“About Me” by Ramendra Kumar is a deeply emotional and reflective poem that speaks for the countless “average” and “ordinary” children who often feel ignored, unnamed, and undervalued in a society obsessed with talent, ranks, and prizes.
The speaker, an ordinary boy, expresses his grief that people do not call him by his real name; instead, they address him casually as “Hey you!” or ask “What’s your name?”. He realizes that people remember only those who excel in studies, sports, or arts. Since he possesses neither extraordinary talent, attractive looks, nor superior skills to achieve solitary goals, he feels nameless and unnoticed.
However, the poem takes a powerful turn when the boy questions whether he is truly useless or just a combination of flesh and bones. He discovers his true worth: he possesses a loving heart that beats for others, shares their joys and sorrows, a mind that looks beyond superficiality, and a soul that deeply cares. He appeals to society to stop measuring human worth solely by prizes, trophies, and applause. Instead, he asks to be judged by a new measure: his stock of compassion, empathy, and care. All he desires is human dignity, a little attention, a friendly smile, a simple nod, and to be recognized and treated as a human being.
English Note: Ramendra Kumar is an award-winning Indian writer for children. He has written more than 20 books so far. His books have been translated into seven foreign and eight Indian languages.
Solitary – Single, alone / ,
Compassion – Concern for the suffering or misfortune of others, empathy / , ,
Heed – Pay attention to, notice /
Soul – The spiritual or emotional part of a human / ,
Flesh and bones – Physical human body without special identity /
Treasure – Something very valuable / ,
Average – Ordinary, normal, not exceptional / ,
रामेंद्र कुमार द्वारा रचित कविता “अबाउट मी” (मेरे बारे में) उन अनगिनत “औसत” और “साधारण” बच्चों की पीड़ा और भावनाओं को व्यक्त करती है, जिन्हें केवल प्रतिभा, अंकों और पुरस्कारों को महत्व देने वाले समाज में अनदेखा और उपेक्षित कर दिया जाता है।
कवि (एक साधारण बालक) अपना दुख व्यक्त करता है कि लोग उसे उसके वास्तविक नाम से नहीं पुकारते, बल्कि अनजाने में “हे यू!” (अरे तुम!) या “तुम्हारा नाम क्या है?” कहकर संबोधित करते हैं। वह महसूस करता है कि समाज केवल उन्हीं को याद रखता है जो पढ़ाई, खेल-कूद या कला में अव्वल आते हैं। क्योंकि उसके पास न तो कोई असाधारण प्रतिभा है, न ही आकर्षक रूप-रंग और न ही कोई विशेष योग्यता, इसलिए वह खुद को गुमनाम महसूस करता है।
परंतु कविता में एक महत्वपूर्ण मोड़ आता है जब वह बालक स्वयं से प्रश्न पूछता है कि क्या वह सचमुच बेकार है? वह अपने भीतर एक महान गुण खोजता है: उसके पास एक संवेदनशील हृदय है जो दूसरों के दुख-दर्द और खुशियों को बांटता है, एक ऐसा मन है जो बाहरी सुंदरता से परे देखता है, और एक ऐसी आत्मा है जो दूसरों की परवाह करती है। वह समाज से प्रार्थना करता है कि मनुष्य का मूल्यांकन केवल जीती गई ट्रॉफियों और तालियों से न किया जाए। इसके बजाय, उसे एक नए पैमाने से परखा जाए: उसकी करुणा, सहानुभूति और प्रेम से। वह केवल सम्मान, थोड़ा सा ध्यान, एक दोस्ताना मुस्कान, और एक इंसान के रूप में अपनी पहचान चाहता है।
हिंदी अनुवाद: रामेंद्र कुमार बच्चों के लिए लिखने वाले एक प्रसिद्ध पुरस्कार विजेता भारतीय लेखक हैं। उन्होंने अब तक 20 से अधिक पुस्तकें लिखी हैं। उनकी पुस्तकों का अनुवाद सात विदेशी और आठ भारतीय भाषाओं में हुआ है।
Excel – To perform very well, to surpass others / श्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन करना, अव्वल आना
Solitary – Single, alone / अकेला, एकमात्र
Compassion – Concern for the suffering or misfortune of others, empathy / करुणा, दया, सहानुभूति
Heed – Pay attention to, notice / ध्यान देना
Soul – The spiritual or emotional part of a human / आत्मा, अंतरात्मा
Flesh and bones – Physical human body without special identity / केवल मांस और हड्डियाँ (साधारण शरीर)
Treasure – Something very valuable / खजाना, अमूल्य निधि
Average – Ordinary, normal, not exceptional / औसत, साधारण
Section 2
Comprehension Exercises
खंड
बोध प्रश्न
Part I
Multiple Choice Questions (Tick ✓ the Right Answer)
भाग
Multiple Choice Questions (Tick ✓ the Right Answer)
Q. The speaker in this poem is:
(a) An average and ordinary boy
(b) A topper in the class
(c) A good sports man
(d) A good singer
Correct Answer:(a) An average and ordinary boy
हिंदी अनुवाद: इस कविता का वक्ता एक औसत और साधारण लड़का (An average and ordinary boy) है।
Part II
Answer the Following Questions
भाग
Answer the Following Questions
Q1
What is the speakers complaint
वक्ता की शिकायत यह है कि कोई भी…
📝 Question:
What is the speaker’s complaint?
