Classrooms in the Shade

Download or read book Classrooms in the Shade written by Shanthee Manjoo and published by Real African Publishers. This book was released on 2009-04-01 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the opening Sanskrit mantra to the final act of voting in South Africa's first democratic elections, this lyrical memoir provides a unique perspective on South Africa's modern history. The account shows how a young Hindu woman of Indian ancestry, living in South Africa in the 1940s, defied convention, married a Muslim man, and became an activist at time when Muslim women were seldom seen in such a role. As a teacher, she spoke up during the political strife of that highly segregated era, which included the relocation of Indians and angry student boycotts, and here shares her philosophies and insights into education. Filled with characters from both a personal and national context, the memoir captures the nuances of an important time and place.