C-language program +
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
int a,b,c;
clrscr();
printf("enter a,b values");
scanf("%d%d",&a,&b);
c=a+b;
printf("the result=%d",c);
getch();
}
I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations, November – 2011 jntu
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD
I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations, November – 2011
ENGLISH
Objective Exam
Name: ______________________________ Hall Ticket No.
Time: 20 Min. Marks: 10.
Answer All Questions. All Questions Carry Equal Marks.
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. The meaning of Ladakh is __________ [a]
(a) the land of high passes (b) the land of mountains
(c) the land of rivers (d) the land of valleys.
2. What did Pico Iyer aspire for Ladakhis? [d]
(a) Skillful education (b) Preservation of the environs
(c) To know about Paris Hilton (d) To retrieve something lost
3. Helen Norberg-Hodge’s organization was trying to protect the _____ of Ladakh. [b]
(a) ecology (b) the people (c) spiritual fervour (d) monuments
4. When did Raman pass his M.A., examination? [b]
(a) February 1906 (b) January 1907 (c) February 1907 (d) January 1909
5. How did Raman explain the working of ‘ektara’? [d]
(a) being fascinated by waves and sounds. (b) by studying about musical instruments
(c) by studying and experimenting in the IACS (d) using an idea in Helmholtz’s book
6. What is the prestigious examination that Raman intended to take up? [b]
(a) FCS (b) ICS (c) IAAS (d) IACS
7. Where did Khorana begin his research on nucleic acids? [c]
(a) the University of Liverpool (b) the University of Wisconsin
(c) the University of Cambridge (d) the University of Leeds
8. Then Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi made Sam Pitroda his Chief Scientific Advisor and requested him to start a new public-sector venture called __________. [c]
(a) Centre for the Development of Telecoms (b) Centre for the Development of Telephones (c) Centre for the Development of Telematics (d) Centre for the Development of Polemics
9. ‘Philosophical Magazine’ is a _________. [a]
(a) British Journal (b) American Journal (c) French Journal (d) Indian Journal
10. As a result of RAX about how many exchanges and telephone lines were installed in India? [d]
(a) 40,000 exchanges & 40 million telephone lines (b) 20,000 exchanges & 40 million telephone lines(c) 20,000 exchanges & 20 million telephone lines (d) 40,000 exchanges & 20 million telephone lines
II Fill in the blanks
11. Ladakh was the one place where pastoral existence was still preserved
12. Who is the author of “journey in Ladakh” Andrew Harvey
13. Workers in the best hotels in Ladakh boast of “24 hours Cold water
14. Raman joined the MA physics class in Presidency College, Madras.
15. Sam pitroda was born in the year 1942.
16. Khorana joined the faculty of Massachusetts Instutitue of Technology as Alfred P. Slaon professor of Biology and chemistry.
17. Raman took up the director ship of Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
18. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in the year 1930.
19. During Rajiv Gandhi’s government Sam Pitroda became the chairman of National Technology Mission
20. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
I B.Tech. III Mid Examinations, May – 2011
I B.Tech. III Mid Examinations, May – 2011
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. According to Satyajit Ray, “With the backing of money, men and materials, it is easy for Hollywood to
make a __________. [ ]
(a) War and Peace (b) Pather Panchali (c) Spartacus (d) Aparajito
2. Satyajit Ray says, “______ is a luxury which we cannot yet afford in our country”. [ ]
(a) film making (b) blockbusters (c) backer (d) Avant-gardism
3. In the essay ‘odds Against Us’ Satyajit Ray expresses, ‘ There are roles that can only be brought to life
by ___________. [ ]
(a) greenhorns (b) novices (c) apprecntices (d) professionals
4. The Inaugural Address “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You” was addressed on [ ]
(a) January 21st 1964 (b) January 20th 1963 (c) January 22nd 1962 (d) January 23rd 1965
5. John F. Kennedy says in his inaugural address, “My fellow citizens of the world:ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the _______”. [ ]
(a) uplift human society (b) elevate the status of man
(c) freedom of man (d) freedom of soul
6. The discussion _______ for hours. [ ]
(a) ran out (b) ran across (c) ran on (d) ran through
7. She is _______ after getting the job. [ ]
(a) under a cloud (b) on cloud nine
(c) have soft spot (d) have second thoughts
8. Choose the exact meaning of the Idiomatic expression/Phrase given below. [ ]
‘To have cold feet’
(a) to have fever (b) to be willing (c) to be reluctant (d) to make alert
9. Choose the antonym of the word ‘Indigenous’ [ ]
(a) Native (b) Innovative (c) Foreign (d) Original
10. The antonym for the word ‘charming’ is [ ]
(a) ugly (b) fascinating (c) appealing (d) attractive
II Fill in the blanks
11. If the film did not bring back its cost, his ______ would lose faith in him.
12. Satyajit Ray says, “Once the casting is done, I am ready to plunge headlong into the business of
_______________”.
13. In his inaugural speech John F. Kennedy says, “Lat all our _______ know that we shall join with them
to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas.
14. Ravi was writing _____ letter, when I visited him. After writing ____ letter, he gave it to his servant.
15. ____ whom did he go to the market?
16. We ______ (visit) London last summer.
17. The programme started after we _______ (reach) the theatre.
18. ‘Wishing to fight or argue’ is the definition for ________.
19. ________ is the one word substitute-‘A speech made without preparation.’
20. _________ is the one word substitute for ‘Fear of open space’.
KEYS
1. c
2. d
3. d
4. b
5. c
6. c
7. b
8. c
9. c
10. a
11. backers
12. shooting
13. neighbors
14. a, the
15. With
16. visited
17. had reached
18. belligerent
19. Extempore
20. Agoraphobia
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. According to Satyajit Ray, “With the backing of money, men and materials, it is easy for Hollywood to
make a __________. [ ]
(a) War and Peace (b) Pather Panchali (c) Spartacus (d) Aparajito
2. Satyajit Ray says, “______ is a luxury which we cannot yet afford in our country”. [ ]
(a) film making (b) blockbusters (c) backer (d) Avant-gardism
3. In the essay ‘odds Against Us’ Satyajit Ray expresses, ‘ There are roles that can only be brought to life
by ___________. [ ]
(a) greenhorns (b) novices (c) apprecntices (d) professionals
4. The Inaugural Address “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You” was addressed on [ ]
(a) January 21st 1964 (b) January 20th 1963 (c) January 22nd 1962 (d) January 23rd 1965
5. John F. Kennedy says in his inaugural address, “My fellow citizens of the world:ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the _______”. [ ]
(a) uplift human society (b) elevate the status of man
(c) freedom of man (d) freedom of soul
6. The discussion _______ for hours. [ ]
(a) ran out (b) ran across (c) ran on (d) ran through
7. She is _______ after getting the job. [ ]
(a) under a cloud (b) on cloud nine
(c) have soft spot (d) have second thoughts
8. Choose the exact meaning of the Idiomatic expression/Phrase given below. [ ]
‘To have cold feet’
(a) to have fever (b) to be willing (c) to be reluctant (d) to make alert
9. Choose the antonym of the word ‘Indigenous’ [ ]
(a) Native (b) Innovative (c) Foreign (d) Original
10. The antonym for the word ‘charming’ is [ ]
(a) ugly (b) fascinating (c) appealing (d) attractive
II Fill in the blanks
11. If the film did not bring back its cost, his ______ would lose faith in him.
12. Satyajit Ray says, “Once the casting is done, I am ready to plunge headlong into the business of
_______________”.
13. In his inaugural speech John F. Kennedy says, “Lat all our _______ know that we shall join with them
to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas.
