"Lagaan" - Movie Review

On the independence day of India, 15th August 2018 after flag-hoisting at university ground we have planned to watch “Lagaan – once upon a time in India” movie at our department. This movie was released in 2001. It is a sports-drama film, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, produced by Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan, written by Gowariker and Abbas Tyrewala. The setting of movie is British India. Patriotism is in the core of movie. The film has some hidden messages also. Here I’m interpreting film as per my understanding.

1) Patriotism

The main theme of this movie is patriotism. The setting is India under British rule, so the passion for “our land” will be there. In this movie farmers have to pay yearly lagaan (tax) to the king and king to the British rule, but from last two years they are suffering from draught and the arrogant British captain Russell has doubled the tax because king has denied to eat meat. After that captain Russell challenged the people of village to beat them in cricket match and three years tax will be erased. Now they all are doing hard work to beat British team. This shows their passion for their land and their rights. Ram Singh, Lakha, and Arjan who are working for British people they also left their work and shows their passion for freedom from tax.

2) Love Triangle

At very shallow level if we look this film is also same like other Bollywood film which has love theme as importantly as other main theme. Here in this film also Gauri who is living in village who loves Bhuvan. Both are living in same village. Bhuvan also loves Gauri. One other person  who also lives in same village Lakha loves Gauri. Elizabeth, sister of Russell also fall in love with Bhuvan. So we can find heartbroken Elizabeth and jealous Lakha.

3) Religion

Religion is also in the center of the movie. The temple of Lord Krishna is situated at height, which signifies their faith and place of religion. Before starting any work they pray to god for their victory. The king also staunchly believes in religion and because of that he denies to eat meat to captain Russell. Villagers are suffering from draught for last two years then they believe that if they will pray to god, god will send rain. When Bhuvan accepts the challenge of cricket match no villager was ready to play but when first time Bhuvan hits the ball and ball hits the bell of temple than they found this as omen. In between the movie whenever they find themselves in difficult situation they all gather and pray to god. By doing all these things film maker wants to show the power of religion and prayer.

4) Archetypes

This movie is same like other movies also follows some archetypes. The first archetype is “Draught”. When movie starts, the scene of draught comes which signifies sorrow and hopelessness in life of villagers.

Then “Temple” is another archetype in this movie. Temple is symbol of goodness, positivity, hope and happiness. Which we can see in movie that whenever villagers are in temple they are happy or they have hope of something positive and good.

Third is “Rain”. Rain is symbol of happiness. In this movie also when villagers see the dark clouds they start celebrating. At the end also when they won the match rain comes and again everyone are happy.

Then “Hero” or “Central character” is also an archetype here. As Hero will be savior same happens here. Bhuvan is central character in this movie, so he saved all villagers from three years tax, at last moment he also make team won the match. He is the one who is first to solve every problem.

5) Leadership

Bhuvan has got great leadership qualities. He is the first one to accept the challenge when other people are seeing this as harmful he is seeing this challenge as an opportunity. At beginning no one is with him but he knows how to built the team. He also knows everyone’s ability and he use that abilities effectively. Only building team will not going to help he also make all team members work together and for whole team and not for an individual. When it comes to team he don’t think about other things he include untouchable in his team when other members are denying to play with untouchable, and he also make them all to understand. He takes action when it is necessary, he hit six at the last ball of the match and make his team win the match. These all are great leadership qualities which Bhuvan describes.

6) Difference between Elizabeth and Gauri

Both are women but vast difference in both of them. Gauri is living in village while Elizabeth comes from the England. Both loves Bhuvan but as soon as Elizabeth comes to know that Bhuvan loves Gauri she sacrifice her love for Gauri. They both are different fro each other in thinking. Gauri is very submissive girl, she follows the order of her father. While Elizabeth is free woman. She is doing what she think is right and she didn’t live under the order of her brother. Gauri is only busy in cooking while Elizabeth has great knowledge of cricket and she also knows how to play it.

7) Difference between Lakha and Elizabeth

Lakha and Elizabeth both has cheated their owns but both have very vast difference of intentions. Lakha is cheated his fellow villagers only because he can’t get love of Gauri and Gauri loves Bhuvan so he wants to take revenge from Bhuvan. Because of his this revenge motive he put all villagers lives at stake. On the other hand Elizabeth goes against her brother’s wish and teach villagers how to play cricket because she feels that her brother has done unfair to the villager and that is why she wants to help villagers. Intensions of both make their character likable or dislikable.

8) Subalterns

Here we can apply subaltern theory and we also can find hierarchy here. In this movie India is under control of British rule so first subaltern is India, and at first place come king. Here king is also under the control of British rule and he can’t do anything against them. Then under the king comes villagers. They are helpless front of king, they have to obey the decision of king. Then comes the women of village, as they are controlled by male. They live life like do what is said to do. At last comes untouchables. They meant to live away from all other villagers. In this movie we have one character named Kachara, who is untouchable. He is so afraid of other people he constantly under fear of not touching anyone and not to make any mistake.

