Here I am sharing my blog as response to blog task, given on Existentialism, screening of "Waiting for Godot". (unit3, modernist literature.)

1.  What is existentialism?

Existentialism is a philosophical moment which was started during the time of 19^th century in Europe. we can say that it was outcome of world war. It appeared in the literary works mostly known as “absurd theatre’’ also. It is difficult to bind the term in any definition but in brief, we can say that the question regarding anything that exists.

2.  What is the theme of ‘the myth of Sisyphus’?

‘Imagining the meaning’, ‘monotonousness’, ‘representation of absurdity’ these might be the themes of ‘The myth of Sisyphus’

3.  Do you agree that Existentialism is humanism?

Yes, I do agree that Existentialism is humanism, because it speaks of the helplessness of human being. And also indicates all absurdity of human deeds. Existentialism as a term also sympathises with human being for its absurdity. So it is related to humanism.

4.  What is ubermensch?

Ubermensch is a concept given by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It means “Overman”, “superman”, “superhuman” or so. It talks about the super human being who goes above all the ideas of god and destiny. Who thinks of himself as doer of the things, who does not blame circumstances or situation for whatever is happened to him. He takes himself as controller of situation and does not believe himself as inferior to some mightier persona. No matter if that person is god or destiny.

5.  What is theatre of absurd?

I would like to say that Existentialism got expressed in literature. The plays were being written upon the theme. And the expression of Existentialism became absurd.

6.  What connection do you see in the setting of the play and these paintings?

It seems like Becket was influenced by the painting and the setting in ‘waiting for Godot’ is just like the painting itself. Two men are waiting for something, a barren tree, rising and setting of sun. All these things were reflected in setting of ‘Waiting for Godot’.

7.  The tree is the only important thing in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts?

First Act- The tree is barren. ESTRAGON says about it that it is good that it is barren. “No more weeping.” It can be read as- ‘if there is anything left, it is the thing of sorrow, if there is NOTHING, we do not have to worry.’ One of the two says that it is a BUSH. For this, we have to go deep into bible. The biblical reference says that it was the bush where god appeared.

Second Act- in second act, the tree does not remain barren. There grew some leaves. We were told that it was just another day after the one which is passed.  We all know that it is not possible that 4-5 leaves suddenly come up on tree in just one day. So we can think of two possibilities.

1     Not only single day have passed but so many days have been passed in between. But they are similar enough that it becomes difficult to differentiate all the days. And the characters are not sure whether one day has passed or more time has gone.

2     They are not at the same place where they used to be in the first act. But the thing is that that it does not matter for them. It gives the touch of absurdity.

8.   In both acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’?

They feel some relief out of that burdensome waiting at night.

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

It is director’s own creativity we can say! We can read the effect of World War 2 here. Everything has collapsed down. The debris is rose out of the buildings. Construction of human life is also broken down just like the debris.

10.                   How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?

 The characters keep on reminding us the theme by the dialogue ‘nothing to be done’. By n large if we see at the play, in whole the play; nothing happens as such. If we look at the activities four of them are doing, what we see as result comes as nothing. This is how nothingness recurs in the play and with what we are ultimately left is nothing but NOTHING itself.

11.                   Do you agree, ‘the play was a positive play, not negative...’?

Yes. I do agree that the play is positive one. The sentence is very significant “No matter what- atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything- life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can’t kill life” – Marshal.

It is marvellous observation done by actor himself. It proves that he not only have played the role of the character, but have lived the character. Perhaps we can say that it is the reason why Estragon and Vladimir have not killed themselves even after frequent thinking of committing suicide. And as a message of existentialism we can say that it does not tell us to end our lives.

12.                   Do you think that the obedience of lucky is extremely irritating and nausea tic?

Yes. We as a reader also doubt some time that such a slavish nature is possible to practise or not. Why one have to remain submissive after blindness?

13.                   Who according to you is Godot?

“Godot” can be read in different ways. If we make a religious reading it is God himself. If we think rationally, we can see that it is any object of desire. But whatever it is, it never comes to an end.

14.                   “The subject of play is not Godot but waiting”. Do you agree?

Yes. I do agree the observation. To prove the point, i would like to say that if they are given whatever they want, it would come as an end. What we have to do in life is to fill up the time with whatever the thing. If godot would have come, they will left with nothing to do.