14. Ravi was writing _____ letter, when I visited him. After writing ____ letter, he gave it to his servant.
15. ____ whom did he go to the market?
16. We ______ (visit) London last summer.
17. The programme started after we _______ (reach) the theatre.
18. ‘Wishing to fight or argue’ is the definition for ________.
19. ________ is the one word substitute-‘A speech made without preparation.’
20. _________ is the one word substitute for ‘Fear of open space’.
KEYS
1. c
2. d
3. d
4. b
5. c
6. c
7. b
8. c
9. c
10. a
11. backers
12. shooting
13. neighbors
14. a, the
15. With
16. visited
17. had reached
18. belligerent
19. Extempore
20. Agoraphobia
I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations, December – 2010
I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations, December – 2010
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. What are the three things which made the writer, Pico Iyer think of Afghanistan? [ ]
(a) chapels thick with the smell of yak butter, barren mountains and the snow caps
(b) white terraces of the houses, snow caps and melted yak butter
(c) the houses gathered along the valley, the barren mountains and the snow caps
(d) the houses gathered along the valley, the dry river beds and the snow caps
2. Who is the author of Journey in Ladakh? [ ]
(a) William Harvey (b) Andrew Harvey (c) Andrew Hilton (d) William Hilton
3. The three books that Raman could pick to mould his mental and spiritual outlook and determine his chosen path were [ ]
(a) Helmholtz’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical
geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Edwin Arnold. (b) Edwin Arnold’s Radiance of Asia, The Rudiments of Eucloid, a treatise on
classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(c) Edwin Arnold’s Light of the World, The Elements of Eucloid, a treatise on
classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(d) Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical
geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
4. What is the title of the story of Gautama Buddha? [ ]
(a) Radiance of Asia (b) Sparkle of Asia
(c) Light of Asia (d) Light of the World
5. Sam Pitroda successfully embarked upon the creation and launch of ______________ exchanges designed and manufactured by him and his team of Indian engineers. [ ]
(a) Urban Automatic Telephone (b) Rural Automotive Telephone
(c) Rural Automatic Telephone (d) Urban Automative Telephone
6. Pico Iyer, when stepped onto Main Bazaar Road, saw some Indo-Iranians who trace their blue or green eyes to ___________. [ ]
(a) Akbar the Great (b) Shajahan the Ruler (c) Tippu Sultan (d) Alexander the Great
7. Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine with ______ and ________. [ ]
(a) Robert W. Holley & Prof. A.R. Todd
(b) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Prof. A.R. Todd
(c) Dr. Jack Campbell & Robert W. Holley
(d) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Robert W. Holley
8. Raman remarked, “I shall ever be grateful to this man”. Here Raman is referring
to _________. [ ]
(a) Professor E. H. Elliot (b) Civil Surgeon of Madras
(c) Accountant General, Calcutta (d) Ashutosh Mookerjee
9. Where did Khorana begin his research on nucleic acids [ ]
(a) the University of Liverpool (b) the University of Florida (c) the University of Cambridge (d) the University of Wisconsin
10. Then Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi made Sam Pitroda his ___________ and requested him to start a new public-sector venture called C-Dot. [ ]
(a) Chief Telecom Officer (b) Chief Scientific Officer
(c) Chief Scientific Advisor (d) Chief Telecom Advisor
II Fill in the Blanks
11. Workers in the best hotels in Ladakh boast of “24 hours ______.”
12. ________, the eighth-century Indian reformer brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.
13. If there is one man who built the foundation of the revolution in communication systems, it is _______.
14. Light can undergo a scattering through a liquid resulting in a change in its frequency. This is called the famous ______ effect.
15. At DAV High School who influenced Khorana greatly ____________
16. The telephone exchange company started by Sam Pitroda is called ____________.
17. Sam Pitroda founded World Tel-a global organization in the year ______.
18. Pico Iyer drove out early one morning to Hemis to witness one of the great events of the Ladakhi calendar, the _______ festival.
19. The name Ladakh means ___________.
20. The Centre for Development of Telematics was founded in the year _______.
KEYS
1. c
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. c
6. d
7. d
8. b
9. c
10. c
11. cold water
12. Padmasambhava
13. Sam Pitroda
14. Raman
15. Ratan Lal
16. Wescom Switching
17. 1995
18. Tse-Chu
19. the land of high passes
20. 1984
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. What are the three things which made the writer, Pico Iyer think of Afghanistan? [ ]
(a) chapels thick with the smell of yak butter, barren mountains and the snow caps
(b) white terraces of the houses, snow caps and melted yak butter
(c) the houses gathered along the valley, the barren mountains and the snow caps
(d) the houses gathered along the valley, the dry river beds and the snow caps
2. Who is the author of Journey in Ladakh? [ ]
(a) William Harvey (b) Andrew Harvey (c) Andrew Hilton (d) William Hilton
3. The three books that Raman could pick to mould his mental and spiritual outlook and determine his chosen path were [ ]
(a) Helmholtz’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical
geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Edwin Arnold. (b) Edwin Arnold’s Radiance of Asia, The Rudiments of Eucloid, a treatise on
classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(c) Edwin Arnold’s Light of the World, The Elements of Eucloid, a treatise on
classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(d) Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical
geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
4. What is the title of the story of Gautama Buddha? [ ]
(a) Radiance of Asia (b) Sparkle of Asia
(c) Light of Asia (d) Light of the World
5. Sam Pitroda successfully embarked upon the creation and launch of ______________ exchanges designed and manufactured by him and his team of Indian engineers. [ ]
(a) Urban Automatic Telephone (b) Rural Automotive Telephone
(c) Rural Automatic Telephone (d) Urban Automative Telephone
6. Pico Iyer, when stepped onto Main Bazaar Road, saw some Indo-Iranians who trace their blue or green eyes to ___________. [ ]
(a) Akbar the Great (b) Shajahan the Ruler (c) Tippu Sultan (d) Alexander the Great
7. Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine with ______ and ________. [ ]
(a) Robert W. Holley & Prof. A.R. Todd
(b) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Prof. A.R. Todd
(c) Dr. Jack Campbell & Robert W. Holley
(d) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Robert W. Holley
8. Raman remarked, “I shall ever be grateful to this man”. Here Raman is referring
to _________. [ ]
(a) Professor E. H. Elliot (b) Civil Surgeon of Madras
(c) Accountant General, Calcutta (d) Ashutosh Mookerjee
9. Where did Khorana begin his research on nucleic acids [ ]
(a) the University of Liverpool (b) the University of Florida (c) the University of Cambridge (d) the University of Wisconsin
10. Then Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi made Sam Pitroda his ___________ and requested him to start a new public-sector venture called C-Dot. [ ]
(a) Chief Telecom Officer (b) Chief Scientific Officer
(c) Chief Scientific Advisor (d) Chief Telecom Advisor
II Fill in the Blanks
11. Workers in the best hotels in Ladakh boast of “24 hours ______.”
12. ________, the eighth-century Indian reformer brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.
13. If there is one man who built the foundation of the revolution in communication systems, it is _______.
14. Light can undergo a scattering through a liquid resulting in a change in its frequency. This is called the famous ______ effect.
15. At DAV High School who influenced Khorana greatly ____________
16. The telephone exchange company started by Sam Pitroda is called ____________.
17. Sam Pitroda founded World Tel-a global organization in the year ______.
18. Pico Iyer drove out early one morning to Hemis to witness one of the great events of the Ladakhi calendar, the _______ festival.
