The Other Family-Infographics

The Other Family – Infographics

Written by Himani Bannerji

XI Literature Study Resource

About the Lesson

The Other Family by Himani Bannerji is a moving story about an immigrant mother and her young daughter living in Canada. It explores cultural identity, racial difference, displacement, loneliness and the pressure to conform to the dominant culture.

The infographics given below present the important events of the story in their correct sequence. They will help students understand the mother’s anxiety, the daughter’s journey towards self-discovery and the significance of her completed family picture.

Infographic 1: The Mother’s Fear

The first part introduces the immigrant mother and her daughter. On a cold winter evening, the mother watches her daughter walking home alone through the snowy streets of Canada. The unfamiliar surroundings remind her of the homeland, language and community they have left behind.

The conflict begins when the daughter shows her a school drawing of a blond, white family. Since the picture does not resemble their dark-skinned family, the mother fears that her daughter may reject her real appearance, family and cultural identity.

Events 1–3: The winter evening, the school picture and the mother’s fear of cultural rejection.

Infographic 2: Discovering Identity

The daughter explains that she copied the white family from a schoolbook and that her classmates and teacher accepted it. The mother realises that the school and the larger social system have presented one kind of family as normal while excluding families like theirs.

That night, the girl examines herself in a mirror. She notices her brown skin, black hair, dark eyes and the scar on her nose. The next day, she completes the drawing by adding her own dark-skinned family beside the blond family. Her revised picture becomes a powerful symbol of self-acceptance, inclusion and multicultural coexistence.

Events 4–6: The influence of authority, the girl’s self-discovery and the completion of her inclusive family picture.

Important Learning Points

• The mother experiences loneliness and guilt as an immigrant.
• The snowy Canadian setting symbolises isolation and displacement.
• The first drawing reflects the influence of dominant social norms.
• The word “they” represents the authority of school and society.
• The mirror symbolises self-examination and recognition.
• The completed drawing celebrates identity and cultural diversity.
• The ending offers hope for an inclusive multicultural society.

Central Message Every family deserves recognition, dignity and acceptance. People can preserve their cultural identity while living harmoniously with those from different backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote “The Other Family”?

“The Other Family” was written by Himani Bannerji.

Why was the mother upset by her daughter’s drawing?

The girl had drawn a blond, white family that did not resemble her real dark-skinned family. The mother feared that her daughter might reject her family and cultural identity.

What does the mirror symbolise in the story?

The mirror symbolises self-examination. By looking at herself carefully, the girl begins to recognise and accept her physical and cultural identity.

What is the significance of the final drawing?

[The Other Family Note Summary  Essays  Paragraph Questions  Infographics  Fill in the Blanks]

[Prepared by Sindhu.P,HSST English,GGHSS Kallai]

By placing her own family beside the blond family, the girl creates an inclusive picture that recognises both identities. It represents diversity, equality and coexistence.