The Best Advice I Ever Had

Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about The Best Advice I Ever Had from Class 9 English_FL. Let us begin with the warm-up activity. Part A asks you to identify some great personalities. Part B provides six clues in column A, and you are expected to match them with the correct names in column B. The clues are: the first woman President of the UN General Assembly, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, the first woman IPS officer of India, the first woman President of India, the first woman Prime Minister of India, and the first woman Governor in India. The textbook intentionally leaves column B blank for you to complete. I encourage you to use your general knowledge or reference materials to fill in these names as part of your independent study. [CHECKPOINT]

Now, let us move to the main prose lesson. This article was written by Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, sister of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She originally wrote it for The Reader’s Digest magazine while serving as India’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom. The narrative opens by stating that the best advice she ever received came from Mahatma Gandhi on a sunny afternoon a decade prior. At that time, she was experiencing deep anguish, and her faith in humanity was at a low ebb. Her husband had recently passed away. Her grief was compounded by a humiliating realization: under Indian law at the time, she had no individual legal existence. Despite working and suffering alongside men for years in the national freedom struggle, women were still legally recognized only through their relationships to men. As a widow without a son, she and her two daughters were denied any share of the family property. She deeply resented this galling position and felt bitter toward family members who upheld this antiquated law. [CHECKPOINT]

Before leaving for America to attend a conference, she visited Gandhiji to pay her respects and say goodbye. He asked if she had made peace with her relatives. Surprised that he seemed to take their side, she replied that while she had not quarreled with them, she refused to interact with those who used an outdated law to create a difficult and humiliating situation for her. Gandhiji looked out the window, smiled, and gently reminded her that courtesy and decency demanded she say goodbye, as India still valued these virtues. She firmly refused, stating she would not visit people who wished to harm her, not even to please him. Gandhiji responded that no one can harm you except yourself. He observed enough bitterness in her heart to cause her injury unless she checked it. He pointed out that traveling abroad would not help her escape her own unhappiness. He advised her to be humble, reflect deeply, and not inflict further injury on herself by lacking the courage to cleanse her own heart. [CHECKPOINT]

His words haunted her. After days of internal struggle, she finally called her brother-in-law to arrange a meeting before her departure. Within five minutes of visiting them, she sensed her presence brought relief to the family. She shared her travel plans and asked for their good wishes. The effect was miraculous; she felt a heavy burden lifted, freeing her to be herself. This small gesture sparked a significant change. A year and a half later, she was in New York leading the Indian delegation to the United Nations, addressing India’s complaint about the mistreatment of people of Indian origin in South Africa. Harsh words were exchanged. She resented personal attacks from opponents that harmed India’s prestige and her own, and initially struck back with the same sharp verbal tactics. After a distressing clash, she remembered Gandhiji and wondered if he would approve. She realized that for him, means were as important as the end, perhaps more so. She questioned the value of a successful resolution achieved through questionable tactics that damaged self-respect. [CHECKPOINT]

That night, she resolved that no matter what, she would not use her words lightly at the UN. She elevated the debate to its proper level, refusing to retaliate to personal attacks or score cheap points. Her opponents met her on this higher ground, and they argued the case on its merits. On the final day, she approached the opposing delegation leader and asked for forgiveness if she had hurt him with any word or action. He shook her hand warmly and said he had no complaint. It felt good to be at peace with him, but even better to be at peace with herself. Once again, Gandhiji’s advice had saved her from herself. His words continued to help her maintain perspective in minor matters. She notes that many women share a recurring nightmare where important dinner guests arrive, but dinner is not ready. Recently, this actually happened. Her guests of honor were the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Lady Eden. As High Commissioner, they were extremely important. She had planned everything meticulously. [CHECKPOINT]