15.                   Do you think that plays like this can better be read than viewed?

Yes. Because in the play point will come where we have to stop, go back and think. Watching movie is frequent process and it does not allow us to do so.

16.                   I like the most – conversation of Vladimir with boy.

17.                   Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence? Where?

Yes. While they talked on hanging their selves on the tree but did not follow the thing, and goes with the absurd conversation, at that time i felt something like that.

18.                   Idea of suicide in Existentialism??

This is already mentioned in answer 11 & 17.

19.                   How does conversation go in act 2? Is there any change seeming similar situation and conversation? What is it? What does it signify?

In another act, we do not find any major changes as such. Same things happen again. What changes come is thus – the barren tree have got some leaves, Vladimir have grown wiser than yesterday, whereas Estragon have got no changes. Pozzo goes blind and lucky goes dumb.

It signifies that we think that nothing changes as such but change plays its role so silently that we do not recognise it until it gets giant.

Thank you sir. 

Seminar - "Samsamvedan" - on various forms of art.

On 24th September, 2016, I attended a seminar on various forms of art including "painting", "sculpture", "films" etc. The program was arranged by "Gadya sabha Bhavnagar". I would like to mention here that "gadya sabha" is working marvelously well in bhavnagar since last 25 years. And this year they are celebrating the year by organizing such an artistic programs. Few days back only they organized documentary screening (લા.ઠા. સરખી વાત) of well known GujaratI writer "Labhshankar Thakar". They meet on regular basis every week and they share the write ups they have written.

What made me think about something on the seminar is one painting by 'Amit Ambalal'. My mind got stuck over a painting and the agenda behind it. By the time I would also like to indicate here that the painter was very satirical in his paintings. He used to satirize hypothetical business class people as well as the "guardians of Devine elephant" (elephant is the god shreenathji and guardians are the pujari of temple), and at last the race of mankind itself.

In one of his paintings there was a person doing yogasan and he was situated up-side-down. He was practicing "shirshasan" (શિર્ષાસન). And besides him  there were some animals gazing towards him. Cat, mosquito, crow and all. Painter himself made a discourse of the painting that they are asking him that I am a cat, I am mosquito, I am a crow, we dont have to do anything to remain what we actually are. There are not the feeling of gratefulness or shame. As if they are saying "I am what I am". Than why do you have to practice lot many things ??

At the time a poem "If-" by "Rudyard Kipling" got over my mind. It describes so many mental conditions of being human. It made me think that by n large if we see, all the education system is a kind of construction of mankind in so n so direction. It's not only the physical, Ambalal sir; but mentally also we have to run for being proven a "Man".

Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a 2012 political thriller drama film based on the 2007 novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, directed by Mira Nair, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson in lead. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a post-9/11 story about the impact of the Al Qaeda attacks on one Pakistani man and his treatment by Americans in reaction to them.

This film stood very strong in the opinion of critics also. Nicely performed by all  the artists and justifying with original text also. In this film, it was shown that how critical is the situation in corporate world. They are producing mental slaves by the desire to stand first in the market. The film also focused on ORIENTALISM as the protagonist - changez khan, belong to the country like pakistan. And just because he is pakistani or having beard on his face, he time n again was questioned werher he is terrorist or not.

We can compare the concept of movie with another movie like this - "My Name is Khan " .

Modernist poems.

Hello. The given blog is in response to the activity to analys 10 very short poems. And that is thus.

1.) ‘The Embankment‘- T. E. Hulme

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.

-- Modernist literature at first seems difficult to understand. In this poem, Hulme is trying to escape from earthly realities and wants himself to be wined up with comfortable lies.

2.) "Darkness" - 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.

--Modernist poets are best known for going against the tradition. Here also we can see that poet is using ANTI-ARCHITYPAL IMAGE regarding stars in the sky. Star is something which we comment with positive energy, great source of light n power. But here poet takes it as -
        A star no longer, but a silver
         ribbon of light.

3.) 'Image' - Edward Storer

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

In this poem as well, poet uses aunty-archetype IMAGE. Generally, the moon is used as the connecting chain between two lovers. And it gives such piece of mind. But here, poet says that the lovers are burning to white moon. Though the intimate feelings are there between lovers, still they are forsaken and lonely.