9) Post-colonialism

The only thing represents post-colonialism in this movie is game of cricket. We accepts to play cricket because we want freedom from tax but now in free India why this game is more famous than any other game. It clearly shows that how still British people ruling our mind. This is the reason why cricket is more played and watched than our national game.

10) Metaphor of “King” is broken

When we call someone “king” we mean almighty. All powers are in the hand of king but in this movie king is shows as handicapped. He is not able to rescue his people fro double tax. When cricket match is going on he is very happy with the performance of villager’s team he want to give his pearl necklace to villagers but he is not able to as he is under British rule. For king his people is everything. To solve their problem should be the first priority of king but when villagers came to meet king to urge for removing the tax but the cricket match of British people are going on so he has to make wait villagers till the game ends. So in this movie king only has name of king.

11) British respects talent

We can see the fairness in decision of British people. Though captain Russell put very unfair challenge front of villagers but he called very honest umpire to take decisions of match. When both team are playing the match, the British people admires both team’s talent. They are in favor of talent not only their team. When at last ball Bhuvan hit the six all British officers stand up and clap for him which clearly shows their respect and admiration for talent.

These are some points which I found in movie. To see all these things one has to read the meaning between the lines. Otherwise this film has ability to catch audience just by it’s shallow look and it has done this also as this film has got attention of  mass in India and overseas also.

Thank you.

How a Teachers and Students Should Be?

In remedial classes as well as ELT classes we have got task to write our opinion on how a teacher should be? and how a student should be? So here is my opinion about the given questions. I am a student so first I would like to give opinion about how a student should be?

How a Student Should Be?

A student or learner is not one if they are not eager to learn something. Learning is essential part of the life of students. They should be always ready to learn new things. As if students will not show interest in learning teacher will not be able to taught.

Next quality which student should have to be regular in study and also be attentive in class. Students should not bunk their classes often. They also should be attentive in class as only physical presence will not going to help them in learning.

Students should be responsive in class. Only teacher talk will not going to help. In learning there should be two way communications. Students should answer the questions raised by teachers or they should share their opinion on particular topic.

Students also should have questioning attitude. I they really want to know more or learn more they should have to ask questions. This will help them to understand deeply.
The works which are given by teacher, students should do that on time and with utmost sincerity, because if teacher has given some work it has some meaning they will don’t do it just for fun. So take it seriously.

Students should always try to improve their performance. The competition among class is natural but it should not turned in to ego. Competition with own self will help them to improve their own performance and reach higher goals.

Teacher will come to taught you but it doesn’t mean students can’t do anything by themselves. They should also be self-learner and not always dependent on teachers. The habit of self learning and not be dependent on someone else will help them not only in studies but also in the world outside of the class and in the world of competition.

How a Teacher Should Be?

A teacher can create genius also and stupid also. It is in the hand of teacher. So a teacher should be excelled in the subject they choose because the future of students will be on hands of teachers. If they don’t have enough knowledge of their subject what will they taught to their students.

Teachers should have effective voice and tone. They should audible to each and every student in class. They also should have quality to present themselves effectively. If their presentation of topic is good students will like to learn boring topics also. They also should have effective communication skills as they are going to teach orally and if they don’t have good communication skills they will not able to convey their message to students.

Teachers should be student friendly. If they want that every student should be afraid of them, then this will not going to help them fulfilling the role of teacher. Because the relation between teacher and students should be open enough that both can communicate with each other without any fear. Teachers are there to give knowledge to students and their style of teaching is not comfortable to students they should have that flexibility to change it.
Teachers should have to give freedom to the students to share their views or ask questions. Teachers should give satisfactory answers to the students. Teachers also should ask questions to students to check their progress and it should happen often, by doing this they come to know about the knowledge which students has achieved and also come to know about weak students and then work more on them.

The teacher should not be judgmental. First they should observe their students and have to work accordingly to the need. For teacher every students should be equal. Teacher should not discriminate among students.

Teachers are one of the important part of students life but they will not going to be with their students whole life. So teachers should not make their students dependent. Teacher should make their students to learn on their own.

Thank you.