19. The name Ladakh means ___________.
20. The Centre for Development of Telematics was founded in the year _______.
KEYS
1. c
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. c
6. d
7. d
8. b
9. c
10. c
11. cold water
12. Padmasambhava
13. Sam Pitroda
14. Raman
15. Ratan Lal
16. Wescom Switching
17. 1995
18. Tse-Chu
19. the land of high passes
20. 1984
I B.Tech. II Mid Examinations english objective
I B.Tech. II Mid Examinations
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. Miss Krishna had a __________ appearance, which her clothes did nothing to diminish.
[ ] (a) nervous, slightly frenetic (b) serene, slightly frantic
(c) composed, slightly frenzied (d) tranquil, slightly feverish
2. After tsunami ______ people were fed in the ____ community kitchens across the district for over a month. [ ]
(a) 7,085 people in 23 community kitchens (b) 8,085 in 26 community kitchens
(c) 6,085 people in 24 community kitchens (d) 5,085 people in 28 community kitchens
3. When the writer Rudyard Kipling said aloud, “Where has the little beast gone to?” from where did he get the voice repeating his words? [ ]
(a) from the deep jungle (b) from the gosain’s hut
(c) from under his feet (d) from the hills around
4. The phrase ‘solid rock’ in the speech “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther, refers to [ ]
(a) the Democratic party (b) the Church (c) brotherhood (d) the Bill of Rights
5. Why did Miss Krishna say to the writer, “I know I shouldn’t come in the morning.”? [ ] (a) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was writing.
(b) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was doing her
household works.
(c) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was praying.
(d) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was doing her
Yoga exercises.
6. Amartya Sen’s formal education began in [ ]
(a) St. Gregory School, Lhasa. (b) St. Peter’s School, Johannesberg.
(c) St . Gregory School, Dhaka. (d) St. George’s School, Calcutta
7. The writer had to force his way into the jungle grass and in twenty minutes he was as completely lost as though he had been in the heart of __________. [ ]
(a) Middle Africa (b) Arabian Forest (c) Central Australia (d) Central Africa
8. One of the reasons for the Cuddalore’s backwardness is its __________. [ ]
(a) being a coastal district. (b) being struck regularly by natural disasters.
(c) being a part of Tamilnadu. (d) illiterate people
9. To enter jungle grass is always an unwise proceeding but the writer went [ ]
(a) partly because he knew pig hunting and partly because the villagers said that
the big boar owned foot long tushes.
(b) partly because he was interested in pig hunting especially in the thick jungle
grass and partly because he wanted to know more about the priest.
(c) partly because Mr. Wardle wished to chase the big boar and partly because he
knew nothing of the mystery of the well.
(d) partly because he knew nothing of pig hunting and partly because the villagers
10. Amartya Sen arrived at Calcutta to study at _________. [ ]
(a) Presidency College (b) Trinity College
(c) St. Peter’s College (d) St. George’s College
II Fill in the blanks
11. In Calcutta, Amartya was appointed to a chair in Economics at the newly created ________ University where he was asked to set up a new Department of Economics.
12. Most of the relief camps that were opened up almost immediately were housed in the ____________ of the Cuddalore district.
13. Amartya Sen was greatly influenced by the cultural diversity in the world, which was well reflected in the curriculum of ___________.
14. Miss Krishna opened her handbag and took out a tiny, exquisite coffee cup and saucer and said, “This is my __________ for all ills”.
15. The speech “I Have a Dream” was given in the year ________.
16. ‘Hyperactive, with a lot of nervous energy’ is the meaning of _______.
17. The memory of the ____________ of 1943 in which two to three million people had died was ever fresh in his memory.
18. In the heart of the patch of the plumed jungle grass hides the ________ of Bubbling well Road.
19. The tsunami had struck on a ______ morning.
20. ‘Not serious or sensible’ is the meaning of _______.
Answers:
1. a
2. a
3. c
4. c
5. a
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. d
10. a
11. (Jadavpur)
12. (wedding halls)
13. (Shantiniketan)
14. (panacea)
15. (1963)
16. (frenetic)
17. (Bengal famine)
18. (gosain)
19. (Sunday)
20. (frivolous)
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. Miss Krishna had a __________ appearance, which her clothes did nothing to diminish.
[ ] (a) nervous, slightly frenetic (b) serene, slightly frantic
(c) composed, slightly frenzied (d) tranquil, slightly feverish
2. After tsunami ______ people were fed in the ____ community kitchens across the district for over a month. [ ]
(a) 7,085 people in 23 community kitchens (b) 8,085 in 26 community kitchens
(c) 6,085 people in 24 community kitchens (d) 5,085 people in 28 community kitchens
3. When the writer Rudyard Kipling said aloud, “Where has the little beast gone to?” from where did he get the voice repeating his words? [ ]
(a) from the deep jungle (b) from the gosain’s hut
(c) from under his feet (d) from the hills around
4. The phrase ‘solid rock’ in the speech “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther, refers to [ ]
(a) the Democratic party (b) the Church (c) brotherhood (d) the Bill of Rights
5. Why did Miss Krishna say to the writer, “I know I shouldn’t come in the morning.”? [ ] (a) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was writing.
(b) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was doing her
household works.
(c) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was praying.
(d) because she shouldn’t be disturbing her when she (writer) was doing her
Yoga exercises.
6. Amartya Sen’s formal education began in [ ]
(a) St. Gregory School, Lhasa. (b) St. Peter’s School, Johannesberg.
(c) St . Gregory School, Dhaka. (d) St. George’s School, Calcutta
7. The writer had to force his way into the jungle grass and in twenty minutes he was as completely lost as though he had been in the heart of __________. [ ]
(a) Middle Africa (b) Arabian Forest (c) Central Australia (d) Central Africa
8. One of the reasons for the Cuddalore’s backwardness is its __________. [ ]
(a) being a coastal district. (b) being struck regularly by natural disasters.
(c) being a part of Tamilnadu. (d) illiterate people
9. To enter jungle grass is always an unwise proceeding but the writer went [ ]
(a) partly because he knew pig hunting and partly because the villagers said that
the big boar owned foot long tushes.
(b) partly because he was interested in pig hunting especially in the thick jungle
grass and partly because he wanted to know more about the priest.
(c) partly because Mr. Wardle wished to chase the big boar and partly because he
knew nothing of the mystery of the well.
(d) partly because he knew nothing of pig hunting and partly because the villagers
10. Amartya Sen arrived at Calcutta to study at _________. [ ]
(a) Presidency College (b) Trinity College
(c) St. Peter’s College (d) St. George’s College
II Fill in the blanks
11. In Calcutta, Amartya was appointed to a chair in Economics at the newly created ________ University where he was asked to set up a new Department of Economics.
12. Most of the relief camps that were opened up almost immediately were housed in the ____________ of the Cuddalore district.
13. Amartya Sen was greatly influenced by the cultural diversity in the world, which was well reflected in the curriculum of ___________.
14. Miss Krishna opened her handbag and took out a tiny, exquisite coffee cup and saucer and said, “This is my __________ for all ills”.
15. The speech “I Have a Dream” was given in the year ________.
16. ‘Hyperactive, with a lot of nervous energy’ is the meaning of _______.
