"Joy and Woe are Woven Fine" by William Black

“Joy and Woe are Woven Fine” is a poem by William Black. I like this poem because it shows reality. Black here has tried to give the metaphor and meaning to the ups and downs of life.

In this poem Black describe joy and woe, both which are woven together like thread. In next line he called it clothes for soul. It shows that by experiencing joy and woe our maturity grows. This we can take as character building also. After than he also says that this is the way it should be. Everyone should experience joy and sorrow. This is the right way of life and at the end he says that who ever has get this thing right, they can enjoy or survive in this world easily.

Here poet has described the simple philosophy of life with very simple words. Every living being has gone through the experience of happiness and sadness. This is part of life, one can not escape this cycle of joy and woe. It makes life liveable and enjoyable.

Thank you.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. L. Stevenson

“Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886. The work is also known as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, or simply Jekyll & Hyde. It is about a London legal practitioner named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde. This is one of my favourite work because it shows the conflict of good and bad very innovatively and effectively.

In this novella Stevenson has portrayed the conflict between good and evil. There is one potion which Dr. Jekyll was taking and after taking that he was transformed in to Mr. Hyde, who is evil in nature. Eventually Dr. Jekyll has started transforming in to Mr. Hyde without taking potion. Mostly this happens in his sleep but after some time this started happening when he is awake. After that he has started losing his ability to turned again into Dr. Jekyll. He has now known that after some time he will turn in to Mr. Hyde forever. After knowing that fact Mr. Hyde has committed suicide.

This shows the good and bad side of one person. We can take it as a split personality also. Everyone has good and evil within themselves, but everyone has balance over them. When evil side starts overpowering the good side then the results are dangerous. This is what this novella shows. Dr. Jekyll was a good person and Mr. Hyde was evil, at the end Mr. Hyde has overpowered Dr. Jekyll.

Thank you.

How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy

How much Land does a Man Need? Is a short story written by Leo Tolstoy. This short story was the first text which I like when I was in my first year of UG. The title itself leads us to the ambiguity.

This is the story of a peasant named Pahom. Pahom is living in village and he thinks that if he has enough land he will not fear the Devil. This devil overheard and now he is planning to test Pahom. Devil gives Pahom plenty of chances to earn more and more land. Pahom’s lust leads him to the Bashkirs. Bashkirs are selling land with very less amount. Pahom made deal with the leader of Bashkirs, that Pahom will have as much land as he can walk in one day, but the condition was that he has to return to at the end of the day where he has started otherwise he will lose his money. Next day he started walking and in lust of have more and more land, he went too far from the starting point. To complete the circle he has to reach at the starting point. When he see sun is going down he ran with all his strength but he dies. At the end we come to know that only 6 feet land a man need.

This shows that it doesn’t matter how much materialistic things we collect or earn, at the end the humans will need only land according to their height to bury them.

Thank you.

Thinking Activity - "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown

This blog is part of my academic activity. To know more about it, click here.

1. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

I agree on what Brown is saying. His book “The Da Vinci Code” has many interesting things which will attract people. The book is highly controversial but what Brown is saying is also can be taken in to the consideration. He is on a constant spiritual journey, and if there he finds some faults in religion, it is his duty to let others know about that. There is not only one religion in the world and if Brown is finding other religion better than one which he knows that, then he can try to change it, after all religion is made by humans. Spirituality is in knowing our own self and this book let the characters do it. He also have shown some flaws of Christianity, which if we look at it with sceptic eye seems true to us. Then everything needs change with time, so does the religion. So I agree what Brown is talking about debate, that this book give us the different angle for looking towards the things and it doesn’t mean to be anti – Christianity. It provides us the ground for healthy discussion and debate and the book can be used as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith.


2. “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is of course essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

I do agree with Lacy’s observation. What film is trying to show as fact those are just made up theories. But it obviously held the viewers attention as it is unfolding in very interesting way. It will beautifully fooled those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong. I do agree with second statement also that screenwriter has held the core of the novel till the end, by focusing on Grail, Sacred Feminine, Mary Magdalene, Priory of Sion, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s art.