The Lifelong Teacher

I am Vritika, 25 years old. Today is great day of my life. Today I have selected for the role of lead heroine in the upcoming film. This reminds me lots of fond memories but one incident which turned my life upside down. This happen exactly before one year 2nd December 2017. I am having dinner with my mama, papa and bhai. As at that time I was 24 they want me now to get married but in my mind I have different plan for my future. I always wanted to be an actress. In my school and collage everybody calls me “Drama queen”, because I never miss chance to act. But at that freezing night papa was so angry, he think my dream is foolish I should have leave it. That whole night I can’t sleep. I was thinking that my dream is not foolish, I want to achieve it and I will. I have one friend in Mumbai. She always supports me and always told me that, “my house is your house, you can come here and stay for whatever time you want.” Next day early in the morning when everyone is still sleeping, I’ve packed my bags and take money which I’ve saved and earned by my dream work. I didn’t leave any message for my family, I thought they will understand. I’ve took train to Mumbai and on next morning I’ve reached and found the house of Asha, my friend. Her parents doesn’t seem happy by my presence and on next day Asha told me to leave her home and go back to my home. She simply says, “I can’t help you, please leave.”  I was wandering on road with my bags, where I have seen some people are performing street play. I have introduced my passion for acting and they involve me in their group and help me find out room on rent. They are not performing only street plays but they are also performing plays in theaters. Our group of actors earn well by all shows and street plays. Today I’ve returned home after signing my first film. When the film will release my papa, mama and bhai will understand my dream. They have never tried to get me back at home, may be they also know that one day I’ll achieve what I want. I used to think Asha as selfish because she didn’t help me when I need, but today my heart has positive vibes for her. We always need people like Asha in our life. Our mistakes are teachers which can not be compared with anyone or anything. I’ve never meet her after leaving her house, but now if we will meet anywhere anytime, with the big smile on my face I just want to tell her,
Thank you…

"Design" by Robert Frost

While studying the poem “Design” by Robert Frost our teacher gave us classroom activity to draw a sketch of nature. Anything about nature, whatever we want. All students have drawn their imagination. As I’m not that much good at drawing but I tried to draw a sea, as water, sea and ocean always fascinates me. Here is my drawing of sea.

It is not exactly like sea but I’ve drawn sea only. I know its funny. Well that round in drawing, it is symbol of my dream. I’ve drawn it at bottom because it is trying to float. It doesn’t know how to swim.

Then we have one other task to read “Design” poem and draw something which can show what poem is saying. Design, an Italian sonnet by Robert Frost was published in 'A Further Range' in 1936. Here is my drawing of poem.

"Design" by Robert Frost


I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth--
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth--
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.

My Interpretation of Poem

Poet here choses the white color to justify the title of the poem and to show particular design of nature or of god. To find white spider is rare and to heal-all plants are normally blue but here they are also white and also the moth is white. The whole scene is also looking like white silky cloth. The day is also going to begun. The white color is symbolized is purity, beauty and goodness while day time or morning time also symbolized as life and also hope. But here in this poem the moth died when sun is rising and the white spider doesn’t look pure or good or beautiful. Here poet broke the myth of morning and white color, or may be poet wants to change the perspective and wants to show death is hope of beginning of new life and also wants to beautify death.

While in next stanza poet asks some questions like what that heal-all flowers have to do with being white because they are normally blue, then what spider is doing at that height. Simply he wants say that if design of god or nature is governed in so small things like this then how terrifying the design of darkness will be?

Here may be Frost wants to tell us that whatever is happening in our life is designed by goodness or darkness. If something terrifying is happening to our life it may be can the design of darkness and if something good happens to us it may can be the design of goodness.

Thank you.

Program At Shamaldas college

On the day of 23rd july 2018, we some student of English department, MKBU went to attend “Shri Jayantilal Pathak Smrutidin” at Shamaldas collage, Bhavnagar. At every Thursday there is program of “Gadhya Sabha” where some writers or some who are interested in Gujarati Literature meet there and new written Literature will be read there. Jayantilal Pathak was regular member of “Gadhya Sabha” and in memory of him there is also talk on “Train”. As he worked in Railway and have many beautiful memories with train.

Our sir, Dr. Dilip Barad is invited for talk on the novel by Khushvant singh “Train to Pakistan” and Dilip sir very aptly prove that how every event of novel is connected with train. He also says that as English is become link language of world, same way train also become link of country. He also connected train and Indian society and very well explained that as train has first class, second class and third class, same way our society also have upper class, middle class and poor class. In train all are travelling in same train everyone’s destination is also same but how they differs as one is traveling with A.C on and others are traveling by standing they don’t have seat also. He also talks about the novel and important role of train in the novel.

There is also book released of four books by two different writers. “Try English” and “લે, તુ પણ જો ને” both by Harish Mahuvakar and “Once Again” and “કિરદાર” by Ajay Oza. Book released by the guests and family members of writers. After that the professor of Gujarati department Dr. Vipul Purohit talked about the Guajarati collection of essay by Harish Mahuvakar and told us about some of his favorite essays from the book. The essays are mostly on travelling which writer does sometimes alone sometimes with his family, and the adventures which he does.

