6.
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
1. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the
commonality of themes found in both of them?
Ans. The two accounts given in the chapter 'Memories of Childhood' showcase the physical
and mental exploitation of the weaker sections. Though both Zitkala-Sa and Bama are far
away from each other in their time and culture, they suffer at the hands of the authorities.
Zitkala-Sa was a victim of cultural invasion while Bama suffered class and caste
discrimination. Both of them were rebellious and refused to submit. Zitkala-Sa, kicked,
screamed and resisted her hair being cut but had to give up. Similarly, Bama is furious to
see her community humiliated but was helpless. They both reacted positively and became
champions in their own ways.
2. 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 noticed even by
children?
Ans. Zitkala-Sa realised as soon as she entered the school run by the whites that they
meant to change her into a different person from the one she had hitherto been raised to be.
By taking away her cloak, which was an integral part of her native dress, they stripped her of
her modesty. Her moccasins were taken away and she was given hard shoes to wear. The
discipline that she was subjected to, violated her sense of freedom. She resented the fact
that her hair was cut and shingled much against her wishes and this was the final blow to her
self-respect. Her mother had always told her that short hair was worn as a sign of mourning,
while shingled hair was a sign of cowardice.
Bama, on the other hand, was only in grade three when she was told by her brother that the
humiliation that they often suffered was on account of the fact that they had had the
misfortune of having been born into the caste of untouchables. She had seen an elder of
their street being subjected to humiliation by the landlord and incidents such as these, seen
early in life, impacted her deeply.
3. 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?
Ans. Both Zitkala-Sa and Bama belonged to 'marginalised communities' and faced
oppression and discrimination during their childhood.
Zitkala-Sa came to know that the school authorities were going to cut the long, thick hair of
the native American girls. It was shocking news for Zitkala-Sa because in her community
shingled hair was worn only by cowards.
She hid herself under a bed in a large room. But finally she was caught and dragged out.
She resisted by kicking and scratching wildly. She was carried downstairs and tied fast to a
chair. She cried aloud, shaking her head all the while. But the cold blade of scissors gnawed
off one of her thick braids. The poor girl was the victim of racial discrimination. She fought
bravely and struggled till she was overpowered.
Bama was eight years old when she saw an elder of her community carrying a packet
containing some food. The manner in which the man was holding the packet appeared funny
and weird to the girl and she almost shrieked with laughter. Later, she came to know that the
people of upper caste felt that they would be 'polluted' if the people of lower caste touched
them. When she heard this, she didn't laugh any more, in fact she felt terribly sad. She found
it disgusting. She felt so agitated and provoked that she wanted to touch those Vadais
herself right then.
