# Celebrated National Sports Day,2018.
# At - Department of English, MKBU.
# Thanks to the Guest - Dr. Dilipsinh Gohil ( Director - Department of Physical Education, MKBU.)
# Thanks to the Dr. Dilip Barad Sir ( Head of the Dept.)
# Thanks to the Sepak takraw Team.
# Thanks to all the Participants.
Glimpses of the Day :
It was a thrilling day.
" This is the chance of playing. " / " Health is Heaven. "
After listening her I came to know about her life. At the age of four she had started reading the books and at the age of seven she had started writing. We can connect this things with her knowledgeable background and her curiosity towards the learning.
# Importance of Story / Literature
In this topic she talked about danger of a single story.
• During her childhood she preferred to read the American and British books.
• Her mind was corrupted by the white and blue eyed characters.
• But after reading the African Books her perspective shifted towards her own identity.
• Then she realized that we (Nigerian) can write literature too.
• Because of her good economic situation her mother had adopted one poor boy named Fide. Her mother always told her to finish her food because there were so many starving families. That thing had raised enormous pity in her. And her perspective towards poor also changed because They were good in creating such kind of handcraft.
• When she was in U. S. during that time her roommate was surprised by listening her fluent English. It may be surprises us also. Which shows the danger of a single story.
• She was embarrassed while she listened about the charity in Africa and India.
• She has done the wide reading. She uses the reference of John lock and of Rudyard Kipling.
• She got information about An African Authenticity. Which was lacking in her work. She was not aware about this but she has shown the African characters as an educated middle man, driving the cars whereas according to one writer the characters are not starving. But the truth is something different. Because all Africans are not so.
• She talked about The relationship between Mexicans and the Americans.
• When one student raises the question of Nigerian character that time she says that go and read American Psycho.
• We all think about the differences rather than the similarity.
• According to her stories can also be used to empower and to humanize.
" That when we reject the single story we realize that there is never a single story about anyplace, We regain a kind of paradise. "
# We should all be Feminist
Change is required in the thinking and in a practice.
• She talked about Physical differences. But that is not important.
• But masculine leads more than the creative, innovative.
• Gives the example of her own life when she visited the hotel waiter call thanks to the man not to her.
• People told boy to be hard, not to feel fear.
• For the society a woman fails in marriage it means personal failure.
• In marriage for man it sacrificing of clubs where as for woman it is like giving up of all the things.
• The question of virginity always asked to girls not to boys.
• In domestic life she pretend to be happy because she she has been told to be good wife. " Very homely "
• In gender problem the question arises is of How we should be. ..? But there is no need of any question because however we are that's good.
• At domestic level socializing of cooking remains to the women. Where as we finds most of the chef are men.
• In education most of the time we finds concentration on what to wear not on what to teach.
• Man has to think more than woman.
• Culture subordinates the women but people makes culture.
# Talk on importance of truth in Post -Truth Era
Truth is more important .
• She shares her experience of lying in hospital in front of a doctor about her height.
• Another is about traffic.
• Develop a courage to speak truth...
• Again shares her experience. She was a great fan of some of the writer but she was not knowing the one name of his works.
• It's become hard to tell when we were not at best.
• Tells importance of Harvard University. She considers them as a citizen leaders. But reminds them not to privileges over another but for the change.
• Get into the system, don't be satisfied of the success.
• Change the Media. Media must should be for truth. Not for profit or entertainment.
• Learn to say Don't know...
• Create the habit of Self doubt...and self belief.
Many time we hear about the progress of the nation. Which is connected with the education. When we compare our education with others that time we realize that they are progressing far better than us. So the questions arises for both teachers and students. The another question comes in our mind is that Are they playing their role wholeheartedly or Is there any fault in system?
# Role of a Teacher :
• Ideal - A teacher must should be ideal. Because most of the time students remains in the teacher's contact. As we all knows that " A picture is worth a thousands words. "
• Urge - Yes, there must should be a strong urge to make someone greater.
• Frank - A teacher must should be enough frank. Because it will help in building the bond among the students.
• Resourceful - What students think about a teacher is that.... A teacher knows everything... So teacher must should be able to give proper explanation.
• Supporter - Most of the time students needs support from the teachers. A good teacher must motivates for the further learning. But If they doesn't get support from the teachers then students starts avoiding the new initiative or expressing their selves.
