the shrill ecstasy of life in nesting time ... these heavy perfumes are my emotions dissolved into aerial essence, this flaming blue and gold sky is the 'very me'..."
Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them.
Answer
Picture | Phrase number |
Hands holding white blossoms (shiuli flowers) | 3. fragrant breeze of blooming buds |
A mother rocking a baby's cradle | 4. gentle lullaby, a soft melody |
Colourful kites flying in the sky | 5. colourful sky, painting a lively sight |
Sunset over water | 6. attractive canvas painting the horizon |
Tabla (drums) | 1. beats of music echo in air (done as example) |
Incense sticks with rising smoke | 2. melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air |
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Listen and Respond
Listen to four short extracts of people expressing their childhood memories. Match each statement 1–6 to each speaker (i)–(iv). Two statements are not needed.
Answer
Statement | Speaker |
1. The precious memories by the seaside are not the same anymore. | Speaker (iv) |
2. My grandfather's encouragement influences me in moments of difficulty. | Speaker (i) |
3. The school days are a source of recollection to stay in touch. | Not needed |
4. Childhood days are about freedom and ordinary pleasures in outdoor activities. | Speaker (ii) |
5. Memories of school days are grandparents and my funny tales. | Speaker (iii) |
6. Parents urge us to be adventurous and discover nature but with limitations. | Not needed |
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Speaking Activity
Think of an object, song, or place that is memorable for you and speak about it using the prompts.
Answer
Sample speech: Growing up, I fondly remember my grandfather's old transistor radio. It was a small brown box with a silver dial and a leather strap, and it crackled softly before the music began. I have a clear memory of sitting beside him on the verandah every evening, the smell of jasmine in the air, while he tuned in to old Hindi songs and the cricket commentary. He would explain the game ball by ball and hum along with the songs. That radio taught me to love music and cricket, and to enjoy simple moments with family. Even now, whenever I hear an old song, I feel he is sitting next to me. That is why this memory is so meaningful to me.
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Writing Task
Imagine you had been on a school trip to a scenic place which appealed to all your senses. Write a diary entry describing the place and why it was a memorable experience.
Answer
Model answer:
Saturday, 14 February 2026
9:30 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today was one of the most beautiful days of my life! Our school took us on a trip to the tea gardens of Darjeeling. As our bus climbed the winding roads, the air became cool and fresh, and I could smell the wet earth and pine trees.
When we reached the estate, endless rows of bright green tea bushes covered the hills, and white clouds floated below us. The leaves felt soft and slightly waxy when I touched them. We heard the soft chatter of the tea-pluckers and the distant whistle of the toy train. In the factory, the strong, sweet aroma of fresh tea filled the room, and we tasted a warm cup of golden Darjeeling tea – it was delicious!
The best moment came at sunset, when Kanchenjunga turned pink and gold. I just stood there, silent and amazed. I felt so small before such beauty, and yet so happy.
I will never forget today. It taught me to slow down and truly notice the world with all my senses.
Riya
I Cannot Remember My Mother – Learning Beyond the Text
Gather information on unique flowers of India – where they are found, how they look, what smell they emit, and their historical significance. Add more flowers to the list.
Answer
Flower | Where found | Look and smell | Significance |
Neelakurinji | Western Ghats (Munnar, Nilgiris) | small purple-blue bell-shaped flowers covering whole hillsides; mild fragrance | blooms only once in twelve years; the Nilgiri ("blue mountains") are said to get their name from it |
Brahma Kamal | high Himalayas, Uttarakhand | large, star-shaped, creamy-white flower with purple tinge; fragrant | State flower of Uttarakhand; offered at Kedarnath and Badrinath; blooms at night |
Lotus | ponds and lakes all over India | large pink or white petals floating on water; light, sweet scent | National flower of India; symbol of purity, linked with Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati |
Palash (Flame of the Forest) | central and eastern India | bright orange-red flowers on leafless trees; little smell | used to make natural Holi colours; State flower of Jharkhand |
Saffron crocus | Pampore, Kashmir | purple flowers with red stigmas; strong, rich aroma | source of saffron (kesar), used in food, medicine and rituals |
Collect poems and songs related to family, friends and their reminiscences, and read and enjoy 'I Remember, I Remember' by Thomas Hood.
Answer
This is a reading and sharing activity. In "I Remember, I Remember", Thomas Hood fondly recalls the house where he was born, the sun peeping through the little window, and the roses, violets, lilacs and the laburnum tree his brother planted. Like Tagore's poem, it shows how memories of home and family stay with us through simple sensory details. (Students may also share songs such as "Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Meri Maa" or a lullaby in their own language.)
Extra Important Questions
Short Answer Questions
What is 'Vitamin-M', and who first used the term in the story?
Answer
'Vitamin-M' is an imaginary vitamin for memory. Ravi's mother first wished someone would invent it to improve old people's memories.
What was Grandpa's profession, and how is it reflected in his behaviour?
Answer
Grandpa was a lawyer. His firm way of speaking to his daughter and his clever arguing ("then you'll have no objection to my going out") reflect his profession.
How did Grandpa trick Ravi into letting him go out?
Answer
He asked Ravi whether his mother had told him to keep him a prisoner. When Ravi loyally said no, Grandpa replied, "then you'll have no objection to my going out."
Why did Ravi's mother flush when Grandpa gave out gifts?
Answer
She realised she had forgotten her own father's birthday, though she had circled it in red on the calendar.
How does the poet of "I Cannot Remember My Mother" recall his mother in autumn?
Answer
In early autumn mornings, the smell of shiuli flowers and the scent of the temple's morning service come to him as the scent of his mother.
Long Answer Questions
"The elderly should be treated with dignity, not as children." Discuss with reference to "Vitamin-M".
Answer
In the story, Ravi's mother loves her father but treats him like a child. She speaks to him in an over-loud voice, talks about his poor memory in front of him and forbids him to go out alone. Grandpa resents this, saying he has looked after himself for most of his seventy-five years. Ravi winces at his mother's tone, showing he understands Grandpa's hurt. In the end, Grandpa proves that he is sharp, independent and clever: he remembers chess games and his birthday, finds his way home and outwits Ravi. The story teaches that while the elderly may need care, they also need respect, freedom and the chance to feel useful.
Describe the humour in Ravi's attempt to follow his grandfather.
Answer
Ravi's "detective" mission is full of comic mishaps. He hides behind an elephant-shaped bush and is asked by a small child if he is playing hide and seek; the child's mother threatens him with an umbrella and he crawls out of the park on all fours. Under the banyan tree, loud vendors accuse him of stealing their spot. He ducks into a ladies' salon and is thrown out amid shrieks. He sprints to catch a bus, only to find a stranger wearing Grandpa's yellow cap. Finally, Grandpa calmly tells his mother that Ravi "disappeared" and gifts him a detective book. The humour comes from Ravi's seriousness and the way the "suspect" outsmarts him.
How does Tagore show that a mother's love lives on even when her memory fades?
Answer
In the poem, the poet repeatedly says, "I cannot remember my mother", yet in each stanza he feels her presence. A tune hovering over his playthings brings back the song she hummed while rocking his cradle. In early autumn, the smell of shiuli flowers and the temple's morning service feel like her scent. When he looks at the blue sky from his window, he feels the stillness of her gaze spread over it. Through sound, smell and sight, Tagore shows that a mother's love is so deep that it remains in the heart and in the world around us, even when the mind cannot recall her face.