“By Any Other Name”

1. “By Any Other Name” by Santha Rama Rau

2. Getting to know SanthaRama Rau . . . • Santha Rama Rau was an Indian-born, Western-educated journalist. • She was born in Madras, India, on January 24, 1923. Her father was a high-ranking civil servant in India’s finance department who later became an ambassador to Japan and to the United States. • Her mother was a crusader for women’s reproductive rights and involved in the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

3. Her story “By Any Other Name” is based on real-life events in India. • When Santha was a girl, her father was stationed in India. • She made several trips to Indian, however, at the age of 5 and again at age eleven. • It was a trip back to India at age 16 with her mother and sister that inspired many of Santha’s early writing endeavors.

4. One event in particular influenced Rau. • At age 5, Santha and her sister She, 5 and a half, and her 8-year-old sister Premila briefly attended an Anglo-Indian School where the teacher anglicized their names.

5. Because of this event in her life, Rau wrote “By Any Other Name”. • The condescending environment of the teaching staff at this school made a profound influence on Rau.

6. Santha Rama Rau went on to write a number of literary works . . . • She is best known for her adaptation of “A Passage to India” which was a play talking about the impact of colonialism on both the British and the Indians.

7. What was the British influence on India? • The British had control over most of India from 1858 until August 1947.

8. There were positive things that happened during this period. • Good things that happened during British colonization of India: • 14 universities established • 13 colleges started • 23 schools dedicated to the education of girls. • Child labor laws (no child under 7 could be employed; no child under 12 could work more than 9 hours).

9. #1 • What does the headmistress think of Indian culture and of her own Indian culture?

10. #2 • Which details help you contrast the status of English children with that of Indian children at this school?

11. #3 • At only five, Santha speaks, reads, and writes English, although it is not her first language. What character trait does this fact suggest?

12. #4 • What has the author directly said Premila’s character so far? Please write two examples from the text. • What has she indirectly shown about Premila’s character? Please write two examples from the text.

13. #5 • How do Santha’s and Premila’s responses to their mother’s questions differ? • How does this contrast show the effect on Santha of having her name changed?

14. #6 • Changing the Indian children’s names is an attempt to change their culture as well – to Anglicize them. How effective is this attempt with Santha and Premila?