• Neutral - A good teacher never makes partiality in the class. For him/her all students remains equal.
• Avant - garde - A good teacher perpetually remains up-to date. And thinks and teaches rationally and scientifically, cultivates the thinking habit in students. An educator always supports edutainment.
# Role of a Learner :
• Consistent - A regular student progresses better than others. So students must should be consistent in their studies.
• Disciplined - If students remains disciplined in his or her work/ life then they can reach at the height.
• Rational - Most of the time students remains busy in their other works which are not at all necessary to do. So students should be rational.
• Player - All student must should play the games. Because games helps a lot. In fitness, teamwork, leadership etc.
• Innovative - Yes, A student must should be innovative. That will provide him/her better solutions.
• Modest - Sometimes students starts misbehaving with the people. So student must should be modest, otherwise there would be no difference between literate and illiterate.
• Questioner/ Researcher - For the bright future one must should possess these kinds of habits. Because these kinds of habits will make you more intelligible.
As we all feel proud to be born in India. But actually we trie to escape from the responsibilities. The another question arises in our mind is that.... Are we contributing in the progress of the nation...? Or I think we believe in gibberish. We just merely like to take pride.
On this significant occasion of Independence Day, We have watched the movie "Lagaan : Once upon a time in India".It is a sports- drama film directed by Ashtosh Gowariker.
We watched this movie not merely as an entertainment movie but to cultivate the habit of reading literature from beneath. So there are so many hidden points which we can ponder.
# Rural India : The whole setting of the movie remains in the village. Which represents the actual India. Where we find agricultural activities as their chief source of livelihood. The dialect which people use that also represents the countryside. But the situation of the people is not good. The another interpretation comes in our mind is that after having these kinds of problems yet they live their lives happily.
# Patriotism : During the whole movie we find this quality in the people. The protagonist of the movie, Bhuvan who shows great courage for the welfare of the province and motivates other villagers to come up and rebel against the Britishers. The characters of Lakha, Deva, Arjan and Ram Singh who have worked for the Britishers but after realizing that they merely exploit them and joins the Bhuvan's group. Even women help a lot in this rebel. Altogether they all vigorously work to get rid of from the high taxes.
# Nationalism : What political ideology tells about nation that becomes Nationalism. They have a strong belief for the nation. When Raja Puran Singh denies to eat non-vegetarian food that shows the nationalism. The another scene comes in our mind is that when we see Captain Russell, practicing, deer hunting that time Bhuvan tries to rescue that deer. Which again portrays the national ideology because in reality the situation seems vice versa.
# Subaltern Studies : Some how or the others all the characters represent the lower status or the theme of a subalternin order to gender, caste, class, religion and etc.
Women < Men
Kachra < Other
Ismail < Other
Villagers < Mukhya
Mukhya < Raja
Raja < Captain Russell
Captain Russell < British Governor
Spinner < Pacer
Bowling < Batting
Thus we can find the theme of subaltern. But through the character of Elizabeth we can say she lives an independent life. Which is lacks in Indian women in the movie. The rebel against the Britishers is initiated by the villagers which again portrays them powerful compared to Raja. So some how director has provided the voices in the characters of Kachra, Ismail, Elizabeth and in Villagers. The another interpretation comes in our mind is that spinner plays vital role in the match.
Yet one question arises in our mind is that Why director has shown Indians as a first bowling side...? Or I think we are habituated to celebrate victory by hitting six not by bowling.
# Casteism : We can openly find the caste system in the village. Which prevails even today in the rural India. In a movie we finds in the character of Kachra, He considered as a untouchable by the other villagers. Most of them denies to play with him. He lives on the periphery of the village. Where as Ishwar lives in the center of the village.
But here we can interpret positively. In the movie Bhuvan explains the villagers through the example of Rama - Shabri and people accepts Kachra as a team member.
# Leadership Skills : Through this movie we can finds the leadership skills. When we see the character of Bhuvan.
- Challenge as an opportunity : A leader always sees challenge as a opportunity. For him this is the beginning towards the destination. We sees these qualities in Bhuvan. He courageously accepts the challenge. He thinks differently compare to the common man.
- Initiator :To initiate the campaign is easy but the real work starts after the initiative. For leader it becomes necessary to implement the things. And Bhuvan does it very well. He doesn't knows how to play the cricket but yet he behaves as he knows everything.