💡 Solution:
The speaker’s complaint is that nobody pays attention to him or remembers his real name because he is an average boy who is not good at studies, sports, or arts. People casually address him as “Hey you!” or ask “What’s your name?”, ignoring his existence as a human being.
📝 प्रश्न:
वक्ता की शिकायत यह है कि कोई भी उस पर ध्यान नहीं देता और न ही उसका असली नाम याद रखता है क्योंकि वह एक साधारण लड़का है जो पढ़ाई, खेल या कला में अव्वल नहीं है। लोग उसे केवल “अरे तुम!” या “तुम्हारा नाम क्या है?” कहकर बुलाते हैं।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The speaker’s complaint is that nobody pays attention to him or remembers his real name because he is an average boy who is not good at studies, sports, or arts. People casually address him as “Hey you!” or ask “What’s your name?”, ignoring his existence as a human being.
Q2
People called the speaker by two names What…
लोग वक्ता को जिन दो नामोंसंबोधनों से पुकारते…
📝 Question:
People called the speaker by two names. What are they?
💡 Solution:
The two names by which people call the speaker are “Hey you!” and “What’s your name?”.
📝 प्रश्न:
लोग वक्ता को जिन दो नामों/संबोधनों से पुकारते हैं, वे हैं: “हे यू!” (अरे तुम!) और “व्हाट्स योर नेम?” (तुम्हारा नाम क्या है?)।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The two names by which people call the speaker are “Hey you!” and “What’s your name?”.
Q3
Every human being has some good qualities in…
वक्ता के भीतर बेहतरीन मानवीय गुण हैं उसके…
📝 Question:
Every human being has some good qualities in him/her. Find out the good qualities in the speaker
💡 Solution:
The speaker possesses deep human qualities: he has a loving heart that beats for others, shares their joys and sorrows, a mind that looks beyond superficial things, a soul that truly cares, and a ready stock of compassion and care.
📝 प्रश्न:
वक्ता के भीतर बेहतरीन मानवीय गुण हैं: उसके पास एक प्रेमपूर्ण हृदय है जो दूसरों की खुशियाँ व दुख बाँटता है, एक संवेदनशील मन है जो बाहरी दिखावे से परे देखता है, और करुणा व सहानुभूति से भरी आत्मा है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The speaker possesses deep human qualities: he has a loving heart that beats for others, shares their joys and sorrows, a mind that looks beyond superficial things, a soul that truly cares, and a ready stock of compassion and care.
Q4
The speaker tells us about the qualities that…
अन्य लोगों के पास मौजूद वे गुण जो…
📝 Question:
The speaker tells us about the qualities that others possess but he doesn’t possess. Name those qualities
💡 Solution:
The qualities that others possess but the speaker lacks are
Being good at academic studies.
Excelling in sports and games.
Painting pretty pictures.
Having impressive looks, extraordinary talent, or high achievement skills that win prizes and applause.
📝 प्रश्न:
अन्य लोगों के पास मौजूद वे गुण जो वक्ता के पास नहीं हैं: 1. पढ़ाई में होशियार होना, 2. खेल-कूद में निपुण होना, 3. सुंदर चित्र बनाना, 4. आकर्षक रूप-रंग, असाधारण प्रतिभा या ट्रॉफियाँ और तालियाँ जीतने की क्षमता होना।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The qualities that others possess but the speaker lacks are:
Being good at academic studies.
Excelling in sports and games.
Painting pretty pictures.
Having impressive looks, extraordinary talent, or high achievement skills that win prizes and applause.
Q5
What is the poets demand
कवि की माँग यह है कि एक साधारण…
📝 Question:
What is the poet’s demand?
💡 Solution:
The poet demands that an average boy should not be ignored or treated as useless flesh and bones. He demands a little attention (heed), a friendly smile, a simple nod, and that people treat him at least like a human being with a proper name and dignity.
📝 प्रश्न:
कवि की माँग यह है कि एक साधारण लड़के को उपेक्षित न किया जाए। वह थोड़ा सा ध्यान, एक दोस्ताना मुस्कान, एक साधारण सहमति का इशारा (nod) और एक इंसान के रूप में सम्मान व पहचान पाने की माँग करता है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The poet demands that an average boy should not be ignored or treated as useless flesh and bones. He demands a little attention (heed), a friendly smile, a simple nod, and that people treat him at least like a human being with a proper name and dignity.
Q6
Recite the poem and find the rhyming words…
कविता में प्रयुक्त तुकबंदी वाले शब्द Rhyming Words…
📝 Question:
Recite the poem and find the rhyming words used in the poem
💡 Solution:
The rhyming words used in the poem are
name – blame
nothing – thing
game – name
bones – own(near rhyme)
shares – cares
treasure – measure
heed – need
person – human
📝 प्रश्न:
कविता में प्रयुक्त तुकबंदी वाले शब्द (Rhyming Words): name – blame, game – name, shares – cares, treasure – measure, heed – need आदि।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The rhyming words used in the poem are:
name – blame
nothing – thing
game – name
bones – own(near rhyme)
shares – cares
treasure – measure
heed – need
person – human
Q7
Which words and phrases are repeated in the…
पुनरावृत्त शब्दवाक्यांश Dont judge me At least A…
📝 Question:
Which words and phrases are repeated in the poem and why?