17. The memory of the ____________ of 1943 in which two to three million people had died was ever fresh in his memory.
18. In the heart of the patch of the plumed jungle grass hides the ________ of Bubbling well Road.
19. The tsunami had struck on a ______ morning.
20. ‘Not serious or sensible’ is the meaning of _______.
Answers:
1. a
2. a
3. c
4. c
5. a
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. d
10. a
11. (Jadavpur)
12. (wedding halls)
13. (Shantiniketan)
14. (panacea)
15. (1963)
16. (frenetic)
17. (Bengal famine)
18. (gosain)
19. (Sunday)
20. (frivolous)
I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations objective paper
*I B.Tech. I Mid Examinations*
Answer All Questions. All Questions Carry Equal Marks. Time: 20 Min. Marks: 10.
I. Choose the correct alternative:
1. Who is the author of ‘Journey in Ladakh’? [ ]
(a) Andrew Harvey (b) William Harvey (c) Andrew Hilton (d) William Hilton
2. Who is the son of the last king of Ladakh? [ ] (a) Norberg-Hodge (b) Tsewang Dorje (c) Choegyal Jigmed (d) Mao Zedong
3. What is the prestigious examination that Raman intended to take up? [ ]
(a) FCS (b) ICS (c) IAAS (d) IACS
4. Where did Nirenberg study his Bachelor of Science degree? [ ]
(a) the University of Cambridge (b) the University of Florida (c) the University of Wisconsin (d) the University of Liverpool
5. The then Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi made Sam Pitroda his Chief Scientific Advisor and requested him to start a new public-sector venture called ____________. [ ]
(a) Centre for the Development of Telecoms (b) Centre for the Development of Telephones (c) Centre for the Development of Telematics (d) Centre for the Development of Polemics
6. Pico Iyer’s account of Ladakh is based on _____________. [ ]
(a) his reading about Ladakh in books (b) his visit to the place.
(c) what others have told him about Ladakh. (d) his fascination for the place.
7. The three books that Raman could pick to mould his mental and spiritual outlook and determine his chosen path were [ ]
(a) Edwin Arnold’s Light of the World, The Elements of Eucloid, a treatise on classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(b) Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
(c) Helmholtz’s Light of Asia, The Elements of Euclid, a treatise on classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Edwin Arnold.
(d) Edwin Arnold’s Radiance of Asia, The Rudiments of Eucloid, a treatise on classical geometry and The Sensations of Tone by Helmholtz.
8. Raman discovered that water molecules could scatter light just like air molecules, during his voyage across ________ . [ ]
(a) The Pacific Ocean (b) The Arabian Sea (c) The Mediterranean Sea (d) The Bay of Bengal
Cont…2
9. Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine with ______ and ______ [ ] (a) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Robert W. Holley (b) Marshall W. Nirenberg & Prof. A.R. Todd
(c) Dr. Jack Campbell & Robert W. Holley (d) Robert W. Holley & Prof. A.R. Todd
10. As a result of RAX how many exchanges and telephone lines were installed in India? [ ] (a) 40,000 exchanges & 20 million telephone lines
(b) 20,000 exchanges & 40 million telephone lines
(c) 20,000 exchanges & 20 million telephone lines
(d) 40,000 exchanges & 40 million telephone lines
II. Fill in the blanks:
11. Ladakh is the capital of _________.
12. A village agricultural taxation clerk in the British Indian system of government is called ______.
13. According to Sam Pitroda Indians are highly talented in _________.
14. ________ and _______ are the parents of C.V. Raman.
15. _________ is the author of ‘Light of Asia’.
16. Pico Iyer found _____ and _______ animals in the Nubra valley.
17. ________ is a treatise on classical geometry.
18. _________ taught Raman English at Presidency College in B.A. Course.
19. Sam Pitroda founded World Tel-a global organization in the year ______.
20. When Khorana was studying in D.A.V High school, he was influenced greatly by his teacher _____
Answers:
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. a
10. a
11. Leh
12. Patwari
13. Mathematics
14. R. Chandra Sekhara Iyer & Parvathi Ammal
15. Edwin Arnold
16. Marmots & Kiang or wild asses
17. The Elements of Euclid
18. Prof. E.H.Elliot
19. 1995
20. Ratan lal
VI UNIT 2 – JOHON F.KENNEDY
VI UNIT
2 – JOHON F.KENNEDY
(Ask Not What your Country Can Do For You)
Salient features of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963: In his inaugural address, as the president of America, John F. Kennedy expresses his views on several national and international issues that America was concerned with. He describes the occasion as a celebration of freedom. He declares that America has always been committed to human rights and the survival of liberty.
Kennedy assures loyalty to allies and calls for co-operative ventures. He asks newly liberated nations to strongly assert their own freedom. He promises to help those who are in misery and poverty. Kennedy offers a new alliance with the southern republics for progress and removal of poverty. These republics must remain masters of their own house. He also pledges America’s support for the United Nations Organization in protecting new and weak nations. Kennedy requests the opponents of America to join hands for peace before science causes total destruction. However, he is unhappy that the two great and powerful groups of nations are spending huge amounts of money for acquiring modern deadly weapons. They must remember that the next war is the last war. Therefore Kennedy proposes sincere negotiations in the direction of unity. He calls for strict control of arms. Kennedy also proposes to explore the wonders, not the terrors, of science. He wants the two groups of nations to explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate diseases, tap the depths of oceans and encourage arts and commerce, He also wants the oppressed nations and people to be liberated. With necessary co-operation from both the groups, a new world can be created where strong people observe justice, weak people have security, and peace is established. All this may take time, but a beginning can be made.
Kennedy calls upon Americans to wage a struggle against the common enemies of man namely, tyranny, poverty, disease and war, with hope and patience. He exhorts his fellow Americans to defend freedom with all their energy, faith and devotion, and light the entire word. He gives a clarion call to their country.
Finally, Kennedy encourages the people of the entire world to follow God with courage, sacrifice and conscience. These are the salient features of john F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963.
The proposals john F. Kennedy put before his adversaries to bring about an abiding peace in the world: In his Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963, John F. Kennedy puts before his adversaries some far-reaching proposals for the sake of world peace, freedom and progress.
Kennedy makes a request to the adversaries of America to bring about peace before science destroys the world. Both the great and powerful groups of nations are spending large amounts of money on deadly modern weapons that may set in motion mankind’s final war. He calls for sincere negotiations. He proposes that the two groups must try to find ways and means of uniting instead of dividing. He proposes that the two groups must try to find ways and proposes to the two groups to explored, the deserts can be conquered, diseases can be eradicated, the depths of the oceans can be tapped and arts and commerce can be encouraged. Kennedy then asks both sides to liberate oppressed people of the world. With cooperation they can create a new world order in which the strong are just, the weak are secure and peace is established. These things may take a long time. But a beginning may be made.
2 – JOHON F.KENNEDY
(Ask Not What your Country Can Do For You)
Salient features of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963: In his inaugural address, as the president of America, John F. Kennedy expresses his views on several national and international issues that America was concerned with. He describes the occasion as a celebration of freedom. He declares that America has always been committed to human rights and the survival of liberty.