- Practice :Without practice no one can get success. So practice becomes vital before any battle. So Bhuvan starts practice with Tipu and stimulates other members for practice.
- Team Builder : A leader must should be aware about building the team. And to win such a battle it requires more and more hands. It is not an easy task to do. Because everyone can not be the member of a team. For that a leader can show the power of unity. Another thing requires is that a leader must should posses the insight of finding the skills. A leader should be able to explain his team member why and how he can be the crucial for the team. That thing Bhuvan does very well by making Bhura, Guran, Arjan, Goli, Ishwar, and Bagha ready for the match.
- Benevolent : A true leader never thinks for his own benefits. Always becomes ready for the sacrifices. That all things we sees in the character of Bhuvan.
- Empathetic : An empathetic leader always understands the feeling of his team member. He listens all the problems of his teammate. Here in movie Bhuvan listens the inner problems of Lakha. And gives him another chance.
- Confidence : A most powerful weapon is the self believe. If leader becomes diffidence then he invites the trouble. And we never finds Bhuvan as a diffidence. Where as captain Russell who seems an arrogant person and full of overconfidence. Which leads them towards the massive defeat.
# Religion : Most of the times we find the theme of religion in the movie. Whenever villagers stucks in the muddle that time they goes at temple and starts prayers. When Bhuvan hits the bowl and bell rings. So, for villagers it is like an omen.
# Togetherness : Whenever any calamity comes in the village all people gets together and becomes the saviour for each other. So unity remains in the center of the movie. When one king from near province comes to hit Bhuvan that time all puts themselves in front of the king.
# Honesty : This thing we find during the match. Where we fin that they have hired umpires from other places. During the whole match umpiring remains unbiased. That thing we do not see in the character of Lakha. Who betrays the team. Where as Elizabeth helps villager in the preparation. Because she knows her brother is doing unfair with the innocents.
# Post - Colonialism : As we all know that the game of cricket is belongs to the Britishers. So metaphorically cricket is imposed on us. In the movie also we find Elizabeth as an instructor of cricket. In the movie Lakha represents dishonesty whereas Elizabeth represents the honesty. So again White remains on the positive side.
# Lynching : Now a days the problem of lynching is becoming more and more serious. Most of the times mob takes law in their hands and obviously the outcome gives only pain. So when Lakha betrays the villagers, mob tries to lynch him but Bhuvan listens his problems. It is not Lakha who betrays the team but it is the frustrations which leads him towards the evilness.
Thus we should take all this things into the consideration. Otherwise our nation will turn into the Talibanization.
Altogether it was a great session and an awesome movie to watch. Because we all got insight to watch the movie from the deeper side. Again a significant movie to watch.
All Literature is connected with each other. Somehow the theme of the work remains the same. If we give the metaphor to Literature then according to me it is like a Banyan Tree. The main trunk remains in the center and other aerial roots starts developing and makes itself new, Same way the literature remains the same.
What happens is that the new work of art follows the same tradition but new artist sets all the things with creativity. They takes the ideal things from the history in his or her work. So we can say that all literatures are connected with each other ; all, those which are already written, those being written and those yet to be written. Thus, sign, symbol goes on recurrently happen and turns into literary metaphor.
Northrop Frye has also developed the theory of Archetypal criticism. Which concentrates on the idea of oneness of literature. He says that all literature shares the common DNA skeleton.
Here is an interesting example to prove this point.
These lines from The Waste Land can better be understood if we read it in the context of short story of AntonChekhov (A Joke).
And when we were children, staying at the archduke's, My cousin's, he took me out on a sled, And I was frightened. He said, Marie, Marie, hold on tight. And down we went. In the mountains, there you feel free.
Interpretations of the lines :
Openly we can not find the theme of sexual perversion in these lines but we can interpret the hidden meaning of it. In the Wasteland Eliot uses this reference which shows the lustful act. In the story " A Joke " by Anton Chekhov same thing appears. Here the female character time again wishes to go for the sled with his cousin. So we can interpret that some how she feels fear of that act but because of lust see can not deny herself.
Another things comes in our mind is that love also seems absent because they both not marries to each other. So we can say that it is the lust which was the reason they were connected.
Thus, the theme of sexual perversion remains the same which shows the uniformity in literature.
If we see the translation of the story is not changed much. Some of the words are not translated.
