Memories of Childhood

1. The Cutting of My Long Hair

Zitkala SA‘s first day at school is unpleasant. The customs and rules of the place were strange and new to her. She was forced to wear clothes that were considered undignified in her culture.

At the breakfast table, she does not understand the rules and makes several mistakes. Eating by formula- at the first bell everyone had to pull a chair. Zitkala sat down and realised that others were still standing. At the second bell everyone had to sit down. Zitkala stood up when the second bell rang. She felt humiliated. Another bell rang and she was too scared to do anything. She burst out crying. She was scared of the pale face woman. She was told about the cutting of her hair by her friend Judewin. In her culture, unskilled warriors who were captured had shingled hair and short hair was worn by mourners. She tried to hide but was dragged, tied to a chair and her long hair was cut off. This cruelty crushed her spirit. She remembered the comfort of her home.

2. We Too Are Human Beings

Bama was an innocent child living in a village. She used to walk back home from school and covered ten minutes of walk in half an hour to one hour as she watched all the fun games such as street play, puppet show, snake charmer, performing monkey.

Her innocence was lost when she experienced untouchability very early in life. One day she saw an elder of her community carrying food packet holding it by its strings. She was amused but her brother told her that they belonged to a low caste. So people from upper caste believed that the food packet would be polluted if it was touched by them. Her brother was once asked about the street he lived in to determine the caste he belonged to. He told her to work hard to win honour and dignity. She studied hard and stood first in her class.

NCERT Book Solution  

Reading with Insight  (Page No: 100)

1. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?

Answer:  The two autobiographical accounts included in the “Memories of Childhood” are by two women Zitkala-Sa and Bama from socially marginalized sections in two distant cultures of the world. One highlights the evil practice of racial prejudice while the other talks about the hierarchical Indian caste system and untouchability. The first part of the chapter shows how a Native American was victimized at a European boarding school. The second account gives a picture of the hardships and humiliations faced by the so called low-caste people in India.

Both the stories share a similar theme: the sufferings and oppression faced by the marginalized communities. The practice of social stratification is challenged by both the authors. Zitkala-Sa’s hair was “shingled” at the behest of Europeans who considered themselves superior to the Native American. On the other hand, Bama witnessed untouchability being practiced openly where people from ‘lower castes’ were considered impious and were not even allowed to touch the people from the upper castes. From a very young age, both Zitkala-Sa and Bama start protesting and resisting 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?

OR

It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. How did Zitkala-Sa face oppression as a child and how did she overcome it? 

Answer: People suffer in the web of stratification, oppression and discrimination at many levels all over the world. While the elders have become used to this, the innocent children do not understand hatred and prejudice. However, their keen observant eyes sometimes notice injustice and discrimination. When subjected to such evil practices, their sensitive minds and hearts are deeply affected. Perplexed, they often resist or challenge in their own harmless manner.

In this lesson, two girls describe how they faced inequality. Zitkala-Sa realised the unfriendly atmosphere of the boarding school when she noticed everything unfamiliar to her identity and culture. Calling eating at the mess ‘eating by formula ‘ shows her sharp observation of the things prevailing there. She tries desperately to save her long hair but in vain. Finally she realized that it must be challenged anyhow. Bama also realized the gravity of the untouchability when explained by her brother. She got angry but her energy was channelized by her brother in right direction. She studied wholeheartedly to reach a position where people would forget her “caste” and feel proud to befriend her.

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?

Answer:  While Bama was subjected to caste discrimination and untouchability, Zitkala-Sa was a victim of racial prejudice. Being a Native American tribal girl, Zitkala-Sa was looked down upon in her boarding school run European missionary. Her long and heavy hair was shingled without considering the significance of long hair in her tribal culture. She tried to resist with all her might but, ultimately, she was forced to give up her struggle. On the contrary, Bama, who witnessed the malpractice of untouchability, decided to blur the difference of castes with the light of education. Under the guidance and supervision of her elder brother, she judiciously utilized her anger and sense of rebellion to study hard and outwit any form of prejudice. She understood that a social change would be possible only if these so-called lower castes make an effort to study and, thus, make progress.