4.) "In a station of the Metro" - Ezra Pound
                
  The apparition of these faces in the Crowd;
  Petals on a wet, black bough

--Ezra Pound have beautifully portrayed the station of Metro and people of the metro as well. The faces are visible only for few seconds and at last it is out from the memory. The same way it is captured in very two lines.

5.) 'The Pool' - Hilda Doolittle

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

-- Here I can read the sarcasm. Its about overpowering or colonising someone. First it was asked that are you alive or not. Very sarcastically, we can see that no. It is not alive. Because now it is there in the net of somebody. Fish after going in the net, cannot survive for longer.

6) "Insouciance" – Richard Aldington

      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.

--In this poem, poet compares his poems with dove. It flies far away from himself and at last, it becomes difficult to say that it was mine.

7.) Morning at the Window - 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 housemaid
  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.

-- The picture is that of a morning . T. S. Eloit is writing the poem from the point of the housemaid who is constantly engaged with lots of work.

8.) The Red Wheelbarrow -William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chicken.

9.) Anecdote of the Jar- 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.

-- poet is trying to hung at the bank of Tennessee but nothing he was able to catch.

10.) ‘l (a‘- E. E. Cummings
l(a     
le
af
fa
ll
s)
one
l
iness

-- This is the best poem amongst all given here. Poet have marvelously captured the image of falling leaves in the poem. Words even are falling in the poem, just like leaf. . Broken into pieces, and with that word and leaf, loneliness also fals and spreads in the mind of reader.

midnights children

Midnight's Children is a Novel by Salman Rushdie that deals with India's transition from British colonialism to independence and the partition of British India. It was written in 1981. It is considered an example of postcolonial literature. It is an autobiography of 'Saleem', a character of novel which strongly represents author himself.

Midnights children very prominently stands as post modernist work and we can see that how the people of nation have to suffer without any concern what is going at international level. What and which kind of politics is taking place around it.

Apart from all the things, what is surprising to see is, they (who were born in the night of partition) are having magical power. So what are the causes of having some special power or capacity which others don't have. To convince the audience, one common reason was depicted and it was that that they were born in midnight. But others also take birth in midnight, why only handsome of people, especially who is born in that night are having such capacity.

Binary opposition

Divaso judaai na jaay chhe,
ey jahse jarur milan sudhi;
maro haath jhaali ne lai jashe,
mujh shatruo j swajan sudhi.

Na dharaa sudhi na gagan sudhi,
nahi unnati na patan sudhi;
faqat aapne to javu hatu,
are ek-mek na man sudhi.

Tame raank na chho ratan samaa,
na malo ey aansuo dhool ma;
jo araj kabool ho aatli,
to hriday thi jaao nayan sudhi.

Tame raaj-raani na chir sam,
ame rank naar ni chundadi;
tame tan pe raho ghadi-be-ghadi,
ame saath daiye kafan sudhi.

Jo hriday ni aag vadhi gani,
to khud ishwarey j krupa kari;
koyi shwaas bandh kari gayu,
ke pawan na jaaye agan sudhi.

- Gani Dahiwala.

Let us first see what is binary opposition.

Definition -

"A binary opposition is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning."

Binary opposition is a key concept in structuralism, a theory of sociology, anthropology and linguistics that states that all elements of human culture can only be understood in relation to one another and how they function within a larger system or the overall environment.

Gani Dahiwala is a well known figure of world of gujrati ghazals. I read some of his poetry and what i have pointed after reading several collections is that he often makes use of binary opposition in his ghazals. He stands by the non privileged side of binary and always tries to glorify it.

For example, in fourth part; he points our that his beloved person belongs to higher class but that is of no use. Its even better that he himself is some elsewhere but its good that he will sustain still till the end. In a way he says that the people who belong to upper class are for limited period of time and that is not good enough.

Plea for Practical Attitude

Hello friends. this blog is in reference to the research work titled as 'Teaching of English : A Plea for Practical Attitude' done by R. K. Singh. He is a scholarly person of institute like 'Indian Institute of Mines, Dhanbad'.