Kennedy assures loyalty to allies and calls for co-operative ventures. He asks newly liberated nations to strongly assert their own freedom. He promises to help those who are in misery and poverty. Kennedy offers a new alliance with the southern republics for progress and removal of poverty. These republics must remain masters of their own house. He also pledges America’s support for the United Nations Organization in protecting new and weak nations. Kennedy requests the opponents of America to join hands for peace before science causes total destruction. However, he is unhappy that the two great and powerful groups of nations are spending huge amounts of money for acquiring modern deadly weapons. They must remember that the next war is the last war. Therefore Kennedy proposes sincere negotiations in the direction of unity. He calls for strict control of arms. Kennedy also proposes to explore the wonders, not the terrors, of science. He wants the two groups of nations to explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate diseases, tap the depths of oceans and encourage arts and commerce, He also wants the oppressed nations and people to be liberated. With necessary co-operation from both the groups, a new world can be created where strong people observe justice, weak people have security, and peace is established. All this may take time, but a beginning can be made.
Kennedy calls upon Americans to wage a struggle against the common enemies of man namely, tyranny, poverty, disease and war, with hope and patience. He exhorts his fellow Americans to defend freedom with all their energy, faith and devotion, and light the entire word. He gives a clarion call to their country.
Finally, Kennedy encourages the people of the entire world to follow God with courage, sacrifice and conscience. These are the salient features of john F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963.
The proposals john F. Kennedy put before his adversaries to bring about an abiding peace in the world: In his Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1963, John F. Kennedy puts before his adversaries some far-reaching proposals for the sake of world peace, freedom and progress.
Kennedy makes a request to the adversaries of America to bring about peace before science destroys the world. Both the great and powerful groups of nations are spending large amounts of money on deadly modern weapons that may set in motion mankind’s final war. He calls for sincere negotiations. He proposes that the two groups must try to find ways and means of uniting instead of dividing. He proposes that the two groups must try to find ways and proposes to the two groups to explored, the deserts can be conquered, diseases can be eradicated, the depths of the oceans can be tapped and arts and commerce can be encouraged. Kennedy then asks both sides to liberate oppressed people of the world. With cooperation they can create a new world order in which the strong are just, the weak are secure and peace is established. These things may take a long time. But a beginning may be made.
UNIT VI 1– THE ODDS AGAINST US
UNIT VI
1– THE ODDS AGAINST US
Satyajit Ray:
A master storyteller, Satyajit Ray belongs to the highest echelons of world cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Ray mastered the craft of storytelling through simple yet emotive narration. Despite being made in a vernacular language, Satyajit Ray’s films appeal to a universal audience with their subtle depictions of the spectrum of human emotions and relationships.
Satyajit Ray justifies his observation that film making is tough business: According to Satyajit Ray film making is a tough business for various reasons. This is true in the case of Indian films, especially the Bengali films. With sufficient financial support, men and materials, it is easy for Hollywood to make a movie like Spartacus, or for the Soviet Russia to make a movie like War and Peace. They can present battles, orgies, earthquakes, fires, victory processions and other similar scenes.
However, in India epics cannot be shown, because we do not have enough money, market and technology to be able to compete with Hollywood. Therefore we have chosen the intimate type of cinemas. Our cinemas have adopted mood and atmosphere instead of grandeur and spectacle. Though our financial position has improved a little, we still have problems of our own.
If we consider film making from the initial stages, the first problem is finding an effective story, which is viewed as property. It is the director who chooses the story. His choice is based on two considerations. They are, his liking or sympathy for the story and his confidence that the story will make a good film. Here the public view is also important. The director must keep it in mind that if the film does not bring back its cost or capital, his backers will lose faith in him. He will become unwanted and a bad risk. A director may explore new themes, and new aspects of society and human relations, but they will find only a minority public or viewers. Therefore the director must be careful about his budget. Similarly, the director must avoid full-bodied treatment of physical passion. Love scenes in India must be suggestive only in the spirit of established moral conventions.
There are other problems, too. We cannot show a corrupt politician, a corrupt bank clerk with a Gandhi cap on, and an office boss passing comments on an Anglo-Indian. We cannot deviate a bit from a popular classic. Story-wise the director’s choices are very limited. He is in a narrow field. The next problem is finding the suitable casting. We have no agents to scout talent. Even if there are talented people, they do not respond to advertisements. The next problem is shooting. Our studios have crevices on the walls. They are infested by rodents. There are pits in the floors and cameras groan. Electrical power drops. In spite of all these problems, it is within the powers of the director to make a good film or a bad film. It is exciting to be able to create beauty even in the absence of necessities and comforts.
The problems of casting in Indian films:
In the Indian film making casting has its problems. It is the first step in the process of interpretation. In Indian films some of the roles are pre-cast. The roles are created keeping certain actors and actresses in mind. But there are no professional players for the role of an 80-year old grandfather. Similarly, there are no players for minor roles such as common men, women, children, peasants, shopkeepers, professors, prostitutes and so on. How to find actors for these roles is the question. In most countries there are agents who keep a list of all available extra actors. The director can choose his actors from them. In India there are no such agents and talent-scouts. The deserving people do not respond to advertisements for fear or suspicion of refection. Those who respond are not suitable for the roles. Therefore the search is made on streets among pedestrians, in race-meets, parties and wedding receptions. Satyajit Ray was lucky in finding the right players for his roles, but the possibility of failure was always around the corner. There is always an acute shortage of good professional actors and actresses of middle age and above. There are roles that can be brought to life only by professionals. Thus casting is always a problem in film making.
1– THE ODDS AGAINST US
Satyajit Ray:
A master storyteller, Satyajit Ray belongs to the highest echelons of world cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Ray mastered the craft of storytelling through simple yet emotive narration. Despite being made in a vernacular language, Satyajit Ray’s films appeal to a universal audience with their subtle depictions of the spectrum of human emotions and relationships.
Satyajit Ray justifies his observation that film making is tough business: According to Satyajit Ray film making is a tough business for various reasons. This is true in the case of Indian films, especially the Bengali films. With sufficient financial support, men and materials, it is easy for Hollywood to make a movie like Spartacus, or for the Soviet Russia to make a movie like War and Peace. They can present battles, orgies, earthquakes, fires, victory processions and other similar scenes.
However, in India epics cannot be shown, because we do not have enough money, market and technology to be able to compete with Hollywood. Therefore we have chosen the intimate type of cinemas. Our cinemas have adopted mood and atmosphere instead of grandeur and spectacle. Though our financial position has improved a little, we still have problems of our own.
If we consider film making from the initial stages, the first problem is finding an effective story, which is viewed as property. It is the director who chooses the story. His choice is based on two considerations. They are, his liking or sympathy for the story and his confidence that the story will make a good film. Here the public view is also important. The director must keep it in mind that if the film does not bring back its cost or capital, his backers will lose faith in him. He will become unwanted and a bad risk. A director may explore new themes, and new aspects of society and human relations, but they will find only a minority public or viewers. Therefore the director must be careful about his budget. Similarly, the director must avoid full-bodied treatment of physical passion. Love scenes in India must be suggestive only in the spirit of established moral conventions.
There are other problems, too. We cannot show a corrupt politician, a corrupt bank clerk with a Gandhi cap on, and an office boss passing comments on an Anglo-Indian. We cannot deviate a bit from a popular classic. Story-wise the director’s choices are very limited. He is in a narrow field. The next problem is finding the suitable casting. We have no agents to scout talent. Even if there are talented people, they do not respond to advertisements. The next problem is shooting. Our studios have crevices on the walls. They are infested by rodents. There are pits in the floors and cameras groan. Electrical power drops. In spite of all these problems, it is within the powers of the director to make a good film or a bad film. It is exciting to be able to create beauty even in the absence of necessities and comforts.
