“Child of Dandelions” by Shenaaz Nanji is a novel that portrays the international mindedness aspect of the IB program. The novel explores what the Indian Ugandans faced while Idi Amin was president. Shenaaz Nanji wrote about the dictatorship in Uganda, what the military did to the Indian citizens of Uganda at the time, and everything the Indians went through to flee Uganda.
Child of Dandelions gives insight towards the dictatorship in Uganda while Idi Amin was their president. Idi Amin expelled all Indians from Uganda. Since he was Uganda’s leader, he was able to influence the Ugandans into believing that the Indians had taken advantage of their land. For example, Zena, Sabine’s best friend for years in the novel, admired Idi Amin and thought of him as her hero. Zena too, along with the other Ugandans, turned on Sabine and said that all Indians should leave the country. This novel shows readers what occurred while Idi Amin was president of Uganda.…show more content… The military raided the houses of Indians and took valuable belongings and they harassed them if the Indians held onto items. For example, while Sabine, Munchkin, Bapa, and Lalita - the main character, her little brother, her grandfather, and close family friend - were at a checkpoint on their way to the airport, they were searched for anything valuable. There was one woman who had bangles on and she couldn’t get them off since they were too tight. The officers at the checkpoint harassed the lady until Sabine stepped in and was able to get the woman’s bangles off. This novel provides readers with examples of what the military did to