3. (If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

If we look towards these three text by its style of genre of narration than, “The Da Vinci Code” is more convincing to the contemporary young mind than “Genesis” and “”The Paradise Lost”.  “Genesis” (The Bible) is written as words of God, where there is no space to question anything which seems totally foolish or unbelievable. “The Paradise Lost” (John Milton) tries to give some different personality to the characters of “Genesis”. But it still shows the fear of God. When we talk about “The Da Vinci Code” (Dan Brown) he is trying to free human being from blind faith in religion. It also tries to give logical reasons (though not fact) to convince the readers. Other texts are trying to show God as divine but “The Da Vinci Code” is trying to show God as human being who has done good deeds. It tries to says that religion is made by human being, for the betterment of human being according to the ancient time, and if there is necessity we can make change according to the recent time. So, “The Da Vinci Code” is more convincing to the contemporary mind.


4. What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

Every narrative left it imprints in the mind of human beings. Same every narrative has done something good or bad for humanity. Here we are looking for the harms which has done by “The Paradise Lost” (John Milton), and “The Da Vinci Code” (Dan Brown). Milton by portraying God as punishment giver, it tries to make humans afraid of something and tries to control the free will of human being. It also seems to say that questioning mind is not good because it leads towards the punishment. So it kills the basic human instinct to be curious and free. While on the other hand “The Da Vinci Code” is trying make humans free from the shackles of religion, but humans also need something to believe in it, from which they gain strength to fight the difficulties in their life. On the other hand there are some people who have grown up with religion and if suddenly someone snatch the very base of their existence it will become hard to live for them. So from both the ways it damages humanity.

5. What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Hermione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

Mostly these all female characters are similar but at some extent they differ from each other. If we talk about Ophelia and Elizabeth are portrayed as subordinated to the male characters while Hester Prynne, Hermione Granger and Sophie Neveu have their own voice in movies. Another big difference between all these characters and Sophie is objectification of their body. Directors have shown women’s body very openly and also when there is no need of such scenes, but Ron Howard has remain faithful to the theme of novel and which he keeps in his film is that Female Sacredness. He has not shown Sophie’s body as a object. This is the big difference between portrayal of all other female characters and portrayal of Sophie Neveu.


6. Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths?

Yes, this novel/film leads us to think about our religion in same way. Like the novel says that Jesus was human not divine. Same we can find in Hindu religion that there are some books which says that when Ramayana and Mahabharata was written for the first time The Rama and The Krishna were portrayed as a humans only but after that deification happen and everybody starts taking both of them as divine. If we talk about symbols then the Shivling, has been interpreted by Wendy Doniger as male and female phallic symbols and people worship it, but then people denied this theory.  So Hindi religion also have conspiracy theories.


7. Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?

Wendy Doniger has written many books which are challenging the accepted notions about Hindu religion. “The Purpose” by T. P. Kailasam also tries to break the accepted notion about Pandvas and especially about Arjuna. Amish Tripathi has also written many books on retelling the myths of Shiva and Ramayana. Many movies like PK and OMG tries to break the boundaries between religion and also the portrayal and many beliefs of God.

8. When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?

If we do atheist reading o the novel, Sir Leigh Teabing will claim the position of protagonist. Because if he knows the secret of Holy Grail, he will reveal it to the world and will show the real face of Church to the world. He wants to give freedom to the humanity and for that he will do anything. Some may find Sophie as a atheist protagonist but then she is not knowing much about religion, she just knows what is popular. But after that also when she comes to know about herself, she can come front of the world and can give the whole new way to the Church but then she choose to be silent. So Sir Leigh Teabing will be better as protagonist as atheist.


9. Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
a.       1) Identifying what is knowable
b.      2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c.      3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

Three proposition of Ann Gray on “Knowability” is very much present in the novel, “The Da Vinci Code”. This concept works through out the whole novel.

1) Identifying what is knowable is a process to realize what we actually know. Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu both are trying to decode the codes given by Sauniere, so they are identifying what they know and then they are applying their knowledge to make a way.

2) Identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known. This leads to the knowledge of self. We can again see this in the characters of Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. They both know so many things but they don’t know why there were knowing those things. After reaching at particular point they both come to know about their own self and the reason behind their knowledge of particular things.