The problems of casting in Indian films:
In the Indian film making casting has its problems. It is the first step in the process of interpretation. In Indian films some of the roles are pre-cast. The roles are created keeping certain actors and actresses in mind. But there are no professional players for the role of an 80-year old grandfather. Similarly, there are no players for minor roles such as common men, women, children, peasants, shopkeepers, professors, prostitutes and so on. How to find actors for these roles is the question. In most countries there are agents who keep a list of all available extra actors. The director can choose his actors from them. In India there are no such agents and talent-scouts. The deserving people do not respond to advertisements for fear or suspicion of refection. Those who respond are not suitable for the roles. Therefore the search is made on streets among pedestrians, in race-meets, parties and wedding receptions. Satyajit Ray was lucky in finding the right players for his roles, but the possibility of failure was always around the corner. There is always an acute shortage of good professional actors and actresses of middle age and above. There are roles that can be brought to life only by professionals. Thus casting is always a problem in film making.
V UNIT 2- MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr.
V UNIT
2- MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr.
(I have a Dream)
The condition of the Negroes in America as described by Martin Luther King:
Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the greatest demonstration of Negroes in the history of America at Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., on 28 August 1963. In the inspiring address, Martin Luther King focused on the injustice done to the Negroes of America. In fact, a hundred years ago, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation bringing hope to millions of Negro slaves who were subjected to injustice.
However, a hundred years later the Negro still was not free. He was separated from the white society and treated with prejudice. He was made to live in poverty when the entire nation was enjoying material prosperity. He was pushed away and neglected. He was treated as an exile in his own homeland. A hundred years ago the Constitution was drafted and Independence was declared. It was like a promissory note that guaranteed the right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. But America defaulted. It gave the Negro people a bad cheque and it came back for want of funds. The Negro was denied justice and opportunity. The demonstration was organized to demand freedom and justice. This was urgent. Martin Luther King asked the Negroes not to rest until they achieved their just demands.
The Negroes were subjected to great trials and tribulations. Some of them came fresh from prisons. They faced sufferings and police brutality. Since suffering would finally set them free, he asked them to come out of despair.
Martin Luther King exhorts the Negroes not to turn back but march ahead: After a hundred years of the drafting of the Constitution and declaration of Independence, the condition of the Negroes in America did not improve a bit. They were still subjected to segregation, injustice, captivity, citizenship tights, suffering and despair. However, Martin Luther King asks the Negroes not to cool off but continue their struggle. He made it clear to the Negroes that they should come out of segregation and achieve racial justice. All the children of God must get equal opportunities .From racial injustice they must proceed to brotherhood. It would not be good for America to ignore the urgency of the Negro issue or underestimate it. Certainly the Negro discontent would soon yield place to freedom and equality. The struggle had just begun. There would be neither rest nor peace until the demands of the Negroes were fulfilled. The foundations of the nation would be shaken unless the demands were met.
However, Martin Luther King asked the Negroes not to indulge in wrongful deeds even for a right cause. The means must justify the ends. He also asked them not to display bitterness and hatred towards the whites. He exhorted them to conduct themselves with dignity and discipline. Violence must be avoided. Physical force must be met with soul force. Not all whites should be distrusted. Many whites realized that their destiny and freedom were tied up with those of the Negroes. The Negroes must know that they would not be able to walk alone.
Martin Luther King asked the Negroes always to march ahead and never turn back. They should not be satisfied until they could enter motels and hotels, and move from smaller homes to larger homes like others. They would not be satisfied unless they were allowed to vote for a better future and get justice and righteous treatment.
Finally, Martin Luther King gave a clarion call to the Negroes to come out of their despair and continue to work with the faith that selfless suffering would result in redemption.
Martin Luther King’s dream: During the historic demonstration of the unprivileged Negroes of America, Martin Luther King announced that he had a dream within the larger American dream. The dream was for a better destiny for the Negroes of America. He entertained the hope that one day America would rise up to the truth that all men were created equal. He dreamed that one day slaves and slave-owners would eat together like brothers. His dream was that the state of Mississippi would become on oasis of freedom and justice. Further Martin Luther King held the dream that one day his four children would be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by their character. Another dream of Martin Luther King was that in the state of Alabama black boys and black girls would join hands with their white counterparts and walk together as sisters and brothers.
Martin Luther King had unqualified faith in God. He was sure that one day lowly placed things would be elevated and highly placed things would be humbled. Rough places would become plain and crooked places would be made straight. God would thus reveal his glory. He hoped that one day the differences would vanish and there would be brotherhood in America. With faith in God, Martin Luther King declared that the Negroes would be able to work, pray, struggle, suffer in jail, and demand freedom, together. They knew that they would be free one day. On that day all the children of God would sing of freedom in ringing tones. There would be no difference then between black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics. This meant that all men were free at last. This was the fond dream of Martin Luther King.
2- MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr.
(I have a Dream)
The condition of the Negroes in America as described by Martin Luther King:
However, a hundred years later the Negro still was not free. He was separated from the white society and treated with prejudice. He was made to live in poverty when the entire nation was enjoying material prosperity. He was pushed away and neglected. He was treated as an exile in his own homeland. A hundred years ago the Constitution was drafted and Independence was declared. It was like a promissory note that guaranteed the right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. But America defaulted. It gave the Negro people a bad cheque and it came back for want of funds. The Negro was denied justice and opportunity. The demonstration was organized to demand freedom and justice. This was urgent. Martin Luther King asked the Negroes not to rest until they achieved their just demands.
The Negroes were subjected to great trials and tribulations. Some of them came fresh from prisons. They faced sufferings and police brutality. Since suffering would finally set them free, he asked them to come out of despair.
Martin Luther King exhorts the Negroes not to turn back but march ahead: After a hundred years of the drafting of the Constitution and declaration of Independence, the condition of the Negroes in America did not improve a bit. They were still subjected to segregation, injustice, captivity, citizenship tights, suffering and despair. However, Martin Luther King asks the Negroes not to cool off but continue their struggle. He made it clear to the Negroes that they should come out of segregation and achieve racial justice. All the children of God must get equal opportunities .From racial injustice they must proceed to brotherhood. It would not be good for America to ignore the urgency of the Negro issue or underestimate it. Certainly the Negro discontent would soon yield place to freedom and equality. The struggle had just begun. There would be neither rest nor peace until the demands of the Negroes were fulfilled. The foundations of the nation would be shaken unless the demands were met.
However, Martin Luther King asked the Negroes not to indulge in wrongful deeds even for a right cause. The means must justify the ends. He also asked them not to display bitterness and hatred towards the whites. He exhorted them to conduct themselves with dignity and discipline. Violence must be avoided. Physical force must be met with soul force. Not all whites should be distrusted. Many whites realized that their destiny and freedom were tied up with those of the Negroes. The Negroes must know that they would not be able to walk alone.
Martin Luther King asked the Negroes always to march ahead and never turn back. They should not be satisfied until they could enter motels and hotels, and move from smaller homes to larger homes like others. They would not be satisfied unless they were allowed to vote for a better future and get justice and righteous treatment.
Finally, Martin Luther King gave a clarion call to the Negroes to come out of their despair and continue to work with the faith that selfless suffering would result in redemption.
Martin Luther King’s dream: During the historic demonstration of the unprivileged Negroes of America, Martin Luther King announced that he had a dream within the larger American dream. The dream was for a better destiny for the Negroes of America. He entertained the hope that one day America would rise up to the truth that all men were created equal. He dreamed that one day slaves and slave-owners would eat together like brothers. His dream was that the state of Mississippi would become on oasis of freedom and justice. Further Martin Luther King held the dream that one day his four children would be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by their character. Another dream of Martin Luther King was that in the state of Alabama black boys and black girls would join hands with their white counterparts and walk together as sisters and brothers.
