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SUMITRA'S STORY, Rukshana Smith

Summary Jigsaw

Instructions to Teacher

Print the summary table, make copies and cut each table into sections. Place these in an envelope (one table per group of 3-4 students) and ask students to assemble the table, chapter by chapter, under the headings "Setting", "Main Events" and "Key Points". After a suitable interval, give each group a completed version of the table. You can then ask students to complete a similar summary chart as they read the remaining chapters of the novel.

Chp

Setting (Place/Time)

Main Events

+ a Possible Title for the Chapter

Key Points

1
  • Kampala, Uganda
  • Sumitra = 11 yrs old

Sumitra and Bap go to buy fireworks for Leela’s wedding
  • Sumitra struggles to puzzle out the differences between races
  • Talika tells the ironic story of Lord Krishna’s cooking

2
  • Uganda – the Patels’ village/town
  • Leela’s wedding
  • Growing tensions as Amin enforces Africanisation
  • Sumitra senses trouble ahead

3
  • Uganda
  • England (army barracks)
  • Flight from Uganda
  • Immigration control
  • Fourteen days in army barracks
  • Reasons for coming to England
  • Bap and Sumitra exchange roles
  • The landscape, fashion, food etc. are different …

4
  • Highgate, London
  • Jayant’s house
  • Jayant collects the family from the barracks.
  • They begin their new life in Highgate.
  • Sumitra starts school.
  • Bap feels alienated
  • He asserts his dignity and defends his culture
  • Sumitra feels more puzzled than ever about racial differences and racism

5
  • Jayant’s house
  • Council accommodation for homeless families
  • Two years pass
  • (Sumitra = nearly 14)
  • The Patels discover an Indian community but still find it hard to adjust (especially Sumitra)
  • They move to a guest house
  • The Patels find it hard to adjust to change
  • Sumitra feels torn between two cultures
  • Sumitra learns about waiting lists for Council housing

Frankie Meehan