Vaidehi Hariyani

Casteism is a burning issue of this society. From the history to the contemporary time, we see different examples of caste issues in society. We all are a part of this society unless we use our education as a part of living. If we don't...then what’s the use of this education???? Recently I attended an academic event, where I overheard a conversation between two friends. They were discussing whether to visit their teacher's place or not? You must be wondering that so what if they were discussing this. The teacher belongs to a low caste. One of them quite bluntly said that I cannot visit teacher's place because he is of low caste. Further it is added by one of them that it is a sin to even enter their house or drink water. If the teacher comes to my place I have to wash my house with Gangajal. First I found this incident quite funny that even in the contemporary times some things do not change. Later when I came to know that they were students of some

During Semester 1, we got a delightful chance to attend lectures on “The Metaphysical Poetry” by R.K.Mandaliya (S.P.University, Vallabh Vidyanagar). His ‘Talk and chalk’ method makes poetry flow in your veins. While going through the class notes even today, it just feels like you are sitting in the class and studying poetry. Thanks Dr.Dilip Barad Sir for organising such fruitful session. Even in Semester 3 we again got a chance to attend his lectures on “Robert Frost and his poetry” which I shall share later on. In the beginning of the 17 th century; between 1600 and 1635, a school of poets emerged - whose poetry came to be known as “The Metaphysical Poetry”. With the passing of time it was Dr. Samuel Johnson – a great neo-classicist who made use of this term for the first time in his introduction to the life of Abraham Cowley. When Dr.Johnson used this term, it was in a derogatory sense – negative sense to criticise the poetry of John Donne and his followers. With the

Holy Sonnets: Death, be not proud - John Donne Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die . John Donne’s Holy Sonnet  X  (Death be not proud) deals with the theme of death. The poet in this poem challenges authority of death. There is no need to afraid of death. Death is generally considered to be mighty and dangerous, but

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,   How little that which thou deniest me is;   It sucked me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;   Thou know’st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead,     Yet this enjoys before it woo,     And pampered swells with one blood made of two,     And this, alas, is more than we would do. Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, nay more than married are.   This flea is you and I, and this Our mariage bed, and marriage temple is;   Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,   And cloistered in these living walls of jet.     Though use make you apt to kill me,     Let not to that, self-murder added be,     And sacrilege, three sins in killing three. Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence?   Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?   Yet thou triu

 Sweetest love, I do not go - John Donne Sweetest love, I do not go,          For weariness of thee, Nor in hope the world can show          A fitter love for me;                 But since that I Must die at last, 'tis best To use myself in jest          Thus by feign'd deaths to die. Yesternight the sun went hence,          And yet is here today; He hath no desire nor sense,          Nor half so short a way:                 Then fear not me, But believe that I shall make Speedier journeys, since I take          More wings and spurs than he. O how feeble is man's power,          That if good fortune fall, Cannot add another hour,          Nor a lost hour recall!                 But come bad chance, And we join to'it our strength, And we teach it art and length,          Itself o'er us to'advance. When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not wind,          But sigh'st my soul away; When thou weep&

               Busy old fool, unruly sun,                Why dost thou thus, Through windows, and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run?                Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide                Late school boys and sour prentices,          Go tell court huntsmen that the king will ride,          Call country ants to harvest offices, Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime, Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.                 Thy beams, so reverend and strong                Why shouldst thou think? I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink, But that I would not lose her sight so long;                If her eyes have not blinded thine,                Look, and tomorrow late, tell me,          Whether both th' Indias of spice and mine          Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with me. Ask for those kings whom thou saw'st yesterday, And thou shalt hear, All here in one

Every Indian is familiar with the great author R.K.Narayan, the creator of the fictional yet famous Malgudi. ‘Swami and Friends’ and ‘Malgudi days’ are his best known and widely read books even today. Even a Hindi classic film “Guide” was a movie adaptation of his novel “The Guide”. His fictional stories are pleasures for every reader. During my journey of graduation, “The vendor of Sweets” and “Swami and his friends” were included in my syllabus. It is a pleasurable retreat to read his books again. R.K.Narayan is best known for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English, along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao. “The Vendor of Sweets” (1967) is a story of Communication and Generation gap between a father and a son. The story is written in simple English that can be read and understood easily.  Even a young school child’s vocabulary will be able to comprehend the sense of the story.

On 12/10/16,  we had a movie screening “The Birthday Party” a British drama film (1968)- directed by William Friedkin (The Birthday Party) -  based on an unpublished screenplay by 2005 Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter, which he adapted from his own play The Birthday Party (Pinter, The Birthday Party), as a part of our academic activity. Click here to view this activity.                         “The Birthday Party’ is a play by Harold Pinter which falls under the category of Absurd Theater and Comedy of Menace. The main subject of the play and the film is trivia. Before proceeding further let us look at some key aspects of the play as well as the film. Comedy of Menace -This phrase is part of the title of a British play called The Lunatic View: a Comedy of Menace, by David Campton. Irving Wardle, a critic in the 1950s, emphasized the phrase when writing a review of the plays of Harold Pinter. It makes you laugh but you feel a threat or danger at the same time.