memories of childhood Flashcards
1 The two accounts that you read above are based on two distant cultures. What is the commonality theme found in both of them?
The main theme is the universal prejudice, discrimination (both, racial and class discrimination) and oppression. This barrier is across time and space, which is clear from the two accounts given here of women belonging to two different cultures, different places and in different times. The commonality lies in both of them being autobiographical accounts of women of marginalised communities. Both excerpts talk about the prejudices and humiliation faced by the oppressed class from mainstream culture. Both the women bravely use their talent and education to stand up not only for their own, but also their community’s rights. Both use the power of pen to fight oppression.
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?
The world has been gripped in the web of stratification, oppression and discrimination at many levels. While the adults have grown used to this, the innocence of childhood does not understand hatred and prejudice. However, their keen observant eye is capable enough to notice any form of injustice and discrimination. When subjected to such evil resist in their own simple ways.
practices, their sensitive minds and hearts are deeply affected. Perplexed, they often In the lesson, the two girls describe their encounters with inequality. Zitkala-Sa, in the very first line reports that her first day in school was ‘bitter-cold’. For her, it not only describes the weather, but also represents the cold and unwelcome atmosphere of the boarding school. The overly disciplined students of the school and the European staff were unfriendly or ‘cold’ towards her, and the vain struggle against her hair being shingled was a ‘bitter’ experience for her. On the other hand, Bama walked on her brother’s footsteps to protest against the practice of untouchability through education.
She studied wholeheartedly to reach a position where people would forget her ‘caste’ and feel proud to befriend her.
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?
Zitkala-Sa is the victim of social discrimination beloging to a tribe of native Americans.
The white-skinned settlers consider local tribes as inferior. They treat them like animals.
Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa refuse to bow to the injustice they are subjected to. Both protest in their own way. Zitkala-Sa does not want her hair to be shingled as amongst her tribe, shingled hair is regarded as a sign of cowardice. She struggles with all her might, when she was tied to a chair. Towards the end, however, the little one has to give up. Bama, on her part, decides to work hard in her studies, so that others realise her worth and become her friends.
