NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 8 - Memories of Childhood
Page No: 100
Reading with Insight
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 autobiographical accounts included in the “Memories of Childhood”
are by two women 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 traces how the author, a Native American,
was victimized at the hands of the European staff of her boarding
school. The second account gives a picture of the hardships and
humiliations faced by the Indian ‘Dalits’ from the eyes of a third
standard student.
Although they are set in different cultures, both the stories share a
similar theme. They show the sufferings and oppression faced by their
respective communities. The practice of social stratification is rebuked
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?
Answer
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 practices,
their sensitive minds and hearts are deeply affected. Perplexed, they
often resist in their own simple ways.
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 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.
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. Zitkala-Sa was packed off to a
European missionary school where, being a local tribal, she was looked
down upon. Her precious, long and heavy hair, which was her pride, was
shingled. 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
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.
