Summary: “A New Day, A New Way” is a short story from the ASSEB Class 8 English textbook Sunbeam English Reader III. The story follows Seema Deka, a working woman who is deeply troubled when her office manager informs her that the monthly salary will be delayed by a few days. She needed twelve thousand rupees urgently to pay her daughter Swati’s school fees, and the delay left her anxious and helpless. Her daughter Swati, though still a schoolgirl, shows remarkable maturity and presence of mind by suggesting that her mother visit an NGO called “Brave Mothers” that had recently come to their school to create awareness about Entrepreneurship Development and Self Reliance.
When Seema visits the NGO office with a calm and resolute face, the lady in charge takes her to a large room where a group of women dressed in blue sarees — the “Brave Mothers” — are busy stitching soft dolls. The NGO offers free vocational training in a wide variety of fields: toy making, embroidery, tailoring, culinary arts, and mobile phone repairing. Seema, who has always adored cooking, decides to sign up for culinary arts training. The NGO not only promises her free training but also assures her of a loan to set up a kitchen at home before the training even begins, so she can pay the school fees right away. Additionally, they open a savings bank account for her to deposit her earnings.
The story ends on an uplifting note — Seema’s heart brimmed with new dreams as she stepped out of the NGO office. The lesson conveys a powerful message about self-reliance, the importance of entrepreneurship, and the role well-wishers and community organisations can play in transforming lives. It also highlights the qualities of a good child: Swati stood by her mother in a moment of need, offered a constructive solution, and encouraged her not to worry — a beautiful example of love, maturity, and family support.
Word Meanings
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Resolute | Determined, firm, unwavering in purpose |
| Culinary | Relating to cooking or the kitchen |
| Vocation | A type of work or occupation; a calling |
| Brimmed | Overflowed; was full to the edge |
| Edge | The outside limit of an object, a surface, or an area |
| Adored | Loved somebody or something very much |
| Jotted | Wrote something quickly in a brief note |
| Hugged | Put one’s arms around someone and held them tightly |
| Embossed | Having a raised design on fabric or surface |
| Expired | Died; came to an end |
| Entrepreneurship | The activity of setting up and running a business |
| Self-reliance | Depending on one’s own abilities and resources |
| Vocational | Related to a skill or trade used in a job or profession |
| Embroidery | The craft of decorating fabric using needle and thread |
| Tailoring | The work of making or altering clothes |
Comprehension
A. Answer the following questions:
1. (a) Why was Seema upset?
Answer: Seema was upset because her office manager informed her that the salary for the month would be delayed by a few days. She needed twelve thousand rupees urgently to pay her daughter Swati’s school fees, and the delay made her worried and helpless.
1. (b) What did Swati suggest to her mother?
Answer: Swati suggested to her mother that she should go and meet the lady who was the head of an NGO called “Brave Mothers.” Swati told Seema that this NGO had recently visited their school to create awareness about Entrepreneurship Development and Self Reliance, and that the lady there might be able to help them.
1. (c) What happened when Seema met the lady at the NGO office?
Answer: When Seema met the lady at the NGO office, the lady took her to a large room where a group of women dressed in blue sarees — the “Brave Mothers” — were stitching soft dolls. The lady explained the various vocational training programmes offered by the NGO and asked Seema which field she would like to train in.
1. (d) What did the women of ‘Brave Mothers’ do?
Answer: The women of “Brave Mothers” were engaged in vocational activities as part of their training. They provided training in a variety of fields such as toy making, embroidery, tailoring, culinary arts, and mobile phone repairing. At the time of Seema’s visit, the women in the room were stitching soft dolls.
1. (e) What was Seema interested in doing?
Answer: Seema was interested in culinary arts training because she had always adored cooking. She felt that cooking was something she was naturally good at and passionate about, and so she chose culinary training as her vocation with the NGO.
1. (f) How did the NGO help Seema?
Answer: The NGO helped Seema in several important ways. It provided her with free vocational training in culinary arts. It also assured her of a loan to set up a kitchen at home even before the training began, so that she could pay Swati’s school fees immediately. Additionally, the NGO helped Seema open a savings bank account where she could deposit her future earnings. It also promised to assign her customers based on her performance after training.