3) The procedure of knowing is to walk alone on the path of quest. Sauniere was used to laugh upon Robert Langdon, because Langdon was knowing everything but then even he was unknown to the things. To get this thing Langdon has to walk on that path quest by himself. No one else can provide him that understanding of his knowledge. He has to get it by himself and at the end by walking on the path of quest he come to know the procedure of knowing. It is like, “Knowledge always dawns when time comes.”

Thank you.

Thinking Activity - "The White Tiger" by Arvind Adiga

This blog is part of my academic activity. To know more click here.

1) How far do you agree with the India represented in the novel The White Tiger?

The India which is represented by Adiga is poor, corrupt, uneducated, and cheater also. Well I do agree that not only India but all countries in the world do have these bad kinds of problem in it. But it doesn’t make them all bad. Adiga has represented the darker side of India. This novel was written in 2008, after that India has progressed in many ways. But then even we can bot fully deny that poverty, corruption, and illiteracy are vanished from India. Still in some remote place there are landlords who ruled over town people. Still there are many people who are not educated properly. So, we can not deny the India which is represented in “The White Tiger” by Adiga, but we can say that, India is not only what is represented by Adiga. There is bright side of India. By bright side I mean There are people who are educated, rich enough and honest.

2) Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?

We can see that the stories which portrays poor as central character at the end of the story the poor becomes rich. We can see many people who are same as Balram. Same like who belongs to poor and wide family, who didn’t complete their studies, who goes to work from early childhood, and who has bearing insults from those who are rich. These types of stories shows the struggle of poor to achieve their dream and for that becoming rich. The ways of reaching to the destination of wealth might differs of each stories but the suffering always remain same. So this way we can say that Balram’s story is archetype of all stories of “Rags to Riches”.

3) "Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'free play' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108). Is it possible to do deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?

Yes, it is possible to deconstruct “The White Tiger”. We can deconstruct it with the help of Derrida’s concept of free play of meanings.  To break the language we need to find the loose stone of it. The loose stone of “The White Tiger” is that Balram himself says that he is “Half-backed”. This word breaks all the philosophy and all the ideals which Balram is presenting by giving his own example. Because he is not fully educated. He understand things with his limited power of analysis. He appropriate the deep philosophies with his shallow ideas and thinking. For example, he compares his idea of killing his master and get freedom with the enlightenment of Buddha. This proves his shallow knowledge about Buddha and his idea of enlightenment. So, this way we can deconstruct “The White Tiger”.

Thank you.

Fear Funda

Once one prisoner was sentenced to “Hang till death”. Some scientist decide to do one experiment and rather hanging that prisoner they choose to kill him by the bite of very poisonous snake. The poisonous snake was shown to the prisoner and then scientist blindfolded the prisoner. Then they pierced the toe of prisoner with needle and waited for the reaction. Within few minutes the prisoner’s body has turned in to blue and the foam has started coming out of his mouth.

I don’t know weather this story is fact or fiction, but it speaks about the idea of fear which is in the mind. Our mind react in particular way when it comes to fear. It always try to save the body from danger. Here in this story the fear which is shown was real but was not acted. But that was not seen by eyes, so the new knowledge was not reached to the mind and that is why mind and body has reacted in same way in which it suppose to react. The idea of fear inside mind, which was not possible to overcome and that is why the prisoner died.

This speaks about our habit of mind. It reacts in the same way which it has already thought of. Most of the times, when someone fears anything in the beginning, at that time the fear is imaginary one. Person has just assumed that these things can happen which can harm them. Because of this imaginary fear people mostly resist the new things. But one should have to think that this fear is only in the mind. It is believed that the outer world is reflection of our mind. What we think, we see the same. So, if this also works with fear, then it first came in mind and then in to physical world. We can try to fight it inside our mind only and it can be happen that we will not face it in our physical world. Because every fear first take place in our mind only. It is our mind which signals us about fear. It is needed when the danger is real, but sometimes it is just imagination of mind. So at that time one should try to differentiate between real and imagined fear. This can solve half of our problems, which we have only thought as a problem. One should try to know and control their mind. Ultimately what works is power, weather your mind’s power over you or your power over your mind.

Thank you.