Then the famous writer Jayantilal Ratilal Gohel also known as “My Dear Jayu” he talked about the book by Ajay Oza “Once Again”. He is very well known in Gujarati Literature. He wrote short stories and novels. But I find him very narrow minded because when at the end of the program we all student of English department went to meet him and click a photo with him but the first question he asked is “Are you from English department or Gujarati department?” we told him we are from English department then he suddenly says, “What you all have to do with me.” Why this type of behavior with us just because we are studying different language. By his this behavior he proved the words of Dilip sir, he always says that, “Love what is written not the person who has written”

Remedial Class Task - Report Writing

This blog is based on task given by my teacher in remedial classes. She told me to write report on any event so I wrote report on ICT workshop which recently take placed in our department.                                                                                                                                          1st August 2018

ICT Workshop In Arts Department

The Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University has organized an ICT workshop for the students and teachers of all other departments of university. This workshop was organized on 30th July 2018, Monday. Though department of English is arts department but it is known for it’s gigantic use of digital tools. All the students and teachers from MBA, Chemistry, Commerce, English, History, Life Science, Marine Science, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Gujarati and MJC College was present. From 9 o’clock in the morning the workshop was started. It has been started with university song and prayer. The topics like eGroup, Gplus, Google Classroom, Mooc Swayam, eD.x, Coursera, National Academic Depository (NAD), National Digital Library of India, PPT, Blog, Drive, Digilocker, Citation and Urkund – The originality checker, etc was discussed and presented by the students of English department. The workshop ended on 6 o’clock in the evening. The head of the department of English Dr. Dilip Barad was presented through out the whole day. At the end the feedback form was also given and it has got very positive feedback from all. It was also suggested by attenders to plan this type of workshop every year. The department of English also gave Digital certificate to all presenters and attenders. At the end of the day all presenters and volunteers had group photo and workshop was ended successfully.

Place

Department of English, MKBU.

Bhavnagar.

Reading of Modern Poems

Here I’m trying to read modern poems and try to give my interpretation of the poems. This is task related to my study and here is the link of that task… http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2016/06/modernist-poems-activity-identify_25.html?m=1

While reading this modern poems it takes too much thinking and sometimes we can not get the core meaning of the poems. This poems are very short but meanings are difficult to get. Though I tried here to get some meaning of poems.

1) “The Embankment” by T.E Hulme

(The fantasia of a fallen gentleman on a cold, bitter night)
Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,
In a flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.
Now see I
That warmth’s the very stuff of poesy.
Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.

T.E Hulme was an influential poet and thinker in the first years of twentieth century. He was an aesthetic philosopher and “father of Imagism”. The starting line of poem says it is fantasy of fallen gentleman on a cold, bitter night. Normally in west the nights of winters are terrible with freezing cold. The gentleman is fallen and he himself admits that once he enjoyed the life but now he has to face hard life of poor people. People who don’t have basic needs like food, cloths, shelter. So the old man asking God to have some mercy and make blanket of sky which he can wrap and can have warmth in cold. The stars are not beautiful in this poem. To poet it seems stars have eaten blanket. “Star eaten blanket”,  “Fallen gentleman” are modern metaphors.

2) “Darkness” by Joseph Campbell

Darkness.
I stop to watch a star shine in the boghole –
A star no longer, but a silver ribbon of light.
I look at it, and pass on.

Joseph Campbell was an Irish poet, American professor of literature. He writes similar kind of poetry to Humle at around the same time though they were working independently of each other.Title it self presents negativity. The combination of darkness and boghole negativity in the air but then there is a star which is shining in boghole. Star in boghole may be symbolize as modern civilization in boghole, and no chance to rescue from that boghole that is why poet says a star no more. A silver ribbon may be as a symbol of hope. But when he just look at it and pass on it signifies disinterest, or may be with only hope poet don’t want to stay there and wait he wants his life to go on.  “Boghole” is modern metaphor.

3) “Image” by Edward Storer

Forsaken lovers,
Burning to a chaste white moon,
Upon strange pyres of loneliness and drought.

Edward Storer was an English writer, translator and poet. He was clearly influenced by Japanese forms such as the haiku.The poem has love theme and talking about abandoned lovers. Whom society cast off because of all beliefs of purity. Chaste white moon here symbolize the purity. Because they are abandoned they are suffering from loneliness and facing drought like life. It also can be about modern and new generation, whom past puritan generation don’t accept, they are burning because of their ideas about purity and they are alone and the life has become like drought. White moon normally pursuit as symbol of peace but here this moon is burning. “Forsaken lovers”, “burning chaste white moon” are modern metaphors.

4) “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on wet, black bough.

