Sunday reading task : Girish Karnad

Girish Karnad

       Girish Karnad  was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Rhodes Scholar, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s, marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada.  he using  history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues. He transferred his work into English. And some works are translated into some Indian languages.

His Notable Books :- Tughlaq
                                     Hayvadan
                                      Wedding Album

      He was active in the world of Indian cinema working as an actor, director and screenwriter, in Hindi and Kannada cinema, and has earned awards. He was conferred Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Film fare Awards, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award. He was a presenter for a weekly science magazine programme called "Turning Point" that aired on Doordarshan in 1991.

        Mainly he was remained in controversies because of his actively supporting activity to leftist people in separatist movement. He believed in Marxist. He speaks against power. He also write on how powerful man do crime in his play Tughlaq.  So government consider Girish Karnad as ' Urban Naxal'. He raise the voice against power. He was a voice of powerless people. It is also reflected in his work. He speaks about capitalism and religion.


       He was died on 10th June 2019. He was  very controversial among the people. And criticise by media. The article and news came out as he was tribute and denunciation in him. Many people hate Girish Karnad. Because he used endure in controversy. So many people are not agree with his statement. His work are remain in hot topic. After his death his writing is controversial topic in people. Some part of his life also criticise by people.

Thinking activity : The Birthday party

The Birthday party

   The film screening Harold Pinter's : The Birthday party. The Birthday party is a British Drama film directed by Friedkin.

   *    Why are two scenes of Lulu omitted from the movie?

      Lulu’s two scenes omitted from movie because I think detector don’t wants to show violence in his movie. And other thing is male characters are mostly show in film. So Stanley , McCain and Goldberg are central character. Director don’t want to focus on Lulu’s character .

* Is movie successful in giving us the effect of menace? Where you able to feel it while reading the text?
 
     Yes, this movie is successful in giving us the effect of menace. Menace means something mysterious and dangerous. Stanley express that fear in this movie. When we see movie and text we feel that Stanley has mysterious past. He has some hidden fear from stranger. Also not comfortable to go outside of home. We see that expression on his face clearly in movie. In the text  conversation between Stanley and  MacCian  or Goldberg is the torrent dialogue create the effect of menace.

*  Do you feel the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie? Where you able to feel the same while reading the text.

  Yes I fell the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie. When Stanley's birthday party going on  at that time his spectacle is broken that scene create danger. And camera focus on broken drum image. Or sounds of door and darkness in the room off light that  all are the effect of lurking danger while viewing movie.

*What do you read in 'newspaper' in the movie? Petey is reading newspaper to Meg, it torn into pieces by McCain, pieces are hidden by Petey in last scene.   

      Newspaper used in a very symbolic way in this movie. Petey hide the cutting of newspaper. So he try to hide a reality and acting like everything is ok. Petey know reality something happens last night but not say clearly to mag. And set a newspaper's front page as perfect. But we can not see inside pieces. It’s connected with Stanley’s character. He was bitten by macCan and Goldberg. But in the morning his look perfect it is a acting. We can not see any doubt on him. How he suffers last night.

* Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is playing Blind Man's Buff and is positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage (trap) when Stanley is playing it. What interpretations can you give to these positioning of camera?
 

     Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is paying Blind man's Buff. When Stanley playing that game that time camera position at  the top. It is like  prison or cage. And four walls are coming near. He fell lonely in the room. It shows how Stanley’s situation in room like prison.  And so many things around him and he was blind. He fell helpless and fear from blindness. So Stanley have one option to fighting and find his space. No one can help him. McCain and Goldberg make him blind and then fighting.

*"Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of one another and pretense crumbles." (Pinter, Art, Truth & Politics: Excerpts from the 2005 Nobel Lecture). Does this happen in the movie?
 
       Yes in the movie Stanley is an artist in exile. And Goldberg and McCain are social political institutional forces. Pinter focused on human life  and their relationship. His character struggle for power. The other is how people living with lie things. How they cheating his and her relationship build each other.

* How does viewing movie help in better understanding of the play ‘The Birthday Party’ with its typical characteristics (like painteresque, pause, silence, menace, lurking danger)?

   Yes movie help to better understanding of the play. When we read text we can’t feel more menace. Because we don’t listening sounds and some space between to dialogue. How they create effect. While viewing movie the sound effects and horror and camera focus are see very well. Or we see the expression of character. So that all things are showing clearly in movie. Movie is help to better understanding the play.