When someone tells us to draw a sketch of nature what we draw is the beautiful landscape. Before studying the poem "Design " , ma'am told us to draw a sketch of nature as a classroom activity. So here is the image of that sketch.
So here we can see all the elements with the positive connotation. We find nature as an enjoyment. Everything seems perfect.
But after reading the poem "Design " we finds totally different imagery. How nature becomes a cruel things that we finds through the example given by the Frost.
In the beginning we finds a heal- all tree which represents the healing power but what happens is that a white spider is there and preys the moth. He raises the question like why that moth sits on that tree? Why that tree has a white flowers? A total paradoxical imagery arises. The another thing we finds is that, generally white represents the peace but the situation arises is of violence. Means we can say that some how the nature is not a perfect "Design".
After reading about the Frost we finds that he was a farmer also. If we takes the example of farmer then it will be more easier to understand this poem. After a monsoon all seems green which pleases the eyes but for the farmers it gives tears in the eyes because there are so many unnecessary things also grows with the seeds and it becomes necessary to remove it otherwise the crop will not grow properly. So in cultivating the land farmers sees the so much violence in the form of the insects and etc. So poet raises the question against the " Design " of the God.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are i think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
• Known for his realistic depiction of rural life.
• His grandfather purchased a farm for him and for his wife in New Hampshire. He worked there for nine years.
About the Poem :
This poem is written by Robert Frost in 1922 and published in 1923, In the volume calls ' New Hampshire .' The speaker is going somewhere. But he finds the woods and thinks of halts. Besides that suddenly he recalls the work which he has to complete before the sleep.
Technique of the Poem :
The poem is written in iambic tetrameter. And the rhyme scheme is AABA BBCB CCDC DDDD.
Interpretation of the Poem :
Let's go with the line by line.
From the title of the poem we can interpret that the speaker is stopped by Woods. And the time setting is of snowy evening. So we can say that speaker is going somewhere. Where he wants to go that is not mentioned. It is up to the listener's imagination. In between he reaches near the woods. Here Woods gives us different meanings. Because literal meaning of the Woods represents the lovely scene and silence. Where as symbolic meaning of the Woods represents a journey of life and a movement towards death. And After reading about the Frost... Frost : " Words themselves do not convey meaning ." So it is up-to the listener's psychology.
In the first line we find that the narrator is reached near the woods. And he says ' I think I know '. (Which represents the uncertainty ) Here we can say that speaker himself is not fully sure about the woods.
In the second line some how he recalls and says that the master of the Woods is in the village.
In the third line he says that he (master) will not see the speaker because master is not present right now.
And that's why speaker can easily enjoy the snow.
What comes in our mind is that after reading about the Frost we finds that he himself was a farmer for nine years. So we can interpret these above four lines in this way also....From his farm he leaves for the house and in between he reaches near the woods and these woods are so beautiful so may be he wants to stay there for a while. But he is awared about the unlawful trespass. And also the evening is of the December month so it becomes more and more darker. And another thing we found about the life of Frost is that one day in the night when he was at his farmhouse some of the youth group reaches there for the party and after the party because of intaking the rum they all misbehaves and breaks the house of Frost and also the law of trespassing.
The another imagery comes in our mind is that because of the over obligation he thinks about suicide but the harness bells gives the courage and speaker thinks about his family and makes his mind not to loose hope.
In the fifth line we find a interior monologue. Because horse can not speak. But by giving voice to horse he himself realize that it is so much queer to stay here.
Because there is no shelter at all. It becomes so much difficult to survive in the snowy evening to stay in the woods.
Here harness bells is considered as a alerting sound. As a recall of mistake.
While moving further in the thirteenth line we finds the contradiction lovely with dark. Which gives the different imagery of the word Woods.
In the last three lines speaker says as he has already promised someone to keep moving forward. So we can say that may be his wife or children are waiting for him. Or another thing comes in our mind is that may be he can not enjoy this beautiful snowy evening because he has to complete so many works or to reach his selected destination he can not enjoy the taking rest.
Here the repetition of the word sleep gives us different meanings. It is about to do as much as hard work before he die. He might be aware about the pain of carrying the burden of expectation of the family and he thinks for the assiduous practice.
By concluding the poem we finds that this poem is looks like a process rather than product. Altogether it is a very well poem which enhances the reader's aptitude towards new thinking.