After drinks were served twice, she signaled the butler to announce dinner. When drinks came around a third time, she excused herself and rushed to the kitchen. It was a shocking sight. A frightened kitchen maid stood in one corner, the housekeeper in another. Her cook sat at the table, waving a ladle, singing, and beating time with his foot. His eyes were glazed and distant. The table was littered with chicken pieces. Her knees felt weak, but she calmly asked why dinner was not ready. The cook chanted that it was ready. She was furious and almost dismissed him, but remembered the counsel that had calmed her before. She knew losing control would only hurt herself. She pulled herself together and told everyone to help get food on the table. The served food differed from the menu, but when she explained the situation, her guests were surprised. One guest exclaimed exactly as written in the text: "If this is what your cook gives you when he’s drunk, what must he provide sober!" Her relieved laughter sounded slightly hysterical. With her perspective restored, she realized a dinner party is not the pivot of existence. Retaining a sense of proportion is as important as keeping one’s heart free from hatred. For everyone, Gandhiji’s advice remains meaningful: "No one can harm you but yourself." [CHECKPOINT]

Let us review the glossary vocabulary for your exams. Anguish means severe mental or physical pain or suffering. At a low ebb means being low in spirit or at a low level. Humiliating means embarrassing. Resent means to feel bitter about. Galling means annoying. Antiquated means outdated. Courtesy means good manners or polite speech or action. Inflict means to impose or cause. Gesture means an action or activity. Duel means a fight or clash. Retaliate means to hit back, strike back, or react. Perspective means point of view or outlook. Meticulously means carefully. Ladle means usually a large-sized spoon. Glazed means blank or dull. Hysterical means crazy. The pivot of existence means the main cause for existence or the centre of existence. [CHECKPOINT]

Now for the comprehension section. In C1, question one asks what the galling position refers to. The correct answer is option C: she and her daughters not being entitled to any share of the family property. Question two asks how Gandhiji said she could cleanse the bitterness of her heart. The correct answer is option A: making peace with her relatives. Question three asks what the counsel referred to is. The correct answer is option B: no one can harm you but yourself. For C2, question one asks why Mrs. Pandit was in anguish. She was grieving her husband's death and facing the humiliating realization that Indian law denied her and her daughters property rights as a widow without a son. Question two asks about the antiquated law. It refers to the outdated legal system that denied women independent property rights and recognized them only through male relationships. Question three asks why she was going to America according to Gandhiji. He believed she was going to escape her unhappiness. [CHECKPOINT]

Question four asks what Gandhiji wanted her to do and her response. He wanted her to say goodbye to her relatives out of courtesy and decency. She initially refused, stating she would not visit those who wished to harm her. Question five asks how Gandhiji made her meet her relatives. He did not force her. Instead, he gently questioned her motives, highlighted that bitterness would only harm her, and encouraged self-reflection, which led her to call them herself. Question six asks about the injury referred to and why Gandhiji warned against it. The injury is the emotional and mental harm caused by holding onto bitterness. He warned her because carrying hatred damages one's own peace and well-being. Question seven asks why she initially refused to meet them. She resented their support of an outdated law that humiliated her. Question eight asks about the debate she lifted. It concerned India’s complaint regarding the mistreatment of people of Indian origin in South Africa at the UN. [CHECKPOINT]

Question nine asks what advice she recollected. She recollected that no one can harm you except yourself, and that means are as important as ends. Question ten asks for a personal experience of a burden being lifted. You should reflect on a time when forgiveness or reconciliation brought you peace. Question eleven asks about her relationship with Gandhiji. We infer she deeply respected him as a moral guide whose wisdom profoundly shaped her life. Question twelve asks about the cook's state of mind. He was intoxicated, disconnected from reality, with glazed eyes, singing carelessly, and completely unaware of his duties. For C3, extract one: "Yet in law we women were still recognized only through our relationship to men." Part A asks why she says this. To highlight legal discrimination against women despite their equal participation in the freedom struggle. Part B asks about her mood. She is bitter, resentful, and frustrated by the injustice. Extract two: "No one can harm you except yourself." Speaker is Mahatma Gandhi, addressing Mrs. Pandit. He means external actions cannot truly damage you unless you allow your own bitterness to consume you. [CHECKPOINT]