💡 Solution:
The words and phrases repeated in the poem are
“Hey you!” and “What’s your name?”
“Don’t judge me…”
“Not by…” / “But by…”
“A little…” (a little heed, a little nod, a friendly smile)
“At least…” (treat me at least like a person, make me feel human)
Reason for repetition: These repetitions emphasize the speaker’s intense feeling of neglect, his earnest plea for dignity, and his desire to change society’s rigid standards of judging people.
📝 प्रश्न:
पुनरावृत्त शब्द/वाक्यांश: “Don’t judge me”, “At least”, “A little” आदि। पुनरावृत्ति का कारण साधारण बच्चों की उपेक्षा और उनके प्रति सम्मानजनक व्यवहार की माँग को मजबूती से रेखांकित करना है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The words and phrases repeated in the poem are:
“Hey you!” and “What’s your name?”
“Don’t judge me…”
“Not by…” / “But by…”
“A little…” (a little heed, a little nod, a friendly smile)
“At least…” (treat me at least like a person, make me feel human)
Reason for repetition: These repetitions emphasize the speaker’s intense feeling of neglect, his earnest plea for dignity, and his desire to change society’s rigid standards of judging people.
Q8
The poet doesnt want to be judged by…
कवि द्वारा सुझाया गया नया पैमाना New Measure…
📝 Question:
The poet doesn’t want to be judged by the prizes he never wins or by the number of claps he doesn’t earn. He requests everyone to judge him by using a new measure. What is the new measure he is suggesting?
💡 Solution:
The new measure suggested by the poet is to evaluate a person by their inner human virtues rather than external achievements. Specifically, he wants to be judged by
How many sorrows he shares with others.
His ready stock of compassion, empathy, and care.
The love and warmth present in his heart.
📝 प्रश्न:
कवि द्वारा सुझाया गया नया पैमाना (New Measure) व्यक्ति का बाहरी ट्रॉफियों या तालियों से मूल्यांकन करने के बजाय उसके आंतरिक मानवीय गुणों से मूल्यांकन करना है: वह कितने लोगों के दुख बाँटता है, और उसके पास कितनी करुणा, सहानुभूति व प्रेम है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The new measure suggested by the poet is to evaluate a person by their inner human virtues rather than external achievements. Specifically, he wants to be judged by:
How many sorrows he shares with others.
His ready stock of compassion, empathy, and care.
The love and warmth present in his heart.
Section 3
Appendix-I Listening Task (Unit 4: Adolescence & Practice Exercise)
खंड
Appendix-I Listening Task (Unit 4: Adolescence & Practice Exercise)
Summary: Bullying is a repeated act of troubling someone. A 32-year-old survivor reflects on how childhood bullying in school corridors and playing fields stripped away his self-confidence, leaving permanent emotional scars.
Text: “The Bharat Scouts and Guides flag is in dark blue colour. The emblem in golden yellow shall be in the centre of the flag with Ashoka Chakra in blue colour. The flag is 180 cm long and 120 cm wide.”
Questions & Answers based on Scouts and Guides Listening Text:
Summary: Bullying is a repeated act of troubling someone. A 32-year-old survivor reflects on how childhood bullying in school corridors and playing fields stripped away his self-confidence, leaving permanent emotional scars.
Text: “The Bharat Scouts and Guides flag is in dark blue colour. The emblem in golden yellow shall be in the centre of the flag with Ashoka Chakra in blue colour. The flag is 180 cm long and 120 cm wide.”
Questions & Answers based on Scouts and Guides Listening Text:
Q1
What is the color of the Bharat Scouts…
भारत स्काउट्स एंड गाइड्स के झंडे का रंग…
📝 Question:
What is the color of the Bharat Scouts and Guides flag?
💡 Solution:
The color of the flag is dark blue.
📝 प्रश्न:
भारत स्काउट्स एंड गाइड्स के झंडे का रंग गहरा नीला (dark blue) है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
The color of the flag is dark blue.
Q2
What is located at the center of the…
झंडे के केंद्र में सुनहरे पीले रंग का…
📝 Question:
What is located at the center of the flag?
💡 Solution:
An emblem in golden yellow color with the Ashoka Chakra in blue color is located at the center of the flag.
📝 प्रश्न:
झंडे के केंद्र में सुनहरे पीले रंग का प्रतीक (Emblem) और नीले रंग का अशोक चक्र है।
💡 उत्तर / हल:
An emblem in golden yellow color with the Ashoka Chakra in blue color is located at the center of the flag.
Q3
What are the dimensions of the Bharat Scouts…
झंडे की लंबाई 180 सेमी तथा चौड़ाई 120…
📝 Question:
What are the dimensions of the Bharat Scouts and Guides flag?