Summary: A Different Diwali
A little girl named Tinku, recently moved from Delhi to a small town called
Duliatal. She hoped to celebrate her first Diwali with her new friends here, but
they had all gone to other cities and so Tinku was alone and sad. Tinku went for
a walk by herself and bumped, into a young girl Nima who was the same age as
her. Unfortunately Nima could not see. Tinku took Nima home with her and her
mother gave them a wonderful tea. Tinku and Nima celebrated a lovely Diwali
together, lighting candles and bursting crackers. Nima was very happy as she
had never had such an enjoyable Diwali and Tinku too realized that she had so
much more than many other people. She had so much to be grateful for. She
learnt the valuable lesson of ‘counting her blessings.’
Like any other story, this too has a beginning, middle and an end. The
beginning sets the location of the scene where the action is to take place. The
delicate water colours capture the mist and green of the clouds and the hills and
the silvery lights of Duliatal. In the midst of this beautiful scenery, a dissatisfied
girl is introduced. The little girl Tinku is sad and lonely as she dislikes being in
Duliatal away from her friends and school in Delhi.
The middle of the story portrays the emotions of Tinku who, after meeting the
less fortunate girl Nima, realizes how lucky she is. It also develops on the
character of Nima who is a brave and uncomplaining girl and finds pleasure in
the small things of life.
In the end, an enlightened Tinku learns the true meaning of happiness and also
to count her blessings.
UNIT 8: A DIFFERENT DIWALI
Warm Up
(Answers may vary)
This picture talks about the chain of kindness. A girl helps a boy who has fallen down. This boy then
helps his sister / friend carry a heavy bag. This girl in turns helps an old lady in a wheelchair. The old
lady helps the birds by feeding them.
Embedded Questions
● Not true
● She sounds rude. (suggested answer)
● Free response
● Yes. (In the beginning, she is angry and feels lonely even if she has all the good things. But now she
is more understanding and friendly.)
● Because a) it is not safe b) she wants Nima to celebrate Diwali (Answers vary)
● Because Nima’s shawl is torn.
● Free response
Comprehension
A. 1. Tinku was sad because all her friends were away on the day of Diwali.
2. Tinku had gone for a walk. Nima was sitting on a rock and Tinku bumped into her by mistake.
3. Tinku’s mother gave Nima tea and sweets. She also gave a warm shawl. Yes, she was kind towards
Nima.
4. On the day of Diwali, Tinku learned that we must always be thankful for what we have.
B. 1. Nima and her father lived in Tikri, two hills away from Duliatal. Her father had come to Duliatal to
play the flute for the dancing on the night of Diwali. He brought Nima along because they had
no one else and he did not want Nima to stay alone at home.
2. The evening they met, Tinku took Nima home. Tinku’s mother gave them a wonderful tea and
sweets. Tinku let Nima hold sparklers. Nima was excited about the sparklers and the bombs.
3. Nima says this to Tinku. When Tinku bumps into Nima by mistake, Tinku asks Nima why she did not
move when she saw her coming. Nima says she could not really see her because she is blind.
4. Tinku asks this question to Nima. She asks Nima why sits alone and not go with her father to the
dancing. Nima tells Tinku that she once got pushed by a crowd of people. They did not know that
she could not see.
5. Tinku’s mother says these words to Nima. She says this because when she offers Nima tea and
sweets, Nima is shy and refuses. So Tinku’s mother asks her to have a good time and not to be shy.
C. 1. a. We know Nima does not have a mother when she first says there is no one else at home. Finally
she also says does not even remember anything about her own mother.
b. Nima does not become angry or upset when Tinku bumps into her. Soon she starts talking
politely to Tinku. Then at Tinku’s house, she first refuses the tea and snacks. She only takes
them when Tinku’s mother tells her to. These examples show us that Nima was a gentle a wellbehaved girl.
2. These words show us that Tinku and her mother were very friendly, generous and caring about
others around them.
3. It was a very different Diwali for Tinku because that day she learnt about being thankful for what
she had. In the beginning of the evening she had sweets, fireworks and new clothes, but still she
was sad and upset. By the end of the day, she met Nima and everything changed for her.
Grammar
A. 2. on 3. on 4. in 5. at 6. to 7. above
B. 2. a 3. e 4. b 5. d
C. 2. tonight 3. yesterday 4. now 5. tomorrow 6. early
Vocabulary
2. My name is Eesha. I’m glad to meet you.
3. Dheeraj was sad that he missed the bus.
4. The little child was crying.
5. The teacher was angry with the naughty children.
Writing
Suggested answers (Accept any logical answer)
You: Nima, how did you come here?
Nima: Father, I was waiting near the 1. road. I met Tinku there. She told me 2. I can’t stay there alone
and asked me to come here with her.
You: Did you have a nice time?