Ezra Pound probably the most famous modernist poet, major figure in early modernist poetry movement and considered the poet most responsible for defining and promoting modernist aesthetic in poetry. Poet here talks about the life on a metro station. The crowd of people in which no one is clear to eyes everyone is looking like a ghost. Poet here connects the nature and modern busy life by comparing petals with crowd of people. After being for so long time in water the bough of tree become black same with constant crowd of people the station has also become like black sick bough. “Black bough” is modern metaphor.

5) “The pool” by H.D

Are you alive?
I touch you.
You quiver like a sea-fish.
I cover you with my net.
What are you—banded one?

H.D was a poet, novelist, and memoirist and one of the main practitioners of Imagism. The title “pool” suggest something which has boundaries. May be here poet talking about lack of freedom and the first question is “Are you alive?” which can be interpret as the death of someone in shackles. Then it refers to sparkle of sea fish may be here poet wants to say the capacity of person is like sea fish but the person has to be in cage. Cover with net also symbolize restriction. At last poet ask “What are you – banded one?”, by that we can say the person is treated like cast off.

6) “Insouciance” by Richard Aldington

In France (1916 – 1918)
In and out of the dreary trenches
Trudging cheerily under the stars
I make for myself little poems
Delicate as a flock of doves
They fly away like white winged doves.

Richard Aldington was a writer and poet, best known for war poems. This poem has effect of world wars also have picture of war. The location is France. Then poet talks about the trenches which are on borders though all soldiers live in trench then even poet feel it like lifeless. In this lifeless trenches soldiers are marching cheerfully under the stars which means they have only one shelter, sky. On borders all soldiers are together but far away from family, here poet to entertain himself make poems. The soldiers are tough like rock but the poems created by him is as delicate as flock of doves which stays for a while and then fly away. The poem also symbolize the hard life of soldiers like live in trenches without shelter on head, how they feel lonely and how they die, same like doves fly away suddenly.

7) “Morning at the Window” by T.S Eliot

They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens,
And along the trampled edges of the street
I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
Sprouting despondently at area gates.

The brown waves of fog toss up to me      
Twisted faces from the bottom of the street,
And tear from a passer-by with muddy skirts
An aimless smile that hovers in the air
And vanishes along the level of the roofs.

T.S Eliot was an essayist, publisher, play wright, literary and social critic and one of the twentieth century’s major poets. This poem has effect of world war and the poverty which war has bring to the nation. The jiggling plates in kitchen, the edges of the street which is injured because of its over use. Souls of housemaids are wet, poverty increases without any hope. The fog is also brown. Twisted faces, as poet is looking through window on the streets faces twisting up to look at him. Passer by has dirty cloths and tears in eyes, smile is also aimless which vanished in few seconds. Normally the view of morning in poems are pleasing to eyes, the chirping of birds are described newly sprouted flowers and all but here the sound of rattling plates and hopelessness is sprouting. From the very beginning everyone has sorrow and misery in life. “rattling plates”, “brown fog”, “twisted faces”, “aimless smile” these all are modern metaphors.

8) “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

William Carlos Williams was an American poet and physician closely associated with modernism and imagism. This poem is quite difficult to understand. I am not getting the meaning of it but may be it seems to say that too much dependency on anyone should be avoided. May be the example of wheelbarrow that it can not move by it self, it is fully dependent on someone. Last lines are so confusing. “wheelbarrow”  is modern metaphor.

9) “Anecdote to the Jar” by Wallace Stevens

I placed a jar in Tennessee,
And round it was, upon a hill.
It made the slovenly wilderness

Surround that hill.

The wilderness rose up to it,

And sprawled around, no longer wild.   

The jar was round upon the ground   

And tall and of a port in air.

It took dominion everywhere.   

The jar was gray and bare.

It did not give of bird or bush,   

Like nothing else in Tennessee.

Wallace was an American modernist poet. This poem first published in 1919, this is Stevens one of best known short poems. Tennessee is state of U.S.A. Poet is talking about hills and jar upon the hills. Here he is mixing nature and culture. Here jar is doing dirty wilderness it surround the hill. May be the jar is transparent and as it is placed on hill it can reflect everything in it self. Now it more spread out, it is not wild but it is on ground. Jar has its dominion everywhere it did not spare anything in Tennessee. The poet here may be talking about government or any other nation and then 'I' becomes the people as we can assume by voting someone is selected, then hill here consider as crown or highest authority. Slovenly wilderness can be dirty politics. Then from that highest authority it took control over everything. At last poet says bird and woodlands are also under the control. “Jar on the hill” is modern metaphor.

10) “I(a” by E.E Cummings

l(a

le

af

fa

ll

s)

one

l

iness

Cummings was an American poet, painter, essayist, author and play wright. Structure of poem also suggest fall by loneliness as many characters are separated from each other and for make a word they have to be together. Here poet talks about leaf which is lonely means all other lives are already left the tree. Tree is barren and the only leaf is remain which also falls because of loneliness. This poem also shows that how a lonely human can not survive. It also reminds me the short story by O’ Henry, “The Last Leaf” that how the last leaf is symbol of hope and it falls the hope also dies. May be here poet also wants to talk about dead hope. 