"The White Tiger" and "Slumdog Millionaire"

This blog is a part of my academic activity. We were asked to compare the novel "The White Tiger" written by Arvind Adiga and the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" directed by Danny Boyle. 

1. Narrative structure

Narrative structure of both the movie and film are same. They both have used flashback technique to move their plot. In the novel “The White Tiger” writer has used the wanted poster. Balram Halwai was reading something from Wanted Poster and then he was telling something from his past. Same happens in the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” Jamal Malik was in the show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”. There are questions in the show and with each questions there are events from past. So, basically there was a parallel structure. Some thing from past and present go hand in hand. The narrative is from first person point of view, which describes narrator’s journey from rags to riches.

2. Indianness

The novel and the movie both has captured the Indianness very well. We can talk about few elements of Indianness from both works. For instance the trains, trains are very important in the life of Indians and both the director and writer had successfully captured it. Then both have shown the dark side of India, where poverty lies. They have also shown the importance of money in the dark side. The people from dark side, in short belongs to poor family, can do anything for money. Ultimately money is the only thing they want. Both movie and novel has shown the corrupt face of police system. Both have also criticized the religion and its division, which creates chaos. This is how we can find Indianness in movie and novel both.

3. List of questions asked in the film. If you have to replace or add a few questions, which questions would you like to add. Remember, questions shall be in-tune with the screenplay of the film.

There was nine questions in the movie. Which are listed as below.

1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"?
2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?
3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?
4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?
5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?
6. Who invented the revolver?
7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?
8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history?
9. In Alexander Dumas' book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Athos and Porthos. What was the name of the third Musketeer?

These all were the questions in the show. Apart from this, if I would have to add some questions, I would like to add some questions of slums, where he passed his few years and also about trains, because he passed his most of the life around trains.

4. On what grounds can you deconstruct the film with reference to post colonial tools / theories.

Indians have problem with this film because it shows the poor India, the India which cheats for money, the India with people living in dirty places. But Danny Boyle deliberately attempts to make India reminds their days as a Colony, and white people as their saviours/rulers. We can give one or two examples of this deliberate attempt. One was when Jamal was guiding Americans to one of Dhobi Ghats. At that time the taxi was robbed by some boys and driver starts hitting Jamal. At that time Jamal says this is real India and the American lady says they will show him the real America and gives him money for medicine of his injury. This shows that Danny Boyle still thinks India is a Colony of Whites. He shows here India as all bad and America as all good. This can not be at all the truth. Indians also have the light side which director has skipped. This is problematic from the Post-Colonial view.

Secondly, director has choose only V.T Railway Station. Which reminds Indians of the White rule, because it was made by Britishers. Further director has choose a particular pillar with the name of some English man. He made Jamal sit at that pillar and the name was so much in frame focus. Why only that pillar and not any other? Why the name was not hidden and fully in frame focus. This was the deliberate attempt to make Indians remind of their rulers. This is also problematic from Post-Colonial view.

5. Compare with Texture and Treatment of subject content in film and novel.

The texture of both novel and the movie was dark and gloomy. Both have captured the Indianness very well. The narrative goes parallel with past and present in both movie and novel, and for that both have used flashback technique. Themes like corruption, and poverty were captured very effectively. The treatment of subject content was with dark humour, both novel and movie present some harsh reality with humour. We can take example of school from both. The situation of school in Laxmangadh from the novel and situation of school in slum from the movie, both are harsh realities but presented as humorous.

Thank you.

Thinking Activity on "One Night @ the Call Centre"

This blog is part of my academic activity. To know more about it click here.

1) Does the novel have social realism? If yes, illustrate. If no, what did you expect as social realism which is absent here.

The realistic depiction in art of contemporary life as a means of social or political comment called the social realism. So, yes, the novel do have social realism. Chetan Bhagat has taken the side of young people and may be because of that, some people believe that the novel don’t has social realism but it do has. For example, when everyone are taking call centres in positive way, Chetan Bhagat takes the side of youth, understands their problems and he said that call centres are sweat shops.  Then break-ups, divorces, extra marital affairs and harassment of employee or job seekers. These all are happening in our society and that is what Bhagat has shown in his novel. Love and break-up of Priyanka and Shyam, Divorce of Radhika, Extra marital affair of Anuj, Bakshi’s harassment of Shyam and Vroom and also Esha’s molestation by some producer. By looking at all these things we can say that yes this novel do has social realism.

