The lesson ‘Memories of Childhood’ presents autobiographical episodes from the lives of two women. They highlight the plight of ‘the marginalised communities’. The people of these communities never receive honour and dignity due to them. In ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’ Bonnin describes how an Indian girl suffered extreme indignities. She tried to maintain her identity and her distinct culture. She liked to wear, long and thick hair. But the ‘paleface woman’ and others dragged her out. They tied her fast in a chair and gnawed off her long hair. In ‘We Too are Human Beings’ Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer, presents the struggle of a girl of a low caste. The people of low castes are never respected and honoured. They have to carry a food packet by its string without touching it. The girl in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’ struggles, and stands first in the class. She attains equality, and honour.
The most common feature of both these episodes is the struggle and fight against racial and social discrimination. They don’t take oppression, exploitation and injustice meekly
