Against All Odds Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share Against All Odds Questions & Answers.

In my previous posts, I have also shared the questions & answers The Lumber Room, Kalaripayattu, The Humble Bread and The Vagabond so, you can check these posts as well.

Against All Odds Questions & Answers

Question 1: Why was Anandi’s life different from most child brides of her age?

Answer: Like all girls of her generation, Anandibai was married at the age of nine to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower. In those times, it was uncommon to educate girls. However, Gopalrao was a progressive thinker who strongly believed in women’s education and widow remarriage. He taught Anandibai Sanskrit and English.

Question 2: Why did Anandibai decide to become a doctor?

Answer: At the age of 14, Anandibai gave birth to a baby boy. But the baby passed away after ten days due to insufficient medical care. Anandibai was shattered. She realised the need for female doctors as many women were not comfortable visiting male doctors. Hence, she decided to become a doctor.

Question 3: What did Anandibai address her community at Serampore College Hall?

Answer: Anandibai and Gopalrao faced a lot of opposition when Anandibai planned to go to America for further studies. Orthodox Hindus were outraged. It was unthinkable that a woman would cross the seas all alone without her husband. Hence, Anandibai addressed her community at Serampore College Hall to explain her purpose of pursuing further studies abroad.

Question 4: What issues did Anandibai dwell upon in her maiden speech to her community?

Answer: Anandibai explained why she wanted to go abroad for higher studies and her desire to become a doctor, as the country desperately needed Hindu female doctors. She said that she intended to start a medical college for women in India.

Question 5: How did Gopalrao support Anandibai’s decision to be a doctor?

Answer: Gopalrao encouraged Anandibai to become a doctor and to get her admitted to an American university, he tried really hard. In 1880, he wrote a letter to Royal Wilder, an American missionary, about his wife’s desire to study medicine in America and inquiring about a suitable job in America for himself.

Against All Odds Questions & Answers

Question 6: Read the line and answer the following questions:

“Great was my joy when at the age of fourteen, I gave birth to a baby boy.”

(a) Who said the above lines? What happened to the baby boy?

Answer: Anandibai Joshi said the above lines. The boy passed away ten days later because he could not get sufficient medical care.

(b) What did the speaker resolve after she lost her son?

Answer: Anandibai resolved to ensure that no woman would lose her loved one because of lack of medical attention. She decided to become a doctor.

(c) What did the speaker realise after her son passed away?

Answer: Anandibai realized that most women in India could not approach female doctors because there were no lady doctors.

Question 7: How was Gopalrao different as a husband?

Answer: In those times a husband did not even address his wife directly in front of others but Gopalrao started teaching Anandi. Thus he was a very different man as a husband.

Question 8: Why did orthodox Hindus oppose Anandi’s decision to go to America for further studies?

Answer: Anandibai came from an orthodox Brahmin family. In those days, child marriage and sati were common. Women were not educated and generally treated in an inferior manner. At a time when women were not educated, Anandibai was educated in both Sanskrit and English. Her husband actually encouraged her to become a doctor. He was willing to send her to America for further studies. In those days, crossing the seas was considered a taboo. In this background, a woman crossing the seas without her husband was unthinkable. Hence, the orthodox Hindus opposed Anandi’s decision to go to America for further studies.

Question 9: Read the lines and answer the following questions:

My dear Mavashi, if it hadn’t been for your loving heart and belief in me, I would not have survived the ordeal.

(a) What is the ordeal the writer went through?

Answer: Anandibai, being an Indian had a difficult time adjusting to America because there is a vast difference between the two countries.

(b) Who is ‘My dear Mavashi’ mentioned in the above lines?

Answer: ‘My dear Mavashi’ mentioned in the above lines is Mrs. Carpenter.

Question 10: What would Anandi discuss with Carpenter Mavashi?

Answer: Anandi would discuss many things with her that she could never dare to express in public. They discussed early marriage and its effect on women’s health. They also discussed Hindu culture, religion and the status of women in society.

Against All Odds Questions & Answers

Question 11: What opposition did Anandibai face before going to America? How did she convince the people?

Answer: Anandibai went through a huge amount of opposition and censure at the hands of orthodox Hindus. Her husband too was criticized for thinking of letting his wife go all alone to a foreign country for education.

In spite of this, Anandibai addressed her community at Serampore College Hall. She explained why she wanted to go abroad for higher studies and her desire to become a doctor. She told them that she intended to start a medical college for women in India.

Question 12: Read the lines and answer the following questions:

Out of my grief was born a new resolve; to ensure that no woman would lose her loved one because of lack of medical attention.

(a) What was the cause for the speaker’s grief?

Answer: Anandibai grieved because she had lost her new born baby due to insufficient medical care.

(b) What did the speaker resolve to do?

Answer: Anandibai resolved to become a doctor so that no woman would have to lose their loved ones because of lack of medical attention.

(c) Who encouraged the speaker in her resolve?

Answer: Anandibai’s husband, Gopalrao, encouraged her to become a doctor. He tried very hard to get her admitted to an American university.

(d) Find the synonym of the word ‘determination’.

Answer: resolve

Question 13: Read the lines and answer the following questions:

The journey back home further weakened me. I am currently staying at my cousin’s place in Poona for further treatment.

(a) Who is referred as ‘I’? Where did she return from?

Answer: Anandibai Joshi is referred to as ‘I’. She returned from America after completing her MD. She became the first woman doctor of India.

(b) What was she under treatment for? What was the cause of her illness?

Answer: Anandibai was diagnosed with tuberculosis on her return to India. The unfamiliar diet and cold weather in America took a toll on her health.

(c) What post did she accept on her return?

Answer: Anandibai accepted the post of a doctor of the female ward at the Albert Edward Hospital, Kolhapur.

(d) Find the antonym of ‘weakened’.

Answer: strengthened

Question 14: Describe Gopalrao’s contribution in Anandibai’s life.

Answer: In those times, a husband did not even address his wife directly in front of others but Gopalrao started teaching Anandibai. He encouraged Anandibai to become a doctor. He tried very hard to get her admitted to an American university. In 1880, he wrote a letter to Royal Wilder, an American missionary, about his wife’s desire to study medicine in America and inquiring about a suitable job in America for himself. In 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore near Calcutta since he could not get a job in America. So, he decided to send Anandibai to America alone. Gopalrao strongly supported Anandibai against all the opposition she faced from society.

Question 15: Describe a brief character sketch of Anandibai.

Answer: Anandibai was married at the age of nine. Her husband Gopalrao Joshi taught her Sanskrit and English. When Anandibai lost her child due to lack of medical attention, with a lot of determination and courage, she decided to become a doctor. She was open-minded and discussed with Mrs. Carpenter about Hindu culture, religion and status of women in society. All this showed tremendous maturity on her part. Inspite of failing health, she went to America, adjusted to the different surroundings without complaining and earned her medical degree. Even when diagnosed with tuberculosis, she did not give up but decided to come back to India and fight it out.

So, these were Against All Odds Questions & Answers.

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