*With which of the following observations you agree:

-It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party."

-  “It's impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version directed by William Friedkin”.

   I agree with the second observation . This is a well directed movie. William Friedkin successful to present the aim of the play.  This movie following the original text play  the Birthday party. So I agree with second observation.


   Thank you...

Thinking activity : Waiting for Godot

Thinking activity : Waiting for Godot

   Waiting for Godot is play written by Samuel Beckett. This blog is my academic thinking  activity.

• What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?

      The connection between painting and paly. This painting Casper David Friedrich. This painting suggest the hope with symbol of tree evening and country road. The country road connected with waiting for someone. And tree is symbol of hope.  No one is coming but hope was there. Hope is  give a sympathy to continue that meaningless waiting. That represents human life of realty. We all are passing a time and waiting for death.


• The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree -The tree has four or five leaves ?

        The culture connected with Nature. Most of writer describe a Nature as part of our life. Beckett used opposite metaphor for leaves as a tears and weeping. Crying is a symbol of living a life. And other thing is  absurdity of life. Leaves suggest the hope. Nature does not effected by human life and emotion.  Nature cycle is keep growing Never stopped.


• In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?

      Night is symbol of Death. And moon is used as a hope. Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot whole day. But no one come.  So they only passed time nathing else. Still they waiting for Godot.


• The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?

       The director feels the setting with debris. It is shown the effect of world  war ll.  Life is deal with debris things. Like meaningful things people find in the meaningless things.


• The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?

     “ Nothing to be done” the play started with good idea. It is also called Existentialism. Nothingness it means also something. Like meaningless is also one meaning itself. It is theme of the play nothing happens. Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot. But Godot was not come so they are passing time.


• Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?

       Waiting for Godot ina nagative things as well as positive things. It is very symbolic play of human life. With two characters Vladimir and Estragon. Sometimes forgot the past is good habit. That point highlights in the play by Estragon. And remember all things is harmful that point represent by Vladimir. Estragon not worry about lots many things only live in present and Vladimir is opposite he remembers all things and suffering a lot. So sometimes forgotten is good. This play also give biblical idea and portrait very deeply. And give very deep understanding.


• How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?

        Hat is symbol of thinking process. Vladimir has hat and Estragon has boot. Vladimir serious about his life. Boot represent the materialistic things. Hat is intellectual sense.

• Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?

        Yes I think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and Nauseatic . Lucky represent that person who give the chain of his life to others people hand. And any one try to free them. That time he attack  on because  they habituated in that situation and like that position. Also feel secure in others hand. It is only illusion but they believe like truth. Lucky do that his master become blind . No power to have still lucky follow his order. Because fear is very dangerous. It’s play vital role in our life.

•   Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or  . . .

         According to me Godot is an Object of desire. We are constantly wishes to success and achieve goals. And then at the end of life we meet the death. Death is a freedom of our soul. Godot is our medium to reach the celestial city.


•    “The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’” (Esslin, A Search for the Self). Do you agree? How can you justify your answer?

        Yes I agree that point. The subject of play is not Godot but waiting. Waiting is the important thing in the play. Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot and we are waiting for death. And we are suffering between birth and death. We constantly waiting for death. And in the play both character are doing many different and entertaining things in waiting time. There is no meaning but just passed the time. And enjoy the path of journey not achievement. So I think waiting is a subject not Godot.


• Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘viewed’ as it requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals help in better understanding of the play?
   
         
         Audio and visual are helpful to easily understood what they try to say. But in that play reading is also required because there are so many things are missing in only reading and only views. So both are helpful . If we see the movie that time lucky's dialogue are goes very speedy so we can’t understand step by step if we read the text we can interpreted that so I think both are useful tools.

• Which of the following sequence you liked the most:

        The Boy comes to tell that Godot will come tomorrow. Vladimir keep questioning him about Godot, it is quite interesting.
 
   VLADIMIR: (softly). Has he a beard, Mr. Godot?
   BOY: Yes Sir.
   VLADIMIR: Fair or . . . (he hesitates) . . . or black?
   BOY: think it's white, Sir.
   Silence.
   VLADIMIR: Christ have mercy on us!

Vladimir is very curious to know about him and his conversation with boy is very significant.

Thank you...

Sunday Reading : Sairandhri

Sunday Reading : “ Sairandhri”

   Vinod Joshi is a postmodern Gujrati poet, writer and critic. He was honoured with the Narsinh Mehta award, Sahitya Gaurav puraskar and Kalapi award.

