Memories of Childhood
Word Meaning
Belfry: part of a bell tower
Crashing: break through
Clatter: bang, sound of heavy objects
Bedlam: uproar, unrest
Paleface: yellow face
Clinging: tight (dress)
Shingled: cutting of hair
Moccasins: slipper or shoe
Immodest: indecent
Spied: notice, spot
Rear ranks: last
Dawdle: waste time, idle
Novelties: newness, freshness
Oddities: strange things
Spur: encouragement
Harangue: to give lecture
Tumbler: Jug
Tether: tie up
Payasam: sweet dish made with rice and milk
Ledge: shelf
Muzzled: a covering used to cover the mouth of an animal
Meekly: quietly, submissively
Reverently: with deep respect
Infuriate: anger
Character Sketch of Zitkala Sa
The author Zitkala Sa, was a native American who was a victim of racism in the Carlisle Indian
school at a young age. She faced indignity, discrimination and exploitation at school. She is caught
in dogma because of the strict regulations imposed on her. Inspite of this, she is quite
determined/optimistic to fight against the pale face women. She was forced to get her hair shingled
against which she protested to the best of her capacity though she didn’t succeed. She is symbolic
of all the native American women who were exploited at the hands of their masters. She suffered
extreme indignities and felt humiliated. She is very sensitive because at last, she comments that
she is now one among the many animals driven by the herders
Part 1 - The Cutting of My Long Hair
The story begins with Zitkala’s first day in a boarding school Carlisle Indian
school. It is a school opened for native Indians where they are trained to leave
behind their own culture and become part of the American culture. Zitkala
describes that she really felt bad when a shawl is taken off her shoulders by the
school authorities before entering into the dining hall. She also wonders about
how the other Indian girls agreed to wear tight clothes which were immodest
according to her as their whole body shape could easily be seen. Even their hair
was cut short which according to the author was not good. Her mother had told
her only a coward’s or a mourner’s hair should be shaved off. Later on Zitkala
and other girls were taken to the dining hall where she was keenly noticed by a
pale faced woman for not following the table manners. Judewin, another Indian
girl tells her that the pale faced woman has decided to cut her hair. Zitkala revolts
back as she does not want to look like a coward or a mourner. She hides herself
under a bed in some room upstairs. Everyone starts searching for her and finally
she is caught. She is tied up and her hair is cut down. She felt so depressed and
humiliated with this. She is reminded of her mother who would have comforted
her during this hard time. At the end she submits her to her herders like a tamed
animal.
Character Sketch of Bama
Bama is a small innocent school girl of South India and is a victim of caste discrimination and
untouchability. She is always curious and pondered about various things- the way in which the tea
stall owners poured the tea etc. She is a typical kid who is very observant and gets distracted
because of all the fun and entertaining events happening around her. She is surprised to see
distinction based on class and caste. When her brother tells her about the reality, she was
astonished to realize the fact that the rich and upper caste people have lost all humanity. She feels
that they too are human beings. Her brother who tells her about the mishap in their life because they
are born into this community. The words of her brother that until their Dalit community can uplift their
identity through education they will continue to be looked down upon makes a deep impacted on her
mind. She becomes studious and studies hard to stand first in her class to overcome the
discrimination done with the backward class people. In this way, she wins everyone’s respect and
becomes a role model for all Dalits.
Part 2 - We too are Human Beings
The story is written by Bama who is one of the characters in this story. She is a
little cheerful girl who loves to observe things taking place in her street. She says
though it takes only ten minutes to reach home from her school but she takes
about thirty minutes to reach her home from the school. She then explains the
reason behind it. She says when she is on her way to home she sees a monkey
performing and a snake charmer doing some act with his snake which was very
interesting for her. Then there was a cyclist also who was cycling from past three
days. There was one famous temple which had a big bell and a tribal man who
sells clay beads, needles etc. She also comes across various snack stalls and
street acts. Then she explains about how various political parties come to her
street to give lectures. As she proceeds further, she saw a landlord sitting and
watching his workers work in the field. She then saw an old man of her
community handling a snack pack in a very strange manner and then offering it
to the landlord. She founds it so amusing that she bursts out into a laugh. On
reaching home she narrates it to her elder brother and starts laughing. He then
tells her a real truth about her being from a low caste and that the upper caste
people do not like their presence or touch the low caste as it would make them
impure. She finds it so disgusting that she grows angry over the upper caste
people. Some days later her elder brother is questioned about his whereabouts
to know his caste. He then suggests her to study hard as only this could earn her
respect. She works as per his suggestions and become topper of her class. This
not only earns her respect but many friends too.
