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Memories of Childhood 1 XII
Memories of Childhood 1 XII
Summary
PART-I: The Cutting of My Long Hair’
The first part deals with the account of Gertrude Simmons, an American Indian, who fought against
the prejudices of the society against American Indians. She vividly describes her experiences on
her first day at the Carlisle Indian School. The customs and rules of the place were strange and
new to her. She was forced to wear tight-fitting clothes and discard her soft moccasins. All this was
considered undignified in her culture. At breakfast, she was embarrassed as she did not know the
routine of the place. When she came to know from her friend, Judewin, who knew a little English,
that they were planning to cut her hair, she protested by hiding under the bed, even though she
knew it was futile. In her culture, cowards and mourners wore shingled hair. When she was caught,
she resisted by kicking and scratching. She could do nothing when they tied her in a chair and cut
off her hair. But her spirit could not be suppressed. She felt like an animal driven by a herder.
Characters
Zitkala-Sa: Zitkala-Sa was a native American who was sent to the Carlisle Indian school at a young
age. She faced indignity, discrimination and exploitation at school. She was forced to get her hair
shingled against which she protested to the best of her capacity but finally had to surrender. She
was treated like a wooden toy. She is symbolic of all the Native American women who were
exploited at the hands of their masters. They used to enslave them, plundered them and destroyed
their culture. She suffered extreme indignities and felt humiliated like a coward. Her long thick
braids were cut off which let her spirit down. She was treated like an animal. But despite all this
barbarism, Zitkala-Sa showed her resistance. She didn’t give up meekly and struggled and
protested till the end, though she didn’t succeed.
Bama: Bama is a small innocent school girl from a Dalit community in south India. She is unaware
of the incrimination on the basis of caste. She is surprised to see distinction based on class and
caste. When she is said by her brother, about reality, she is angry. She protests against this. She
is astonished to realize the fact that the rich and upper caste people have lost all humanity. But we
too are human beings. She has a revolting Ire and wants to protest against this evil. When she is
told by her brother that it is only education which on brings the change, she determines to choose
a constructive path and studies hard and tops in the class. In this way, she wins everyone’s respect
and becomes a role model for all the Dalit women.