Ncert Solutions For Class 12 English Memories of Childhood

PART – 1

THE CUTTING OF MY LONG HAIR

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the indignities that the new girls were subjected to at Carlisle Indian School?

Ans. The girls were scrutinized thoroughly and supervised by a grey-haired woman. They were made to wear tight-fitting immodest clothes and stiff shoes. During breakfast, a systematic and regimental discipline was observed. The girls with long hair had to get them shingled and they had to submit to the authorities who were strong, unfeeling, and cruel.

2. How had Zitkala – Sa been subjected to extreme indignities?

Ans. Since the day she was taken from her mother, Zitkala had suffered many indignities. She was stared at and tossed like a wooden puppet. Her long hair was shingled like a coward’s. In her pain when she cried for her mother no one came forward to comfort her. She was just like one of the animals driven by a herder.

3. What did Jude win to tell the narrator? What was the effect?

Ans. Judewin who could understand a little English informed the narrator that the strange woman intended to cut their long hair. But the narrator had learned from her mother that the enemy cut the hair of the unskilled warrior when they are captured and among their people, mourners wear short hair and cowards shingled hair. So, she decided to resists. She hid under a bed in a dark room.

4. Why was Zitkala-Sa so averse of having her hair cut?

Ans. It was an age-old tradition among the people of the tribe, to which Zitkala-Sa belongs, to maintain their long shining, and beautiful hair. It was believed that only the warriors or the mourners get their hair shingled. Short hair was worn by the cowards as per their tradition. So, obviously, Zitkala-Sa never wanted her hair to be cut short.

Long Answer Questions

1, “Children are keen observers. they notice every happening in their surroundings. Injustice in any form can not escape being unnoticed by them.” Explain with reference to “Memories of Childhood”.

Ans. Even the slightest action of the elders in their immediate surroundings never go unnoticed by the children. They do not reconcile with their fate but become rebellious as and when find a chance. They tend to raise their voice against the injustice; it may not bear fruit immediately like in the case of Zitkala-Sa and Bama. But sown a seed of rebellion they become more sensitive, receptive, and readily get an idea of any injustice done to them.

If getting the right grooming, with their courage, willpower, hard work, determination, grit, and far-sightedness, these seeds(children) bloom. In both the versions of “Memories of childhood”, the thought depicted are from societies in different parts of the world. Both the women belong to marginalized sections of their respective societies, suffered a lot but never gave up. Being observant they took calculated steps i.e., Education, to up bring themselves from the mess of ignorance and atrocities.

PART – 2

WE TOO ARE HUMAN BEINGS

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Bama take a half-hour to an hour to cover the distance to her home that would normally take only ten minutes?

Ans. She walked very slowly and watched every scene, shop, snake charmer, man paddling his bicycle to win prizes, and so on. She liked to see the Maariyatta temple, the Pongal celebrations, the statue of Gandhi, and the sweet and snack stalls. Everything stopped her and attracted her attention. She also stopped at the processions of the political parties, street play, or a puppet show or stunt performance.

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

Ans. She saw an elder carrying a small packet by its string without touching it. The elder went straight to the landlord. He bowed low and extended the packet towards him. The landlord opened it and started eating. She was amused to see the incident. On reaching home, she narrated the incident to her elder brother Annan. But her brother was not amused. He explained that the man was from a low caste and the landlord was from the upper caste. Everybody believed that they would be polluted if they are touched by the low caste people.

Long Answer Questions

1. How did Annan advise his sister Bama regarding untouchability and what was its effect on her?

Ans. Annan is a thoughtful and considerate elder brother. He guides her properly and explains the social stigma of untouchability. He told me that the elder carrying Vadai was not amusing but pathetic. He was the victim of social prejudice. Bama became angry and annoyed Annan guides her in the right direction. He believes that people of their community should study and outshine others to earn respect in society. Bama follows his timely advice and grows up to be a balanced and well-respected individual of society.

WE TOO ARE HUMAN BEINGS Points to Remember

When Bama was in class third, she was too innocent to know about untouchability.

She enjoyed her life in observing things and events on her way home.

She took about an hour in coming back watching the events on her way home.

She watched all the fun and games, novelties and oddities in the streets, shops and market place.

She would watch puppet show, snake charmer, chopping up of onion, pouring of coffee and all such interesting things.

One day she saw a thrashing floor where the people were driving cattles in pairs round and round.

Just then saw an elderly person of the village holding a packet by its string in a funny manner.

She was surprised and amused at the manner of carrying that packet.

She reported about the funny incident to her brother.

Her brother told her that the elderly man was not funny. He was carrying the packet in that strange manner as he could not touch it.

He explained her that the man was untouchable so he was humiliated.

He advised her to work hard in her studies, if she wanted to be respected. Bama took that lesson seriously and worked hard throughout her life

Short Answer Questions for Practice

1. How did Bama feel when Annan told her about ‘Untouchability’?

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

3. Why did Bama feel like laughing on seeing the way in which the elderly man was carrying a packet?

4. What advice did Annan give to Bama?

Long Answered Questions for Practice

1. Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa are victims of discrimination that is practiced in society. What kind of experience did both of them go through?

2. What oppression and discrimination did Bama experience during her childhood? How did she respond to her situation?

Value-Based Questions

1. Why is untouchability a curse for humanity? What can we do to eliminate untouchability from the society?

2. Bama’s brother told her, “If we study and make progress, we can throw away these indignities:. Write anarticle in 100 words on — Education is a remedy to all problems”.