THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK - short story - by Ruskin Bond- Notes - SUMMARY

THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK - Ruskin Bond

 “The boy who broke the bank” is a very interesting story written by Ruskin Bond. The story relates to the murmuring of a sweeper boy Nathu about irregular payment of his salary. It takes the shape of a rumour and results into the collapse of a bank.  In the end of the story, Nathu, who is responsible for the whole episode, wonders innocently about the incident.

  Seth Govind Ram owns a bank at Pipalngar town. The bank is financially very sound and has won the trust of the depositors. Nathu is a sweeper in the bank. One day, while sweeping the steps of the bank, he grumbles about the irregular payment of his salary by the bank authorities. Sitaram, the washer man’s son learns about Nathu’s complaints. In his loose talk with Mrs. Srivastava, Sitaram says that bank could not pay its employees. Mrs. Srivastava misunderstands Sitaram’s statement. She believes that the Piplangar bank is about to collapse. The rumour spreads like a wild fire in the entire town.

     The customers in shock demand their money back. They start stoning the bank building and break the glasses. The next day when Nathu goes to the bank for his duty, he finds a lot of broken glasses and stones. He wonders how it happened. He murmurs angrily that the bank authorities are not paying him regularly on one hand and are also increasing his work.  For him the event is a mystery.

      This story is basically about how rumors and lack of communication can cause many problems and be destructive.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

The Scientific Point of View - Essay - by J B S Haldane - Notes - Summary

The Scientific Point of View ---- J B S Haldane

        “The Scientific Point of View” is an essay written by J.B.S. Haldane. In this essay, he opposes superstition and supports rational thinking.  He says that science affects us in two ways – we are benefited by its applications and it affects our opinions. According to Haldane, the scientific point of view must be applied to the events of daily life.  Science has already revolutionized industry, agriculture, war and medicine and now it must be applied to the family, nation or the human race.

          Haldane says that the scientist is superior to God as he is ethically neutral. The scientist works out the consequences of many actions but he does not pass judgment on them.  The average man is interested in the emotional and ethical side of a case. But, a scientist is interested in facts.  

`      Haldane gives two examples for scientific spirit – one, the problem of the American Negro and other, the problem of disease.  The American Negro is accustomed to the hot climate of the cotton estates in the Southern states.  His population increases there.  If he is made to live in luxury, he loses his stamina and even dies.  So the scientist prefers the Negro to live a life of hardship.

         Science has given the miraculous drugs to destroy diseases. But we lack the scientific spirit to use it properly. For example, diabetics can be cured by taking insulin regularly. Typhoid can be controlled by using boiled water. Diphtheria, small pox and measles the air bone diseases, can be prevented by public efforts. But most of the people do not care to follow this. The reason is that we do not have scientific spirit.  In addition, we do not take steps to correct it. Thus, Haldane highlights the importance of spreading scientific spirit.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

I AM NOT THAT WOMAN Poem -- by Kishwar Naheed -Notes - SUMMARY

I AM NOT THAT WOMAN  -- by Kishwar Naheed

        “I am not that woman” is a poem written by Kishwar Naheed, an Indian born poet who migrated to Pakistan. This poem shows the stereotyping of women in a patriarchal society. The phrase ‘that woman’ in the title of the poem mocks at the general conception of women in a male- chauvinistic society.

The author opposes the control of men over women. She says that her reputation is not limited to selling socks and shoes i.e., as a half naked model on the poster. The woman too possesses an intellect and individuality which was not recognized by the men. The speaker tries to explain how the women are discriminated by the men. She complains that the man tries to conceal her identity in the walls of stone, while he wanders around free as the breeze. But she says that her voice cannot be smothered or stifled by stone walls.

The speaker highlights how the women have been crushed by the customs and traditions for generations. She says that light cannot be hidden in darkness.  The Man takes flowers from her only to leave her thorns. However, Man is ignorant to the fact that chains cannot smother her fragrance.

The poet also refers to how a woman’s life is ruined with the dowry system. Due to this, she becomes a liability for her parents. The parents regard themselves as free after ridding themselves of the burden.

Her chastity is not regarded, her motherhood is not respected and her loyalty is not reciprocated. It is now high time for her to be flower-free: to fully blossom realizing herself.  The poet finally ends saying that the nation can be called free when the women are given liberty.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

This Is a Photograph of Me Poem - by Margaret Atwood –Notes - Summary

        This Is a Photograph of Me: Margaret Atwood – Summary

“This is a Photograph of Me” is a poem written by Margaret Atwood, a famous Canadian feminist writer. The title means – “This is a photo others have taken of me” – which symbolically means “This is a history of me which others have created”. So, with the title, Margaret Atwood tries to give her identity in her own words.

The photograph was taken some time ago. The time was not specified. The photograph is not clear, lines are blurred, and the light of the photograph has become dim. In the left hand corner, there are branches of tree. On the right hand side there is a frame house. There is a lake and there are low hills. Hills and lakes keep the woman in shadow. The speaker is not taken out of the lake. She is dipped and left in the lake.

All this description has symbolic meaning. The Photograph stands for the women’s history which is not clear; light stands for the creativity of the woman. Patriarchy ignores the contribution of female.  On the right hand side, there is a frame House which stands for male and left hand side (branches) stands for female. Left hand is normally weaker than right hand. Females are supposed to be weaker than male. Lake stands for the society, which is mainly responsible for distorting her identity.

In the final stanza there is a shift in tone. “If you look carefully, you will be able to see me. Photograph is dim, its true but I am there” – which means that the women’s work was undermined   but her presence was there. The society may destroy the photograph but cannot destroy the woman’s existence. Therefore the speaker does not like to historicize the time. Thus, the poem is showing the identity crisis of the women.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

STOPPING BY WOODS poem –by ROBERT FROST - Notes - SUMMARY

STOPPING BY WOODS – ROBERT FROST

“Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening” is a poem written by Robert Frost.  This is a simple narrative poem with powerful message.  

One evening, the narrator was travelling through the woods. He stopped by the woods to watch the beautiful scenery. The owner of the woods lived in the village. When the narrator stopped there, the little horse thought it queer. It shook its bells to caution the poet whether there was some mistake.  

The scenery was very beautiful with the woods and frozen lake. But, the poet was suddenly awakened to the reality of keeping up his promises.  Though he was very much fascinated by the beauty of the woods, he could not continue to stay over there.  

The poet concludes the poem with a refrain “And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep”.  Thus, Frost conveyed the profound message by these two lines.  We should not be enamored of physical charm and beauty at the expense of our sense of duty and responsibility. 

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

ODE ON SOLITUDE Poem - Alexander Pope - Notes - summary

 Ode on Solitude

-      Alexander Pope

“Ode on Solitude” is a poem written by Alexander Pope. In this poem, Pope expresses his desire to lead a quiet and secluded life, with minimal assets.

The poet prefers to have just a few acres of land. He would not like to go anywhere out of his native region. He would like to breathe the air of his ancestral place. He wants to have a comfortable and self-sufficient life. He would get milk from the herds, food from the fields, wool for clothing from the sheep. He prefers to be under the shadow of trees during summer, and use the wood to make fire during the winter. All that required is good health, peace of mind and quietness.  He would spend his days in study and leisure; and live a life of a innocence and thought.

The final note is that the poet would like to live an oblivious life, with no necessity to be mourned or missed once he passes away.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

THE EYES ARE NOT HERE - Short story –by RUSKIN BOND - Notes - SUMMARY

THE EYES ARE NOT HERE – RUSKIN BOND

          “The Eyes are Not Here” is a beautiful and delightful short story written by Ruskin Bond.   The writer narrated the story in first person.  

         The narrator was a blind young man.  He was travelling to Dehra.  A young girl boarded the train alone. The writer carefully observed the precautions being given to her by her parents.  The narrator slowly acquainted with the girl and asked where she was going.  She told him that she would get down at Shahrampur which was hardly 2 hours journey.  The writer took all his precautions and hid the fact that he was blind.  He complimented the girl saying that she had an interesting face. She felt delighted for such a remark as all others said that she had a pretty face. The writer was attracted towards her sweet voice and the scented smell of her hair.

          When the girl was about to get down, he felt like touching her hair.  But his modesty prevented him from doing so. After she got down, another passenger entered the compartment.  The narrator asked the new person whether the girl’s hair was long or short. The new passenger answered that he noticed only her eyes and not her hair. He further said that she had beautifully eyes- but they were of no use. This meant that the girl was also blind. With this deeply touching twist, the story ended.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

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Some Comprehension Questions:

The Eyes are Not Here

QUESTIONS

1.       Who boarded the train at Rohana?

Ans:  A girl boarded the train at Rohana.

2.       “It would take me some time to discover something about her looks, and perhaps I never would.” Why did the young man say so?

Ans: Because the young man is blind. Hence, he cannot see the girl.

3.       Where was the girl going?

Ans: The girl was going to Saharanpur.

4.       Where was the young man going?

Ans: The young man was going to Dehra, and then to Mussorie.

5.       How did the young man describe the pleasant weather of Mussorie in October?

Ans: The young man described the pleasant weather of Mussorie in October saying that it was the best time. He said that the hills are covered with wild dahlias, the sun is delicious, and log-fires are there at night, the tourists are less, and the roads are quiet and it is the best time.

6.       What was the young man’s remark about the girl’s face?

Ans: The young man remarked that the girl has an interesting face.

7.       What was the young man thinking about the girl’s hair?

Ans:  The young man was thinking whether the girl wore her hair in a bun, or if it was braided, or if it hung loose over her shoulders, or if it was cut very short.

8.       “But her next question removed my doubts.” What were the doubts in the young man’s mind?

Ans: The young man was doubtful whether the girl noticed that he was blind.

9.       Which fact came as a surprise to the young man from the new fellow traveler?

Ans:  The new fellow traveler revealed the surprising fact that the girl was blind. Her eyes were beautiful, but they were of no use. This fact was a surprise to the young man. 

On Saying Please - Essay - by A.G. Gardiner - Notes - SUMMARY

On saying Please

----A.G. Gardiner

“On Saying Please” is an essay written by A.G. Gardiner. This is a delightful, humorous and thought-provoking essay.

Gardiner begins his essay narrating an incident where a lift-man threw a passenger out of the lift for not being polite with him. While acknowledging the fault of the lift-man, Gardiner emphasizes on the importance of polite behavior.  He says that bad manners are more poisonous than other crimes.  But, he stresses the fact that law cannot be the guardian of our private manners.

Gardiner refers to a bus conductor, who won the hearts of passengers with his polite behavior and helping nature. The conductor helps the writer when he has no money to buy ticket. The conductor supports old and handicapped passengers in their travel.

Gardiner says that the small courteous words like “please”, “Thank you”, and “Sorry”, etc., help to improve human relations.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200

The Power of Prayer - Essay- by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam - Notes - SUMMARY

The Power of Prayer

----Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

          “The power of Prayer” is an essay written by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. This is an extract from his book –“Wings of Fire”.  In this essay, Kalam speaks about the power of prayer.

          Dr. Abdul Kalam comes from a humble background  Though his parents are not wealthy, they are very kind and generous.  Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen is a close friend of the high priest of Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry.

          Kalam’s father conveys complex spiritual concepts in very simplew, down-to- earth Tamil. He believes that every human being is an important element in the divine creation.  He says that through prayer, the individual’s soul transcends his body and becomes a part of the cosmos.  The Universal spirit has no division of wealth, age, caste, or creed. Kalam expresses his gratitude towards God. He says that he owes all his achievements to God.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, 

Alamuru.

Ph: 7981862200