Nima: Yes, Father. I had a wonderful time. 3. Tinku’s mother took good care of me. She gave us 4. a
wonderful tea and sweets and then Tinku and I 5. played with sparklers and fireworks. I am
glad that I now 6. have a friend.
You: I’m happy you are safe and also had fun.
Listening
Listening Text
There was once an elephant in the forest. He was very lonely.
He saw a monkey on a tree. “Will you be my friend?” asked the elephant.
Replied the monkey, “You are too big. You cannot swing from trees like me.”
No animal wanted to be friends with the elephant. They all said he was too big to play with them.
The next day, the elephant saw all the animals running. The elephant asked them what the matter
was.
The bear said, “There is a tiger in the forest. He’s going to eat us all up!”
The animals all ran away to hide. The elephant wanted to help the other animals.
The elephant went to the tiger and said, “Please, Mr. Tiger, do not eat up these poor animals.”
“Go away from here!” growled the tiger.
The elephant raised its trunk and trumpeted really loud. The tiger got frightened and ran for his life.
The elephant announced the good news to everyone in the forest. All the animals thanked the
elephant. They said, “You are just the right size to be our friend.”
Answer: 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. a
Speaking
Suggested answers (Accept any logical answer)
Sameer’s friend has invited him to his birthday party. Sameer does not know what gift he should take.
He also does not know what to do at the party.
Do a role-play. Sameer’s mother tells him what kind of gift he should buy and how he must behave at
the party. Begin this way.
Sameer: Mother, can you please help me? Neel has invited me to his birthday party tomorrow. What
gift should I do?
Mother: You should give him something that he can use... may be a box of crayons or a book?
Sameer: He has a many sets of crayons. I think I should get him a comic book. He enjoys reading
them.
Mother: Very well. You have to choose something he likes then.
You: Yes mother. But I am nervous about the party. I have never met his family. What should I do
at the party?
Mother: It is easy. Just remember, you have to be friendly and polite all the time. You should not
grab your food. You should only take as much food as you can eat. You have to let Neel talk
to and play with other guests. Just go ahead and enjoy yourself.
You: Thank you mother.
Punctuation
1. I sang at Prajwal’s birthday party.
2. This is my aunt’s box.
3. Have you seen Ankita’s new dress?
4. Sameer is Deepa’s brother.
5. This is the horse’s tail.
A DIFFERENT DIWALI
A. Answer in brief.
1. What terrible habit did Tinku have and what happened when she went for a walk?
Ans: Tinku had the terrible habit of walking without looking. On Diwali day, when she went for a
walk on her own, she bumped into someone absent-mindedly.
2. Why was Nima sitting all alone on the rock?
Ans: Nima’s father was in Duliatal to play the flute. He brought Nima along and asked her to sit on
the rock and wait for him, as she did not want to stay at home alone.
3. How did Tinku and Nima spend the evening? Did Nima enjoy it?
Ans: Tinku and Nima spent a happy evening. Tinku gave Nima lighted sparklers to hold. Nima
shrieked excitedly as they spluttered. She cried out with joy at the noisy bombs.
B. Answer in detail.
1. What was Tinku looking forward to and why was she disappointed?
Ans: Tinku had been looking forward to spending her first Diwali in a new place with her new
friends. They had told her so much about what fun they had at Duliatal during Diwali. After telling
her all this, they had left her and gone away. So she was very disappointed.
2. What surprised Tinku about Nima and what did Tinku do?
Ans: Tinku was surprised that Nima, who was her own age, could not see the Diwali lights or
fireworks and yet she did not seem to mind. Tinku was a kind-hearted girl, she made friends with
Nima and invited Nima to her house to celebrate Diwali with her and her family.
3. Why was it a very different Diwali for Tinku?
Ans: Tinku enjoyed Diwali with a new friend she made. She was happy to share her sweets and
fireworks with her new friend. She also realised that she had so much more than many other
people. She had so much to be grateful for. She learnt the valuable lesson of ‘counting her
blessings.’
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. “Don’t look so gloomy! It’s Diwali, after all.”
a. Who said this and to whom?
b. Why was Tinku feeling sad?
c. What did her mother promise her?
Ans: a. Tinku’s mother said this to Tinku.
b. Tinku’s friends had gone off to other towns to celebrate Diwali, so she was gloomy.
c. Her mother promised to take her to see the dancing and the campfire.
2. ‘Count your many blessings’. (A Different Diwali)
a. What does this phrase mean?
b. Who often said this to Tinku?
c. When did Tinku understand this?
Ans: a. It means that we must always be grateful for what we have in life and not feel unhappy
about what we do not have.
b. Tinku’s teacher often said this.
c. Tinku understood this after she met Nima who had so little and she also could not see.
Yet, she did not seem to mind and was happy with whatever she got.
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