Extract three: "I struck back with the same sharp weapon." The speaker is Mrs. Pandit, striking back at UN opponents. The weapon was sharp, retaliatory words. She struck back initially to defend India’s prestige and her dignity against unfair attacks. For C4, question one asks for a brief account of humiliating situations. She faced legal humiliation over property rights, diplomatic humiliation from personal attacks at the UN, and domestic embarrassment when her cook was drunk during a state dinner. Question two comments on the title. The title captures how Gandhiji’s advice guided her through grief, diplomatic conflict, and social embarrassment, proving its profound value. Question three asks for a note on her accomplishments. She was a freedom fighter imprisoned three times, served as Ambassador to multiple countries, and in 1953 became the first woman President of the UN General Assembly. Question four asks if means are as important as the end. You should argue that unethical methods damage integrity and long-term success, while ethical means ensure sustainable outcomes. Question five asks you to write an article on removing gender discrimination. Structure it with a clear introduction, suggestions for education reform, legal enforcement, workplace equality, and changing social attitudes, followed by a conclusion calling for collective action. [CHECKPOINT]

Let us proceed to language activities. For V1, complete the words starting with "re". One, make a decision is resolve. Two, state unwillingness is refuse. Three, take revenge is retaliate. Four, feel bitter is resent. Five, connected with is regarding. Six, reassurance after stress is relief. Seven, latest is recent. Eight, keep is retain. For V2, classify qualities. Desirable qualities include sincere, advantageous, decent, courteous, happy, humble, significant, prestigious, and diplomatic. Undesirable qualities include galling, quarrelsome, difficult, bitter, harmful, and hysterical. Discuss with your teacher why each fits its category based on their positive or negative impact on character and society. Now G1, Formation of Nouns. The textbook explains suffixes. Adding ance or ence to assist gives assistance, to exist gives existence. Adding tion or sion to act gives action, to divide gives division. Adding dom or age to wise gives wisdom, to bond gives bondage. Adding ism or ice to patriot gives patriotism, to just gives justice. Adding hood to child gives childhood. Adding ity or ty to possible gives possibility, to cruel gives cruelty. Adding ment to move gives movement. Adding ness to kind gives kindness. Adding ship or ure to leader gives leadership, to please gives pleasure. Adding al to arrive gives arrival. [CHECKPOINT]

For exercise A, change verbs to nouns: perform becomes performance, continue becomes continuation, react becomes reaction, realize becomes realization, treat becomes treatment, observe becomes observation, express becomes expression, involve becomes involvement, agitate becomes agitation, interact becomes interaction, confront becomes confrontation, explain becomes explanation, enter becomes entrance, allow becomes allowance, achieve becomes achievement, enroll becomes enrollment, admit becomes admission, free becomes freedom, judge becomes judgment. For exercise B, pick adjective plus noun pairs from the lesson. Examples include greatest soul, deep sorrow, humiliating realization, national struggle, outworn law, difficult situation, sharp weapon, cheap point, recurring nightmare, important guests, shocking sight, frightened maid, normal voice, great burden, significant change, bitter heart, new country, new level, opposing delegation, important dinner, and main cause. For exercise C, combine sentences by changing adjectives to nouns. One, Rajesh’s amiability has endeared him to his colleagues. Two, The actor’s fame got him many endorsements. Three, The young businessman’s extravagance led to his downfall. Four, James’s silence during the enquiry did not help the police in bringing the culprit to book. [CHECKPOINT]

Now G2, Formation of Verbs. Prefixes like ac or en added to company give accompany, to act give enact. Prefixes like re, be, or em added to fine give refine, to friend give befriend, to body give embody. Suffixes like ate, en, or e added to active give activate, to black give blacken, to breath give breathe. Suffixes like ise, ize, or ify added to agony give agonise, to equal give equalize, to class give classify. For the exercise, make new verbs and use them in sentences: bath becomes bathe. Courage becomes encourage. Force becomes enforce. Food becomes feed. Joy becomes enjoy. Memory becomes memorize. Prison becomes imprison. Slave becomes enslave. Speech becomes address. Sympathy becomes sympathize. Clear becomes clarify. Civil becomes civilize. Example sentences: We will bathe in the river. Teachers encourage students to read. The government will enforce the new law. We must feed the animals daily. I enjoy reading novels. Please memorize these facts. The rebels were imprisoned for treason. History shows how empires enslave others. He will address the assembly. I sympathize with your loss. The teacher will clarify the doubt. Education helps civilize society. [CHECKPOINT]

