“The Real Jewels” is written by Sudha Murty. The story teaches the importance of perseverance, the value of education, and the impact one individual’s determination can have on an entire community. Here you would get solutions to exercise as given in Class 7 English textbook ‘Lavender’.
Word Meanings
Here are some important vocabulary words from the chapter, along with their meanings:
- District: An area of a country or city, often marked by specific boundaries.
- Literacy rate: The percentage of people who can read and write in a given area.
- Enterprising: Having or showing initiative and resourcefulness.
- Infosys Foundation: The non-profit charitable organization associated with the company Infosys.
- Project – A planned undertaking or initiative designed to achieve a specific goal.
- Donate: To give something, especially money or goods, to a charity or organization.
- Extensively: Covering a large area; widely.
- Rural: Relating to the countryside rather than the town.
- Affection: A gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
- Respect: A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something.
- Hospitality: The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
- Sanskrit: An ancient language of India in which many Hindu scriptures are written.
- Guest: A person who is invited to visit someone’s home or to a particular event.
- Atithi Devo Bhava – A Sanskrit phrase meaning “The guest is equivalent to God.”
- Functional: Designed to be practical and useful, rather than attractive.
- Granary: A storehouse for threshed grain.
- Cowshed – A building where cows are kept.
- Courtyard: An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by walls or buildings.
- Plantain leaves – Large leaves from the plantain plant, often used as plates in traditional Indian meals.
- Gracious: Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards someone of lower status.
- Coolie: An unskilled laborer, especially in South Asia.
- Intuition: The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
- Wealthy: Having a great deal of money, resources, or assets.
- Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi gariyasi – A Sanskrit phrase meaning “Mother and motherland are greater than heaven.”
- Jewellery: Decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as necklaces, rings, bracelets.
- Confidence: The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.
- Perish: To die or come to an end, especially in a sudden, violent, or untimely way.
- Bachelor: A man who is not and has never been married.
- Chairperson: A person in charge of a meeting, organization, committee, or similar body.
- Vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat.
- Kannada: A Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Karnataka.
- Philanthropist: A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes.
- Recognition: The action or process of recognizing or being recognized, in particular.
- Traditional: Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.
- Secure: To obtain something, especially through effort.
- Godforsaken: Lacking any attractive or beneficial features; desolate.
Summary of ‘The Real Jewels’
The chapter describes the district of South Canara in Karnataka, highlighting its high literacy rate and the enterprising nature of its people, who have spread all over the world, particularly known for starting Udupi vegetarian restaurants.
Sudha Murty, who is associated with the Infosys Foundation’s project “A Library for Every School,” shares her experiences of traveling to rural areas to donate books to government schools. During her travels, she often stays with local families due to the lack of hotels in small towns and villages.
One notable experience occurred in 1998 when she visited a village in South Canara during the rainy season. Unable to travel due to heavy rain, she stayed with the family of the school chairman, Mr. Aithappa. The family’s hospitality, especially that of the chairman’s elderly mother, Kuttamma, left a lasting impression on her.
Kuttamma shared her life story, explaining how she had worked as a coolie and, despite her own lack of education, was determined to educate her son, Aithappa. Her son eventually became successful, started his own hotel business in Bombay, and later returned to his village. Following his mother’s wishes, Aithappa used his wealth to build free schools in the region, contributing significantly to the area’s high literacy rate.
