Class 10 | English
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
🗂️ Study Notes
How I Taught My Grandmother To Read
March 26, 2026
EDU BYTEZ
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read — Class 9 English | Story Summary & Analysis | Free Study Material | EDU BYTEZ
This post covers the popular English lesson "How I Taught My Grandmother to Read" from the CBSE Class 9 English syllabus. Written by the renowned Indian author Sudha Murthy, this touching and inspiring story is a favourite among students and teachers alike. This resource includes a summary, key themes, character analysis, and important questions to help students prepare thoroughly for their examinations.
About the Author
Sudha Murthy is one of India's most beloved writers, social workers, and philanthropists. She is the Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and has written numerous books in Kannada and English. This story is drawn from her own real-life experience and reflects her values of education, respect, and determination.
Summary of the Story
The story is narrated by a young girl who describes how her grandmother — an elderly woman living in a village in Karnataka — was deeply moved by a serialised Kannada novel called Kashi Yatre. The grandmother could not read, and every week she had to wait for her granddaughter to come home and read the story aloud to her. Determined not to miss a single episode, the grandmother made a courageous decision — she would learn to read on her own.
With her granddaughter as her teacher, the elderly woman worked hard every single day to master the Kannada alphabet. By the time the story ended in the magazine, the grandmother had achieved her goal. As a gift of gratitude, she gave her granddaughter the gold bangles she had been saving — a deeply emotional moment that highlights the power of love, learning, and determination.
Key Themes of the Story
This story beautifully explores themes of literacy, determination, respect for elders, and the love of learning. It shows that age is never a barrier to education and that the desire to learn can overcome any obstacle. These themes make the story extremely relevant for value-based questions in CBSE examinations.
Important for CBSE Class 9 Exams
Questions from this story appear regularly in Class 9 English examinations in the form of short answer questions, long answer questions, and character-based questions. Students should focus on the character of the grandmother, the role of the granddaughter, and the moral of the story.
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