Martin Luther King had unqualified faith in God. He was sure that one day lowly placed things would be elevated and highly placed things would be humbled. Rough places would become plain and crooked places would be made straight. God would thus reveal his glory. He hoped that one day the differences would vanish and there would be brotherhood in America. With faith in God, Martin Luther King declared that the Negroes would be able to work, pray, struggle, suffer in jail, and demand freedom, together. They knew that they would be free one day. On that day all the children of God would sing of freedom in ringing tones. There would be no difference then between black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics. This meant that all men were free at last. This was the fond dream of Martin Luther King.
V UNIT 1– BUBBLING WELL ROAD
V UNIT
1– BUBBLING WELLROAD (RudyardKipling)
The story of the Bubbling Well Road:
The Chenab falls into the Indus about fifteen miles above the hamlet of Chachuran. Five miles to the west of this hamlet lies the Bubbling Well Road and the house of the priest of Arty-Goth. Five miles to the west of Chachuran, there is a patch of ten to twenty feet high jungle grass in a plot of three to four square miles. In the middle of this plot hides the priest. The priest is a one-eyed man with the impress of two copper coins burnt between his brows. Some people say that in the days of Runjit Singh, this old man must have been tortured for his mischiefs. Only the British Government can control him now.
A pig with a foot-long teeth enters the grass patch. The narrator goes into the patch to shoot it for the sake of honor. He carries a gun. He is accompanied by his dog, Mr. Wardle. The dog slips in and out of the grass clumps, but the narrator finds it hard to go through the thick grass. He feels that he is in the midst of Central Asia. He is unable to see two yards through the grass. The grass stems are as hot as boiler tubes. The narrator wishes to leave the pig alone. He comes to a six-inch narrow path that runs through thick grass. After fifty yards, he finds the dog missing. He wonders where it has gone. Whatever words he speaks are repeated. When he is silent, he hears an offensive laughter. The heat and the laughter upset him. The There seems to be no ground in front of him He drives his gun around but it does not touch the ground. The grunting sound he makes is repeated. When he is silent, there is the sound of laughter.
The narrator moves forward inch by inch and finds a black gap in the ground just before him. It is very deep well. Very black things are circling round and round in the black water. A little spring of water on one side of the well is creating the sound of laughter. Something in the well turns over on its back and moves round and round with one hand and half an arm held high. The narrator creeps round the well and after walking through the grass for some time, comes to a good path. This path takes him to the priest’s hut. The priest is afraid of the white coloured narrator. Being tired, he goes to sleep on a bedstead outside the priest’s hut. After waking up, asks the priest to lead him out of the grass into an open ground. When they reach an open ground, the priest runs back into the thick grass. The villagers throw stones at him if they see him. The narrator walks to the village of Arti-goth for a drink, the narrator learns from the villagers of Arti-goth that the patch of grass is full of devils and ghosts. They are all in the service of the priest. Men, women and children who enter the grass never return. The priest uses their livers for his witchcraft. Before leaving, the narrator tries to burn the grass, but it is too green. He decides to come back in summer with a bundle of newspapers and a match-box and put an end to the mystery of the Bubbling Well Road.
1– BUBBLING WELLROAD (RudyardKipling)
The story of the Bubbling Well Road:
The Chenab falls into the Indus about fifteen miles above the hamlet of Chachuran. Five miles to the west of this hamlet lies the Bubbling Well Road and the house of the priest of Arty-Goth. Five miles to the west of Chachuran, there is a patch of ten to twenty feet high jungle grass in a plot of three to four square miles. In the middle of this plot hides the priest. The priest is a one-eyed man with the impress of two copper coins burnt between his brows. Some people say that in the days of Runjit Singh, this old man must have been tortured for his mischiefs. Only the British Government can control him now.
A pig with a foot-long teeth enters the grass patch. The narrator goes into the patch to shoot it for the sake of honor. He carries a gun. He is accompanied by his dog, Mr. Wardle. The dog slips in and out of the grass clumps, but the narrator finds it hard to go through the thick grass. He feels that he is in the midst of Central Asia. He is unable to see two yards through the grass. The grass stems are as hot as boiler tubes. The narrator wishes to leave the pig alone. He comes to a six-inch narrow path that runs through thick grass. After fifty yards, he finds the dog missing. He wonders where it has gone. Whatever words he speaks are repeated. When he is silent, he hears an offensive laughter. The heat and the laughter upset him. The There seems to be no ground in front of him He drives his gun around but it does not touch the ground. The grunting sound he makes is repeated. When he is silent, there is the sound of laughter.
The narrator moves forward inch by inch and finds a black gap in the ground just before him. It is very deep well. Very black things are circling round and round in the black water. A little spring of water on one side of the well is creating the sound of laughter. Something in the well turns over on its back and moves round and round with one hand and half an arm held high. The narrator creeps round the well and after walking through the grass for some time, comes to a good path. This path takes him to the priest’s hut. The priest is afraid of the white coloured narrator. Being tired, he goes to sleep on a bedstead outside the priest’s hut. After waking up, asks the priest to lead him out of the grass into an open ground. When they reach an open ground, the priest runs back into the thick grass. The villagers throw stones at him if they see him. The narrator walks to the village of Arti-goth for a drink, the narrator learns from the villagers of Arti-goth that the patch of grass is full of devils and ghosts. They are all in the service of the priest. Men, women and children who enter the grass never return. The priest uses their livers for his witchcraft. Before leaving, the narrator tries to burn the grass, but it is too green. He decides to come back in summer with a bundle of newspapers and a match-box and put an end to the mystery of the Bubbling Well Road.
IV UNIT 2– AMRTYA KUMAR SEN
IV UNIT2– AMRTYA KUMAR SEN
Amartya Kumar Sen’s Early life and Education:
Amartya Kumar Sen’s education began in St. Gregory’s School, Dhaka. He soon moved to Shantiniketan of Rabindranath Tagore. It was here that at a very young age. Amartya Sen decided to become a teacher and researcher. During his earlier days, he studied subjects like Sanskrit, Mathematics and Physics, but soon he settled down for “the eccentric charms of Economics”. He was greatly influenced by the cultural diversity in the world as reflected in the curriculum of Shantiniketan.
Later Amartya Sen studied at Presidency College, Calcutta from 1951 to 1953. He already formed his views on cultural identity consisting of plurality and absorption. His intellectual horizon was broadened by the educational excellence of Presidency College, where he studied under great teachers. The student community of this college was politically active, but Amartya Sen did not develop an enthusiasm to join any political party. But the egalitarian commitment of the left appealed to him. With this exposure, he participated in the running of evening schools for illiterate rural children in the neighbouring villages. This facilitated his political and social enlargement.
In 1953 Amartya Sen moved from Calcutta to Cambridge to study at Trinity College another B.A. course in Pure Economics. After one year of research, he went to Banaras Hindu University to write his Ph.D. thesis for a competitive Prize Fellowship at Trinity College and got elected. He was given four years of freedom to do whatever he liked. During this period he studied philosophy to broaden his perspective. He worked with great philosophers like Ravels, lsaiah Thomas Scanion, Robert Dworkin, Benard Williams, Derek Parfit and Robert Nozick.