Summary in Hindi
Short Summary:
यह अध्याय कर्नाटक के दक्षिण कन्नड़ जिले की विशेषताओं को उजागर करता है, जहां साक्षरता दर उच्च है और लोग मेहनती और उद्यमशील हैं। सुधा मूर्ति, इन्फोसिस फाउंडेशन की प्रमुख, ‘हर स्कूल के लिए एक लाइब्रेरी’ प्रोजेक्ट के तहत ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में किताबें वितरित करती हैं। यात्रा के दौरान, उन्होंने गांवों में स्थानीय लोगों के आतिथ्य का अनुभव किया। 1998 में एक गांव यात्रा के दौरान, उन्हें स्कूल अध्यक्ष ऐथप्पा के परिवार के साथ रहना पड़ा, जहां उन्होंने कुत्तम्मा से मुलाकात की। कुत्तम्मा ने अपनी गरीबी और बेटे ऐथप्पा को शिक्षित करने के लिए किए संघर्ष की कहानी बताई। ऐथप्पा की सफलता के बावजूद, उन्होंने अपनी मां की इच्छा पर कई मुफ्त स्कूल बनाए। यह अध्याय शिक्षा के महत्व और महिलाओं के दृढ़ संकल्प को रेखांकित करता है, जो उच्च साक्षरता दर का कारण बना।
Long Summary:
अध्याय दक्षिण कन्नड़ जिले, कर्नाटक की विशिष्टताओं का वर्णन करता है, जहां साक्षरता दर उच्च है और लोग परिश्रमी और उद्यमशील हैं। कई निवासी रोजगार की खोज में वैश्विक स्तर पर यात्रा कर चुके हैं, जिससे उडुपी शाकाहारी रेस्तरां दुनिया भर में फैल गए हैं, जिन्हें अक्सर दक्षिण कन्नड़ के लोग ही शुरू करते हैं।
इन्फोसिस फाउंडेशन, जिसका नेतृत्व सुधा मूर्ति कर रही हैं, का एक प्रोजेक्ट है जिसका नाम ‘हर स्कूल के लिए एक लाइब्रेरी’ है। इस प्रोजेक्ट के तहत सरकारी स्कूल की लाइब्रेरियों में किताबें दान की जाती हैं ताकि बच्चों को विभिन्न प्रकार की किताबें आसानी से मिल सकें। सुधा मूर्ति ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में extensively यात्रा करती हैं और विभिन्न विषयों पर कन्नड़ में लिखी गई किताबें वितरित करती हैं। इस दौरान, वह अक्सर स्थानीय लोगों के घरों में रुकती हैं और उनके आतिथ्य का अनुभव करती हैं।
1998 में, वर्षा ऋतु के दौरान, सुधा मूर्ति एक स्कूल समारोह के लिए दक्षिण कन्नड़ के एक गांव गईं। वहां कोई होटल नहीं था और भारी बारिश के कारण यात्रा असंभव थी, इसलिए वह स्कूल अध्यक्ष, श्री ऐथप्पा के परिवार के साथ रुक गईं। अजनबियों के साथ रहने में उन्हें शुरुआत में असहजता महसूस हुई, लेकिन अध्यक्ष की पत्नी ने उन्हें गर्मजोशी से स्वागत किया और सहज महसूस कराया।
घर पारंपरिक और कार्यात्मक था, जिसमें लाल ऑक्साइड फर्श, एक बड़ा अनाज भंडार कक्ष, नारियल और सब्जियों के लिए एक भंडारण क्षेत्र, एक कुआं, एक गौशाला और एक सब्जी बगीचा था। परिवार ने उन्हें केले के पत्तों पर भव्य भोजन परोसा। सुधा मूर्ति को घर की बुजुर्ग महिला, कुत्तम्मा, अपनी दादी की तरह लगीं।
दक्षिण कन्नड़ की उच्च साक्षरता दर के बारे में जानने के लिए सुधा मूर्ति ने कुत्तम्मा से उनके शिक्षा के बारे में पूछा। कुत्तम्मा ने अपनी गरीबी और कड़ी मेहनत की कहानी साझा की। बचपन में, वे स्कूल नहीं जा सकीं और एक स्कूल शिक्षक के बगीचे में कुली का काम करती थीं। हालांकि, उन्होंने अपने बेटे ऐथप्पा को शिक्षित करने की ठान ली थी। उनके पति की मृत्यु तब हुई जब ऐथप्पा केवल पांच साल का था, लेकिन कुत्तम्मा ने अपने वादे को निभाया। ऐथप्पा बंबई गया, होटल में काम किया और रात में पढ़ाई की। वह अंततः सफल हुआ और कई होटल खोले।
अपनी सफलता के बावजूद, ऐथप्पा अपनी माँ के अनुरोध पर गाँव लौट आया। कुत्तम्मा ने आभूषण या भौतिक संपत्ति नहीं चाही; वह अपने समुदाय को वापस देना चाहती थी। उन्होंने ऐथप्पा से दक्षिण कन्नड़ में मुफ्त स्कूल बनाने का अनुरोध किया। ऐथप्पा ने उनकी इच्छाओं का सम्मान किया और दस स्कूल बनाए, जिन्हें वह स्वयं प्रबंधित करता है।
सुधा मूर्ति ने महसूस किया कि दक्षिण कन्नड़ में उच्च साक्षरता दर महिलाओं की दृढ़ता के कारण है, जिन्होंने स्वयं पढ़ाई नहीं की, लेकिन शिक्षा का महत्व समझा और अपने बच्चों को शिक्षित किया। इस समर्पण ने क्षेत्र पर गहरा प्रभाव डाला, यह दर्शाते हुए कि शिक्षा जीवन और समुदायों को कैसे बदल सकती है।
Textbook Exercise Q & Answers
Time to Start
Answer:
| Famous Starting Lines | Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. | Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen |
| It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. | A Tale of Two Cities | Charles Dickens |
| The summer of 1947 was not like other Indian Summers. | Train to Pakistan | Khushwant Singh |
| When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. | To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee |
| I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751, when I took the key for the last time out of the door of my father’s house. | Kidnapped | R. L. Stevenson |
Time to answer
A. Colour the correct box.
1. Which of the following statements indicates the generosity of the people of South Canara?
- The literacy rate here is high, people are enterprising and hard working.