Vocabulary
B. Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| edge | the outside limit of an object, a surface or an area |
| adored | loved somebody very much |
| jotted | wrote something quickly |
| hugged | put arms around somebody to hold them tightly |
| embossed | a raised design on fabric |
C. Choose the correct meaning of the words/phrases as used in the lesson:
1. “calm and resolute face”
Answer: (iv) determined, firm
2. “culinary training as a vocation”
Answer: (iv) cooking
3. “her heart brimmed with new dreams”
Answer: (ii) overflowed
Grammar
D. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions:
1. Seema was upset ______ the information.
Answer: Seema was upset by the information.
2. Swati told her ______ a lady who lived here.
Answer: Swati told her about a lady who lived here.
3. She asked Seema to see the lady ______ her office.
Answer: She asked Seema to see the lady at her office.
4. She was the boss ______ the NGO.
Answer: She was the boss of the NGO.
5. Swati goes to school ______ bus.
Answer: Swati goes to school by bus.
Writing Similar Sentences
E. Rewrite the following sentences using similar meaning without changing the sense:
1. “He had expired nearly five years ago.”
Answer: He had passed away nearly five years ago.
2. “Based on Seema’s performance, she would be assigned more customers.”
Answer: Depending on how well Seema performed, she would be given more customers to serve.
3. “Her heart brimmed with new dreams.”
Answer: Her heart overflowed with new hopes and aspirations.
Letter Writing
F. In the lesson, Seema was given a sample letter written by the bank manager. Read the letter carefully. Note how the date, subject line, and salutation are written, and how the letter begins and ends. Now write a letter to ‘Brave Mothers’ asking for a loan to set up a toy-making business at home.
Answer:
To,
The Manager,
Brave Mothers,
Naharguri, Guwahati – 781003
Date: 5th January 2024
Subject: Application for a loan to set up a toy-making business
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to request a loan from your esteemed organisation to help me set up a toy-making business at home. I have recently completed six months of vocational training in toy making at your centre and have gained sufficient skills and knowledge to start my own unit.
I have already conducted a market survey and identified potential customers in my locality. I am confident that the business will be profitable and that I will be able to repay the loan within the agreed period. I am requesting a loan of Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) to purchase the necessary raw materials and equipment to begin production.
I assure you that the money will be used responsibly and that I will make timely repayments. I hope you will consider my application favourably and help me take this important step towards financial independence.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
[Address]
[Date]
Group Discussion
G. Discuss the following questions in groups and share your ideas with the class:
1. What do you think are the qualities of a good daughter or a good son?
Answer: A good daughter or son always stands by their parents in times of need, just as Swati stood by Seema. Some important qualities include:
- Listening carefully to parents and understanding their problems with empathy.
- Offering constructive suggestions and encouraging them to find solutions rather than giving up.
- Respecting parents’ decisions and trusting their judgement.
- Being responsible and mature, especially during difficult times.
- Helping with household chores and reducing the burden on parents.
- Studying hard and performing well in school so that parents feel proud and hopeful.
2. How does Swati show that she is a responsible and caring daughter?
Answer: Swati shows that she is a responsible and caring daughter in several ways. When she notices that her mother is upset and worried about money, she does not ignore the problem or simply offer empty comfort. Instead, she thinks carefully and remembers the NGO that had visited her school. She tells her mother about the organisation and encourages her to go and seek help. This shows that Swati pays attention to her surroundings, is aware of her mother’s difficulties, and acts maturely beyond her years. Rather than feeling helpless, she takes a positive and solution-focused approach, which directly changes the course of her family’s life.
3. In what ways can organisations like ‘Brave Mothers’ help people?
Answer: Organisations like “Brave Mothers” can help people, especially women, in many meaningful ways. They provide free vocational training in practical skills such as toy making, tailoring, embroidery, culinary arts, and mobile phone repairing. They also offer financial support through loans, enabling trainees to set up their own small businesses. Such organisations help people open bank savings accounts, teaching them the value of saving. By connecting trainees with customers based on their performance, these NGOs provide not just training but also employment opportunities. Most importantly, they restore confidence and a sense of dignity in people who feel economically marginalised, helping them achieve self-reliance and financial independence.
Design a Signboard
H. Design a signboard for the NGO ‘Brave Mothers’.
Answer: A signboard for the NGO “Brave Mothers” could look like this:
BRAVE MOTHERS
An NGO for Entrepreneurship Development and Self-Reliance
Empowering Women Through Skills and Opportunity
Training in: Toy Making | Embroidery | Tailoring | Culinary Arts | Mobile Repairing
Free Training | Loan Assistance | Bank Account Opening
Contact: [Address], Naharguri, Guwahati
“A New Day, A New Way — Because Every Woman Deserves a Chance”