Thank you.

"Stopping by Woods On Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost

Robert Frost, American poet. He is mostly admired for his depiction of rural life. He was poet laureate and also won Bollingen prize and Pulitzer prize. Frost wrote “Stopping by Woods On a Snowy Evening” in 1922 and published in 1923. In a letter to Louis Untermeyer  ( American poet, critic, editor), Frost called this poem, “my best bid for remembrance.” Here I’m trying to give my interpretation of his poem, “Stopping by Woods On a Snowy Evening”.

Poem

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.

 My Interpretation Of Poem

This poem starts by showing someone’s property. The poetic persona has stopped by woods and he says that he knows whose woods are these. The owner of woods is living in village. Then he says that he can’t see me stopping here and to see his woods are fill up with snow. These lines as per my thinking he seems to say that in this snowy evening I’m here travelling and the owner of the woods is resting in his house and that is why he can’t see that his woods are filled up with snow.

In second stanza he refers to his horse as “My little horse” as if he loves his horse. Be says that his horse might think it strange to stop here because there is no farmhouse where they can rest. Then he says “between the woods and frozen lake, darkest evening of the year”. If we imagine the situation poetic persona talking about it seems gothic. But as he stops there may be can say that he like nature’s dark side also. He find this gothic scene also beautiful and that is why he stops there.

In third stanza as animals have stronger sixth sense, he finds the weather and surrounding strange and he shake his harness bell to ask his rider if he stops here by any mistake. It seems horse and his rider are having conversation with each other. Then poetic persona refers to sound of wind and snow fall. It is again horrific sounds but it also signifies the peace in which poetic persona is standing. May be he stops there to feel this peace and silence.

In fourth stanza poet has put metaphors for woods lovely, dark and deep. We can see binary oppositions in metaphors. We may also can say that poetic persona finds dark and deep woods lovely. He stops there for a while may be to enjoy dark side of nature or for silence or may be as he refers in his first stanza about someone who can’t see these woods because he is in his house resting, it may can be poetic persona also have a temporary thought of going back to home and resting but after sometime he realize and says that “I have promises to keep” these promises may can be to others or to himself which he wants to fulfill. Then in last he repeats his lines “Miles to go before I sleep”. It also can be only for that night which has to travel or it can have deeper meaning as life and to take long journey of life and sleep can be death. So may be he wants to suggest the long journey of life which he has to complete before his death.

As per famous quote of Robert Frost that, "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on" this poem also proves this quote by ending this poem with lines like “miles to go before I sleep”. Stopping by woods is momentary pause but after all the life goes on.


Thank you.

Thinking activity on "The Wasteland" by T.S. Eliot

Here I'm giving the answer of the thinking activity which is given by my teacher. Here is the link of the task... http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2014/10/presentations-on-ts-eliots-waste-land.html?m=1

"The Wasteland" by T.S. Eliot which is modern epic poem. It is devided in five parts.

1) What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche’s views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

The growth of any society is always like climbing the mountain. If you want to reach at top you have to keep moving forward. At middle way you cant decide to go back and start again it is better to go ahead as going back is also same difficult and unrewarding.

Yes I believe that Eliot’s idea of going back to Holy scriptures for finding solution of present malaises is regressive. As he himself given many examples of past myths and we have seen that what the problems we are facing in contemporary time same problems are existed in past and if there is permanent solution for these problems in scriptures, the problems would have been solved, but as the problems are still alive we should look for another way to solve it rather going back to the past.

In this matter I find Nietzsche’s concept of “Ubermensch” appropriate. As this concept talking about to have our own morality for the betterment of humanity and our self. The morality which generally accepted and not harmful for society. To have faith in our self make us more powerful to fight against the problems around us and to control our self. So as per my thinking it is better to find new solution rather than going back to the old ones as they will not work for contemporary time same as they didn’t work for old time.

2) Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:

What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?

I am disagree with Eliot. By suppressing the desires or by controlling it the desire get more strong and it also affect at psychological level. It is better to give free vent to primitive instincts as Freud suggest to do. Here I want to give example of movie “Murder 2” in which the villain of movie Dheeraj, have sex addiction and he is also straight man but to control his sex addiction he castrated him self and become eunuch. As now he cant satisfy his hunger he started killing girls and become serial killer. So we can see how suppression leads to the harsh endings. Though Dheeraj has inappropriate addiction which suppose to be controlled but he himself willingly and with understanding should do the needful but he is doing it with the wrong ideas in brain it turns out rude. So the desires which all normal human beings naturally have should not be suppressed. It is better to give free vent to the desires which leads to the happy and satisfactory life.