- If you see any Udupi vegetarian restaurant in India or any part of the globe, it is sure to have been started by a person from South Canara.
- They have given me the best hospitality possible without knowing who I am or expecting anything in return.
- A guest is always treated with a lot of love, affection and respect.
2. Which statement is true about Kuttamma?
- She understood the value of education.
- She knew her son would become rich one day.
- She wanted people to understand the difficulties she faced in life.
- She wanted her son to complete his education and return to the village.
3. What role is played by Infosys Foundation in the story?
- upliftment of the poor in the society
- making knowledge accessible to the poor
- understanding the plight of the poor
- working towards providing good health to the poor
4. What is the theme of the story?
- respect for parents
- guest is god
- love for one’s motherland
- importance of education
Answers:
- They have given me the best hospitality possible without knowing who I am or expecting anything
in return. - She understood the value of education.
- making knowledge accessible to people
- importance of education
B. Answer these questions.
1. Why did the author feel that the district of South Canara in Karnataka was very different from other places?
Ans. The author felt that South Canara was very different because the people there were highly educated, hardworking, and successful. Many people from South Canara started Udupi vegetarian restaurants all over the world.
Short Ans. Because the people were highly educated, hardworking, and successful.
2. What proved to be an opportunity for the author to interact with the locals? What did she learn from such travels?
Ans. The author often stayed with local families because there were no hotels in the small towns and villages she visited. She learned a lot about what children in different places liked to read and understood the importance of education to the villagers.
Short Ans. Staying with local families. She learned about children’s reading preferences and the importance of education.
3. What kind of hospitality did the author receive when she went for a school function to a village in South Canara?
Ans. The author received warm and loving hospitality. The family she stayed with treated her with great respect, gave her towels to dry off, made her feel comfortable, and served her a delicious meal with many food items.
Short Ans. Warm and loving hospitality, including a comfortable stay and a delicious meal.
4. What made Kuttamma proud of her son?
Ans. Kuttamma was proud of her son because he worked hard, got an education, became successful, and later returned to the village to build schools for the local children.
Short Ans. He became successful and built schools for local children.
5. According to Kuttamma, what was real jewellery? Why did she say so?
Ans. According to Kuttamma, real jewellery was education. She said this because education lasts forever and brings confidence, while physical beauty and material things like jewelry do not last.
Short Ans. Education, because it lasts forever and brings confidence.
6. What did the author realise after meeting Kuttamma?
Ans. After meeting Kuttamma, the author realized that the high literacy rate in South Canara was due to the hard work and determination of people like Kuttamma, who valued education and ensured their children went to school.
Short Ans. The high literacy rate was due to people like Kuttamma valuing education.
Reference to the context
Read the lines from the story and answer the questions that follow.
1. The literacy rate here is high, people are enterprising and hard-working. They have travelled all over the world in search of employment.
a. Which place is being talked about in the above lines?
- i. the author’s birthplace
- ii. Moghaveera night school in Bombay
- iii. the sleepy village visited by the author
- iv. the district of South Canara in Karnataka
b. How can you say that the people were hard-working? Give an example from the text.
c. Which of the following can replace the word ‘enterprising’ in the above line?
- i. imaginative
- ii. determined
- iii. inventive
- iv. genuine
d. Why does the author conclude that the people travel all over the world?
e. What is the tone of the author in these lines?
- i. appreciative
- ii. unconcerned
- iii. disturbed
- iv. grateful
Answers:
- a. iv. the district of South Canara in Karnataka
- b. The people were hard-working because they have started Udupi vegetarian restaurants not just in India, but all over the world. This shows their determination and effort to succeed.
- c. iii. inventive
- d. The author concludes that the people travel all over the world because many individuals from South Canara have opened Udupi vegetarian restaurants globally.
- e. i. appreciative.
2. ‘He has asked me to tell you that you could stay tonight with his family. You cannot travel today because of this rain. Even the bridge has gone under water.’
a. Who is ‘He’ in these lines?
b. Who is conveying the message?
c. What is the setting of the place?