Now G3, Adverb formation. Adding ly to complete gives completely, to slight gives slightly. Verb, adjective, or noun plus ly often forms adverbs. For exercise A, adverbs from the lesson include recently, meticulously, warmly, lightly, finally, suddenly, once, and often. Frame sentences: She recently visited the library. He meticulously planned the event. They greeted us warmly. He spoke lightly of the danger. She finally agreed. He suddenly stopped. I once met him. She often reads. For exercise B, choose the correct word. One, Bill is a careful driver. Two, Can you please repeat that slowly? Three, The party was very good. Four, Tom did not do very well. Five, Why are you always so slow? Six, Our team played badly. Seven, I need your help quickly. For G4, complete the parts of speech table. One, realization, realize, real, really. Two, power, power, powerful, powerfully. Three, beauty, beautify, beautiful, beautifully. Four, pleasure, please, pleasant, pleasantly. Five, agreement, agree, agreeable, agreeably. Six, enjoyment, enjoy, enjoyable, enjoyably. Seven, care, care, careful, carefully. Eight, danger, endanger, dangerous, dangerously. Nine, expression, express, expressive, expressively. Ten, courage, encourage, courageous, courageously. [CHECKPOINT]

For G5, words used as nouns and verbs. View: The view from the hill is beautiful. Let us view the painting. Drop: A drop of water fell. Please drop the bag here. Design: The dress has a lovely design. They will design a new logo. Walk: We went for a morning walk. I walk to school daily. Distance: The distance is five kilometers. He distanced himself from the group. Need: There is a need for water. I need your help. Treat: The ice cream was a treat. Doctors treat patients. Delight: The news brought great delight. The music will delight everyone. Now S1, Role Play. Role A is a student wanting to go to the theatre for a friend’s birthday with discounted tickets, feeling stressed and needing rest. Role B is a parent who disagrees, worried about exam performance, believing the student should have studied earlier, and suggesting going out after exams. Practice this dialogue focusing on polite disagreement and clear expression of concerns. [CHECKPOINT]

For S2, pronunciation practice. Focus on consonant sounds S and Z. Repeat the S words: city, science, sad, scream, bus, glasses, concert, lost, class, place, face, taste. Read the sentence: It is six or seven years since Sydney’s sister sang that song. Repeat the Z words: zoo, zero, lazy, easy, scissors, exact, size, times, wise, breeze, bays, rise. Read the sentence: Zebras in zoos are like dolphins in pools. For the maze activity, start at the top and move only horizontally or vertically, avoiding squares with the Z sound. The correct path goes through spots, squares, since, six, sports, streets, sells, sits, escapes, rice, sense, science, lost, oasis, desert, smokes, songs, crisps, box, place, face, snacks, seas, voice, boxes, plays, phase, nose, smiles, focus, concert, and finishes. Now for the Writing Skill on Dialogue Writing: Can money buy happiness? Structure your paragraph by presenting both sides. Yes, because money buys a house, clothes, a car, and provides security. No, because money cannot buy health, true friendship, inner peace, or genuine happiness. Conclude that while money provides comfort, true happiness comes from relationships, purpose, and contentment. [CHECKPOINT]

For the Idioms section, learn these carefully. A penny for your thoughts means what are you thinking about. A chance in a million means either no chance or a very slim chance. Two sides of the same coin means two contrasting characters in the same category. A million dollar question means a very crucial question. As good as gold means very well behaved. To cash in on means to take advantage. Thirty pieces of silver refers to the money paid to Judas Iscariot for an act of betrayal. Now let us read about the author. Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit lived from 1900 to 1990. She was an Indian diplomat and politician, and the sister of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. She actively participated in the Indian freedom movement and held high national and international positions. She was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the independence struggle. The British imprisoned her three times, in 1932 to 1933, in 1940, and in 1942 to 1943. After her husband died in 1944, she toured the United States for lectures from late 1944 to early 1946. [CHECKPOINT]

After independence, she joined the diplomatic service. She served as India’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, the United States, Mexico, Ireland, and Spain. During her time in Ireland, she was also the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. In 1953, she became the first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly. She passed away on December 1, 1990. President Ramaswami Venkataraman praised her as a luminous strand in the tapestry of India’s freedom struggle, noting her elegance, courage, and dedication as an asset to the national movement. Finally, the suggested reading list includes the Autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, titled My Experiments with Truth, and a Biography of Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit. I highly recommend reading these to gain deeper historical and personal insights. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]