      Here Radio talk of poet Vinod Joshi. He introduced his latest poem “ Sairandhri”.

      This poem based on Mahabharata's Viratparv. His previous poem "SHIKHANDI” also taken from Mahabharata. This metrical poem was composed in prabandha from with seven cantos and forty-nine chapters. The main idea of his work is :

     Lost her real identity

   His poem based on the character of “ DRAUPADI” from Mahabharata.

  The interview of Vinod Joshi  by Jelam Hardik.

Vinod Joshi says :  “ મારી   સૈરન્ધ્રી  મહાભારતથી જુદી છે”.

       The poem is about women who lived with her hidden personality. So poet present the dilemma of woman’s real identity.

  This Interview start with poem line:' આપી આપીને તમે પીંછું આપો, રે સજન પાંખો આપો તો અમે આવીએ'.

   Sairandhri connected with identity. We all are live with hidden identity. we all have to manage ourselves in front of someone.  Sairandhri can be a symbol of the entire human race.  He also write “Geet” in 'Talapdi Gujrati'. He says language is applied. This poem written in combination of Sanskrit and Gujrati.

           We all know the incidence of 'Agyatvas' from Mahabharata. But here we see in a different way. Vinod Joshi describe the dilemma of Dropadi.   She is made a queen of hastinapur and how she lived as a sudeshnas's 'Dasi'. Even pandvo was there but she can not meet theme. She suffering a lot in one year. She is a Agnikanya. When is a Draupadi that time Krishna and bhim are able to help her but here she can not take any help from them. There no mention any mail and Krishna’s character only focused on Sairandhri. According to Vinod Joshi's poem shairendri loved 'Karna'. It is a imagination of poets mind. He said Sairandhri first love with Karna and second with Arjuna. And she maintain her feeling for Karna till her death. Karna also  lost his identity.

       Here we see Karna and Draupadi both are lived in hidden identity. It’s very interested matching between both of character. Even Mahabharata' s writer is not say anything about it. So poet like to portrayed Sairandhri in this way. Poet including a ' SWAYAMVAR' OF DRAUPADI. And  he write discretion of karna’s character and how Draupadi feel for Karna . It’s very interesting thing. Vinod Joshi used rhymes in this poem. Main theme of poem is lost original identity of Shairendri that’s way he choose that angle of Draupadi.


Thank you.
       

Method of English language teaching

Method of English Teaching


This blog is part of my academic activity. Which is given to us by vaidehi mam in paper of ELT.

  As for as methods teaching concert it keeping on different from one teacher to another. Method of teaching is a very important for our students understanding.

Difference between Approach and Methods

   An approach is way of dealing with something or somebody. A method is the process used or the steps taken to deal with an issue or a person.

   

1) Which method appealed you the most from the above given methods? Give Reasons.

From the various methods the Direct Method Teaching appealed me the most. So here I explained why I choose this method.
 The Direct Method Teaching foreign languages. We also known as Natural method. It was established in Germany and France around 1900.

Principles of the Direct Method
- classroom instruction
- vocabulary and sentence
- oral communication
- developed writing skill
- Grammar is taught inductively
- listening skills

2) Tell something about your favorite method used by your teachers from School till PG. How is their method unique?

   When I studied I. School & college. During that time my teacher used most of traditional methods. Mostly reading , translation and then ans questions related to topic. No used any digital tools. In a primary teacher are used total physical Method and we enjoyed that Method. I like a direct method and flipped learning methods.  Because benefits is students learn something new in a something new way of learning.



3) Tell something about the method you didn’t like from School till PG. Give Reasons.


       During my school and college days my teacher used  Grammar transaction Method. I don't like this method. Grammar is very difficult subject. My teacher was teaching only exam related point. First they read paragraph and then translation in gujrati language. No interpreted in any other perspective. No teach any deep meaning so I don't like this method.

Then and now : colonialism, Imperialism and postcolonilism

Then and Now: Colonialism, Imperialism and Post-colonialism

   Ania Loomba's Colonialism and Post-colonialism is an invaluable introductory text to theories and debates which animate post colonial studies.

Ania Loomba

      Ania Loomba is an Indian literary scholar. She is the author of Colonialism and Postcolonialismand works as a literature professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
    Loomba researches and teaches English literature and early modern culture, postcolonialism, the history of colonialism and postcolonialism in South Asia, as well as postcolonial literature and culture. At the center of her interests are the history and literature of racism, colonialism and nation building from the 16th century to the present day.