It can easily be noticed that though both the protagonists tried to protest against the injustice they faced, the paths they chose are remarkably different. Through this journey of rebellion, Zitkala-Sa is initially forced to give in; on the contrary, Bama successfully implemented her brother’s advice to finally top in her class. While Zitkala-Sa continued to rebel by criticizing the evils of racial prejudice through her works, Bama opted for a more subtle way to carry forth her silent yet effective remonstration.

 Q. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each: 

Q. What were the indignities that Zitkala-Sa had to suffer for being from a marginalized community? 

Answer: Ever since she was separated from her mother, Zitkala Sa faced a number of indignities. People had stared at her, she was tossed about in the air as if she were a wooden puppet. The ultimate insult came when her long dark hair was cut. It was then that she missed the comfort of her mother's presence.

Q. How Did Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples begin?        

Answer: Zitkala recalls that it was a bitter cold day and there was snow on the ground. The trees were bare. There was a large bell that rang for breakfast and its loud metallic sound crashed through the belfry overhead and penetrated through their sensitive ears. She found herself bound and her spirit tore itself in struggling for its lost freedom.

Q. What is common between Zitkala-Sa and Bama?           

Answer: Both Zitkala-Sa and Bama belong to marginalised communities. Zitkala was a victim of cultural invasion where her tribal cultural identity was considered inferior or even uncivilised. Bama’s community was ill-treated in the name of untouchability. They both suffered a lot initially but through education they brought changes in their lives.

Q. What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut? 

Answer: She wanted to maintain her distinct cultural identity. Her long and beautiful hair was shingled against her wish. She lost her distinct identity. Now she was one of the little animals driven by a herder.

1. When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her community?             

Answer: When the narrator was in the third class, she hadn't yet heard people speak only of untouchability. But the curse of untouchability did exist in the society. Once retuning back from school she saw an elderly man of her community bringing a packet of food for the landlord. Later on her brother explained the humiliation and exploitation of their community by the so called upper caste.

2. How did Zitkala Sa try to prevent the shingling of her hair?       

Answer: Zitkala Sa disappeared unnoticed. She came to a large room with three white beds in it. She crawled under the bed and cuddled herself in the dark corner. From her hiding place she peered out. She shuddered with fear. She couldn't succeed in hiding herself for long. They stormed into the room and dragged her out.

3. Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother, on which street he lived? What was the significance? 

Answer: The landlord's man, not recognizing Annan, asked him his name with a lot of respect.

On getting the answer and realizing that he was from a lower caste and an untouchable, his manner of talking changed. He got to know about Annan as soon as he knew which street he lived in.

4. What advice did Annan offer Bama? 

OR

 Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama? 

Answer: The narrator was highly inspired advice of her elder brother. There was only one hope for the people of her caste. They can attain dignity and honour if they are learned. Then people will come to them of their own accord. The narrator studied very hard and stood first in her class. Very soon she made a lot of friends.

5. What did Judewin tell Zitkal-Sa? How did she react to it? 

Answer: Judewin had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. Zitkala-Sa was terrified. Their mothers had taught them that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among her people short hair was worn by mourners and shingled hair by cowards. She hid herself in a room to escape.

6. What were the articles in the stalls and shops that fascinated Bama on her way back from school?            

OR

What sort of shows or entertainment attracted Bama? 

OR

Which activities of the people would Bama watch keenly in the bazaar? 

OR

Why was Bama always late while returning from school? 

Answer: The narrator took about half an hour to an hour to cover the distance from her school to home. She used to watch all the fun, entertainment and games on the way. All novelties and oddities in the streets and shops attracted her attention. Performing monkeys, snake charmers and sweet stalls attracted and stopped her from going home.

7. At the dining table why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others started eating? 

OR

According to Zitkala-Sa what does ‘eating by formula’ mean?

Answer: Zitkala-Sa felt uncomfortable at the dining table. A small bell was tapped. She pulled her chair out and sat on it. She was the only one seated there. A second bell rang. All were seated. She noticed that a pale face woman was staring at her. She couldn’t understand this eating by formula. She began to cry.

