Memories of Childhood
The two accounts that you read about are based on two distinct cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?
Both the episodes in this unit highlight the despise, racial discrimination, and unhealthy treatment towards the humanity in general and women in particular. The first account relates to an American Indian woman who becomes the victim of racial discrimination. She is admitted to a school where native Indians do not get dignity, respect, honour and due weightage in America. She is forced by the whites to follow their traditions and traits. Simmons, the girl, is dragged out and tied to a chair to shingle out her long hair. She cries, struggles, kicks, resists shows reluctance and she ultimately feels like one of the many animals driven by a herder.
In the second episode, Bama, a girl from Tamil Dalit-community is very upset to experience the curse of untouchability. The elders of her community have to bow low before the upper caste. They have to work hard for them. Such people do not get respect and honour. Both the women are from marginalised communities having two different cultures. They struggle hard and they work against exploitation, oppression, untouchability and racial discrimination. Ultimately their efforts get recognition. They have used pen-names in their writings.
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It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being unnoticed even by children?
Bama's experience is that of a victim of the caste-system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-Sa's experience depict ? What are their responses to their respective situations?
Who was ‘Zitkala–Sa’ ? Where was she born?
Why did Zitkala Sa feel uncomfortable in the dining room?
What does Zitkala Sa mean by “Eating by Formula”? Explain the formula.
How were the Indian girls dressed and how did Zitkala Sa compare her dress with other girls?
How did the girls and the boys enter the dining room ? Who did Zitkala Sa watch for among the boys?
Why was the girl tied to a chair in ‘Memories of Childhood’?
What warning was issued to Zitkala Sa by Judewin?
Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?
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