Memories of Childhood
Zitkala-Sa & Bama • Class 12 English Vistas
Two different worlds, one shared pain: The fight against social marginalization.
Reading With Insight
Q1. The two accounts are from distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme?
Despite being set in different civilizations (Native American and Indian Dalit), both autobiographical accounts share a striking commonality: Social Exclusion and Oppression.
- Zitkala-Sa: Faced racial discrimination in a European missionary school where her cultural identity (long hair) was stripped away.
- Bama: Faced caste discrimination (untouchability) in India, where her community was treated as impious.
Q2. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by children?
Yes, absolutely. While adults often become desensitized to societal hierarchies, children possess an innocence that makes injustice glaringly obvious. Their sensitive minds cannot comprehend why hostility exists, but their keen eyes detect unfairness instantly.
Evidence from the text:
Evidence from the text:
- Zitkala-Sa: She vividly remembers the “bitter-cold” day, not just the weather, but the cold attitude of the staff. She recognized the indignity of having her hair shingled (a sign of cowardice in her culture) and fought back by hiding.
- Bama: As a third-grader, she observed the elder of her street carrying the food packet by its string without touching it. She found it funny initially but felt deep anger and rebellion upon realizing it was due to untouchability.
Q3. Compare the discrimination faced by Zitkala-Sa and Bama and their responses.
Zitkala-Sa (Racial Discrimination)
The Act: Her long, heavy hair—a source of cultural pride—was “shingled” (cut short) by the school authorities to force assimilation.
Response: She reacted with physical resistance. She hid under a bed, kicked, and scratched, refusing to submit until she was physically overpowered. She continued to rebel through her writing later in life.
Response: She reacted with physical resistance. She hid under a bed, kicked, and scratched, refusing to submit until she was physically overpowered. She continued to rebel through her writing later in life.
Bama (Caste Discrimination)
The Act: She witnessed the humiliation of her community elders who were treated as “untouchables” and not allowed to touch the food of upper castes.
Response: She reacted with intellectual resistance. Following her brother Annan’s advice, she channeled her anger into studying hard. She stood first in her class, forcing others to respect her and befriend her, thereby breaking the caste barrier through education.
Response: She reacted with intellectual resistance. Following her brother Annan’s advice, she channeled her anger into studying hard. She stood first in her class, forcing others to respect her and befriend her, thereby breaking the caste barrier through education.
Benefits of NCERT Solutions
Why use these solutions for ‘Memories of Childhood’?
- Thematic Clarity: Helps connect two distinct stories through the common thread of rebellion against marginalization.
- Character Analysis: Provides deep insights into the psychology of the two young protagonists.
- Exam Readiness: Offers structured answers for long-form comparison questions often asked in board exams.
- Accuracy: Detailed explanations prevent silly mistakes and ensure comprehensive understanding of themes like ‘Untouchability’ and ‘Cultural Identity’.
“We have not come into this world to be suppressed.”