What traumatic event does Zitkala-Sa describe at the school?

The forcible cutting of her long hair

Why was the cutting of her hair so humiliating to Zitkala-Sa?

Among her people, shingled hair was worn by cowards and mourners

What is the common theme of the two accounts in this unit?

Both depict women from marginalised communities recalling childhood experiences of oppression by the mainstream culture, and the early seeds of resistance against injustice.

Why was the cutting of her hair so traumatic for Zitkala-Sa?

Among her people, shingled hair was worn by cowards and mourners, and only captured warriors had their hair cut by the enemy; so the forced cutting was a deep humiliation.

How did Zitkala-Sa resist having her hair cut?

Warned by her friend Judewin, she crept away and hid under a bed in a dim room, and when found she resisted by kicking and scratching before being dragged out and tied to a chair.

What discrimination does Zitkala-Sa's experience depict?

It depicts racial discrimination and the suppression of Native American culture and identity in a school run by the dominant white culture.

How did Bama first become aware of untouchability?

She watched an elder of her community carry a snack packet by its string, without touching it, to give to a landlord, and learnt from her brother that their touch was considered polluting.

Why did Bama feel angry and humiliated?

She was provoked that her people were treated as untouchable and made to fetch and carry for the upper castes, who thought themselves superior merely for having money.

What advice did Bama's brother give her, and how did she respond?

He told her that the way to throw off these indignities was to study and make progress; inspired, she worked hard and stood first in her class.

What is the significance of the title 'We Too are Human Beings'?

It is Bama's protest against the caste system's denial of dignity, asserting that Dalits too are human beings deserving respect and equality.

How do both writers respond to their oppression?

Zitkala-Sa resists physically and in spirit, while Bama channels her anger into education and excellence to overcome the indignities of caste.

What do the accounts suggest about children and injustice?

They show that even children notice and feel injustice keenly, and that the seeds of rebellion against oppression are sown early in life.

Memories of Childhood

Class 12 English · Vistas · Chapter 6

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The story in short

This unit presents two autobiographical episodes from the lives of women from marginalised communities, who look back on their childhood and their painful encounters with the mainstream culture that oppressed them. The first account, 'The Cutting of My Long Hair', is by Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin), a Native American woman, who recalls her bitter first day at the Carlisle Indian boarding school. She describes the cold, regimented atmosphere, the humiliating 'eating by formula', and above all the trauma of having her long hair forcibly shingled — for among her people, shingled hair was worn only by cowards and mourners, and only captured, unskilled warriors had their hair cut by the enemy. She resists fiercely, hiding and struggling, but is dragged out, tied to a chair and her braids cut off, leaving her feeling like one of many little animals driven by a herder. The second account, 'We Too are Human Beings', is by Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer, who recalls how, as a schoolgirl, she first became aware of untouchability. Dawdling home one day, she watched an elder of her community carry a packet of snacks by its string, without touching it, to hand it to an upper-caste landlord. She found it comic until her elder brother explained that the man did so because their touch was considered polluting. Filled with anger and humiliation at this injustice, Bama is advised by her brother that the way to overcome such indignity is to study hard and excel — and, inspired, she works hard and stands first in her class. Both accounts show how the seeds of rebellion against oppression are sown early in life.

Oppression of marginalised communitiesRacial and caste discriminationChildhood awareness of injusticeResistance and rebellionEducation as empowerment

Characters & key ideas

Zitkala-SaThe Native American writer of 'The Cutting of My Long Hair'.

BamaThe Tamil Dalit writer of 'We Too are Human Beings'.

Carlisle Indian schoolThe boarding school where Zitkala-Sa's hair was cut.

UntouchabilityThe caste discrimination Bama experiences.

OppressionThe mainstream cultural domination both writers face.

Resistance through educationBama's response of studying hard to overcome indignity.

Extra questions & answers (board-style)

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Which two writers contribute the accounts in "Memories of Childhood"?

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