anju jindal 
Class 9 English Chapter 1 – How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Notes, Summary & Important Questions
What if a 62-year-old becomes a student just to read one story? That’s what makes How I Taught My Grandmother to Read one of the most emotional and important chapters in Class 9 English. The chapter is simple, relatable, and highly scoring when prepared with the right answers and concepts.
📘 Complete Summary
Easy explanation of the chapter in exam-ready language.
🧠 RTC Practice
Important reference to context questions with answers.
✍️ Long Answers
Well-structured answers for board exam preparation.
🎯 Smart Revision
Quick study strategy to revise the chapter effectively.
Detailed Summary
The story is narrated by Sudha, a young girl who shares her experience with her grandmother, Ajji. Ajji was illiterate but loved listening to stories. Every week, Sudha used to read aloud a Kannada magazine serial called Kashi Yatre to her.
Ajji became deeply attached to the story, especially the character of an old woman who wished to go on a pilgrimage. One day, Sudha had to go out of town. During her absence, the next part of the story was published, but Ajji could not read it herself.
This made her feel helpless and dependent. She realized that education gives independence and self-confidence. Despite her age, she decided to learn reading and writing.
Ajji requested Sudha to teach her. With discipline and determination, she practiced every day. On the occasion of Saraswati Puja, she surprised everyone by reading a book independently.
As a mark of respect, Ajji touched Sudha’s feet and accepted her as her teacher. The story highlights the importance of education, self-respect, and lifelong learning.
Character Sketch
👵 Grandmother (Ajji)
Ajji is an illiterate yet emotionally strong woman. Even at the age of sixty-two, she decides to overcome her weakness and learn reading and writing. She is disciplined, determined, and hardworking. Her humility is shown when she touches Sudha’s feet to respect her as a teacher. Ajji teaches readers that age can never stop someone from learning.
👧 Sudha (Narrator)
Sudha is caring, patient, and responsible. She supports her grandmother with love and encouragement. As a teacher, she guides Ajji sincerely and helps her become independent.
Writing Style
- Simple and easy language
- First-person narration
- Emotional and realistic tone
- Relatable storytelling
The chapter is easy to understand and helps students write better answers in exams.
Main Themes
- Importance of education
- Lifelong learning
- Determination and hard work
- Self-respect and independence
- Bond between generations
Important Long Answer Questions
Why did the grandmother decide to learn how to read and write?
The grandmother decided to learn reading and writing because she realized how dependent she was on others. She loved listening to the story Kashi Yatre, which Sudha read to her regularly. When Sudha went out of town, Ajji could not read the next part of the story herself. This made her feel helpless. She understood the importance of education and decided to become independent by learning to read and write. Her determination proves that learning has no age limit.
What message does the story convey?
The story conveys that education is important at every stage of life. It teaches that determination and hard work can help a person overcome any limitation. The grandmother’s journey from illiteracy to independence highlights self-respect and confidence. The chapter also shows the emotional bond between generations and encourages readers to keep learning throughout life.
Reference to Context (RTC)
“I will work hard and learn to read and write.”
Q1. Who said this and to whom?
👉 The grandmother said this to Sudha.
Q2. Why did she say this?
👉 She felt helpless because she could not read the story herself.
Q3. What does it show about her character?
👉 It shows her determination and desire to become independent.
“She touched my feet.”
Q1. Who touched whose feet?
👉 The grandmother touched Sudha’s feet.
Q2. Why did she do so?
👉 To show respect to Sudha as her teacher.
Q3. What does this act signify?
👉 Respect for knowledge and humility.
“I felt so dependent and helpless.”
Q1. Who felt this way?
👉 The grandmother.
Q2. Why did she feel helpless?
👉 Because she could not read the story on her own.
Q3. What did this feeling lead to?
👉 It motivated her to learn reading and writing.
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Why was the grandmother so fond of the story?
👉 She was emotionally connected to the characters, especially the old woman in the story.
Q2. How did Sudha help her grandmother?
👉 She taught her reading and writing with patience and encouragement.
Q3. What was special about Saraswati Puja in the story?
👉 The grandmother read a book independently for the first time on this day.
How to Prepare This Chapter Quickly
✔ Read the Summary
Read the summary twice for better understanding.
✔ Learn Character Traits
Focus on Ajji and Sudha’s qualities.
✔ Practice RTC
Prepare important contextual questions carefully.
✔ Revise Keywords
Memorize important terms and themes.
Important Study Links
Get Complete Chapter Resources
Download complete notes, worksheets, extra questions, and printable PDFs for better revision and exam preparation.
Final Tip
This chapter is not only about reading a story. It teaches the value of education, independence, and determination. Focus on understanding the emotions of the characters and practice writing structured answers to score better in exams.
📥 Download Class 9 English Chapter Notes & Practice PDF
Get complete study material for How I Taught My Grandmother to Read including detailed notes, important questions, RTC, worksheets, and exam-ready answers.
