Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940s must have been like. (Were people rich or poor? Hard working or lazy? Hopeful of change, or resistant to it?)

In the year 1940s, the life in Rameswaram might have been very simple. From the account of Abdul Kalam, we gather that the people were not very wealthy. Though religious based segregation existed, people lived in harmony with one another. Yet there were people who did not like different social groups to intermingle. The religions were demarcated by the clothes they wore or the area where they lived. Orthodox Hindu Brahmin families were more rigid. Still, those who displayed their conservativeness and religious stringency were strongly opposed by the others.

The people of the town might have been hard working, as the author mentions how his cousin used to collect bundles of newspaper for distribution. Kalam’s family arranged for boats for the visiting pilgrims. Also, the author himself started earning at the tender age of eight years.

Besides, the Second World War might have affected the lives of the people. The author says that India was forced to join the war and subsequently a state of emergency was declared. Indians waited optimistically for independence.

(A model answer has been provided for students' reference. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own understanding.)

I think that in the 1940s, life in Rameshwaram would be quite straightforward. From the account of Abdul Kalam, we come to know that people were not very wealthy. There was religious segregation, but people lived in harmony with each other. Some orthodox religious families refused to intermingle with people of beyond caste or religion. But mostly those who displayed religious conservativeness and stringency were opposed by others.
In my opinion, the people of the town were hardworking. As we can know, the author himself started earning from the tender age of 8yrs, and also his cousin used to collect bundles of newspapers for distribution.
The people were perhaps affected by the Second World war, so they were eagerly waiting for India's independence.
In my opinion, the people of the town were hardworking. As we can know, the author himself started earning from the tender age of 8yrs, and also his cousin used to collect bundles of newspapers for distribution.
The people were perhaps affected by the Second World war, so they were eagerly waiting for India's independence.
In my opinion, the people of the town were hardworking. As we can know that the author himself started earning from the tender age of 8yrs and also his cousin used to collect bundles of newspapers for distribution.
The people were perhaps affected by the Second World war, so they were eagerly waiting for India's independence.

In my opinion,the people of the town were hardworking.As we can know that the author himself started earning from the tender age of 8yrs and also his cousin used to collect bundles of newspapers for distribution.

The people were perhaps affected by the Second World war so they were eagerly waiting for India's independence.