2) Comment on Narrative structure of the novel. Compare with that of "Life of Pi".

We can found many similarities between Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi” and Chetan Bhagat’s “One Night @ the Call Centre”. Both the novel has prologues and epilogues. Both has central theme of God. But there are differences also. Bhagat’s novel has shallowness and because of that it becomes popular literature. While Martel’s novel has become Real literature. We can see Bhagat’s shallowness in his characterization. On the other hand Martel has built his characters very strongly. For example we can take difference in both of the novel about faith in God. Martel has shown his character believe in God because from the childhood he has brought up with different religions. But Bhagat has not shown anywhere his characters praying then even when call of God comes they easily believe in it. This shows Bhagat’s lack of characterization. This way both have similar narratives but comparatively Bhagat lacks the sincerity.

3) What do you understand by self-help book. Is on@tcc self-help book? Illustrate

The self help books are one which instruct readers to solve their personal problems. One Night @ the Call Centre also falls under the category of self help books. There are many reasons behind it. The first one is at the beginning it has the worksheet. The book asks readers to fill the worksheet before starting the reading of story. It talks with readers. The questions are meaningful, though the purpose was not told before. But while the story reaches to its climax and leading towards the end, we got the answers of our questions or rather solutions of our problems. When God calls in the story, he asked to do things on their own. He instructs them, rather than spoon feeding. It also provides basic motivation to those who are at the beginning. That motivation helps readers to push themselves in starting. At the end the solutions of problems, which are asked before starting the story was given. Thus, we can say that One Night @ the Call Centre is self help book.

4) Is this novel anti-America? Illustrate it in context of theme of nationalism.

Yes, this novel is anti-America. In call centres, instructors are teaching to the trainee that Americans are dumb. The 35 year old have same IQ as the 10 year old Indian child. Further God in his call says that America is most frightened nation. Because any nation which is constantly at war with other nations can not be great. In terms of nationalism, Bhagat has criticise the way of teaching American accents to Indians for getting jobs in Call Centres. He has also criticised the system of giving American names to the employers. Bhagat has criticised whole Call Centre culture. He has called call centres as sweat shops, which are ruining our best and productive generations. As the call centres jobs are coming from America, by satirising it, Bhagat is satirising America. This is how we can say that this novel is anti-America. 

Thank you.

Interaction with Prof. Vedant Pandya

This world has become competitive. There is no easy way to get something. Competition is necessary. Competitive exams are also part of it. To get some particular government services one has to crack the competitive exams. Newbies in this competitive world, will always seek for guidance, which lead them to the right directions. Our department always try to give us that right and appropriate direction, and for that our Head of the Department, Dr. Dilip Barad, keep on inviting scholars of the field.

This time, the workshop was for the paper no.1 of NET/SET examinations. This time the scholar was in our house. He was from MBA department of our MKBU. His name is Professor Vedant Pandya and he was invited to talk about the general paper of NET/SET exams. First he gave us 10 components of first paper, which are like...
1) Teaching Aptitude
2) Research Aptitude
3) Comprehension
4) Communication
5) Reasoning Aptitude
6) Logical Reasoning
7) Data Interpretation
8) ICT
9) People Development and Environment
10) Higher Education System

From all these, he was there to talk about the last section Higher Education System. His style of teaching was very straight forward and simple. He has given us the basic structure of Higher Education System. He has very vast knowledge in this field, and from that we have learned one thing for sure that there are many basic things which we need to know. He has talked about government colleges, grant in aid colleges, self finance colleges, then many things about universities.

He has also talked about traditional universities and specialized universities. He gave examples like there are children university, teacher university, defence university, start-up university and many more. This shows how education system is changing and taking new shape.

Over all this session was worth attending. At the end of the workshop our sir Dr. Dilip Barad has prepared the Kahoot quiz to check our attentiveness in class and it was so much fun. At the end we like to thank our Head of the Department to keep on inviting such dignitaries, and we like to thank Professor Vedant Pandya for sharing his time and knowledge with us.

