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193, , na | LESSON — 12, , 4.12 THE AFRICAN CHILD, , » ry?, , “brain-drain” aw camara Laye is a luautiful story that highlights the, n’. Brain drain is a situation in which a poor nation loses its, young people to other rich nations., , 4.12.2 OBJECTIVES ., , “The African Child”, concept of, , educated:, , seeds eile of this is to make the readers understand that each individual, , gets ed S nation with a sense of pride and enthusiasm because everyone, ee due to the efforts of his/her nation and its resources., , 4.12.3 CONTENTS, , se eee ye's "The African Child" though based on a single event is really a, : a The author gives us a graphic account of his early life,, particularly besa mother's attitude towards him. Though he was fully grown his, mother continued to feel a very strong attachment to him., , When Laye was leaving Conakry after finishing his schooling, the head of the, institution asked him whether he would like to go to France to continue his studies., It was a pleasant shock to the young man and he replied in the affirmative. His, uncles living at Conakry had told him that it was a unique opportunity and he, should seize the chance and go to France. When he returned to his village,, Kourossa, he was given a rousing welcome by his friends and relatives. His mother, was extremely happy to see her son back at home and she did not care for his, achievements at school., , When his mother heard about her son's intended trip abroad for higher, education, she was dreadfully upset. She protested against her son's plans. The boy, told his mother that he would be attending a year-long course only and assured her, that he would return from abroad at the end of the year. His father, who was very, much interested in Camara Laye's future prospects, gave his consent. He reconciled, himself to the separation with the thought that his son's special qualification and, training would be useful to his country. With patriotic fervour he said that the, country required well trained and highly qualified young men. He advised him that, he should be a paragon of honesty and uprightness wherever he went., , The headmaster confirmed his departure and named the school where he was, to study. With the help of his father the boy attempted again to convince his mother, that he would come back at the end of the academic year. But his mother didn't, , want him to go to France. She shook her head in adamant refusal. It was not, tion from her but it was dangerous to send him toa, , rely different culture, climate and food habits. When, told her that his departure was for his own good., , merely a question of separa, , distant country with an enti, her outburst died down, his father, , , , , , Scanned by TapScanner

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194, , She was in a disturbed state of mind. With motherly tne ffused with tears, one would look after her son in a foreign country. Her eyes were su sauiiestee exp, and she put her arms round his neck and. held him tightly. an c siti oan, argument saying that the best thing for him was to stay in the village :, When she Understood that she could not stop his departure §, Camara Laye dried her tears and tried to console her. Her sobs gradually, grew, quieter and less frequent. i, , she said that no, , he wept ,noisily,, , He could not bear the strain of parting. He felt as fies Deen lana, The headmaster provided him with a piece of information about the sehee ioe, climatic conditions of France. Giving him a map, the head of the/school told him, how to reach the place. His girl friend Marie, who boarded the same plane paved, with him upto Dakar. With tears in her eyes she asked him "Will you be coming, back?" What we understand from this short story is that mothers are arene ee, nature the world over., , 4.12.4 REVISION POINTS, , 1. Laye successfully finishes his schooling in conarky., 2. The head of the institution gives Laye a letier to continue his educatin in, France., , 3. The relatives of Laye except his mother encouraged Laye to leave to France., 4. Laye, and his girl friend, Marie board the airplane., , S. Laye does not answer Marie when she asks if he would becoming back to, Africa on completion of his education., , 4.12.5 INTEXT QUESTIONS, , 1. How does Laye get an opportunity to fly to France?, 2. What do the relatives think of Laye’s plans to go to France?, 3. | Who accompanies Laye on his flight to France?, , 4.12.6 SUMMARY, , This is a story dealing with the concept of brain-drain. Laye is an African child, who is given an opportunity to continue his education in France by the head of his, institution. Laye and his relatives look at this opportunity as Signs of a promising, career. The only person who remains disinterested with the recent development is, , Layes mother. She silently seems to understand that such well educated youth do, not return to their national to serve, especially when th, , underdeveloped countries. In the end readers are able to unde, will never return to Africa., , 4.12.7 TERMINAL EXERCISES, , 1. Why did Laye’s mother discourage him from going to France?, 2. Why is Laye silent over Marie’s question of his return?, , ey belong to poor,, rstand that Laye too, , 3. What do you think the writer wants to convey through this story?, ' 4.12.8 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS, , o None, , Scanned by TapScanner

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1. Write a note on Laye we aa, 8 decision to go to France and its i plication, 4.12.10 SUGGESTED READING / REFERENCE BOOKS ae, , the East and West” ed. By Dr. R. Ganapathy, Emerald, , Publishers, Madras., 4.12.47 LEARNING ACTIVITIES, 1. Find out other stories that deal with brain-drain and get to know how those, : authors have treated the same theme., 4.12.12 KEYworDs, : ® _ Affirmative - Asserting that something is true, | 2a Rusing - Something that excites, © Prospects - Potential and favourable things that may happen, , - A person of great qualities, , - Firm and determined, , - To spread through or over something, - To restore a friendly relationship, , “Thea, , , , Scanned by TapScanner