- i. a city in the district of South Canara in Karnataka
- ii. a town in the district of South Canara in Karnataka
- iii. a village in the district of South Canara in Karnataka
- iv. a port in the district of South Canara in Karnataka
d. Why did the author go to the place?
Answers:
- a. He is the chairman of the school, Mr. Aithappa.
- b. A teacher of the school was conveying the message.
- c. iii. a village in the district of South Canara in Karnataka
- d. The author went to the place to attend a school function.
Time to think and answer
1. Do you think Kuttamma’s story is relevant to most Indian women of her times? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Yes, Kuttamma’s story is relevant to most Indian women of her times. Many women in her era faced significant challenges such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and social pressures. Like Kuttamma, many women were determined to improve their children’s lives through education despite not having the chance to study themselves. They understood the transformative power of education and worked hard to ensure their children received schooling, often making great personal sacrifices. Kuttamma’s story reflects the resilience and strength of these women who valued education as a means to secure a better future for their families.
2. How did Kuttamma’s perception of education help the society?
Ans. Kuttamma’s perception of education as the real jewel led to substantial benefits for society. She instilled the importance of education in her son, who became successful and chose to give back to his community by building schools. This not only increased literacy rates in the region but also provided many children with opportunities for a better future. By prioritizing education, Kuttamma helped create a more educated and empowered society, demonstrating the long-term positive impact that valuing education can have on a community. Her story shows how one individual’s dedication to education can inspire others and bring about significant social change.
3. Draw the character sketch of Kuttamma.
Answer: Character Sketch of Kuttamma as per the question is given below:
| Her Qualities | Examples from the Text | Which Quality Appealed to You the Most |
|---|---|---|
| Hardworking | “When I was young we were extremely poor and I was a coolie in the garden of a school teacher.” | Her hardworking nature is inspiring because it shows her dedication to improving her family’s future. |
| Determined | “I was determined that my only son Aithappa should study as much as he could and I would work hard for that.” | Her determination is admirable as she overcame great hardships to ensure her son received an education. |
| Self-Sacrificing | “You sold all your jewellery for my fees in college, you had only one meal so that I could have two.” | Her self-sacrifice is touching as she put her son’s needs before her own to secure his future. |
| Visionary | “In life, the real jewellery is education.” | Her visionary outlook on education as the true wealth is enlightening and impactful. |
| Proud and Humble | “My son did not disappoint me… He remains very busy managing these schools.” | Her humility and pride in her son’s accomplishments are heartwarming and show her grounded nature. |
| Community-focused | “If you respect my wishes, build as many free schools as possible in as many villages in South Canara.” | Her community focus is remarkable, as she prioritized the education of all children in the region. |
Which Quality Appealed to You the Most:
I liked the quality of remaining ‘determined‘
Kuttamma’s determination appealed to me the most. Despite facing immense challenges, including poverty and the loss of her husband, she remained steadfast in her commitment to her son’s education. This determination not only changed her son’s life but also positively impacted the entire community by promoting the value of education. Her unwavering resolve is a powerful reminder of the difference one person’s dedication can make.
Time to study language
Write suitable phrases in the blanks to add meaning to these sentences.
- ……….. there was a great king.
- We ………. for you for two hours.
- The boy was hiding ……….
- The lady ………. is my class teacher.
- We bought a ………. car.
- She welcomed the guests ……….
- I bought ……….
- The boy ………. loudly.
Answers:
- Once upon a time, there was a great king.
- We had been waiting for you for two hours.
- The boy was hiding behind the bushes.
- The lady standing over there is my class teacher.
- We bought a shiny new car.
- She welcomed the guests with open arms.
- I bought some fresh fruits from the market.
- The boy laughed loudly at the funny joke.
Time to learn new words
Change these verbs into nouns.
Ans: 1. civilisation 2. rejection 3. cancellation 4. participation 5. invasion 6. reaction 7. performance 8. arrival 9. persistence 10. invitation 11. calculation 12. arrangement
Study Skills
Now, add commas wherever necessary.
- Last Sunday we went to the zoo.
- If you are ill you ought to see a doctor.
- Mom I can’t find my shoes.
- Well he meant no harm to you.
- Yes the package should arrive tomorrow morning.
- Sir may I visit the washroom?
- During the assembly the Principal made an announcement.
- Four years ago we went to Guwahati.
Answers:
- Last Sunday, we went to the zoo.
- If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.
- Mom, I can’t find my shoes.
- Well, he meant no harm to you.
- Yes, the package should arrive tomorrow morning.
- Sir, may I visit the washroom?
- During the assembly, the Principal made an announcement.
- Four years ago, we went to Guwahati.
