India was part of the British Empire from 1860 to 1947, controlling every aspect of the Indian people. In 1886 The English people transfer the Indian capital from the real city of Mandalay to the city of Rangun, which had a notable development as a trading center of the British Empire in India. During this period, the English established a judicial system, built factories, railroads and Anglo-Indian schools. In these schools, Children were often manipulated to obey some English doctrines, which were not accepted in the Indian society. Hindu names were change to English names for an easier way to be remembered by the English teachers. In the story By Any Other Name, by Santha Rama Rau, a Hindu girl was manipulated to be called by an English name which was not hers and was stereotyped as cheater, just because of her nationality. Likewise, in China the Cultural Revolution took place from 1945 to 1976 under Mao Tse Tung's communist dictatorship. During this time, everyone had to follow communist principles or they became an enemy of the government. Everyone had to honor Mao Tse Tung's thoughts and had to think as he wished to. Children were often manipulated to work in favor of the communist revolution. In the story Red Azalea, by Anchee Min, a Chinese girl was influenced to follow the doctrines and to expose this ideology to others to the point of betraying her teacher. Excellent introduction! .
Hindu people refused to send their children to these Anglo-Indian schools; they knew the racist problems their children had to face. English children were situated at the front of the class; in contrast, Hindu children were at the back of the class. They had a significant separation of customs and traditions, which they were exposed and ridiculized by. Teachers were the first to discriminate Hindu children by changing their names to English names. For example, Santha and her sister Premila had their names changed to Pamela and Cynthia just as the headmistress said: "Oh, my dears, those are much too hard for me.
By Any Other Name Santha Rama Rau writes the story "By Any Other Name". ... Santha was educated in England and America. ... The setting of "By Another Name" is in India before the 1950's while under British control. ... "By Any Other Name" reflects situations that our students can reflect. ...
Amongst the Chinese, Japanese, Europeans, etc. and other immigrants, the East Indians represent a big group of those who want to be part of the "American culture". ... And although most of them had been farmers of farm laborers in the Punjab region of India, in America they often had to turn to other kinds of work (Dayes 22). ... They were called by insulting names such as "rag-heads" and treated as inferior beings (Hundley 38). ... Many of them share the name Singh (lion), a sacred to Sikhs (Koritala 3). ... rule, they would not buy meat that had been prepared by other hands. ...