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?)

There are many reference to Indian spirituality in “The wasteland”.  Some of them are here.

1) The Fire Sermon

“The Fire Sermon” is also the name of one of sermon given by Buddha. Gayasisa or Brahmayoni hill, is the place where Buddha taught the fire sermon, in which Buddha preaches about achieving liberation from suffering through detachment from the five senses and mind.

Here Eliot gave same name to the third part of his poem. The whole poem describe the theme of sexual perversion and by referring to this sermon of Buddha because he also wants to convey a message to stay detached from all the senses.

2) River Ganga and Himalaya

"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves
Waited for rain, while the black clouds
Gathered far distant, over Himavant."

River Ganga is known for its purity and also for purification. While Himalaya is known for spirituality and peace. Eliot finds the solution of all contemporary problems in spirituality. That is the reason he referrers Ganga and Himalaya here.

3) The Thunder

In Upanishad the Prajapati spoke the message of salvation through thunder which called “Akashvani”. Here Eliot also give reference to Thunder to convey that now the solution of all problems will be given by Thunder, that is the reason he gave name to his 5th part of poem “What the Thunder Said”.

4) Three Da

1) Datta
2) Dayadhvam
3) Damyata

These three Da is spoken by Thunder. Which means this is the way of salvation. The first Da “Datta” means to give. Give sacrifice for others, and help each other. The second Da “Dayadhvam” means sympathies and empathies with others. Third Da “Damyata” means self control, control over the senses. According to Eliot this is the way one could get salvation.


5) Shantih mantra

The Shantih mantra is for inner peace, peace that passes understanding. Eliot ends his poem with this mantra and with hope. The hope of re-birth, end of modern malaises, and growth pf spirituality. To show the hope he ends this poem with Shantih mantra.

Thank you.

Matilda - Movie

We have film screening of movie “Matilda” at our department of English MKBU. Here I try to write something about the movie.

"Matilda" is a 1996 American children's fantasy-comedy film directed, produced and narrated by Danny DeVito, who also starred in the lead role. The film is based on Roald Dahl's 1988 novel of the same name. The film is about a young genius named Matilda, who uses telekinesis to deal with her parents, who do not value education, and Agatha Trunchbull, the oppressive principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School. The film was released in the United States on August 2, 1996. (wikipedia)

As movie begins with some lines like, "Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same." Same way Matilda is born with extra ordinary powers but unfortunately she took birth in inappropriate house and unappreciative parents who never encourage her or never try to understand her or we can say that Matilda is equal to invisible for them. In very early age she learn to take care of herself without anyone’s help. At very early age she developed an interest in books, and for reading books she alone reaches to the library and she captured lots of knowledge in her tiny but mighty brain.

By the time she got chance to attend school. At school she has very rude principal, Miss Trunchbull but she has very good teacher, Miss Honey. Miss Honey is very nice person. She also get the idea about the powerful brain of Matilda. With the passing of time Matilda come to know about her power of telekinesis and by practicing she got control over her power. After getting full control she help Miss Honey to get her home back and she also teaches lesson to Miss Trunchbull. Her parents also have rotten mindset but Matilda is very different than her parents. Her parents never take consideration of Matilda and Matilda also don’t like her parents. At last Matilda made her parents to sign adoption papers and Miss Honey very happily adopt Matilda and both Miss Honey and Matilda have happy life together. Miss Honey get her home and Matilda, a nice caretaker and her books which she love to read.

I’m not as vast reader as Matilda but I have read some books. My favorite book till today is "Handle with Care" by Jodi Picoult. Willow is the character around which the book keeps moving. She is born with Type III Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) also known as brittle bone disease. She can not be like normal child. She need special treatment and care and for her special treatment her family needs more money. For complete the need of money her mother file a case of wrongful birth. By this action her family suffers a lot financially and also emotionally but at the end they won the case. They got money for Willow’s treatment but never used. Willow always wants to do ice skating like her sister and one day she by her own self crawl into the frozen pond but the thin ice broke because of her weight and she drawn. At this last moments she speak her last words which inspires me a lot and specially the line she said that, “This time it was not me who broke.” I love this line. I can read this book anytime anywhere.

Thank you.

Rain

Hello, I am student of the English department, MKBU. We have remedial classes at our department. On 11th july 2018, our teacher came and planned to have class in the parking as it is raining outside, we are also exited to learn in the lap of nature. On that day our teacher told us to write our thoughts on "Rain" and here is my words which I pen that day on rain.

"Rain! Very beautiful drops of water. It plays with me, but sometimes it hurts me, as if it is angry with me and shouting on me. But rain is my friend and friends are like this. They shout, They play, They love."

Thank you.