Thank you. 

Mass Media and Communication with Dr. Jay Mehta

As while constructing a building, base is necessary, same rule apply to the studies. Before starting something new to learn, it is necessary to have base about that particular topic. Same way to construct a base of “Mass Communication and Mass Media” Dr. Jay Mehta was invited on 14th January 2019, at the Department of English, MKBU.

This session was for introductory information. We are very thankful to him as he was ready to come on very short notice. He always make sure his students that they will not going to be bored in his lecture and he always proves it. One technique which he use to keep his students cheered up all the time is, he teach us with the example of movies and also with some Sher – o – Shayri.

He gave us introductory information of all Mass Media. Starting from the Print Media, Radio, Television, Advertisements, Cinema, to the E – Media. He taught us how all these started and how they all have bring major change in society and people. At starting point of every Mass Media Platform there was a negative response to it. But as time passes it has become habit of the people.

With every advanced version of Mass Media and Communication platform, the world has started becoming smaller and faster. We can see the change and also can give example, like in the time of letters it takes so many days to reach to the person but in today’s time, the message takes few second to reach to the other person. Technology and Mass Media makes things easier.

But it also has its side effects. As the speed of reaching to the people has increased, with the same speed and with facts, some fake news also reach to the people. Almost everyone knows how to use these Mass Media platforms, so people should also be aware of the fake news which spreads like virus. People should cultivate the habit of cross checking. With smart technology people should learn to work smartly.

With all these light, short and sweet talking, we have built our base of Mass Media and Communication. To attend Jay sir’s lecture will always be fun. With the knowledge of particular subject, we also enjoys the Shayri. We are very thankful to Dr. Jay Mehta to spare time for us in very short notice and share his knowledge with us.

Thank you.

Translation Workshop with Dr. Vishal Bhadani

It is fun to know more than one language. It is more fun to translate some thing from one to another language. Translation is an art, and on 1st January 2019, we try our hands on the art of translation. On that day we have one guest Dr. Vishal Bhadani, who is author and translator. He has one book named “Fictionalay”. This book is collection of Gujarati short stories.

Dr. Vishal was invited at Department of English, MKBU for workshop on translation. In that one workshop, he made us fall in to love with translations. He says that everybody should translate. It widens our mental horizons. Through translations our reading become vast and because of that our vocabulary also becomes rich.

With all these talking he also gave us some practical work. At that day for the first time we observed a particular word, sentence or the text so closely. He also has said that when one translate the words they look towards the words differently and minutely, which they have never done before. He make us aware of different types of translations like, literary translations, legal translations or religious translations.

As a practical task Dr. Vishal has given us worksheet, which includes all types of translations. It was fun to fill up that worksheet. Every student was lost in the world of translations. After filling that worksheet we realised that in just half an hour we have learned many new words. We have to refer dictionary and google because Dr. Vishal has clearly said that your first guess will always be wrong, don’t rely on your first guess. Which is quite right also.

With translations, he also have passion for writing. As it is mentioned earlier, he has one book which is collection of Gujarati short stories. As he was front of us, we can not miss the chance to listen the piece of fiction from the writer its self. While reading his own work, he has also mentioned that he likes to do experiment with his writings and in some of his stories he has done that also. He is very good story teller also, because when he was reading his own work, he was able to make his audience stick with their seats. His stories are full of variety. It gives amazing feeling of freshness and uniqueness to the reader. We have also read some of his stories like, “Museum of Innocence”, “Sansai and Ramjana”, “Spring”, “Mara Hath Ni Vat Nathi”.

So overall it was very fruitful and interesting session of translation and of short stories. He has also given some ideas to work from home. It was great experience to meet some multi talented person. We are very thankful to Dr. Vishal Bhadani to visit our department and spend some time with us.

Thank you.

Favourite Mass Media Platform

This blog is part of my academic activity. To know more about the task click here.

We are studying "Mass Media and Communication" and that is why we have asked to write about our favourite Mass Media platform for communication.

Which is your favourite Mass media platform for communication? Why do you like it? What are its drawback?

