Class 12 : English (core) Compulsory – Lesson 19.Memories of Childhood
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
🌟 Introduction to the Story
“Memories of Childhood” is a combined account from two autobiographical pieces — The Cutting of My Long Hair by Zitkala-Sa and We Too are Human Beings by Bama. Both narrators share experiences of humiliation and prejudice based on race, culture, and caste. The chapter highlights the deep psychological impact of discrimination and the importance of resisting injustice.
📚 About the Authors
✒ Zitkala-Sa (1876–1938)
A Native American writer, teacher, and political activist.
Born as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, she fought for the rights of Indigenous people in the USA.
Her works often portray the struggles of Native Americans against cultural erasure.
✒ Bama (b. 1958)
A Tamil Dalit Christian writer from India.
Known for works like Karukku that address caste-based oppression.
Her writing blends personal experiences with sharp social critique.
🧭 The Conflict
Zitkala-Sa: At a boarding school, her long hair (a symbol of her culture) is forcibly cut, symbolising the loss of identity.
Bama: As a child, she witnesses the humiliation of Dalits through caste practices and becomes aware of systemic injustice.
🌍 Themes and Significance
✅ Loss of cultural identity.
✅ Racial and caste discrimination.
✅ The awakening of social and self-awareness.
✅ The power of education and resistance.
🔬 Turning Points in the Story
Zitkala-Sa’s struggle to resist the cutting of her hair, which she loses to the overpowering system.
Bama’s shock on seeing a Dalit elder demeaned while delivering food to upper-caste people.
Realisation for both narrators that oppression must be resisted through awareness and education.
🌱 Lessons from the Story
🌟 Stand up against injustice, however small it may seem.
🌟 Cultural identity must be respected and preserved.
🌟 Education is a tool to break cycles of discrimination.
🌊 Personal Reflection
The two autobiographical accounts create a strong, emotional impact. They show how prejudice can wound the spirit but also spark courage to fight for dignity and equality.
💠 Summary
“Memories of Childhood” blends two real-life stories of discrimination — one against Native Americans in the USA and the other against Dalits in India. Zitkala-Sa’s hair-cutting episode represents forced cultural assimilation, while Bama’s story shows caste humiliation in everyday life. Both narrators highlight that awareness and education are the paths to resistance and equality.
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PASSAGE
“Zitkala-Sa had arrived at the boarding school for Native American children. Everything around her was strange — the buildings, the clothing, and the language spoken by the teachers. She felt lost and out of place, surrounded by unfamiliar customs. In her tribe, long hair was considered a sign of pride and tradition, especially for women. She soon learned that the authorities planned to cut her hair short, which, in her culture, was a mark of shame and punishment. This news filled her with fear and a deep sense of helplessness.”
💠 Short Answer (30 words)
Why was Zitkala-Sa uncomfortable at the boarding school?
Answer: She found everything strange — the environment, the people, the customs — and felt isolated. The threat of cutting her hair clashed with her cultural traditions, making her anxious.
💠 Short Answer (30 words)
What did long hair mean in Zitkala-Sa’s culture?
Answer: Long hair symbolised cultural pride, dignity, and womanhood. Cutting it short was considered a mark of shame, often associated with humiliation or punishment.
💠 Multiple Choice
Why did the school authorities want to cut Zitkala-Sa’s hair?
A. To punish her for disobedience
B. To enforce school discipline and assimilation
C. To improve her appearance
D. Because of a school hygiene rule
Answer: B. To enforce school discipline and assimilation
💠 Fill in the Blank
The boarding school was meant for __ children.
Answer: Native American
💠 Fill in the Blank
Cutting a woman’s hair short in Zitkala-Sa’s tribe was a sign of __.
Answer: shame
💠 Assertion & Reason
Assertion (A): Zitkala-Sa dreaded the idea of having her hair cut.
Reason (R): In her culture, it symbolised disgrace and loss of dignity.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, R is false.
D. A is false, R is true.
Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS
🔴 Q1. Who is the author of the first part The Cutting of My Long Hair?
🔵 Answer: Zitkala-Sa, a Native American writer and activist.
🔴 Q2. Who is the author of the second part We Too Are Human Beings?
🔵 Answer: Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer.
🔴 Q3. What is the main theme of The Cutting of My Long Hair?
🔵 Answer: The humiliation and loss of identity faced by Native Americans in missionary schools.
🔴 Q4. What does the cutting of hair symbolise for Zitkala-Sa?
🔵 Answer: The loss of cultural identity and forced assimilation into white American culture.
🔴 Q5. How did Zitkala-Sa try to resist having her hair cut?
🔵 Answer: She hid under a bed, clutching it tightly, but was forcibly dragged out.
🔴 Q6. What is the main theme of We Too Are Human Beings?
🔵 Answer: Caste discrimination and the awakening of self-respect.
🔴 Q7. What incident made Bama realise the extent of caste discrimination?
🔵 Answer: She saw an elder from her community carrying a packet of food without touching it, to avoid polluting it for an upper-caste man.
🔴 Q8. Who explained the reason for the humiliating practice to Bama?
🔵 Answer: Her elder brother, Annan.
🔴 Q9. What advice did Annan give to Bama?
🔵 Answer: To study hard and gain respect and equality through education.
🔴 Q10. How are both authors similar in their experiences?
🔵 Answer: Both faced discrimination — one due to race, the other due to caste — and resisted through self-awareness.
🔴 Q11. What is the narrative style used in both extracts?
🔵 Answer: First-person autobiographical narration.
🔴 Q12. What is the common message of Memories of Childhood?
🔵 Answer: Education, self-respect, and resilience are powerful tools to fight social injustice.
🔴 Q13. How is the title Memories of Childhood relevant?
🔵 Answer: It reflects the personal recollections of childhood incidents that shaped the authors’ fight against discrimination.
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