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Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power | Video on TED.com

2009-12-04T13:44:00.002+05:30

India's Foreing Affairs Minister (State) at TED talk. He talks about India's development over the year. Very useful talk. His english is superb. Listen and learn. Here i go. Over to Shashi.

Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power | Video on TED.com

English For International use

2009-11-28T13:21:00.000+05:30

Here is a useful TED India video. It is about English language and its different uses in the international sphere. As the world is but a comity of nations dependent on each other for various needs and requirements like financial, political, economic, social, bilateral or multi-lateral nature the language of English is but a useful bridge to help foster international friendship, mutual understanding or multi-lateral talks. The speaker is Jay Walker and the video is a part of the series of talks by TEDtalks. Well, no more. Here i go.

Thanks

Son Arguing with Father

2009-11-23T17:17:00.000+05:30

Right from the second week of October I could not update this blog and this is going to be the first post of November. Thank you for bearing this recess. As told i was writing a novel as a part Of Nanowrimo challenge. Here is my profile url. Let me share with you the very first chapter of my novel for you people to read. This is but a crude version, without any editing or grammar checking as generally those things are done at a later stage after completing the manuscript. Now i have completed the novel. So here i go.

“What do you think me, a stringed puppet or a programmed robot,” Akash fulminated at his father Vidya.

When Akash showed his anger, her mother Nirmala with whom Akash had no talking terms was listening from inside a room. Her mind was seething in anger and many answers and questions were popping up in her wicked mind.

“What do you mean by that?” his father asked.

“Look, you’ve done enough to devastate my life thoroughly. Please for God’s sake, stop here before I burst and do something unexpected and awkward.”

“I just could not know, what exactly you meant?”

“Look, father, it is Akash. Had it been some other person, you might not be in a position to ask these silly questions. My wretched present is for you people only. Shit!”

Akash was not able to sit on a chair but his father was so composed that he was sitting in complacency and had no idea of the story weather that is going to sweep the earth below his feet.

“Akash, you’ve become so tough in the meanwhile,” his father said.

“What tough? You people have transformed me into a mound of stone; a stone without any feelings, a stone without any voice, a stone without any tears or sensation. The ossification of this Akash is solely for you two people.” Akash for the first time clubbed his mother directly with his father.

“But why don’t you want to marry now?”

“Oh, stop this nonsense. Can’t you allow this stone to remain attached to a particular piece of the earth? At least spare me to my fate. Don’t play football with me.”

“But we have given words to the bride side,” his mother said entering the whirlpool of the stormy weather.

“What!! This was the last nail in my coffin. I was mistaken that though you are my enemy no one, you were not supposed to do this to me. But I rue now. Without my knowledge, how come you have gone to that extent? Amazing indeed. You are so arbitrary that you didn’t think it suitable to ask me before advancing to that distance. I was completely routed and bruised, that’s okay. But now you are playing with the life of an innocent girl, who is no way related to you. You have been dribbling me like a football as I am your son but that naïve girl… Oh you even didn’t spare her too. You’re parents or licensed butcher, I could not make out,” Akash thundered and showed his loath towards his parents.

His father had no idea that his son Akash can be so tough and brusque. “How come you can utter such derisive and brusque words with your parents?” asked his father.

“Derisive? Dictionaries of the world lack a befitting terms to describe parents like you,” Akash replied.

“Speak up your mind and unload yourself,” his father said.

“What will happen then, my lost time would not return. Can you return my time? No, you cannot. The greatest irony of my life is that I am not even allowed to speak frankly and guard my interest because I am a plaything in your hands,” Akash argued back.

“Hmm….”

“Take deep breath… the only friend of mine in loneliness. You people just ensured my devastation thoroughly,” said he.

“Goodness me… I had no idea that in the meanwhile there happened a great transformation in you. You are not the same son for whom I was proud of. Now I think I had done some mistakes in your upbringing,” his father said.

“Upbringing… I can say that you had done no mistakes as it was for your appropriate upbringing I was silent till this time and witnessing my drowning. When much water was flown from the Ganges, I had opened my mouth. You have failed as a father.”

“Failed and me?” His father showed his amazement.

“Yes, a complete failure. Look, the forty-fourth springs of my life is approaching. You have spoiled my life. Despite knowing my sapping from within, as a part of my duty towards you, I didn’t even utter a single word about my marriage, did I? Now, when marriage means straight suicide for me, all of a sudden you people remembered your son. Bah! You’ve reduced me to a mocking object and have made my life miserable. Still for what I have been living, don’t know. Now, at least do me a favor and forget your parental responsibility. Please, allow me to die a peaceful death,” Akash requested.

“You’ll not understand, Akash.”

“Oh shit! Look, don’t pressurize me to forget you. At 43 you just cannot say like this to me. I know everything. My friend just want see a portrait of you people in the State Museum as you are great parents. You doused my fire and when it is in tranquility, you are firing that again thereby ensuring another round of ravage on my life.”

Someone knocked at the door of Akash. “Yike. Who is there?” His dream was disrupted before coming to the logical conclusion. He woke up rubbing his eyes. When five minutes passed in the meanwhile, the door knocked again though gently.

“Akash…Akash, you there, man?” a familiar voice reverberated.

“Ye…yes, coming,” Akash replied.

He opened the door. “Oh, you…Raj… Come in, come in,” he said trying to maintain his usual smile. Both entered inside. He provided a chair to Raj.

“What happened…your cell phone is switched off?”

“Switched off…no way.” He picked up his phone which was beside his pillow. “Look, it is switched on. Signal is vibrant.”

“Oh, I see. Might be a network glitch.”

Akash went inside and washed up his eyes and face. “Raj, what do you want, tea or coffee?” he asked from the kitchen.

“Oh, come on Akash. Thanks for asking.”

“No formality. Just asking. By the way, I need a coffee. Coffee will do, I am sure?” Akash asked.

After sometimes, Akash returned with tray, with two cups of coffee. Both shared coffee.

“Akash, yesterday was your rest day. Your eyes tell your dating with…” he smiled.

“Yes, for quite sometime, a McDowell No 1 bottle was lying unused. Whenever I would go near or open my cupboard, it would ask me to embrace. I just wanted to avoid for what reason, don’t know. But finally last night’s weather just egged me to embrace.

“Look, Akash I don’t want to advise you but don’t know why, my inner self wants to ask you some questions to you,” Raj said.

“Like…” paused Akash.

“For how long, will you lead this lackluster and wretched life?”

“Interestingly, I too ask the same question to my self but sadly I cannot get any answer. Raj, it has become a poser that lacks an answer, I think.”

“Coffee was tasty and strong. Thanks. Your wife would feel happy finding a husband like you. Or, a cook to say precisely. Lol”

“Ha…ha.”

Both smiled and Akash said, “Come on, I’ll be relaxing, if such a day would come. This is too much. I have been cooking for the last eight years,” he said and became gloomy. “My parents have just reduced me to this position. What shall I say?”

“I see.”

By that time he had become so saddened that he would pick up any subject matter and would repeat the same thing that his parents have made his life miserable. Raj realized his feeling.

“At this age what’s the use of marrying and destroying a life of an innocent girl.”

“What your parents are doing man… really inscrutable. Aren’t they doing anything to fix marriages of your rest two sisters?”

“My father is neutral but my mother has got different design in her wicked mind.”

“Means…?

“Look, my father goes to various places searching for proposals for my sisters. But my mothers as usual would show her objections on each and every proposal. She is the real mover and shaker. My innocent father just follows her meekly.”

“What is brewing in your mother’s mind?”

“She wants a proposal who would take fewer amounts as dowry. She wants a proposal within Prayag Nagar. This she does to ensure that her daughters would be available on call, as she knows very well that I would not like to stay with her as we have no talking terms and I don’t like her. She knows very well that I am not going to be beside her after marriage nor my wife would stay with her to help.”

“This is ridiculous. Everything to one’s interest just is not possible friend. Marriages happen in India solely for compromises between the bride and groom’s party. Unless there are such compromises, I don’t think one can fix one’s marriage. When one belongs to the bride’s side then one will have to play second fiddle to the groom’s side. Means one will have to compromise more,” Raj said.

“My father is such an uxorious that he would not do anything that my mother does not want. She would not like to part with his hard earned saving, nor would like to take money from me. What’s the use of my money when it is not used? Nothing.”

“Your story is really interesting and tearful.”

“When everything would be unfolded what would happen to you God knows.”

“Okay, I will share that with you but on some other day.” Cell phone of Raj ranged. “Lo, your wife is calling you,” Akash said smiling.

“Okay, I am coming,” Raj said to his wife over phone. “Okay, Akash good night.”

“Good night man.”

Akash accompanied Raj till the end of the stair. He returned and began preparing for his supper.

Thank you friends.

Thought Remained in Brain

2009-10-30T13:02:00.001+05:30

Sitting on a train, stressed was my brain,

Saw a beauty bedecked, gave glee to brain.

Holding a hand fan, cuing again and again,

Gosh! Hijacked my peace, bubbled my brain.

A ray of smile, gathered my lips twosome,

Smiled she back, that struck my brain.

Fanning and stealing glances, my activities, the same.

Body like an alien crane, color colored my brain.

Eyes captivating and black, became I an instant insane,

Cerise chubby cheeks; went into coma my brain.

Lying on my berth, completely out of sense,

Came she near, sense gained my brain.

How are you, asked she smiling, I had an incarnation,

Wish could have told, love you! Alas! Thought remain in brain.

Vocabulary from Animals 3

2009-10-25T08:24:00.003+05:30

Here is the final part of the series Vocabulary from Animals. The links for the other two posts are given below.

Vocabulary from Animal

Vocabulary from Animals 2

Monkey (Adj. Simian)

Monkey (n): A mischievous person

Monkey about: Behave in a stupid or careless way

Monkey wrench: An adjustable spanner

Monkey’s wedding: A simultaneous occurrence of sunshine and drizzle

Have a monkey on your back: To have an addiction to drugs

Wolf (Adj. Lupine)

Wolf: A man given to seducing women

Wolf down: Devour something greedily

Wolf whistle: A whistle indicating sexual admiration

Cry Wolf: Raise repeated false alarms

Have a wolf in the stomach: To be ravenously hungry

Tiger (Adj. Tigrine)

Tiger: A cruel or formidable person

Tigerish: Fierce tempered

Tiger footed: Fiercely swift

Paper Tiger: An opponent who seems strong but is actually weak

Snake (Adj. Ophidian)

Snake (n): Someone who cannot be trusted

Snaky: Cold and cunning; ungrateful

Snake-hipped: slim-hipped

Snake along: Move in long twisting curves

Snake in the grass: A lurking danger, a person who injures furtively

Rat (Adj. Murine)

Rat (n): A traitor, a mean, untrustworthy person

Ratty: Irritable, bad-tempered

Rat on: betray somebody’s trust.

Rat pack: A group of aggressively journalists and photographers.

: Rowdy gang of youngsters

Rat race: a fiercely competitive struggle for power, position, wealth etc.

Smell a rat: Guess that something wrong is happening

Like rats deserting a sinking ship: people leaving an organization when it is in trouble.

Donkey (Adj. Asinine)

Donkey vote: A system of voting in which preferences are marked in the order in the ballot paper

Donkey: A stupid or foolish person

Donkey engine: A small auxiliary engine

Donkey jacket: A thick weather proof jacket

Donkey work: drudgery, laborious part of a job

Donkey’s years: a very long time

Talk the hind leg off a donkey: Talk continuously

Fox (Adj. Vulpine)

Fox: A sly, cunning person

Foxy: clever in a deceitful way

Fox hole: A hole in the ground used as a shelter

Fox trot: A type of ballroom dance

Squirrel (Adj. Sciurine)

Squirrel: A hoarder

Squirrelly: Very eccentric or odd

Squirrel away: Keep valuables in a safe place to use later

Squirrel cage: A dull, purposeless task.

Ape (Adj. Simian)

Ape: An imitator

Ape: To mimic

Go ape: To become crazy

Mule (Adj. Mulish)

Mule: A stupid or obstinate person, a drug courier

Mulish: stubborn, obstinate and unwilling to cooperate

Buffalo (Adj. bubaline)

Buffalo: To intimidate

Buffalo grass: grown as a lawn grass

Buffalo wings: Crispy spicy chicken wings

Elephant (Adj. Elephantine)

Elephantine: Clumsy and unwieldy (Size)

: Reliable and extensive (Memory)

White elephant: A possession that is useless or troublesome

Miscellaneous:

Crocodile tears: False tears or sorrow without heart-felt feelings

Stag party: A bachelor party on the eve of a man’s wedding.

So here comes the end of the third part of the series Vocabulary from Animals. Here are the links to other two posts for your quick access.

Vocabulary from Animal

Vocabulary from Animals 2

Bye for now.

Thanks

Vocabulary from Animals 2

2009-10-22T12:28:00.000+05:30

Here is the second part of Vocabulary from Animals. The first can be accessed here.

Pig: Adj. Porcine

Pig (N): A greedy, dirty, obstinate person.

Pigheaded: Stupidly stubborn, obstinate.

Pigsty: A dirty or untidy place.

Piggy Back: Ride on someone’s back and shoulders.

Cow: Adj. Bovine

Cow (v): To Intimidate, to frighten somebody into submission.

Cowish: Cowardly.

Cow College: A college in a remote rural area.

Cow boy: A dishonest, reckless or unqualified businessman.

Till the cows come home: For an indefinitely long time.

Rabbit: Adj. Leporine

Rabbit (n): A novice, a beginner or unskillful player of a game.

Rabbit on: to chatter, talk excessively in an annoying way.

Rabbit punch: hit on the nape of the neck with the side of the hand.

Rabbit food: A vegetarian diet providing insufficient nutrition.

Sheep: Adj. Ovine

Sheep (n): A shy, easily led person.

Sheepish: Embarrassed, uncomfortable.

Black sheep: A disrespectful member of family.

Separate the sheep from the goats: Identify the people who are intelligent and successful.

Bear: Adj. Ursine

Bear (n): A rough, unmannerly person. Who anticipates fall in the price of shares.

Bear hug: a rough, tight embrace.

Bear garden: A turbulent assembly.

Bugbear: An object of baseless fear.

Like a bear with a sore head: Very bed tempered.

Lion: Adj. Leonine.

Lion (n): a brave or celebrated person.

Lionize: treat someone as being important or famous.

Lion-hearted: Very brave.

The lion’s share: The largest or the best part.

In the lion’s: The lion’s share.

Will be back with the third part. Till then it’s bye for now.

Follow me in twitter for more such short lessons.

Vocabulary from Animals

2009-10-21T08:37:00.001+05:30

English vocabulary is rich, as it derives words from various sources. Like colors, numbers even animal world has also influenced its vocabulary in a great way. Here is a list of vocabulary related to animals.

Bull: Adj. Taurine

Bull: (N) a strong and heavy set of man, a man who anticipates a rise in the price of shares.

Bull Dance: A dance of men only.

Bull-headed: Obstinate and uncooperative.

Bull’s eye: The centre of target.

Bulldoze: Use force to persuade some one, intimidate.

Like a bull in a China Shop: Behaving clumsily in a delicate situation.

Cat: Adj. Feline

Cat (n): A malicious or spite woman.

Catnap: A short sleep during the day without lying down.

Cat’s eye: A reflector, Reflective studs marking lanes/ streets.

Cat walk: A narrow platform for the models in a fashion show. Walk in ramp.

Rain cats and dogs: heavy rain.

Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret unintentionally.

See which way the cat jumps: Wait and see how things are going to turn out.

Dog: Adj. Canine

Dog (V) Pursue, follow closely and persistently.

Dogged: Stubbornly determined.

Dog end: Something left over.

Go to the dogs: Deteriorate, get much worse.

Dog’s chance: No chance.

Dog-eat-dog: Ruthless pursuit of one’s own interest.

Underdog: A person who is weak and is treated badly.

Dog in the manger: Someone who prevents others from using something even though he has no use of it.

Goat: Adj. Caprine

Goat (n): A lecherous man who annoys women.

Goatee: A small pointed beard on the end of a man’s chin.

Scapegoat: person blamed or punished for the fault of others.

Play the giddy goat: Behave in a silly way.

Hare: Adj. Leporine

Hare (V): Run very fast, usually in an uncontrolled way.

Start a hare: Raise a topic of conversation.

Hare-brained: Not practical, foolish.

Hare lip: Cleft lip.

Run with the hare and hunt with hounds: Try to support both sides in an argument.

Horse: Adj. Equine

Horse (sl) A heroine.

Dark horse: Little known person who wins unexpectedly.

White horse: A willing and obliging worker.

Horse sense: Shrewd bargaining.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: Information from a person having direct knowledge.

Friends and followers, this much for today. I am very sorry for not updating my blog that frequently for quite sometime. At present I am busy writing my second novel. At the same time I am also busy preparing for the Nanowrimo 2009. So, till the end of November, I may not be able to update this blog that frequently. Sorry for the inconvenience but please bear with the temporary phase.

The blogger.

Fake Currency

2009-09-25T13:21:00.000+05:30

The other day the sun was shinning brightly. The autumn had just set in. There was festivity around. All of a sudden I realized that it was long ago, last I visited my bank. It was my rest day as I decided to go to the bank to deposit some money. The autumnal sun was spewing heat and considering this I wore a pant and a T Shirt. Usually, I always put on casuals during off duty. I brought out my bike and sped to the bank that was 2.5 kilometers away from my house. In no time, I was in front of the bank premises. There was no room left for parking my vehicle solely for haphazard parking in front of the gate. Anyway, the security guard helped me in parking my vehicle. Thanking him, I entered the bank and looked around for a Deposit Form. Soon my eyes located a form counter and my hand supported my thought. Oh, what happened there was no pen in my shirt pocket. “Shit.” I rued for not bringing a pen. I was helpless and a bit shameful rather angry with my obliviousness or absentmindedness. Soon a part of my mind tried to pacify me and egged me to compromise with the situation. I decided to beg a pen from a fellow customer.

“Excuse me. May I have your pen please for sometime?” I asked one gentleman standing near the form counter. He smilingly handed over his pen to me. I was happy and soon busied myself in filing the necessary details like my name, account number and amount in both figures and numbers. I was halfway down the form when the gentleman came near and said, “Sorry, I will have to leave the bank now.”

Though I was yet to finish filing the details still I handed over his pen. Then I approached another person who just came in to the bank. The person plainly refused, as he was to fill the form. It was justified too.

Oh, it was too much and my patience was about to burst at any moment. I came out of the bank to purchase a pen for instant use. I went straight to a shop and asked the shop owner to give me a pen. The next time I realized that there were no notes of small denominations in my purse and for a mere pen of five or ten rupees a shopkeeper would not like to part with his changes.

“Sorry, I have no change.” Then I entered the bank premises again as it was just not possible to rush back to my house. I saw a lady who seemed to be a bank staff was busy gossiping with a boy possibly her friend. I saw the gentleman had a pen in his pocket and he was not filling any form either. I approached him for his pen for sometime. He smilingly handed over that to me. I then filled up all details in a hurry as I was not ready to beg a pen for the fourth time. Further, there was no guarantee that the person was to sit there for long. After filling the form I turned back to find the pair missing from their chairs. I eyed around the bank but no one matched with the impression that my mind had stored. I then stood in the queue at the same time locating the person in mind. After sometime, I found the person coming towards the counter. I was thanking the person in mind. I handed over his pen that was interestingly still in my hand.

There were two lady teller clerks. They were working amid chatting. The bouts of giggles were extra bonus for customers standing there to forget the pain of standing in a queue. Whether they were thirsty or not, still they were drinking thimbles of water from their colorful water bottles. I thought it was just to wet their throat and not to quench thirst. One was carefully careless and at regular interval she was setting her dupatta (Long scarf.) I saw the other one was checking her vanity bag for nothing as I could not notice her bringing out anything. Then all of a sudden a cell phone rang. It was from the cell of the clerk of the teller at which I was standing. For sometime, a ring tone of a popular Hindi movie pierced and dominated the near serenity of the bank. No doubt, they were working as they were leaving their chairs carrying checks of customers to a proper authority for verification or counter signing.

Customers standing in front of me finished their works and I presented my form along with ten thousand rupees. The clerk just decided to check the notes of higher denominations. Lo the next moment she said, “Look gentleman one of your five hundred notes is fake. You will have to correct your amount entry accordingly.”

It was a blow out of blue for me. “What! Let me see,” I asked stretching my hand to hold the note.

“Look at the notice here,” she said showing a notice to me that read “Fake notes detected at the counter will not be returned to the customers.”

“And what about the value of the note? Who will bear the loss?”

“Obviously, you and who else?” she replied with ruthless simplicity as there was no trace of sympathy. It was professionalism speaking, I thought.

“What did you say, I will bear the loss?”

“Yes you heard it right,” she replied.

“You are not returning the fake note to me nor are you giving me notes of equal value. What absurd are you saying?”

“Look, Mr. you are hampering my smooth working,” the girl said showing her pettishness or sternness.

“Man can forget the death of his father than patrimony,” said Karl Marx rightly. Further it was not a matter of one or two or ten rupee for me. I was losing five hundreds which was a big sum for me. I was not prepared to leave the bank and the counter unless I was handed over the fake note or deposit my sum without any deduction.

“Go to hell. How come you are seizing fake notes and not returning the same value to your customers?” I asked.

“We are instructed by the Reserve Bank of India to do so but we are not instructed to refund money of same value,” a bespectacled gentleman in his forties said.

“For the incapacity of the administration to stop circulation of fake currencies, I am not prepared to bear the loss as a punishment of its inability. It’s a promissory note and I must be refunded notes of equal value,” I argued back.

“Look, Mr. Government has also instructed us to hand over those customers to the police for circulating fake notes.”

“How ridiculous! Instead of doing something substantial it is trying to punish the innocent.”

“So please rectify your form and deposit accordingly,” he said.

“No way. You seem to be showing mercy on me. I will not budge an inch from the counter. People in the unorganized sectors are not even getting a hundred for one day’s work and five hundred is more than that. For your kind information, look at the notes which are serial in numbers and new. I have just withdrawn those from an ATM of another bank. ATM is giving fake note that is okay and when the same note is presented to a bank, the person is branded a culprit. Look, you are just depriving me of my hard earned money.”

“Okay, we will have to call the police as last option,” the bespectacled gentleman who seemed to be the bank manager said.

The police came within 15 minutes or so. They got hold of me like a hardcore terrorist. With arguments and counter arguments, I was taken to the police station. There I was tortured to reveal the name of the kingpin. My friends gathered and arranged for my bail next day. They called the State Human Right cell.

Finally, the case came up in the high court. To my happiness, the high court bought my arguments. There was thunderous clapping in the court. It ordered the government to compensate the loss of money and honor that I lost. It also ordered to do something substantial to check the circulation of fake currencies. Further, it ordered not to harass common men if a fake note was found or detected with them.

“There should be a mechanism to refund the value and adequate security measures should be taken while printing notes so that faking can be avoided or checked,” the court ordered.

We celebrated with our victory. There was smile and smile. The other day I was made a hero as stories ran in every newspaper about the court verdict. People celebrated as there was no fear of losing money as a result of fake currencies.

Irregular Verbs and Their Different forms Part 2

2009-09-25T02:26:00.001+05:30

Here is the second part of the series.

Present	Past	Past Participle
Arise	Arose	Arisen
Be	Was/Were	Been
Beat	Beat	Beaten
Befall	Befell	Befallen
Behold	Beheld	Beheld
Bereave	Bereaved	Bereft/Bereaved
Bet	Bet/Betted	Betted/Bet
Bid (Offer)	Bid	Bid
Bite	Bit	Bitten
Blow	Blew	Blown
Breed	Bred	Bred
Broadcast	Broadcast	Broadcast
Burn	Burned/Burnt	Burned/Burnt
Buy	Bought	Bought
Catch	Caught	Caught
Choose	Chose(pron)	Chosen
Cling	Clung	Clung
Come	Came	Come
Creep	Crept	Crept
Cut	Cut	Cut
Deal	Dealt	Dealt
Do	Did	Done
Dream	Dreamed/Dreamt	Dreamed/Dreamt
Drive	Drove	Driven
Eat	Ate	Eaten
Feed	Fed	Fed
Fight	Fought	Fought
Flee	Fled	Fled
Fly	Flew	Flown
Forbid	Forbade	Forbidden
Forgive	Forgave	Forgiven
Freeze	Froze	Frozen
Gild	Gilded/Gilt	Gilded/Gilt
Give	Gave	Given
Grind	Ground	Ground
Hang	Hung/Hanged	Hung/Hanged
Hear	Heard	Heard
Hide	Hid	Hidden
Hold	Held	Held
Keep	Kept	Kept
Knit	Knit/Knitted	Knit/Knitted
Lay	Laid	laid
Lean	Leaned/Leant	Leaned/Leant
Learn	Learned/Learnt	Learned/Learnt
Lend	Lent	lent
Lie	Lay	Lain
Lose	Lost	Lost
Mean	Meant	Meant
Mow	Mowed	Mowed/Mown
Put	Put	Put
Rend	Rent	Rent
Ride	Rode	Ridden
Rise	Rose	Risen
Saw	Sawed	Sawed/Sawn
Sell	Sold	Sold
Set	Set	Set
Shake	Shook	Shaken
Shed	Shed	Shed
Shoe	Shoed/Shod	Shoed/Shod
Show	Showed	Showed/Shown
Shut	Shut	Shut
Sink	Sank	Sunk
Slay	Slew	Slain
Slide	Slid	Slid
Slink	Slunk	Slunk
Smell	Smelled/Smelt	Smelled/Smelt
Sow	Sowed	Sowed/Sown
Speed	Speeded/Sped	Speeded/Sped
Spend	Spent	Spent
Spin	Spun	Spun
Split	Split	Split
Spread	Spread	Spread
Stand	Stood	Stood
Stick	Stuck	Stuck
Stink	Stank/Stunk	Stank/Stunk
Stride	Strode	Stridden
String	Strung	Strung
Swear	Swore	Sworn
Swell	Swelled	Swelled/Swollen
Swing	Swung	Swung
Teach	Taught	Taught
Tell	Told	Told
Thrive	Thrived/Throve	Thrived/Thriven
Thrust	Thrust	Thrust
Wake	Waked/Woke	Woken/Waked
Weave	Wove	Woven
Wet	Wet/Wetted	Wet/Wetted
Wind	Wound	Wound
Write	Wrote	Written

Thanks

Irregular Verbs and Their Different Forms

2009-09-25T02:12:00.004+05:30

Knowing different verbs and their different form is not a tough task. Daily reading of various magazines, newspapers, listening to friends or teachers speaking, one comes to know about them. But here is a list of irregular verb forms that one need to learn or rote or uses them consistently in writing and speaking to master them. Those who learn English as a second language need to master them to avoid committing silly mistakes. So here I go.

Present	Past	Past Participle
Abide	Abode	Abode
Awake	Awoke/Awaked	Awoken/Awaked
Bear	Bore	Borne/Born
Become	Became	Become
Beget	Began	Begun
Bend	Bent	Bent
Beseech	Besought	Besought
Bid (Command)	Bade	Bidden
Bind	Bound	Bound
Bleed	Bled	Bled
Break	Broke	Broken
Bring	Brought	Brought
Build	Built	Built
Burst	Burst	Burst
Cast	Cast	Cast
Chide	Chid/Chided	Chidden/Chided
Cleave	Clove/Cleft	Cloven/Cleft
Clothe	Clothed/Clad	Clothed/Clad
Cost	Cost	Cost
Crow	Crowed/Crew	Crowed
Dare	Dared/Durst	Dared/Durst
Dig	Dug	Dug
Draw	Drew	Drawn
Drink	Drank	Drunk
Dwell	Dwelled/Dwelt	Dwelled/Dwelt
Fall	Fell	Fallen
Feel	Felt	Felt
Find	Found	Found
Fling	Flung	Flung
Forbear	Forbore	Forborne
Forget	Forgot	Forgotten
Forsake	Forsook	Forsaken
Get	Got	Gotten/Got
Gird	Girded/Girt	Girded/Girt
Go	Went	Gone/been
Grow	Grew	Grown
Have	Had	Had
Hew	Hewed	Hewed/Hewn
Hit	Hit	Hit
Hurt	Hurt	Hurt
Kneel	Knelt	Knelt
Know	Knew	Known
Lead	Led	Led
Leap	Leaped/Leapt	Leaped/Leapt
Leave	Left	Left
Let	Let	Let
Light	Lighted/lit	Lighted/lit
Make	Made	Made
Meet	Met	Met
Pay	Paid	Paid
Read(Rid)	Read (Red)	Read (Red)
Ride	Rid	Rid
Ring	Rang	Rung
Run	Ran	Ran
Seek	Sought	Sought
Send	Sent	Sent
Sew	Sewed/Sewn	Sewed/Sewn
Shear	Sheared/Shore	Sheared/Shorn
Shine	Shone	Shone
Shoot	Shot	Shot
Shrink	Shrank	Shrunk
Sing	Sang	Sung
Sit	Sat	Sat
Sleep	Slept	Slept
Sling	Slung	Slung
Slit	Slit	Slit
Smite	Smote	Smitten
Speak	Spoke	Spoken
Spell	Spelled/spelt	Spelled/Spelt
Spill	Spilled/Spilt	Spilled/Spilt
Spit	Spat	Spat
Spoil	Spoiled/Spoilt	Spoiled/Spoilt
Spring	Sprang	Sprung
Steal	Stole	Stolen
Sting	Stung	Stung
Strew	Strewed	Strewed/Strewn
Strike	Struck	Struck
Strive	Strove	Striven
Sweep	Swept	Swept
Swim	Swam	Swum
Take	Took	Taken
Tear	Tore	Torn
Think	Thought	Thought
Throw	Threw	Thrown
Tread	Trod	Trod/Trodden
Wear	Wore	Worn
Weep	Wept	Wept
Win	Won	Won
Wring	Wrung	Wrung

Thanks

Fish Musing

2009-09-23T08:54:00.001+05:30

It was a bright morning. The sun was shinning brightly. Daniel and John were sitting in the reading room of John. They ended up the tea served by John's mother. They were busy chatting on some expression about English vocabulary.

"Hey, you have just back from theater, how was the film?” asked Daniel.

“Oh, yes it was full of FISH FIGHTS, nothing special or fantastic, a boring one indeed,” replied John.

“Fish Fights? What does that expression mean?”

“Oh, this is only a fight between two. It is slang,” John answered and continued, “You can say even a man fish.”

“Means? Fish can be used in other sense too?” Daniel looked confused.

“Yes. When you refer to a person as a “Fish” what you mean is he/she is stupid or very clumsy,” John elaborated.

“Oh, there is another expression I have heard that is “Big Fish in a small pond.” I understand the expression but don’t know how to use it exactly. Can you please elaborate?”

“Well, when you say that someone is a big fish in a small pond, it means that the person is an important person in a very small place or office.”

“I see.”

“You know about another expression Cold Fish?” John Asked.

“Cold fish, what does that mean? Oh, I am confused even fish can be cold.” Daniel was in a fix.

“Yes, there is one. Here is an example. His boss is a cold fish and it is very difficult to work with him. Did you get the meaning?” John asked.

“I see it is used as a negative word, but exactly cannot understand it. Could you please elaborate further?”

“That means his boss is unfriendly.” John smiled.

“Hmm..”

“Even you can refer to a person who happens to be reserve and does not show his emotions to others. Rest assured you are not a cold fish.”

Both laughed.

“Have you ever used the expression ‘Fish or cut bait’ in your speaking or writing?”

“What, there is another one! Oh fish, without water how come you live so easily.” Daniel smiled.

“Yes, you will have to ask the fish proper how it is living without water. Lol. But as far as the meaning of the expression is concerned it is said to a person to finish a job or leave or quit,” John said.

“You might have heard Fishy?” John asked Daniel.

“Fishy, is that a word?”

“Why not. Just open your dictionary and see for yourself.”

“Oh, fish you are giving me trouble. I will certainly fish you one day.”

“Okay. Here is a google link that you can click and know for your self.” http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=define%3Afishy&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enIN338IN338&ie=UTF-8

“Okay, let’s wind up today’s session. The air smells of fish and the fishiness of the air is just unbearable. I think there is something fishy in today’s lesson as a fish might have fixed today’s discussion. Lol. My mother has prepared fish and I will have to rush home as it is high time.” Daniel said

“So, good day to you friend. But don’t forget to send me a sample,” John said and smiled.

Both wound up their session.

Thanks

Electronic Ticket in Indian Railway

2009-09-18T12:55:00.003+05:30

This is a kind of ticket introduced recently in the Indian Railways solely to tap the vast potential of internet and the ongoing information revolution in India. Day by day the internet users have been increasing and it is this fact that has led Indian Railways to introduce such a ticket. This ticket has got a bright future as the workaholic cultures of the people prohibit them to present themselves in the already queued PRS counters (Public Reservation System). Today it is but a time taking affair to purchase a ticket at the usual conventional counters. Further, if you are not sure of your trains and want someone to guide regarding Timing, Fare, Train Numbers and Reservation Availability Status then there are less possibilities of getting such help instantly. The Reservation clerks happen to be so overloaded with their jobs that they usually leave the inquiry related jobs to the passengers themselves. And the passengers rush to a Wheeler Book Stall to buy a Train Time Table either local or an All India. Further, these books are not available round the year as Indian railway publishes these Guides once in a year and by the year end not a single book is available in any counter or book stalls. After publication this publication sells like hot cake and goes out of counter very soon. Generally, in Indian Railway the timings of the trains change every year in July.

But don’t worry about all these as Indian Railway has taken the help of the internet to reach you and guide you. Indian Railway Trainenquiry Railtelwill guide you in evaporating your doubts related to every thing about Indian Railways. Sorry, I think I am straying around. Lo, I have come back to the Electronic Ticket. As the ticket is booked electronically in the internet it is called Electronic. It is nothing but an earnest effort in the part of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) a subsidiary of Indian Railway to ease the pressure from the conventional counter. In other words it is nothing but going the elite way as middle class and business world use the internet prominently.

PREREQUISITES:

• First, you will have to create an account in the relevant website maintained by the IRCTC.

• You will have to reveal your ATM card number or Credit Card number. Don’t worry, the site is safe and secure. This is done to debit the charges of your Ticket.

• An Identity card issued by any authority. For example, PAN Card, Passport, Voter-Id card or Driving License or I card issued by state or central govt. can do.

• A small amount of commission is deducted for the ticket.

• Enter the website entering your user name and password. And start making your ticket. If you are done, then print a copy that will constitute your ticket along with the original copy of your I-Card.

• All nationalized banks and private banks have got E ticket booking facilities that one can use instead of an account with the Irctc website.

Remember to take the print out and your I-card when you travel. On board ticket checking staff will demand you all these while checking your ticket. In case you fail to provide one then you will be penalized. For example if you fail to bring the ERS (Electronic Reservation Slip) you will be penalized Rs. 50/- per ticket. Recently Indian railway has changed the rule to allow any of the five Identity cards in original to be valid while traveling. (Voter I-card, Passport, PAN Card, Driving Licence and Any I-cards issued by Central and State Governments )And in case one fails to show any identity card listed above he/she is liable to be penalized. And the penalty will be the full fare paid and Rs. 250/- per passenger.

If you happen to be placed on waitlist then make sure it is confirm before making the journey. Railway has devised such a system to drop all wait listed tickets made electronically and the money is automatically refunded to the account of the passenger. If you are detected making journey on such waitlisted ticket then you are liable to be penalized the fare for entire distance that you want to make and Rs. 250/- per passengers. So please check your ticket position before making journey. You can check your position and see if Chart is Done. If Chart is done then there is no possibility of any improvement. Partially waitlisted and partially confirmed tickets holders can travel as in that case the waitlisted tickets are not dropped.

In case you have confirmed ticket and want to cancel partially then you can do so in the relevant website. But this can be done before 4 hours of the Charting Location. If you happen to behind the time then approach the on board ticket checking staff for a Refund certificate. Remember as you have made your ticket electronically you are not entitled to refund across the counter. Instead at your destination approach the ticket checking staff in the station or the station master for a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt). Then write to the IRCTC for refund. In case you happen to be behind schedule and want to cancel the entire ticket then you can do so in the website by applying for an Online TDR.

This ticket is also available for the Tatkal (An Instant type of reservation) scheme should you pay the premium as per class you want. This charge varies according to class. Refer to the website’s relevant links to know about the charges as the charge varies from train to train and from time to time.

The website opens for ticketing at 5 AM and closes at 23.30 hours whereas the conventional counter opens at 8 in the morning and closes at 8 in the evening.

The ticket has been gaining popularity and in days to come it will be the ticket of Indian Railway. So, why wait and queued up in front of a PRS counter. Instead make your ticket yourself and travel hassle free. Bon Voyage! Good luck

Education in Bharat: Resuscitation is the need of the Hour

2009-09-04T21:44:00.005+05:30

Thank god, I have got an internetconnection. By networking with different people of different walks, I have cometo learn and read about many teachers who talk of the uses of technologies likeblogs, virtual class rooms like second learning, online learning through myngle or Livmocha, twitter and other web technologies. But I always think and ask my mind, that howthis can be possible in my country in which a majority of schools have noadequate class rooms, no adequate teachers and even inadequate supply ofbooks. Where teachers training orreorientation is not that easy and not resorted to for inadequate availabilityof funding. They naturally talk of asmall section of people who have got internet connection and the students passtheir time in the World Wide Web. Internet penetration is not uniform in all countries. In the US it may be possible but in Indiathis is not possible.

India is divided into two unequalparts. One is known as Bharat that has gotall problems. It lacks infrastructurelike school, banks, road, rail, access to drinking water, hospital. A majority of Indians live in this part. And agriculture is the only culture theyknow. Agriculture as a way of life, not the commercial type, if you arethinking so. They live a live of penury and wants. They don’t know about their rights and theRight to Information is nothing for them. They send their children to schools because others say education isgood. But how education can change thelives of their children, they just don’t know. In this part, government schools are the only available option. Private school, no the profiteers will notcome to village as they know very well that, such a step would ruin them andhamper their business. I will talk aboutthis school later on. In Bharat a schoollacks adequate class rooms, adequate teachers. As poverty is but a way of life, students go to school just to have somedull funs. One teacher is asked to teacheverything under the sun. Oh, a jack ofall trade indeed! The teachers wouldlook forward to the salary day. When Iwas a student, once in a month there happened to be a holiday that was known asSalary holiday. On that day, theteachers would go to the Block office to fetch their salary. Now, banks have come forward to help theteachers and administration has been depositing their salaries to their bankpass book. But there are also stateswhere teachers don’t get their salaries regularly.

The teachers are not adequatelytrained to handle the soft minds of children. Drop out rate is high in Bharat. Girl education has just picked up but they happen to dropout earlierthan boys. Those who happen to receivesome college education are some chosen few. These students lack a personality. They don’t go to school wearing auniform as enforcing a set of uniform is not possible, because a majority ofstudents happen to be poor. No debate, no newspaper, no competition, nocultural activities or any creative activities, no games either. Only book reading that is a bit dull withoutany extra curricular activities. Ask anyquestion to them they would withdraw to their cocoon and would keep mum insteadof answering, even if knowing the answer to such question. One significant fact is that this chosen fewbecome teachers later. They lack acompetitive edge and always are guided by a sense of inferioritycomplexion. They lack leadership qualityand would always look back if someone is coming to lead. And ultimately, the one eyed among blindsbecome the leaders. They love to followrather love to be led.

There are a lot of problems inBharat but let’s discuss about the situation in India. India is shinning with information revolution. Internet cafes, PCO Booths can be found everywhere. Roads are good and all parts areaccessible. Trade and commerce are partand parcel of India. Service sector boomsin this part of my country. Peopleliving in this part of the world seldom know about Bharat and lives out there. Those from Bharat who come to live in Indiaonly know about the lives in the country side. They would not drink water if not filtered in any good quality filterand suggested in media advertisements by a movie celebrity or a cricketstar. They would pass their time viewingmovies in Television or subscribing their favorite movie with their DTHoperators. They would love to watchcricket match and for the next one week they would talk, sleep and walkcricket, if a tournament happens to go on.

They would send their children tosome privately run English medium schools or some good government schools orschools run by Christian missionaries. Affluent sections of the Indian society would never send their wards togovernment run schools. They think andrightly think that by attending such schools the future of their wards will be injeopardy. And as far as education of their children is concerned they justdon’t compromise. In privately runschools, teaching is not done by teachers from Pluto or some other alienplanets but they teach well. Thecurriculum seems to be good and well designed to shape the minds of children tocope with the present situation and carve out a live to survive in future. They charge high as running a school happensto be business. They run schools with amissionary zeal and strive towards a goal to make all students stand on equalfooting. They try their best to equipall students with all available armories in their quivers. They take the help of technologies likecomputer. They stress hard on educationthough a profit motive cannot be denied. And people love their way of teaching. For good and quality education all pay, though they sometimes complainabout the exorbitant fee structure.

India contributes in massivescale to the service sector. Professionals come from this part of my country. Doctors, engineers, managers, business men,politicians all belong to this part or at some point of time receive educationin this part of my country if they happen to be from Bharat. Of course, people from Bharat also happen tobe professional but they have to stay in India and expend huge sums of moneyfor education and proper training. So,their percentage in India is negligible. The problem of Brain drain is a problem of India.

As a result of this tilt,development scenario is also lopsided. There is a clear cut division in theline of Haves and Haves Not. India that has got so many developments is againawarded with massive projects for more development, whereas Bharat cries forits development. This is nothing but toembellish the highly embellished ones! There is clear discrimination in India,who don’t want Bharat to come to their level. Whatever is done in Bharat, is only to keep election promises or as aresult of formality. Sincerity lacks asfar as development of Bharat is concerned. Political consensus is not easy to find when development of Bharat isdiscussed.

The sordid state of education inBharat is the sole cause of India’s underdevelopment. There are a hundreds of curriculum of differentExamination Boards. Uniformity lacks. Somesectors in India wants cream brains and as a result of such criteria peoplefrom Bharat fail to compete. The Demonof Mark has been ruining the future of many students. Instead of the requirement of division andmarks, an open competition would have done better. But that is a prejudice which is causing unnecessarydiscrimination. General Class people arerequired to pass examinations in First class and people from other classes arerequired to pass examinations in Third division to compete for a majority of competitiveExaminations for services. This is butan absurd condition. Instead people from rural area that is knownas Bharat should have been given the concession. But this politics has been creating adivision in the society and further fragmentation as per caste norms lack offacilities are being secretly enforced by India’s learned politicians. Enough, pooh, pooh. Please, no politics in education. Don’t think human beings as guinea pigs forsome unnecessary experiments. Humanbeing is the greatest creation of the Almighty and for the development of hispersonality no experiments or casual attitude should be followed. Stick to a unified system of education acceptableto respective geographical, cultural situations. Develop that sector with sincerity or amissionary zeal. Try to maintain uniformityof curriculum and prescribe such courses that will benefit one in future.

Kapil Sibbal the current HumanResource Minister, seems to have many things up his sleeves. And Bharat hopes a miracle from his magicwand. He has got government backing andin next five years, there might be some discernible development in educationalsector. The sector that is in shamblesneed an able hand and sound mind to resuscitate the strangled and mangled andweak personae known as Education.

What is needed:

· Some missionary teachers.

· Less schools but complete schools.

· Good books.

· Teachers training in State institutions.

· No private training institutions.

· Prescribe a uniform curriculum in bothvernacular and English medium.

· No multiple boards like CBSC or ICSC or multiplecourses.

· Transfer the teachers. No posting in same districts.

· School should have staff quarters and otherfacilities.

Let’s see when the experimentsend and when the gap between India and that of Bharat is minimized. Everyone inBharat waits with all agog a change for a better tomorrow. It is said that every tomorrow is a bettertomorrow. Hence, optimism is the soledriving force in Bharat. Cross yourfingers, but do something positive instead of waiting for the government todeliver. Bharat will have to rise like phoenixon its own. Let’s wait and watch for abetter and lustrous future. Amen!

Unmasked

2009-08-27T14:11:00.006+05:30

Crossed his forties, still a pair of age-related spectacles was missing, for what reason he knew better. His front baldness, some would say added to his personality. When he would ride his scooter sporting a Gandhi cap, he would compel others to envy him. His pair of white trousers would always speak volumes on his gentle nature. His manner of talking was also distinct. He would greet all with small bouts of smiles. Besides all these, he was a gift of gab. He would cause rise and fall in his tone in such a manner that, his talking would flow like the ripples of a serene sea. He was also associated with the All India Radio as a part time feature writer. He would also join Kirtan (Singing, dancing, music and devotion all in one package) as he was a singer. With his long experience and education he knew how to tackle and manage common men. With all these coruscating qualities undoubtedly, Satyabrata Tripathy was a respected gentleman with an enviable and adorable personality. He was the head master of Darbhanga Ashram School, being managed and funded by the Ministry of Tribal Welfare. The inhabitants of the locality were also happy finding such a jewel as the head master of the local school.

Students were given education up to the seventh class in the school. It was a boarding school and for this reason students from far and near would come to the school for study. As per government guidelines the students were provided with free books, dress materials, lodging and boarding, apart from a monthly stipend. Keeping aside affection towards their wards, poor parents would admit their sons in this school. They would feel satisfied that one day their sons would be men of respect in the society. They would leave their wards inside the lovely and green environment of the school and would return consoling their sobbing hearts. It was really difficult for the students at such tender ages to stay away from their parental umbrage. Again at this far away place, where there were no acquaintances of anyone, it was very hard for them to stay in the hostel. There were no mothers to serve love-laced tea, spicy fried rice. No one was there to give a caring hand to massage a dose of balm on the forehead in case of cold or headache. Parents would leave them only giving a small amount of money with their wards. Managing money though happens to be difficult for the matured minds but those students were asked to manage. In other words, they were matured men in their teens. But their management was rather smooth thanks to the presence of Satyabrata as a fatherly heart was palpitating inside his ribs.

Royal cookers were appointed to cook and to assist them, there were some peons. One would think that there would be no problems for the boarding boys. But the reality was not so rosy. Leaving their works, the peons and cooks would rather teach the boys the gospel of great people like Gandhi, Nehru, Gopabandhu and others of bygone era. They would teach them about the austere life style of freedom fighters. They would always harp on the Gandhian saying, “Do one’s own work.” And the boys would get good lessons on culinary art.

The curriculum of the school was more or less based on the Gandhian system of Education. Gandhi used to say that the present system of modern education extolled the culture of head and downplayed that of the hands. It was for this reason the boys were given extensive trainings on various works like Carpentry, tailoring etc.

The night of serenity would break to the crowing of the punctual crow and instead of basking in the golden sunray the boys would start doing a long list of morning activities. First the unwashed silver utensils, buckets and other utensils would stare them for cleaning. Then the scattered filth of rice, pulses and curries of the kitchen would wait the boarding boys to wipe. In order to ensure equality and avoid discrimination all the boys would do such works in turn. This writer was searching the beautiful lady Democracy in other parts of India, but how could he have found, when she was swinging and giggling in the serene atmosphere and the lush greenery of the school. Some would fill the empty pitchers, buckets of the class rooms, teachers’ room and the kitchen, drawing water from the well. The veranda like a human being would take a bath as grains of rice; yellow specks of pulses would attract stray flies if left unwashed. Like the herdsman who bathes his cows everyday the boys would also bath the veranda every morning. Some boys would break big pieces of coal into small pieces. Some would take these small pieces to the coal ovens and burn them to red hot. When the ovens are prepared some would start cooking. The official cookers no doubt would be with them, but would supervise their works. The boys would cut the vegetables, grind spices and do all kinds of culinary activities. It was a training to make them culinary experts, hoping that someday in future, this art might fetch works for them.

Whatever it may be, as Sunday comes after Saturday, their lunch time would come. All would bring out their silver dishes and coteries. Soon mind travels to the scene of a jail where the jailbirds repeat similar kinds of activities. Who knows if the Ashram was preparing them to face any situation, be it to be jail inhabitants? What is there to feel shame as India’s national father was a prisoner? In order to habituate them to coarse rug, the Ashram also provided black rugs to them. Oh, sorry straying around. Yea, when after dealing out meal to all, they would begin eating; the boys would feel the presence of stale rice gruel in their pulse. It happens, but not very often really a matter of respite for them. But the menu items would seldom change; the same pulse and potato, no non-vegetarian items like egg, mutton or fish. Cruelty towards any living beings like hen, fish or goats are regarded as violence as said by the father of nation. Gandhi, don’t worry you’re honored here. Apart from meals, the government does not provide any breakfast and the hostel boys would arrange the same from out of their own money. Certainly, the Ashram was trying its best to inculcate the value of love in the minds of the boys. It is said and felt that India lags behind, only for the declining value and respect towards labor, among its citizen. But the Ashram was only trying its best to instill the value to its students.

Leaving all these there were many professional programs like training on cultivation like the art of tilling, weeding, sowing, fertilizer applying and doses and others farm related activities. It is said that Indians cannot live without this culture. Disregarding the mother is not good also. Certainly, their ideals were high. The Agriculture teacher would give every boy chances to learn to avoid any discrimination among them. But the produce like rice or vegetables would enter the houses of the teachers and their children would eat them without any due credit to the boys.

Then the turn of the Tailoring teacher would come. What happened, if there was no Charkha (Spinning Wheel) they have transformed the Charkha into a Sewing machine. Oh, father cannot you take this as Charkha, one of yours favorite emblems? Oh, come on, India has come as long way leaving aside the tearful memory of the bygone era. This transformed the Charkha with its “Kit, Kit, Kit” rhythm, sings the paeans of weavers, who were weaving the Khadi clothes. The teacher would show his sartorial skill on shirts, trousers of the teachers. The boys would stitch buttons, sews button eyes, mingle them. Oh, stop nonsense. This is not an instance of child labor.

Carpentry, oh, it was not running well thanks to a ban on cutting trees, imposed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest. There the boys lost a chance to handle adze, hornet, saw and others such tools. Anyway, they would help the teacher in making sofa sets, chairs, beds for the teachers and their relatives. Oh, come on, what if there was a ban, woods were available in black market. The staccatos of adze and saws made them fortunate as the little knowledge can help them adjust to any situation.

The Peace bell would ring at 4 PM. The boys would get a chance to sip the breeze of open space. They would come in platoons. Some drape in napkins, some would wear the khadi (Coarse cotton clothes) school uniform. Their uniform that was of khadi variety was conspicuous from a distance. Each boy would hang a key from their pant. This reminded of the pendant watch of Gandhi. They would play for sometime with a mended football and would return to the Ashram after answering the evening call of nature. Evening would deepen. After washing or refreshing themselves, they would attend a prayer class that reminded the prayers of Gandhi. The Ram Dhun(Psalm devoted to Lord Ram) would sooth the atmosphere of the school. Gandhi would have been happy, had he been alive. ‘Attention, Peace, here begins the prayer’ a boy would ask all to be attentive. “Come Oh, Lyre in hand, white clad, seated on swan’ the prayer would go seeing psalm of the goddess Saraswati, known to bestow education and knowledge to her devotees. Oh, their tone happened to be delicious and would compel a passer by to stop and listen.

Oh, I have completely forgotten. But let him relax on a sofa as he has already entered the scene. So, here I go to him right way. You would like to know more about Satyabrata Tripathy. How should I begin? Really, I am confused. If I would like to describe him this way, that way would be left behind. The same predicament of ‘The Road Not Taken.’ Anyway, it is upto you to figure out and make a complete picture of this gentleman.

Satyabrata, was the only son of an affluent father. In other words speaking, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was adept in managing the Ashram affairs. First of all, taking the help of his affluence and acquaintances, he was able to increase the number of seats in the hostel. But by and by, school opened in every village or two or three villages. Further, as school came near, no parents wanted to send their wards to hostel. You might think that it was a problem for Satyabrata to fill the seats of the hostel. But in reality it was not a problem rather a way to the land of prosperity. What happened could not make out any thing? Don’t worry you cannot also. Let me make the things clear for you. The increase in seats meant increase in the amount of stipend, quantity of rice and pulse supply, contingency grant and clothes for uniform. To ensure others golden support, local boys not belonging to the earmarked class were permitted admission, flouting the norms of the school. Serving stale rice, gruel mixed pulse, tomatoes without any vegetables; the Head Master was able to appropriate a lot of money by selling the garrison in the market. If someone would remain absent, it was also an opportunity for him, as no one in paper was absent. Absence always happens to be a part and parcel of school life. Boys, who go to their houses, would never return, before the end of vacation or leaves. Truly, a boy of ten or eleven years old cannot forget his parental love. If someone would fall ill or contacts a contagious disease, as happen to be a regular feature of hostel life, the class teacher would always deliberately leave the square in the Attendance Register, blank for future manipulation. The government also earmarks funds for oil and soap, but these were never provided to the boys. Small boys cannot protest and their docile and simpleton nature was the cause of Satyabrata’s affluence.

The stipend, Satybrata would ensure, are not paid in full. The number of stipendiary students was more than the number of actual students paid. The balance amount would go to the coffer of the Head Master. What, you said alone? No, no, you made a mistake on your part. It is said that, it is very hard to swallow the traditional rice mill (Dhinki) without Narada’s knowledge. (Narada, a son of God Brahma would always travel the world, seating on a Dhinki) And he was also paid a part of the rapacity to keep shut his ears, mouth and eyes. Ah, like the three monkeys of Gandhi’s drawing room. When auditors would come to the school, they would be served with roasted hen, maintaining a ratio of one is to one. They would fell for this institution and would frequent the compound, solely to satisfy their salivating mouths and minds. Narada and Satyabrata would shuffle the draughts of chess board at their will. He would want docile and pliable colleagues in his Ashram to perpetuate his regime. Further, all would fear him, as he was a close friend of Narada. If he would like, he would send any teacher to count the pug marks of tigers in a remote tiger sanctuary.

Pabitra joined the Ashram as an agriculture teacher. He was himself a hostel boy in his school days. He knew very well about the rat excreta mixed pulses and gravelly double boiled rice. When he came to know about this kind of exploitation, his Ashram made blood boiled. In sheer anger, he warned Satyabrata to stop all these exploitation of poor students. Satyabrata would think, ‘Truly a freedom fighter has incarnated. I thought a malleable soil creature. Wait, my son wait.’ And true to his word, Pabitra got a transfer order to a high school, after two months of his stint here. It took no time for Pabitra to know the involvement of the corrupt Satyabrata. Pabitra joined in the new school, meekly.

Joining there, Pabitra could not sit idle and silently. ‘What to be done and how’ he would question his mind. There came an effective way. He informed the Central Bureau of Investigation office giving all details. In the greenery and clearly sky of the Ashram, a canopy of cumulus cloud was seen enveloping with off and on sparkling. Suspension after suspensions followed. First of all Krishna (A powerful incarnation of God of Hindu pantheon) clad Satyabrata was shown the way. All registers were seized and combed. Millions of rupee were found missing. Satyabrata was charged with malfeasance and embezzlement of government funds and sent to custody for further inquiry. But he was filling lonely and bored for the absence of Narada’s lyre and music. He would mumble, ‘Narada, Narada.’ God finally melted and to relieve him from further loneliness and boredom, God arranged to send Narada to Satyabrata. Narada draped in a prisoner’s apparel, with the traditional silver dish and bowl came to join him. The irony was that Satyabra lived in an environment that he enforced in the Ashram. One night they started dancing and singing psalms of God but no one took care of this twosome. And their sound just faded in the four walls of the prison.

Respledence of Learning: Darkness Vanquished

2009-08-19T20:16:00.000+05:30

“Look, look the chimney is going out, perhaps running out of fuel. Oops, electricity eludes like the sun in a cloudy day,” said a despondent voice from inside a room.

This is but a typical sentence. And the consequence of such a sentence results in filling such chimneys with fuel. But there is another light that shows no such problem and one would not hear typical sentence like the one quoted above. Yes, haven’t you heard the famous phrase ‘[cÒjÐ cÐ ÒSÔÐ[ÞNàc¯Æ’ ‘From Darkness to light?’ Oh, come on, you’ve heard that. Here the writer has compared the lack of learning or cerebral incapacity to judge, what is right and what is wrong in different contexts.

Human being is bestowed with such amazing prowess by the Almighty to siphon the right from the wrong. Among the creations of the Almighty, human being is the only living being who has got not only the ability to express his thoughts to other fellow beings but also the capacity to make others follow suit. In ancient time, we had some crude forms of languages like the language of signs, symbols, signals and picture. But there were some important problems of such language of signals. There was lack of uniformity among people in using those signals or symbols. Further, not every idea had signals or symbols, yet another lacuna. This lack of uniformity was the stumbling block in conveying a required meaning or command to other fellow beings. Simultaneously, it was seen that various streams of signal language were being used by different people in the same society or a particular locality. It was also seen that a particular sign meant different things to different people. It was not also available in written form or we may say a written form was yet to be evolved.

Oh, there was yet another problem, that of fading of ideas. With the passage of time spoken words get erased from memory and we rue for the erosion. In other words speaking, ideas were not available for back referencing or future reading. As time elapsed, human being felt the need of some devices or some strategy to record their ideas for future reading or archiving for next generation. In order to make such spoken ideas perpetual and not subject to erosion with the passage of time, written form was evolved.

To institutionalize such learning process, we have got institutions that we all know as school and those who impart such learning are called Teachers. This is not that easy as many think it to be. A school, some teachers, a vast modern organizational and hierarchical set up to manage the teachers or tutors and pupils, really gigantic and far away from the simple thinking of common men.

Till this phase of simplicity, the learning process was manageable but when the villain of Marks and Gradation system entered the scene, the complete set up received a setback and became complex. No doubt, we have had enough discussions, arguments and counter arguments regarding the quality of Learning. Do you think; a student scoring highest marks and declared as better than the best, has got learning of the highest quality? Or do you think a student not among marks has not got quality learning? This is a bit tricky question but not that difficult to answer. Mark is but a criterion; remember a criterion among criteria, simply to judge a student’s level of learning. But what if someone resorts to memorizing or taking the help of mal-practices, only to score higher marks in a prescribed examination? Here the complete mark system earns the wrath and criticism of the Pro-quality group. Memorizing or resorting to mal-practice is not learning in the right sense but a sham as well as a shame towards the magnanimous system of learning. It is called temporary learning, as such knowledge and information tends to erase from memory faster than the process of memorizing. That knowledge that becomes inherent part of brain, heart and body is the greatest learning that never fades from memory and always rescues someone in time of crises in every walk of the life. We should rather inch forward towards such a system of quality learning that instills confidence in the mind of the learners.

It is seen that Mark and Division have become our sole goals while in school. But that should not be the only goals. A complete package of learning that takes care of every part of a student from heart to mind is the need of hour. What is the use of marks when one is incapable of judging right from wrong in different contexts? What is the use of division or grades, when one is incapable of expressing one’s ideas forcefully to a crowd? Learning that is imparted with practical examples through activities tends to be more fruitful and effective than learning by books. Books are but a collection of imaginary or real examples. In other words, we may describe books as ready examples in digest form. The solution of a good and effective learning system lies, both in books and learning by doing or learning by examples.

Our goal should be to develop a complete statue, embellished with all forms of knowledge to allow one to walk in the crowd distinctly, without any fear, with ready solutions for every occasion. It is this form of light that never goes out, not subject to anything like the vagaries of time or nature, ravages, subjugation, suppression and slavery. Knowledge or information that we gain or gather with the passage of time that we call experience, always helps effectively. These experiences in written forms are compiled as a book.

The precursor of the present day school that we call as Gurukula, was taking care of every part of life to make a man out of an ass, to make a man to live in the society and for the society, to make a man of character and knowledge. Coming out from such an institution one was able to make living gracefully without any kind of problems.

So it is again the journey from darkness to light. Time has come to do a review and an overhauling of our entire system of drudgery that develops a student to land onto a job. It is really, ridiculous and thought provoking that Teaching as a job is the last resort of people. Everyone wants to be a man but no one wants to be a man-maker is really a matter of pondering. Human resource development cell should take this sordid fact into account and come forward with a completely new system that would take care of all these aspects so that we can have quality human resources to serve our nation in different capacity.

So let the light spread far and wide to every nooks and crannies of our world and benefit all and sundry. Don’t let the light go out or demand a refill, otherwise the road to the dungeon of darkness will be crystal clear without light! Let the light spread and no one be left without letters. Let everyone get enlightened by the eternal light of learning and let they light others. Let this chain, relays to all and every one runs his part in the marathon of knowledge.

Let ye scatter the resplendence of learning wherever ye can, to keep the flame of learning burning, before ye may have no one to show the iridescence. Amen!

This article was published In January, 2009, in a souvenir entitled “Uchhab” brought out on the occasion of silver jubilee celebration of my High school.

Thanks

A Funny Conversation

2009-08-17T00:10:00.007+05:30

Here is a funny telephonic conversation between a Telephone operator and a caller. Interestingly, this blogger has collected this from a children magazine distributed by an English daily. When he first read he could not but laugh. So, here this blogger wishes you a bout of laughing.

Caller: Can I speak to Annie Wan, please?

Operator: Yes, you can speak to me.

Caller: No, I only want to speak to Annie Wan.

Operator: Yes, I understand you want to speak to anyone.

Caller: I'm Sam Wan and I'd like to speak to Annie Wan. It's urgent.

Operator: I know you're someone and you'd like to speak t anyone! But what's this urgent matter all about?

Caller: Just tell my sister, Annie Wan, that Noe Wan met with an accident. Noe Wan got injured and Noe wan is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan is on the way to the hospital.

Operator: Look, if no one is injured and no one has been sent to the hospital, then why do you say this urgent? You may think it's funny but I certainly don't!

Caller: You're rude! Who are you?

Operator: I am Saw Ree.

Caller: You should be sorry! Now, tell me your name.

Operator: That's what i said. I'm Saw Ree.

Caller: Oh, God.

Thanks

Present Simple

2009-08-13T06:32:00.002+05:30

Sub + Verb 1 (I drive)

We use the Present simple to describe the following situations.

(A) A present Event:

• Chima passes the ball to Baichung and Baichung scores a goal. ( Sport Commentary)

• The managing director declares the meeting closed (Announcement)

• I pick a card from this deck and place that under a piece of paper. (Demonstration)

• I beg your pardon.

N.B: Here the event begins and ends at the very moment of speech.

(B) A present State:

• I am thirsty.

• Chinu’s brother is ill.

• I have no time to go through your paper.

• We live in the country side.• Do you know German?

• I don’t like curd.

(C) Present Habit:

• He works in the Wipro BPO.

• I often tour the country side.

• It rains a lot in July.

• The Paper boy comes at 7 a.m.

• She speaks French well.

• How often do you use soap?

A state is a condition that continues over a period of time. A habit is of repetition of events over a period of time.

(D) Scientific Facts (known by experiment)

• Gas goes upward.

• Water freezes at 0 degree C.

• Ice melts when heated.

(E) General Truth

• The Indian grow a lot of rice.

• The Sun rises in the east.

• The moon revolves round the earth.

• The Narmada flows into the Arabian Sea.

• Deer eats grass.

In D and E the states or phenomena covers a period of time that includes the present moment and they are also true always.

We say:

• Where do you come from? (Residential sense)

• Or where are you from? (Not where are coming from?)

• What makes you so gloomy?• What brings you here?

• He talks like a professional.

This much for today. Thanks

Present Progressive

2009-08-07T21:52:00.002+05:30

There are three kinds of tenses like Present, Past and Future. Again these tenses are divided into four sub groups like Simple, Progressive, Perfect Progressive and Perfect. Let’s discuss about a short lesson on the Progressive form of present tense. Present progressive is a popular form of tense. In this series of knowledge on tense, let me discuss about the present progressive or continuous.

Am/is/are+ verb+ing or present participle.

The form indicates that an activity is going on now or at the very moment of speaking.

What are you doing? (Right now)
I'm writing a letter.
Let's go out. It is not raining any more.
Where's Harsh?
He is in the garden watering the plants.
Don't disturb me. I am trying to hear him carefully.

A series of actions has been started and is in progress (going on and around now) although the doer may not be performing the action himself at the time of speaking.

They're building a new house near the institution.
Simple is five years old and going to school.
A.P.J is writing a new novel.

A series of actions or a temporary situation is being performed temporarily. (Something which is true at the moment of speaking, but which may be true later.) It is concerned with habitual activity but habitual activity over a limited period of time.

We are staying in a makeshift house as our new house is under construction.
I am getting up at seven every day this week.
He goes to work in train but he is now going to work by car these days.

With Always/ Forever/ Constantly etc.

This form is sometimes used with Always (More rarely with Continually, forever etc. ) to emphasize the frequency with which an action is repeated: the speaker wishes to show that, in his opinion, this action occurs more frequently than normal, and the feeling is usually one of Surprise, Irritation or Criticism.

I am always watching this happen in restaurants.
Sophie is constantly making mistakes nowadays.
The postman is always delivering my letters to my colleague.

Changing situations:

· The weather is getting colder.

· The population of India is rising very rapidly.

· Your English is deteriorating day by day, what's the problem with you.

In this series of Tense and their uses, this blogger will be writing a number of articles. Wait and watch and keep tab. For today this much only.

Thanks

A Commentary on Comment

2009-08-01T00:48:00.005+05:30

“Good post, Keep it up, Nice post, Good work,” all blogger are more or less known to such comment clichés. Blog is nothing but a personal or professional statement and a medium of interactions among like minded people. It is like an informal forum for furthering knowledge, fun or research or friendship. Every blogger maintains a comment form for easy interaction or healthy dissenting arguments. A blogger with a lot of research comes up with a post on a given theme. Straightway, the URL or link of the same post is pinged to all social medium like Facebook, Twitter, friendfeed, blogcatalog, mybloglog, stumble upon, technorati and Google reader. All come to know that so and so blog has posted a new post. Then like minded people or friends come to the blog to go through the new post.

Many kinds of readers come to the blog and those can be categorized as Unserious or Whimsical and Serious. Serious readers read the post with right earnest and after grasping the content they leave their thoughtful comments. They happen to be sincere and always follow their favorite blogs. They also bookmark the post in various sites. Some serious readers write long and relevant comments related to the post and these kinds of comments enhance the contents of the blog post. Sometimes, they also resort to Delicious spamming and leave such a comment. Some also analyze the post from a critical angle and provide extra or additional materials related to the posts are always welcome.

Comments like good post, keep it up, good work, congratulation are called Delicious Spamming as they happen to be sweet and don’t in any way enhance the interaction or irritate the blogger. These kinds of comments also can be said as neutral, doing nothing substantial other than generating a bubbly feeling in the minds of blogger. Some even try to register their comments in a hurry and end up with writing something with grammatical or spelling mistakes or leave their comments in vernacular language which is not understandable by the blogger or reader. (T9 errors is an exception) This kind of readers comes in the category of un-serious readers.

Of course, in vernacular language blogs, vernacular comments are always welcome. But in English language blog vernacular comments should not be made. There is a valid cause for this. Comment after submitting becomes the property of the blog and its readers. If one’s comments written in vernacular languages other that of English then one will be breaking the interaction and the same comment will be left out by the blogger or readers. Further one’s link will not be chased by any readers. In that case one shall be doing a disservice to one’s blog as very often these traces become a source of traffic to a blog. One should ensure that what one says is understood by all. At times vernacular language is used to leave something irritating.

Comments serve many purposes. Some of them are:

• Extempore statement or reaction.

• Signature link or comment luv links for traffic.

• A way for widening the friendship.

• Back links for Google page rank.

Comments can be both Negative as well as Positive. Positive comments are always welcome by all and sundry. But not all give equal treatment to negative comments. Positive comments to praise or cajole the blogger or to be in the good book of the blogger are nothing but a kind of spam that I referred earlier as Delicious spamming. This kind of comment is made to show that “I am also here, hey I am here, don’t forget me.” They don’t serve any purpose or in any way contribute anything to the blog post.

Negative comments or that falls on the guillotine.

• Placing nonsense links.

• Selling furniture or erotica.

• Promoting one’s blog arrogantly.

• Writing something Greek and Latin.

• User name without any name but a combination of numeric and Shift key characters. (2601\\*&^ %)

• Promising huge number of hits or money or promoting affiliate links.

• Leaving a personal or semi personal message to the blogger. (many bloggers don’t leave their mail id, or maintain a contact me/us link, causes this) If even after these alternatives available one writes personal message then the message should go to the guillotine right way.

Comment in vernacular blog is vital as they don’t enjoy search engine traffic. They always rely on organic traffic. Friends, fellow bloggers or connoisseurs known to the blogger or college friends or others visit these blogs and leave their comments. People tend to search keywords in the global site and in that case their keyword fails to come in the first or second page. If the same keyword is searched in local search engines then chances are there for their links to come up. But culture cannot be changed as global search engines have become brand name. No doubt local sites are also faring very well.

Literary sites don’t fare well as they cannot be content writing and focus on a particular keyword. Further keyword density cannot be increased for obvious reason of tampering with the essence of a short story of poem.

‘You comment, I follow’ ‘Leave a comment on the Above Blog’ These kinds of pressure tactics are but sham as comments are but spontaneous reaction of a reader or person in reaction to a stimulant that is a blog post. The spontaneity is the essential factor. Comments are not made doing research on Wikipedia or other such sites like blog posts. Obviously, they happen to a sudden reaction to an action if spoken in Archimedes way. Comment cannot be driven or flogged or pushed by a master or ordinance and streamlined or bought or traded. If such things are done then certainly the veracity of such comments are questioned.

Comments go a long way in encouraging a bloggers and it should be the culmination of reading. Reading without comments shows that either the readers didn’t like the post or they lack time like millions of readers. An age has come now as people complain to themselves, “Oh I lack time.” But they lack time is not the truth as they happen to surf the net for more than four or five or even 10 hours. People go to Facebook and do some farces. They go to Orkut, myspace, hi5 or other such sites and participate in threads like ‘One letter changing game.’ They twit a lot about their hobbies or daily chores. They also play games in the internet. But sadly they also complain about the lack of time. Placing nonsense links on others blog posts selling some erotica or furniture or calicos as if this is also a game or good time pass.

Commenting is a healthy culture which should be encouraged and aroused in the minds of the readers. Blogs heavily rely on comments. But blog posts should be that appealing, qualitative and thought provoking. There would be no comments on Pay per post or eulogy of a nonsense affiliate link. Do write something valuable posts for the community and engage some like minded people or fellow blogger for a fruitful blogging environment.

Comment but don’t cajole or coat your comment with sugar. Be polite in dissenting. One must leaves his foot prints on the sand of a post that appeals one. In writing a post or article a lot of time is devoted towards searching relevant materials and weaving them into a single thread. A blog owner should reciprocate the commentator personally and should provide the subscription link to the comment so that personal or subsequent views are mailed to all commentators. This enhances the chain and interaction. This also ensures the return of the commentators that is good for the health of the blog and an encouragement for the blog owner for blogging consistently. Now it is up to you to consider in which category you fall.

Ask some questions to your self.

• Do you want people to comment on your blog post?

• Do you comment regularly?

• If not then how you cherish comments.

• If yes then good and feel elated.

• If want comments on your posts.

• Comments consistently.

• Write good original contents.

• Visits others blog regularly.

Don’t comment to attract comment but comment on the merit of the content. Don’t cajole any blogger. Read when you have got spare time so that you can grasp the matter and there will be a spontaneous and sagacious response or reaction in your mind. So, do comment and get comment. Good luck and good bye.

Tsunami

2009-07-08T08:25:00.003+05:30

From where you came, God knows,
For what descended, no one knows.
Before six twenty, unknown to us,

Image by Robert of Fairfax via Flickr

Aftermath, though not seen in presence.
Heard the ghastly consequences,
Indescribable, still dared to jot down.

In a flash, came you like lightening,
With your chance escorts the quake king,
With uncle and sol’s combination.
Cross embraced hut and mansion.
Engulfed all merciless like a demon,
Count goes on with every second,
God knows the ghastly end.

Dare I ask you, oh, all devouring demons?
From when, you became a man-eater?
From when, you became a widow-maker?
From when, you became a maker of orphan?
No dog barking, neither cattle roaming,
Heaps of corpses stinking,
Vultures and dogs reveling,
No quarrel, no snatching.
Stinking smoke filling the environ
From the mass cremation around.

Image by ~Ans~ via Flickr

No one to solace and sooth
No one knows who is consigned to wood.
Only wailing million, no one to solace
Oh! Almighty, is it your protection?

Lord, how about bringing another Tsunami?
With solace and shelter for all
To all dejected face, soothing smile
Light to everyone’s dark path
How about dropping another bomb,
To block Tsunami’s anger,
Greeting Tsunami’s peace-loving brothers?