How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Reflect and Respond | Class 9 English Notes

The Grandmother’s Illiteracy

This section delves into the background of the grandmother’s inability to read and write. It explains that the grandmother belonged to a generation where education for girls was not prioritized due to prevailing social and cultural norms. In her youth, girls were often married off early and were expected to focus on household duties rather than schooling. The grandmother’s family, like many others, did not provide her with formal education, which was a common practice in many parts of India at that time. This lack of education was not due to lack of intelligence or interest but because of societal restrictions. The grandmother’s illiteracy is portrayed sensitively, showing her as a warm and intelligent person who missed the opportunity to learn. This section also highlights the emotional impact of illiteracy on the grandmother, including feelings of embarrassment and exclusion when she could not read simple things like letters or signs. The narrative emphasizes that illiteracy was a widespread issue among older women of that era, reflecting broader gender inequalities in access to education.

📊 Diagram: No diagrams are included in this section.

🧪 Activity: No specific activity is mentioned in this section.

🔗 Connection: Prepares the reader for the narrator’s decision to teach her grandmother to read.