1. In India, the so called lower castes have been treated cruelly for a long time. Who
advised Bama to fight against this prejudice, when and how?
Ans: In India, the so called lower castes have been treated cruelly for a long time.
Similarly, Bama also sees, feels and has experiences related to her community facing
humiliation and oppression, being treated as untouchables.
Bama’s brother advises and encourages Bama to fight against this prejudice when she
shares her amusing and interesting experience and story of how she saw an elder of her
street carrying a packet by its strings, avoiding touching it, bowing and offering it to the
zamindar to eat. Bama, who found the posture and behaviour of this elder funny and
amusing was corrected by her brother- by informing her about the actual reason and the
reality of that situation and the elder’s behaviour.
As Bama came to know about the actual reason behind the elder’s actions towards the
zamindar, and the ill treatment faced by her community, she was terribly sad and
infuriated. Her brother then educated her regarding the issues and encouraged her to
study and work hard diligently in order to improve her status in the society.
2. Bama filled with anger,dismay and revolt later on. Elaborate on the basis of your
knowledge of the chapter.
Ans: After her brother Annan educates her and informs her regarding the reason behind
the elder’s meek actions, submission and behaviours towards the zamindar, as well as
injustices, humiliation, indignities and oppression faced by their community as
untouchables from those considered as the superior or upper caste people. Bama felt
terribly sad as well as provoked and angry. She could not believe how people could be so
disgusted just by the touch of someone. She was infuriated at the thought that just
because they belonged to upper castes or were well-off, it did not give them the right to
lose all human feelings and treat other fellow human beings in a disrespectful manner.
3. What did Annan say about his community to the narrator?
Ans: Annan shares his experience that one day, on his way back from the library, one of
the landlord’s men came up to him and asked his name and the street he lived in. The
point of this was to know his caste.
Annan tells his sister Bama that because they were born into this community, i.e. Dalit
community, they are never given any honour, respect or dignity, and are stripped of all
that. However, if they study and make progress, they can throw away these indignities.
Hence he advises his sister- “So study with care, learn all you can. If you are always
ahead in your lessons, people will come to you of their own accord and attach themselves
to you. Work hard and learn.” These words of Annan have a deep impression on Bama
and she studies and works really hard, stands first in class and because of that many
people befriend her.
4. How is Bama’s fight similar to or different from Zitkala’s ?
Ans: Bama’s fight is in some aspects similar to that of Zitkala as well as different.
Both Bama and Zitkala are young girls experiencing oppression and suppression of their
respective cultures or communities. Both of them wish to struggle, rebel, stand up against
the higher, dominant authorities and revolt against the rules and regulations, the norms
imposed upon them.
While Zitkala directly tries to protest and resist the impositions, the snatching away of
her culture,- she fights for her culture, to protect and hold on to her cultural identity, her
values and beliefs.
Bama, on the other hand, wishes to struggle and revolt against the culture of her society
which regards her community as untouchable and lower caste, she wishes to fight and
revolt against the prevailing oppression and disregard against her community by trying to
gain a good education and make progress in her life.