At very beginning, he emphasises upon the topic of research work -
"English is a potential national resource. It is important to develop tolerance and positive attitude towards English. Practical approaches can be adopted in the areas of its teaching by making it more need based, flexible and innovative"

In order to bring the language in practical usage, we have to give it opportunities to use language in intelligent and relevant interaction: they deserve an opportunity to think, to provide information from their world of knowledge, to express their personal opinions and to disagree wirh other people. 

Language as vehicle of Culture.

The blog is going to deal with research work done by Rekha Aslam, from University of Delhi. The work has majorly focused upon area of culture of any particular language, titled as 'Socio-culrural Dimensions of English as a second Language.'

As we all know that language is not just a medium of communication but it is vehicle of social conditions, manners, traditions, cultures etc.

One major reason why English is accepted worldwide is, it grabs the words from variety of languages. If we refer to the history of word which belongs to English vocab, we will find that the word is rooted in other languages like Latin, Greek and many more.

It also carries its own mannerisms to the others. But Rekha have focused upon the Indian culture which was depicted in English. She have worked with three popular works done by Indian English Writers. It is thus -
1) "Fire on the Mountain" by Anita Desai
2) "Nector in a Sieve" by Kamla Markandaya
3) "The Dark Room" by R. K. Narayana.

She quotes numerous examples from the texts that how some of the Indian terms are depicted as it is in our culture. And English readily accepts it.
'Other words used in the Indian novels are, in various categories : 'langur' 'bandars', (animal world), 'churail' (supernatural), 'kheer' 'kababs' 'dhal' (food items), 'rikshawala' (transport) etc.'
-Rekha Aslam.

Later on, she points out at saree, Aarati, kumkum which are very much Indian symbols to depict something. Kumkum is red powder which is generally used in pooja and Indian woman use it as a sign of her 'suhag'. In English, we may not find such appropriate word for all these things. So in order to make some sense clear, one have to use the words as it is.

From Atom to Zip

Again. Title does not stand by any sense right ?
No worries. The given post is regarding The Research work titled as - "Teaching of EST In Indian Conditions". Research scholar - R. S. Sharma comes from BHU, Varanasi (Banaras Hindu University).
The paper was presented at National Seminar on 'Linguistics & Language Teaching' in January, 1990.

As we all know that Teaching any language is not the task which covers some specific factors only. And especially when it comes to English, it covers up so many things and fields like Science, Technology, Mathematics, Life Sciences etc. And the area of research goes world wide.

At this point, English becomes the strong medium to gain the knowledge. So language must be precise, to the point, containing the proper name of terminology and symbols. More elaborative, more expressing language as Teaching for purpose of science, must be avoided.

As R. S. Sharma tries to figure out -
" These three aspects of EST teaching, namely,
1) needs analysis,
2) structure of technical English & teaching materials
3) expertise
are inter-related and each of them must be considered in the context of other two."

It becomes language of scientific research when it comes to science n technology. So in order to generate such results, one as teacher should always remain conscious about the language they are generating.

Line between dark & light.

Hey guys. Title doesn't make any sense clear right?
Don't bother. The blog stands for the research paper titled as ' Satan and Saraswati :  
 
As we know that anything on earth have so many donations to study. Similarly, English in India also have some of the sides, dimensions, plus n minuses to look upon.

We all are aware of these two characters mentioned in the title - Satan & Saraswati. Satan is villainous character of Paradise lost by Milton and Saraswati is Holly Goddess of Vidhya according to Hindu mythologies.

Yes. Though English language has been officially declared as legal language after Hindi to proceed, still it have some darker side to see. Some negative sides are there, according to Annamalai.

1) "According to the Constitution, English will be used for all proceedings in the Supreme Court, The highest court of the union and the High Courts, the highest courts of the States, until the Parliament legislates otherwise."

2) "Thus the legislative and judicial documents in the Union and in the states are bilingual in English and an Indian language with equal legal authority."

1), 2) - Annamalai.

Thus, both the language Hindi and English were given equal rights at national level. Because Hindi also at some extent, a regional language. Not all the states of India uses Hindi language to communicate. At the time any other regional language cannot be given name as national language, other regions may find problem with that. That is not the case with English language. So it can be used as common language for official and academic purposes. That is one face of English, which is good enough. (Saraswati)

At the same time, same language were described as THE LANGUAGE OF SATANS BY THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS. Those who were highly patriotic minded people, they thought English as the colonial language. And they were not ready to accept it.

another thing which we can't avoid is --

"English which began as a language of commerce in India has itself become a profitable commodity"
-Annamalai.