Her book

Ania Loomba discussed in detail about these terms in her Colonialism and Postcolonialism.

 What is Colonialism :- 

According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word colonialism come from the  Roman ‘colonia’ which meant ‘farm’ or ‘settlement’ and referred to Romans who settled in other lands but still retained their citizenship.

        The control and governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory or people.

Post colonialism :-

The study of the term post-colonialism is ongoing debate, it is not only study of the time after colonialism but also how it continues in today’s time also. It is also harder to pin down this term in particular context. Also the different  meanings of colonialism and imperialism complicate the meaning of this term.

      The post colonialism is the study of a culture after the physical or political withdrawal of an oppressive power. 

Imperialism :

The OED defines,

‘Imperial’as pertaining to empire and imperialism as the ruler of an emperor, especially when despotic or arbitrary; the principal or spirit of empire; advocacy of what are held to be imperial interests.

But as she pointed out that, the term imperialism is not understood by pinning it down to a single semantic meaning   rather it is better understood  by relating its shifting meaning to historical process. The distinction between precapitalist and capitalist colonialism is often made by referring to the latters as imperialism. This term is also defined by linking it to a particular stage of development of capitalism and it is also considered as the highest stage of capitalism.

Flipped learning : Existentialism

Flipped learning : Existentialism



This blog is part of my Academic thinking activity.
    The Existential are believed  in only what we feel and what we experience. First you do experience and than surely say about it and believe. You don’t believe on others interpretation and experience.
     

Video 1  what is Existentialism?
   
        Existentialism start with KIERKGUARD . Nietzsche , Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Heidegger, Hesse, Shestov, Sartre, Beavvoir they are great Existentialist philosophers. They are believed  in Individuality, Passions and Freedom.

   ‘Believe in God consider as philosophical suicide'. Existentialist denied the idea of God Existence. Existentialism is mainly popular in young people. Because young generation struggling with there person view. The subjects like  suicide, anguish, absurdity, passion, their freedom or despair.


Video 2  The myth of Sisyphus: The Absurd Reasoning ( feeling of the Absurd)

     This video talked about The Absurd Reasoning. The concept of suicide is one of the serious philosophical problem. The reason  behind the suicide is life is meaningless. Life is full of Absurdity. The example of film “ STAY”.



     "An Elegant suicide is the ultimate work of Art". Life is like illustration or strange. Death becomes a strong companion. So absurdity of life consider as suicide.

Video – 3  Myth of Sisyphus : The Nation of Philosophical suicide

   Philosophical suicide means Existentialist recognised the absurd but escape from it. Nothing is more than feelings... You have some  nasty Absurdity inside you. Death is the common element in both Philosophical suicide and physical suicide. avoidance of things is the reason of philosophical suicide. It based on three things:

Faith is object of escape from things.
   " Absurd faith is a absurd escapism".
  Faith and hope  is used for make  free from Absolutely. “ Reason is useless and there is nothing beyond reason”.

Video-  4  Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism

   Dadaism different from Nihilism. Both have common thing the arbitary values. In 1916 Dada movement raise  up against world war. Dadaism is quest for change. Creation is a under prime goal of Dadaism.
Dadaism become free for way of everything. Nietzsche discretion about the movement.


Video -5 The Existentialism : A gloomy philosophy

        Existentialism consider as gloomy philosophy. It based on three main aspects anxiety, despair and absurdity. existentialism and nihilism not connected each other both opposite each other and existentialism is response to this emptiness. After world war people seems life as meaningless and field with despair.



Video -7 let us introduce Existentialism again


   Existentialism is not a philosophical system but for see it as philosophical movement. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche known as fathers of the movement. In 19th century Fyodor Dostoyevsky was also considered one of its original  giant.

Video -8 Explain like I’m five: Existentialism and Nietzsche

     This video describe the term of Ubermensch given by Nietzsche. Person free to whatever you want to do. Ubermensch means like a superman. That type of person not fear from  God. It makes us free from idea of God.

Video -9  why I like Existentialism ? Eric Dodson

    There is two sides of it, existentialism has a more obvious intellect side which has to do with it specific thinker. Second deeper and subtle side which has to do with evoking, we can say existential sensibility. Existentialism learn way of life. And also understand like more deeply. People like existentialism because of this things:-

  Honesty,  Refreshing ,Reality, Holism, Acceptance, Rebellious way of thinking, fidelity ,Strategic  irreverence.

