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READINGS ON INDIAN LITERATURES

II. 1.
Short Story

Scorn
Bama

ESSAY 1
Q. Elucidate the undertones of caste segregation in the story with examples.

Bama is a Tamil Dalit feminist and novelist. Her story, ‘Scorn’ is a powerful representation
of the social evil of caste segregation.
Chinnapponnu, a Dalit girl, tells her mother Paripoornam that she does not want to go to
school. She says she will go to the forest with her mother, instead. Paripoornam tells her that if her
father comes to know about this, he will be very angry. She also tells her that if she studies, she’ll
have a good future. Otherwise, she’ll suffer like a dog. Paripoornam also gives her a coin for her to
buy something to eat. Chinnapponnu threw down the coin and cried.
A neighbour girl tells Paripoornam what happened at school. Chinnapponnu was beaten by
some upper caste children for trying to borrow the lunch box of an upper caste girl. When she
complained, the teacher beat her again. Paripoornam goes to the school and asks the teacher softly
about the incident. The teacher gestures to the headmaster. So, the headmaster replies that her
daughter is at fault. They should know the customs of the country. The incident becomes the talk of
the slum. The way the headmaster and the teachers treat their children is not acceptable to them.
In another incident, Komalavalli, the teacher of Class III, finds that her purse containing her
Pongal festival bonus is missing. The authorities implicate Kattari, Vellukannan's son. Finally, it is
found that the purse is with the son of the headman of the temple street.
The caste system is a social evil. In this system, the upper castes are associated with moral
values while lower castes relate to immorality. The marginalised people often face discrimination in
all walks of life.

SHORT ANSWER
1. What stops Chinnaponnu from going to school?
Chinnapponnu was beaten at school by some upper caste students from the temple street. So,
she was angry and sad at the thought of going to school.

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2. How does Paripoornam try to convince her daughter to go to school?

Paripoornam tells her daughter that if she studies, she’ll have a good future. Otherwise, she’ll
suffer like a dog. Paripoornam also gives her money for her to buy something to eat.

3. How did the teacher at school react to Chinnaponnu's complaint?

When Chinnapponnu complained, the teacher at school beat her again. The teacher asked her
why she asked the kids from their street. Chinnapponnu should have asked the kids from her street.

4. Who cleans the school campus?

It is the Dalit children who sweep and clean the whole school campus.

5. What happened to Komalavalli's Pongal festival bonus?

Komalavalli, who taught Class III, had put her Pongal festival bonus in her purse but couldn't
find it in the evening. It was stolen.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy
email: mbabucr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu