LEAVING BY M G VASSANJI
M G Vassanji is the author of seven novels, two collections of short stories, a travel memoir about India, a memoir of East Africa, and a biography of Mordecai Richler. He is twice winner of the Giller Prize (1994, 2003) for best work of fiction in Canada; the Governor General's Prize (2009) for best work of nonfiction; the Harbourfront Festival Prize; the Commonwealth First Book Prize (Africa, 1990); and the Bressani Prize. The Assassin's Song was also shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Prize, the Writers Trust Award,
and India's Crossword Prize. His work has been translated into Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, and Swahili. Vassanji has given lectures worldwide and written many essays, including introductions to the works of Robertson Davies, Anita Desai, and Mordecai Richler, and the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi. In June 2015, MG Vassanji was awarded the Canada Council Molson Prize for the Arts. (Photo: Mark Reynolds)
M G Vassanji was born in Nairobi, Kenya and raised in Tanzania. He received a BS from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, before going to live in Canada. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has been awarded several honorary doctorates. He lives in Toronto, and visits East Africa and India often.
Upanga had the highest concentration of Asian communities within Dar es Salaam, with residents of Indian and Arabian descent. These areas are also famous for the colonial houses and mansions built in Indian, Arabic and European styles.
Synopsis “
Leaving is set in Tanzania. It is a story of a woman who raises her ”
five children alone after the early death of her husband. After her two elder daughters get married and the eldest son acquires a job, the mother focuses on the two younger ones, Aloo and the youngest (the narrator). Aloo is in his final year in school and the girl is in university. She pins all her hopes on them that they will have a better education. She sells their store and moves them to Upanga. The place is quieter and provides a better environment for them to study. The return of Mr Datoo, a former teacher inspires Aloo to think of furthering his education in America. He wants to study medicine. He starts writing to American universities to get the necessary information .He is not keen on studying agriculture in a local university. He is offered a place with a scholarship in the California Institute of Technology. However, his mother would not allow him to accept the offer, citing finances and fear of losing him as the reasons. Finally, on the advice of a school officer, the mother relents and accepts the idea of allowing Aloo to leave home for a different sky. The narrator, for the first time, sees her mother as a person and not just as her mother-someone who has always thought only of the children's welfare. Aloo's first letter was a graphic enthusiastic account of London but to the mother, she is uncertain of his return.
Plot 1. Exposition: Mother and her two children move to Upanga 2. Rising action: Aloo writes to universities in America 3. Climax: Aloo is offered a scholarship to study in America and discusses the offer with his mother 4. Falling action: The family goes to see Me Velji and mother allows Aloo t o go to America 5. Resolution: Aloo leaves for America
Character and characteristics Main characters:
1. Aloo
youngest child in the family-doing his final year in school.
Smart - a good student who does well in school examinations ,straight As.
is inspired by a former teacher who returns from America for a visit to think of furthering his education overseas in America.
not keen on studying agriculture at a local university diligent - writes to universities to get necessary information for further studies
ambitious-wants to study medicine extremely happy when offered a scholarship to study in California Institute of Technology
spirited and courageous-willing to do part-time work while studying
tries to convince other that he will definitely return to his homeland after his studies
obedient-willing to accept mother's decision-does not speak about overseas education and prepares to study agriculture locally
could not suppress his excitement when mother finally allows him to go overseas
writes from London to mother-letter so full of excitement creates doubts in mother's mind about the future.
2. Mother
mother of the five children and runs a store in Uhuru Street-single-handedly raises five children after early death of husband
Aloo's mother became a widow at thirty-three and had refused ever since to marry for fear that the next husband would ask her to take her children to the 'boarding'
thinks of the children's future-willing to sacrifice for them -closes down the store and moves family to a quieter part of town-better environment for studying-a big change for her
ambitious about her children's education-wants them to do well
afraid to let youngest son go for overseas educationafraid he might not return home,take a European wife or forget his roots
at the same time wise or understanding about situation-children have to grow up and leave home one day-but hopes to hold on to them as long as possible
loving and caring-take steps to ensure youngest son leave for further studies with a happy frame of mind
after receiving letter from Aloo who writes letter from London-feels unsure that Aloo will return to hometown in Tanzania
Minor characters 1. Aloo's sibling (narrator)
second youngest in family and studying in a local university
supportive of and understands Aloo's needs to study overseas and not in local university
loving and caring of mother and understands mother's refusal to allow Aloo to study overseas
observant-observes mother's face and sees her as a person and not just as their motherrecalls mother's worried unsmiling face looking after them in her own
2. Mr Datoo
a former teacher in Aloo's school-came back from America for a v isit
it was his visit that inspired Aloo to think about his future-of studying overseas in America
3. Mr Velji
a school officer who gives an objective comment about Aloo's studies overseas
knows that Aloo will get a good education but fears mother may lose a son
has an understanding look when he reads the content of Aloo's letter from London
Themes 1. Mother's love 2. Separation from loved ones 3. Seizing opprtunities 4. Sacrifice/Selflessness 5. The importance of education 6. Fear of the unfamiliar 7. courage and strength to stand up to one's principles 8. determination brings success 9. parental sacrifice for family members 10. .letting go of family members to let them become independent
11. willingness to gain new experience and exposure Moral Values 1. Hard work and patience will be rewarded 2. Good education is very important 3. we must not let opportunities pass us by. 4. We must be grateful to our parents. 5. We must try not to be judgmental about the things we do not understand
SPM BASED EXCERCISES
TEMPLATE FOR THE RESPONSE
PARAGRAPH 1 : INTRODUCTION ………(title of the story)……………by ………………..(name of author)……………is the short story I learnt. This story is about ………………….( a short synopsis of the story in three to five sentences sentences). The …….(recycle the question here)……………………………………… There are many ……………………( sate the main ideas)………………………..................................
PARAGRAPH 2 : BODY 1 The first reason why , ……( state the FIRST MAIN IDEA). This is because …………(state the reason). This is shown in the story when……………….. (provide evidences with key word from the story). ……………………………………..(write 3 evidences)………………. As we can clearly see now, ……..(link the cause to an effect)……………………………
PARAGRAPH 3 : BODY 2
Next, …..( state the SECOND main idea)…………………………. This is because………………(state the reason). This is shown in the story when…………………….(provide evidences from the story with key word from the story). ………………………….(write 3 evidences) It is as cl ear as day that………………….(link the cause to an effect)………………………..
PARAGRAPH 4 : BODY 3 Lastly, …..( state the THIRD main idea)……………. This is because………………(state the reason). This is shown in the story when…………………….(provide evidences from the story with k ey word from the story). ………………………….(write 3 evidences) Now we can see that…………….(link the cause to an effect)…………………………………………………
PARAGRAPH 5 : CONCLUSION I hope……………………………………………………………………………………………
or In my opinion…………………………………………………………………………………………
or In a nutshell,.......................................................................................................................................... or In conclusion …………………….........................................................................................................
(restate the question and the main ideas)
SPM BASED EXCERCISE
1. The following are the short story and drama studied in the literature component in English Language. Short Stories - Tanjung Rhu by Minfong HO - Leaving by M.G.Vassanji Drama
- The Right Thing to Do by Martyn Ford
Choose any one of the text above and answer the question below. Everyone has someone that they admire." With close reference to the text, which character do you admire the most?
MODEL RESPONSE
Leaving by M.G. Vasasanji is the short sory I learnt. This story is about Aloo a young boy who wants to pursue his studies in America. Aloo is the youngest child in a single-parent family. Aloo is a bright student and he is inspired to go to America after his ex-teacher Mr Datoo talks so much about America. His mother does not take him seriously until a well-known university, California Institute of Technology offers him a place there with full scholarship. Seeing her son's determination, finally with heavy heart, Mother relents to Aloo and allow him to go to America. There are many characters that I admire in the story. The character that I admire the most is Mother because she is determine , caring and loving and selfless.
The first reason why I admire Mother the most is because she is a determine woman because she always put her children first. She is a single mother with five children. Her husband passed away when she was thirty-three. This is shown in the story when she chooses to stay with her children rather than remarry and loses them. She sold her shop after her daughter Razia was married. She wanted her sons the narrator and Aloo to study hard. She moved from Uhuru, a noisy and busy palace to Upanga. She became a tailor in Upanga. She hoped for the two youngest children, her flesh and blood to to excel in their studies. Upanga was a quiet place, with wild land and tall trees was a perfect place for her sons to study. As we can clearly see now Mother is a determined woman because she always put her children first. Next, Mother is loving and caring. She feels sad when her children leave her. She finds it difficult to let Aloo go to America. This is shown in the story when she told Aloo that she cannot afford to send him to America. Three thousand shillings was a large amount of money. Aloo was very upset. Aloo was the apple of her eyes. Seeing her son's disappointment, Mother sought advices from Mr Velji. Mr Velji was very impressed when he learnt that Aloo got flying colour results in his examinations. Mr Velji told Mother that going to America would be good for Aloo's future but added that she might lose Aloo as he might not return to Upanga. She decided to let her son to go to America after listening to Mr Velji advises. It is as clear as day that Mother is a loving and caring person. Lastly, I admire Mother because she is selfless because she allows Aloo to go to America. Mother asks Aloo to show her the prospectus of the university. Aloo eagerly shows her the prospectus and tells her he can learn everything there. This is shown in the story when she thought deeply about the offer Aloo received. Aloo was a very ambitious boy who wanted a better life for himself. He did not want to venture into agriculture in the local university. He sought for a better opportunity and was ecstatic to receive the scholarship to study in California Institute of Technology. He hungered to learn more. Letting Aloo to go to America depicts her selflessness as she knew he would be devastated is she refused him. Mother also feared that Aloo would pick up negatives habits. She sternly warned Aloo not to marry with a white woman and stayed away from smoking and drinking. Even knowing that she might never see him again, Mother decided to let him go to America. Now we can see that Mother is selfless because she allows Aloo to go to America. In a nutshell, the character that I admire the most is Mother. There are many various reasons why I admire her such as she is determine , caring and loving and selfless. The character teaches me to be determined, caring and loving and selfless.
2. The following are the short story and drama studied in the literature component in English Language. Short Stories - Tanjung Rhu by Minfong HO - Leaving by M.G.Vassanji Drama
- The Right Thing to Do by Martyn Ford
Choose any one of the text above and answer the question below. Everyone fears separation." With close reference to the text give reasons write on the theme of separation.
MODEL RESPONSE Leaving by M.G. Vasasanji is the short sory I learnt. This story is about Aloo a young boy who wants to pursue his studies in America. Aloo is the youngest child in a single-parent family. Aloo is a bright student and he is inspired to go to America after his ex-teacher Mr Datoo talks so much about America. His mother does not take him seriously until a well-known university, California Institute of Technology offers him a place there with full scholarship. Seeing her son's determination, finally with heavy heart, Mother relents to Aloo and allow him to go to America. There are many themes that is potrayed in the story. One of the theme is fear of separation. Mother fears that as the children grow up they will leave the family home. The first reason to be highlighted is Mother does not want to be separated from her children. Her husband passed away when she was thirty-three. She becomes a single mother with five children at the age of thirty three. This is shown in the story when she chooses to stay with her children rather than remarry and loses them. She sold her shop after her daughter Razia was married. She wanted her sons the narrator and Aloo to study hard. She moved from Uhuru, a noisy and busy palace to Upanga. She became a tailor in Upanga. She hoped for the two youngest children, her flesh and blood to to excel in their studies. Upanga was a quiet place, with wild land and tall trees was a perfect place for her sons to study. As we can clearly see now Mother fears of being separated with her children because she always put her children first. Next, Mother feels upset about being separated with her children. She feels sad when her children leave her. She finds it difficult to let Aloo go to America. This is shown in the story when she told Aloo that she cannot afford to send him to America. Three thousand shillings was a large amount of money. Aloo was very upset. Aloo was the apple of her eyes. Seeing her son's disappointment, Mother sought advices from Mr Velji. Mr Velji was very impressed when he learnt that Aloo got flying colour results in his examinations. Mr Velji told Mother that going to
America would be good for Aloo's future but added that she might lose Aloo as he might not return to Upanga. She decided to let her son to go to America after listening to Mr Velji advises. It is as clear as day that Mother fears separation but relents to Aloo's dreams. Lastly, Mother fears of the separation with Aloo. Mother asks Aloo to show her the prospectus of the university. Aloo eagerly shows her the prospectus and tells her he can learn everything there. This is shown in the story when she thought deeply about the offer Aloo received. Aloo was a very ambitious boy who wanted a better life for himself. He did not want to venture into agriculture in the local university. He sought for a better opportunity and was ecstatic to receive the scholarship to study in California Institute of Technology. He hungered to learn more. Letting Aloo to go to America depicts her selflessness as she knew he would be devastated is she refused him. . She feared of the unknown especially the Western countries and people. Mother also feared that Aloo would pick up negatives habits. She sternly warned Aloo not to marry with a white woman and stayed away from smoking and drinking. Even knowing that she might never see him again, Mother decided to let him go to America. Now we can see that Mother fears the separation because she might not see Aloo again. In a nutshell, everyone fears separation. There are various reasons why Mother fears to be separated from her children because she loves her children very much. Mother fears that as the children grow up they will leave the family home.