Shitala Saatam : Religion vs Science

Shitala Saatam : Religion vs Science


Shitala Saatam  is a religious festival in Gujarat. This festival come in 'Shrawan' month in every year. That moth is full of religious festival and events. We are living in religious country India. All festival has different story and myth. That is also connected with scientific reason. In the same way shitala Saatam is also behind story. Goddess will prevent diseases of Small pox.

 People are  celebrate shitala Saatam as religious festival that is generated in our mind. But “ SHITALA”  is a name of one disease. How can we believe like that she is Goddess. People are blindly follow that.
      People say that it’s a time of modern era. We are modern generation . But still not able to think rationally. We know that religion and science are always conflicts between each other. It is a best example.
         In the ancient time people are not educated so our  'sages' are give knowledge to make story connected with religion. Moral is connected with scientific reason. And present time people are well educated but still that problem is remaining. They not think rationally . They also believe in illogical things. So it’s very dangerous for society.
      If we see the ancient time so notice that any type of disease are people taken as a God punishment. And that arranged by some evil spirits. God is not happy for they work and God give punishment. People believed in supernatural power. today also worshiping goddess Sitala by eating a food on previous day as called cold food.


      There is belief that if anyone make a hot food on that day so Goddess is anger on and give punishment as small pox. Even scientists are also find vaccine. This vaccine finding by Edward Jener.  But still we have belief in supernatural power. Also fear from Goddesses.  People knowing very well that  small pox is under control by vaccine. Even they follow that ritual.

Inoculation vs vaccination

     inoculation generally known as tikah was practised in 17th century in India. This operation is performed by selected Brahmin’s community. In this method when small pox were came to maturity at that time by taking a pus and dipping these in the point of pretty large sharp needle. There were puncturing also invite bacteria.  Also fall down into fever. That disease also a infection type.  after the operation they do not allow to eat fish, milk and ghee for the one month from the day of inoculation. People are dies for that small pox.

   Nowadays we get situation of this disease through the vaccine. But we have no solutions to rationalize people. Because still people believed in religion rather than scientific reason.

Thinking Activity on oneness of literature

Thinking Activity:-  Oneness of literature


        Literature is important part of our life. Literature has various forms but it is connected with each other. When one pattern is followed by another writer and uses the sign, symbol, character or situation, which is used by previous writer it becomes literary metaphor, as Northrop Frye call archetypal pattern.

            Northrop Frye is Theory of Archetypal criticism. It is idea based on whole literature has oneness.
 In the Archetypal Criticism Northrop Frye talked about seasons. He says that our emotions and feelings are related with season.

    Every organized body of knowledge can be learned progressively; and experience shows that there is also something progressive about the learning of literature.

      Frye given the example of oneness, all literature are common skeleton. Like  our body has different shapes and progress but the structure of our skeleton comprises the oneness.   

T.S. ELIOT'S ESSAY : “ TRADITIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL TALENT”
     
                             
"The  Historical sense involves a perception not only of the pastness of past but of its presence. "          
 
   It means That good thing are taken from the past. And bad thing are not repeat in present. So past is give the experience. It’s helpful to make better present. So learn good things from this past and make better present.


     Oneness of literature with reference of Wasteland by T. S. Eliot and joke short story by Anton Chekhov.

And when we were children, staying at the archduke's,
My cousin's, he took me out on a sled,
And I was frightened. He said, Marie,
Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.
In the mountains, there you feel free.

     We can find many similarities in short story of Anton Chekhov and these lines of Waste Land. In both the context surrounding and incidents are same. We see the main theme is like sexual perversion, feminist perspective, Nature. ' A JOKE' is transferred work in Gujarati language. Under the title of this story is  ‘Nankdi Majak'.

           Both story are same only character name are changing. Girl name changed in that story  Marine to Nadiya. In this story Nadiya feels fear to go down over mountain on the sled. Same as Westland’s  Marine. Nature and sexual perversion theme are as it is in both work. 

     Both writer are portrayed female character in very weak.  Nature eliminate are also same in both story. Like air, snow and maintain hill.

     A joke is written by Anton Chekhov . This story translated in Gujarati language. So I think sometime translation lost the original charm of work. Same thing happened with this story.




Thank you