Without doubt, English has become the language of market and in order to get connected with world market, we need to acquire the knowledge of English. But. What if English itself becomes the key to earn? We can see that English teaching institutions are mushrooming nowadays like anything. And if we look at the price of that institutions, it keeps on increasing.

Thus. English have two or more than two sides in India.

Critiquing the research work done by Kapil Kapoor regarding 'English as Second Language'

Hello everyone!!! This blog is in response to the research paper named 'Teaching English as 'Second Language In India'. written by Kapil Kapoor, research scholar from JNU.

The very first line of abstract paper itself throws light upon the concept of paper.

"This paper argues that the concept of English as a 'second language' is not a purely pedagogic construct and has to be property understood in the larger historical, social and educational context."
- Kapil Kapoor.

We can see that language is not only the medium of communication but it also stands as cultural, social and historical document. The language carries its own costumes, traditions, manners and so on. Thus so many times, in order to understand the language, we have to understand the context in which the word is used. So, English or any other languages than our mother language, is more difficult to acquire.

English have taken the place on platform of world market. Thus it becomes very much important to learn the language. But Kapil Kapoor is also aware of the politics behind this. As he describes in his paper --

"The political purpose was clear in Macaulay's 1813 report - 'no Bengalee who undergoes this education has any respect left for anything Hindu."
-Kapil Kapoor.

Later in his paper, he describes the harm which was done to Hindi and Sanskrit as language because of English is taking place among us. We cannot surely say that by pointing out such realities he actually is favouring/defending anything or not.

At last he tries to define three term - L1, L2, & L3. And says that English actually is the Third language (L3) in India but now it have started taking place as Second Language (L2).

Thank you for reading my post carefully. :)

Criticism - Structuralism.

As a structuralist way, I would like to analyse the movie Wazir (by Bejoy Nambiar).

The movie is suspense-thriller movie. If we analyse that movie by this way, we may find that there is no difference in other movies of this genre. Very close fiend of that officer is making that officer to do the things he wanted to do. That character played a game to take revenge of death of her own daughter. He used the power and position and that person to take revenge. But how that film failed to depict the things? Because that all things were visible by the game of Shataranj. That thing was clearly visible as viewer.    

Figurative Language. I. A. Richards.

Lyrics  : Sanjay Leela Bhanshali.

Singer - Sunidhi Chawhan, Shail Hada.

Song - 'udi', Film - Guzaarish.

.

मिल गई आज आसमाँ से,
आ गई आगे मैं जहाँ से, येह क्या हुआ !
.
उडी, निंदे आँखो से !
जुडी, राते ख्वाबो से !
मुडी, ये जाने मैं कहां !
.
पांव झमीं पे है या बादल पे,
उलजे सितारे आ के आँचल से|
.
जि ली ऊमर सारी ईस पल में . .
कुछ भी नहीं अब मेरे कल में |
.

With very first reading we can face several problems with this song. very firstly, we cannot imagine that a sky can be a living being. If it is not so, than we cannot think of meeting with the sky.
.
Then describer says that she goes before the whole world. now, world is not in straight line, so that one can go before all of them.
.
Then she says she doesn't know whether her legs are on cloud or on earth. As we know that cloud are lighter in weight than of any human being. One cannot think of riding the cloud.
.
Later on she exclaimed that stars have come from freehand of her saree or dupatta. Stars are not something that is not ordinary or little in size.
.
Lastly, protagonist says she have nothing to do with tomorrow as well as yesterday. Whatever is there in her life, is her present moment and she is not concerned with any other moment of life. Now, present can't get disconnected with past or present. That all are interwoven with each other.
.
.
But, as a mature person of literature, we are not suppose to take the things as it is. We need to decode the words and we must try to get metaphysical image of same things or we will never enjoy the poetry.
.
In this song, what she actually wanted to say is thus.

The protagonist is in the state of mind in which she doesn't care of anybody. The level of Happiness is so high that she feels that she is at the height of the sky.

As she is fluttering on sky she thinks of herself as she is fairy queen and she can roam over the world through the cloud.

She is fully satisfied with the joy that she says whatever the beauty of life is, it is this moment only.