Today everyone is connected with each other in one or other way. This is the gift of Mass media to the humans. Every human is now connected and can communicate whatever they want. The Mass media is removing the language barrier also by providing translations. Here we have asked to talk about our favourite Mass media platform, its benefits and drawbacks.

I personally prefer YouTube. I like YouTube more than any other Mass media platform. We can find anything according to our likings on YouTube and also free of cost. One only needs internet connection for using it. Secondly it effects visuals and hearing together. When it affects two senses, its effect is more than any other things. There is no other obstacles for common people also. One only needs to have Google account and any one can start their own YouTube channel. Any one can spread their new and innovative ideas. It can be reached to the people with in no time. Apart from all these things, it also provides chances to earn money by making YouTube videos. So by sharing your knowledge or give entertainment to people one can make money also. Because of all these things I like YouTube. It also provides copyright feature which will not allow your content to be stolen, and will also not allow you to use others content.

But like any other Mass media platform this also has some drawbacks. Some time it happens that people don’t understand the meaning which one wants to give, or they interpret it in totally different way. Some times this hurts the sentiments of people and it leads to the trolling of people. As YouTube spreads knowledge and innovative ideas, the spreading of fake news or information will also be equal, which will again leads towards trolling people with wrong information. Other than that it is mostly one way communication. Though it allows viewers to comment their opinions under the video but, there are so many comments and we can not guarantee that every comment will going to read by video maker. So some voices of viewers are unheard. Other drawback of YouTube is, it will not word without internet. If some one needs video without internet they have to download a particular video to watch it without internet. Otherwise it will not work.

YouTube is for general communication, in which unknown Mass is involved. But with all these things I prefer YouTube in Mass media communication than any other platforms for general communication.

For personal communication I prefer WhatsApp as Mass media platform. This provides communication at personal level. You can talk to people who are in your contact list. It provides group feature also, that you can chat in group. Here also it is free. One only need to have internet connection. It is not available without internet, we can say that it is big drawback of this platform. It is advance version pf text messages. Here also you can send messages by using internet. In simple text messages we can not know if the person has read our message or not but in WhatsApp we can know that our message is read. It also provides users privacy. It allows you to share everything and not only text. So for personal mass communication I prefer WhatsApp.

Thank you.

Interaction with Professors from France

It is always good to meet some favourite guests, with whom we like to talk about ourselves. But is also great to meet guests from around the world and to talk about their culture and know their country. It get more excitement when it is surprised. On 22nd January 2019, we also got similar kind of surprise guest visit from France. 

Professor Saeed Paivandi and Professor Fontanini Christine, from University of Lorraine, France, had visited the department of Economics in our Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University to talk about ‘Changing Higher Education System’. From there we have surprised visit to our department of English. Professor Kishor Joshi from Economics department has introduced the guest and we have got the chance to interact with them.

There was a question to Professor Saeed about the social, political and economical changes in France society, because he is the professor of Sociology. From his answer we had come to know about some similarities between India and France. He has talked about the unequal distribution of wealth and some current affairs like “Yellow West Movement” and the agitation which has take place in France for reducing the taxes. He also has talked about the importance of democracy. He said that to discuss social, political, and economical facts of country, the freedom is must and that freedom people get from democracy. So he has emphasized on respect and practice democracy.

Then we also interact with Professor Christine. She has done research in gender studies and Feminization of education. Here also we have found some similarities between France and India. She has said that the numbers of female education is increasing but there are more female studies in Humanities and Medicine then in Engineering or Computer studies. Same we can observe in India that there are more numbers of female students in Humanities and less in Engineering. Though there is some difference between the percentage of people pursuing higher education in France and in India. Of course France have more percentage of people going for higher education then in the India.

Both the professors has talked about very interesting phenomenon which is taking place in France, which is merging up the universities to show the universal presence and to make universities recognised and valued at world level. They have said that this merging up the universities will increase the quality of teaching and also will contribute more to the world level.

At the end of the day, though it was very short and surprised meeting we have meaningful interaction with guests and we got some authentic information about France. It is always pleasure to meet some one from across the sea and to know about them. I want to show gratitude towards the guest from France for coming and to the professor of Economics to take them to our department. I also would like to say thanks on behalf of our Department of English.

Thank you