Q. Answer the following in 100- 125 words:

Q. What activities did Bama witness on her way back home from school?

Answer: Bama’s school was at a distance of ten minutes from her home but she normally took at least thirty minutes to cover this distance.

The bazaar on the way was full of novelties and oddities for her-the performing monkey, the snake kept by the snake charmer in its box, the cyclist who had not got off his bike for three days, the spinning wheels, the Maariyaata temple, the pongal offerings being cooked in front of the temple; the various food stalls in front of the temple, the different hues of the street light and the narikkuravan hunter gypsy with its wild lemur in cages. A different kind of performance on stage such as a street play, a puppet show, a magic show or speeches by budding politicians also caught her attention. Even the way the waiters cooled the coffee at the coffee clubs or the way people cut onions held the little girl spell-bound. The fruit growing on a tree as well as the seasonal fruits being sold held her captive.

1.Describe how Zitkala-Sa tried in vain to save her hair from being cut. Why did she want to save her hair? 

Answer: Zitkala’s friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning. She had overhead the talk of the women; they talked about cutting their long and heavy hair. Among her people, short hair was worn by mourners, shingled hair were worn by cowards. Judewin decided to submit but Zitkala rebelled. She decided not to submit but to struggle. To save her hair from being cut, she disappeared, and came in a large room. She crawled under the bed and hid herself.

She heard footsteps nearby. The voice grew louder. They looked under the bed finally she was dragged out. She was carried down stairs and tied fast in a chair. She faced extreme indignities.

Her long hair was shingled like a coward.

She wanted to save her hair because she wanted to maintain his identity as Indian girl through her distinct culture. As it is a common custom among the girl of her community. She liked to wear long and thick hair.

2. How did the scene she saw in the market place change Bama’s life?

OR

Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight against it ?            

Answer: Once a strange scene amused Bama. A threshing floor had been set up at a corner of her street. Men were working and the landlord was watching the proceedings. An old man came from the side of the bazaar. He was carrying a food packet. He was holding it by its string without touching it. The manner of holding the packet amused Bama.

Bama narrated the whole story to her elder brother. But he was not amused. There was nothing comic about it. The landlord belonged to a high caste. The old man belonged to a low caste. He couldn't even touch the food packet. Had he done so, the food could have been polluted.

The landlord would not have accepted it. On hearing this Bama was filled with anger, dismay and revolt. She felt like touching that packet with her own hands. She believed that all are human beings. They need not bow low to their masters. Her elder brother told her that the people of their caste had no respect and dignity. They can earn honour and dignity if they get education and knowledge. The words of her brother touched her deeply. She worked hard and stood first in the class. She proved that she was second to none.

3. What were Zitkala-Sa’s experiences on her first day in the land of apples?

OR

How did Zitkala-Sa face discrimination in the Carlisle Indian School? 

Answer: Carlisle Indian School was a school run by the British to educate the Red Indians and the British students. It had strict rules and regulations for all students. Zitkala Sa was a Red Indian. She was admitted in the Carlisle Indian School. The school authorities imposed a lot of rules on the students without honouring the cultural distinction of these students.

On her very first day in Carlisle Indian School her blanket was rudely stripped off her shoulders. She felt exposed, as if her very identity had been snatched away so cruelly

Zitkala could not agree with all this; she could not think of allowing her long hair to be cut. She didn’t like to wear the short skirts, stiff shoes, uniform etc. But she had to. When the authorities attempted to cut her hair short, Zitkala ran away and hid under a bed. But she had to submit. They tied her to a chair and cut her hair. Another custom that she didn’t agree to was the ceremonial eating which she calls ‘eating by formula.’ The basic human way of eating doesn’t involve any rules. There were bells to take the chair out, sit on the chair, pray to God, take a spoon, take a fork and then begin to eat. Zitkala did not know of these rules. When the first bell sounded she thought it was time to eat. She sat down and initiated eating to her great shame.