Exploring Exemplary Stories By Famous People

Integrating with their Unit of Inquiry on “Famous People”, students of Grade 3 explored and learnt about famous writer “MunshiPremchand” who is well known for his value based stories. Students read the story “Idgaah” and performed in groups. Students could connect with the story as it was filled with love and positive human emotions.

It is the story of Hamid, a four year old poor orphan boy, and his day on Id. The story is a typical Premchand style, something which was a hallmark of his writing. The story describes  the bonding between Hamid and Ameena , his grandmother. Ameena's concern for Hamid when he is going to the Idgah without his father and Hamid's struggle with his own inner self to overcome the attraction of the sweets, games and the toys while all the other kids are not only enjoying those but even showing it off to Hamid in their kids rivalry. The four year Hamid successfully overcomes all of these - games, sweets and toys and saves his three paise to stop at a hardware shop and buy a pair of tongs. Finally when he brings it home and gives the tongs to his grandmother she scolds him in a typical way as if he could not find any better thing to buy from his Idi. When he describes that he bought it for her as that would save her fingers from getting burnt when she makes chappati, she breaks down. The way Premchand describes this is extremely touching.

Student Reflections: -

Ananya, Ira (grade III)- “Idgaah is a very nice story. We enjoyed performing this story. We have developed Profile “Caring” from this story.

Kedar, Hannan, Nathan (grade III)- We have developed attitude “Empathy” with this story.