Introduction

Two people recall their childhood when they were made victims of social inequalities. Zitkala Sa was a Red Indian. She was admitted in the Carlisle Indian School run by the British. The school authorities imposed a lot of rules on the students, some for the students were really good and some to show the British superiority and some for fun.

But Zitkala could not agree with all this, she could not think of allowing her long hair to be cut. She didn’t like to wear the short skirts, stiff shoes, uniforms… But she had to. When the authorities attempted to cut her hair short, Zitkala ran away and hid under a bed. But she had no option. They tied her to a chair and cut her hair. Another custom that she didn’t agree to was the ceremonial eating which she calls ‘eating by formula.’ The basic human way of eating doesn’t involve any rules. Eat when you are hungry is the natural way. But the British superiority wanted the people to listen to their senseless rules. There were bells to take the chair out, sit on the chair, pray to God, take a spoon, take a fork… Zitkala did not know about these rules. When the first bell rang she thought it was time to eat. She sat down and started eating.

Similar was the case with Bama, an Indian writer from Tamilnadu. She too was a human being but the richer and privileged society didn’t consider her so. She was a happy girl but once she witnessed a scene of discrimination. A much respected elder of her society was once made the victim of untouchablility. This infuriated her. She wanted to react. She knew the only weapon to fight ostracism was acquiring equal status through education.

Zitkala Sa, the Red Indian

• Zitkala Sa was a new student of the Carlysle Indian School.
• She felt boundation on the first day.
• She had to speak a new language, wear short skirts, shoes and short hair.
• She was never used to these modern etiquette.
• When the children were taken to the dining room, she made a mistake.
• There was a bell for prayer before breakfast. When the bell rang, Zitkala thought it was time to sit and eat.
• She sat down and began to eat but soon realized that all other children were still standing. This embarrassed her.
• Later she was informed by her friend Judewin that the school authorities were going to cut the hair of girls who hadn’t got their hair shingled/cut.
• In her culture, short/shingled hair was worn by the three kinds of people:
  • Unskilled warriors caught by the enemy,
  • Mourners and
  • Cowards
• She went into the living room and disappeared under a cot/bed.
• She was searched for, found and was tied to a chair. They cut her hair.
• She cried, felt lost and weak.

Bama, the Indian Writer

• Bama was a happy girl but until she heard that she belonged to the caste of untouchables!
• She took a lot of time to reach home from school. She looked at the following scenes, people, happenings:
  • Performing monkey.
  • Snake charmer’s snake-show.
  • Cyclist’s stunts.
  • Spinning wheels.
  • Maariyaata Temple.
  • Dried fish stall, sweet stall, snack stall.
  • Narikkuravan hunter gypsy with his lemur (nari).
  • Vendors who sell needles, clay beads, ear-cleaners.
  • Politicians who shout through loudspeakers.
  • Magic shows, puppet show, street plays, stunts, etc.
  • Coffee clubs.
  • People chopping onions.
  • Almond tree and its fallen fruits.
  • Mango, cucumber, sweet potato, gram, palm-syrup, guavas, jack fruits, etc.