Movie review of Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator"

“The Great Dictator” is 1940 American political satire comedy drama. Which is written, produced, scored and starring by Charlie Chaplin. Though Chaplin is known for silent films in the era of sound film this is his first true sound movie. Chaplin’s movie advanced a stirring controversial condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Fascism, Anti-Semitism and Nazis. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber and Paulette Goddard played role oh Hannah, the neighbor or barber. (wikipedia)

Movie start with the war where soldiers are firing on each other. The barber is also soldier there and fighting with enemies and in mist of the bomb fire he mistakenly cross the border and there enemy soldier caught him. Though he became able to run away but in this funny way Chaplin made satire on man made boundaries. There is no boundary on earth, all are emerges from the ego of human being.

In this movie Chaplin picturized Hitler as Hynkel. Hynkel is dictator of Tomainia. He is very arrogant and want everyone to bow down to him and that’s why he also manipulate the classical sculptures and made them as they are hailing to him. The use of advertisement is prominent during modern era and Chaplin don’t miss to show this in his movie as he shows newspapers and radio and how they are used as promote Hynkel. Through the advertisement he tries to control people’s mind.

Chaplin very aptly shows the politics of Modern era through this movie. Hypocrisy of two dictators front of people and fights of them behind the door is very aptly picturized.  Hynkel tends to do injustice with Jews. Jews are living in ghetto and Tomainian storm troopers always harassed them unnecessary, but when it comes to take loan from one Jew, Hynkel suddenly told his soldiers to have peace with Jews. This shows that how rulers are tend to see their own benefits only. War is also such thing in which there is only one person’s ego is going to satisfy. Hynkel also wants to conquer the world. There is one scene in movie which shows Hynkel playing with the glob of world and how by playing it broke.

The politics of earning sympathy from people. By talking about fake nationalism and by showing love to the children. We can see in the movie Hynkel talking gibberish and people are hailing for him. By his speech he control people and also make them ready to accept him as dictator. At last in movie the barber and the Hynkel both get switched at that time we come to know about what soldier and the normal people want. They only want liberty and peace. That last speech of barber is very significant in the movie.

“You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!” This is the speech given by barber which shows the urge of common man.

In the end barber address Hannah, his neighbor and he also loves her and he give Hannah hope of new mindset pf people, new era of peace and liberty, new world of democracy. Movie ends with hope and optimism.

Thank you.

Movie review of Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times"

The “Modern Times” is movie by Charlie Chaplin. It is American comedy, released on 5th February 1936. The movie is written, directed, produced, starring and music by Charlie Chaplin.  In this movie Charlie played a role of factory worker. His “Little Tramp” character is highlighted here. The co-star Paulette Goddard played the role of ‘The Gamin’. As Chaplin is known for making silent film in the era of sound film, this film is also silent. There is no denial that Chaplin is a great artist and by his acting he makes people laugh and also put harsh satire.

The movie starts with the clock, which is the symbol of control. This movie represents the modern problems like unemployment, industrialism, and people suffering for basic needs like food and shelter also. In the opening scene the sheep turned in to people which signifies that how industrialization makes people work like animals. Chaplin is working in a factory on assembly line, where he has to work with machine and like machine. The owner of the factory comes with the feeding machine because he don’t want to give lunch break to the workers. Once Chaplin for complete his work goes in to the machine and come back alive this depicts surrealism.

As A.C Ward says, “Throughout the period between the two world wars, the growth of mass production methods in industry created deep concern among sociologists who recognized that a lifetime work on assembly line processes was destructive of interest in the objects produced and a threat of death to craftsmanship.”

Unemployment is prominent problem which very wisely represent in this film. When Chaplin tries to give someone their red flag back people thought he is marching for job and all joined him, suddenly there is crowd of people they gathered because they don’t have any work to do. In one such rally the father of gamin died, strikes in factories, crowd of people for bunch of job vacancies, these all are the signs of unemployment.

There is many stealing scene in the movie and they just steal food. The gamin shows as stealing bananas and loaf of bread, at night in one store some men comes to eat food these all things shows that how people are struggling for the basic need like food. Same like food they are struggling for shelter also. Factory worker and gamin lives in a wood house and that house is very freckle and can break any time. Chaplin also shows the crime of smuggling nose powder during that time.

Chaplin also shows the hypocrisy of people. The restaurant where he works once he has to sing song but he didn’t remember the words of song and because of that he sing Gibberish and then even without understanding anything people are enjoying meaninglessness.

The last scene of movie is the factory worker and the gamin are walking on path and front of them there are mountains and with the hope of new world beyond mountains they start walking towards the nature. This is escapism, as in “Setting” by A.C Ward, E.M. Foster says that there is two reasons for escapism and one of them is boredom, disgust, indignation against the herd, the community and the world. This is the reason why factory worker and gamin escape from the materialistic world and starts walking towards the nature with new hope of better world.

Thank you.