Leaving

by M.G VASSANJI
A story from Tanzania, retold
by Jennifer Bassett

GROUP MEMBER :
NURUL IZZATI IZYAN BINTI HAMDAN
NURHUSNINA BINTI KAMARUDDIN
NURHAFIZAH BINTI AZREN
 SYNOPSIS
Aloo and the narrator of the story are the youngest children in a
single-parent family. Their older siblings have all left home. Their
mother is a widow who has raised 5 children on her own. Aloo wants
to study medicine, not agriculture. He harbors the ambition to go to
America to study. He write to some American Universities hoping to
get a scholarship. When a well-known American University offers him
a scholarship, Aloos dream looks set to come true. However, his
mother says that she cannot afford to sent him to America. Aloo is
very upset. Mother seeks advice from Mr. Velji. He tells her that
getting scholarship is good for Aloos future. He also cautions her that
she may lose him if she lets him go so far away. Seeing her sons
disappointment, she decides to let her son go in the end.
 SETTING
The setting took place in Upanga, Africa in the
present day. The setting in this story is very
important because it expands on the poverty
theyre going through and the traditions they have.

THEME
Leaving and letting go
Loneliness and sadness
Understanding the sacrifices of others
Having hope for the future
 CHARACTERS
IN THE STORY, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CHARACTERS AND A
FEW MINOR CHARACTERS.

MAJOR CHARACTERS :
Aloo
The Mother

MINOR CHARACTERS :
Sister
Mehroon
Razia
Firoz
 MAJOR CHARACTERS
The Mother
Aloo : :
Protagonist Antagonist
Very smart Became a
Finishing widow at the
secondary age 33
school Ran a
The business in
youngest town
child Sensitive
Loving
 MINOR
CHARACTERS
Mehroon :
Married to a
Narrator(Sister):
former
The forth of
batsman
the siblings Firoz :
The oldest
A university The third of
of the five
student the five
siblings
Aloof Razia :Stayed in siblings
A wealthy town Did not
housewife complete his
The second of final year in
the five the school
siblings Works in the
Lived in more office of a big
 ALOO VS MOTHER
Moms wants him to stay near her in Africa.
Mom doesnt want to lose her son.
Aloo wants to decide his own future and his own
decisions.
NFLICT Aloo doesnt want to disappoint his mom and ruin the
great relationship he has with her.
ALOO VS SOCIETY
Aloo wants to choose what hes going to do with the
rest of his life.
Local university is very limited mainly focusing on
agriculture.
Aloo wants more opportunities and doors open for his
future.
Local university decides for you.
ALOO VS HIMSELF
Wants to go to school in America.
Wants to keep his mother happy.
Doesnt have the money to go.
 LOVE LEAVING HOME
He had love for Aloo realized to OPPORTUNITY
his family, better his life for the Aloo had a
heritage and future he had to once in a life
tradition which leave home (Africa) time opportunity
made it so hard and move to
for him to make a America to go to
decision. school
CHANGE LETTING GO
It was a complete Aloos mother
change in had to let him go

TOPIC
heritage and and make his
culture changing own decision s
from one and create his

S
continent to the own life
other
SURRENDERING EDUCATION
RISK Aloo and his The whole short
It was a huge mother both story was about
risk for Aloo to go surrender: his mom seizing every
to a whole new surrendered her opportunity and
place and couture values and Aloo about how
without knowing surrendered his important a proper
anyone. tradition education is
 MORAL VALUES

SELF-RELIANCE
SELF-SACRIFICES Aloos mother could
Aloo mother have married again so
refused to marry that she had a
again because husband to take care
she wanted to of her. However, for
keep her children the sake of her
safe with her. children, she decided
She sacrificed to be self-reliant and
the hope of an take care of her family
easier life for herself. She provided
Thank you so
much for
watching and
your attention
Questions (?)
1. Where did the family live and where did they move to ? What was the reason for the move ?
They lived in Uhuru Street and they moved to Upanga. Mother wanted them to have a quiter
place for them to study properly.

2. How did Aloo become interested in studying overseas ?

He became interested after Mr. Datoo, a former teacher came back from America for a visit.

3. Letter of offer from the California Institute of Technology :

a) Did mother believe that Aloo had an offer from an American University ?
No, she did not.

b) How did mother react to it ? Why do you think she reacted that way ?
She reacted by asking about the money required and how they would get it.

4. How did mother show that she was an understanding and loving mother who did not like to
see her children feeling sad ?
She knew how Aloo felt and suggested they ask Mr Velji for his advice.
 Complete the sentences below :

Began to look unreal Nobody could change the list

Studying agriculture made of stone Full of excitement - London
Lonely frightening place

1. When Aloo wrote his first letter back home, the letter was ____________________
full of excitement with
London
descriptions of what he saw from the plane and comments about the size of _____________.

studying agriculture in their own university and she

2. Mother knew how Aloo felt about ____________________
arranged to get advice on the offer from an American college. She was after all not
__________________
made of stone but a loving mother.

3. Aloo was very sure what he wanted to do for his future. He was not interested in farming as he
nobody could change the list
wanted to live and work in a city. He was set on this and __________________________.

4. Aloo was very happy about the offer of a place and scolarship from the California college.
However, there were the problems of having enough money and convincing mother. The
began to look unreal
narrator felt that Aloos hopes ___________________.