In 1963 Amartya Sen left Cambridge and joined the Delhi School of Economics as a professor. He worked with K.N Ray, the Head of the Delhi School, and made it a great centre of education in Economics and Social Sciences in India. During this period he developed the social choice theory in the dynamic atmosphere of the Delhi School of Economics.
Amartya Kumar Sen’s views on Economics:
At an early age Amartya kumar Sen was attracted to the “eccentric charms of Economics”. As a student of Shantiniketan, he was greatly influenced by the cultural diversity in the world. The sectarian or communitarian society of India and the murder of a poor Muslim, Khader Mia, of Dhaka at the hands of his rivals, formed the basis of Amartya Sen’s studies in Economics. Amartya Sen attributed incidents like this to narrowly defined identities, divisiveness and economic uncertainty. His answer to the violations of freedom lay in plurality, absorption, equity and universal tolerance.
To broaden his political vision, Amartya Sen, while still at Shantiniketan, taught illiterate rural children of neighbouring villages in evening schools. The Bengal famine of 1943 in which three million landless rural labourers were killed confirmed his economic and social philosophy. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and enrolled for another B.A. Degree in Pure Economics. Since Economics was closely related to philosophical disciplines, he spent four years studying philosophy. In 1963 Amartya Sen joined the Delhi School of Economics as a Professor and started working on social choice theory.
The social choice theory related to aggregation in economic assessment and policy making. He elaborated this theory in his book, Collective Choice and Social Welfare. Later he shifted from pure theory of social choice to more practical problems. This was essential to assess poverty, inequality, deprivation, distribution of national income, unemployment, violation of personal liberties and basic rights, gender disparities and women’s disadvantages. Amartya Sen shifted to America in 1985 and started analysing the implications of Welfare economics and Political Philosophy. He declared that welfare economics dealt with assessment of how well things were going for the members of the society. If things were not well, there should be a justification for that. He had a particular interest in poorest members of the society. By combining the tools of economics and philosophy, he lent an ethical dimension to economic studies. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded him the Nobel Prize for Economics in October 1998. He used a part of the prize money to run his Pratichi Trust which did social and charity work in India and Bangladesh in the fields of literacy, health care and gender equality. Known as the Mother Teresa of Economics, he spent a lifetime fighting poverty through analysis instead of political activity.
IV UNIT 1 – CUDDALORE EXPERIENCE
IV UNIT
1 – CUDDALORE EXPERIENCE
( Anu George )
The rescue and relief operations undertaken by Government of Tamilnadu following the floods and tsunami:
Cuddalore experienced unprecedented floods in October and tsunami in December 2004. The damage caused by the disaster was of a great magnitude. However, the district administration initiated relief and rehabilitation operations on a war-footing.
The first thing done was to arrange for a public announcement system. This helped in streamlining the rescue and relief operations and reducing the confusion at the hospitals. A search for the dead and the injured was initiated and public information centers were also set up to provide available information. Food and water were provided to 24,000 evacuees with the help of volunteers and philanthropic agencies. The dead bodies of 618 persons were individually photographed for identification and given a mass burial. This helped in preventing out bread of diseases.
Most of the relief camps were located in wedding halls. Thirty-eight such centers were set up for the sake of refugees. With perfect co-ordination between authorities and voluntary agencies, food and water were provided to the refugees. Arrangements were made for sanitary work. Medical camps were set up. Cooked food was monitored as a precautionary measure. Syntax tanks were put up in relief centers for immediate supply of water. Immediate steps were taken to restore civic amenities like power and water supply. Also three desalination plants were set up. As many as 107 bore wells were dug and pipelines were provided to ensure water supply to all the temporary shelters. Police patrolling was arranged to prevent thefts and other untoward incidents. Control rooms were set up to ensure speedy communication of problems and solutions.
As many as 51 habitations were reduced to rubble by the floods and tsunami. Urgent cleaning was necessary to prevent epidemics. Therefore army personnel were pressed into service and within a few days mass cleaning was completed. The relief centres and villages were disinfected with bleaching powder, lime and phenyl. Community kitchens were organized to feed 7085 refuges for a month. An inventory of all donated relief materials was computerized to ensure equitable distribution. Donors were given acknowledgements. Coupon system was evolved for distribution of relief materials. Twenty-three teams of doctors did wonderful service throughout the flood affected area. Training was given to volunteers to counsel mentally traumatized people.
Agricultural land to the extent of 517.7 hectares was rendered saline. Eco-friendly technologies were used to facilitate faster reclamation. Farmers were given enhanced compensation. Dead animals were disposed of and 20,109 animals were vaccinated Traumatized children were provided parks and play therapy was given to children by trained volunteers. Special homes were opened for tsunami-affected children for their psychosocial well-being. Temporary shelters with proper amenities were put up to accommodate refugees when they returned. Thus the administration of Cuddalore undertook effective rescue and relief operations following the floods and tsunami of October and December 2004.
The health services rendered by the district administration of Cuddalore:
The district administration of Cuddalore set up thirty-eight centres for refugees. Food and water were supplied regularly. Sanitary workers were appointed to clean the places on a daily basis. Medical camps were also set up. Teams of doctors visited the camps every day. The cooked food was monitored as a precautionary measure. Villages were cleaned up to control epidemics. Dead bodies of human beings and animals were disposed of. To disinfect relief centres and the ravaged villages, bleaching powder, lime and phenyl were used. Twenty three teams of doctors did wonderful service. They treated 80,117 people with 437 people as in-patients. The doctors also gave 9373 doses of measles and polio vaccine. They further mobilized 17,000 typhoid vaccines. The medical teams organized counseling for the mentally traumatized people including children. Play therapy sessions were specially held for children. Homes were opened for tsunami orphans to provide them psychosocial well-being.
1 – CUDDALORE EXPERIENCE
( Anu George )
The rescue and relief operations undertaken by Government of Tamilnadu following the floods and tsunami:
Cuddalore experienced unprecedented floods in October and tsunami in December 2004. The damage caused by the disaster was of a great magnitude. However, the district administration initiated relief and rehabilitation operations on a war-footing.
The first thing done was to arrange for a public announcement system. This helped in streamlining the rescue and relief operations and reducing the confusion at the hospitals. A search for the dead and the injured was initiated and public information centers were also set up to provide available information. Food and water were provided to 24,000 evacuees with the help of volunteers and philanthropic agencies. The dead bodies of 618 persons were individually photographed for identification and given a mass burial. This helped in preventing out bread of diseases.
Most of the relief camps were located in wedding halls. Thirty-eight such centers were set up for the sake of refugees. With perfect co-ordination between authorities and voluntary agencies, food and water were provided to the refugees. Arrangements were made for sanitary work. Medical camps were set up. Cooked food was monitored as a precautionary measure. Syntax tanks were put up in relief centers for immediate supply of water. Immediate steps were taken to restore civic amenities like power and water supply. Also three desalination plants were set up. As many as 107 bore wells were dug and pipelines were provided to ensure water supply to all the temporary shelters. Police patrolling was arranged to prevent thefts and other untoward incidents. Control rooms were set up to ensure speedy communication of problems and solutions.
As many as 51 habitations were reduced to rubble by the floods and tsunami. Urgent cleaning was necessary to prevent epidemics. Therefore army personnel were pressed into service and within a few days mass cleaning was completed. The relief centres and villages were disinfected with bleaching powder, lime and phenyl. Community kitchens were organized to feed 7085 refuges for a month. An inventory of all donated relief materials was computerized to ensure equitable distribution. Donors were given acknowledgements. Coupon system was evolved for distribution of relief materials. Twenty-three teams of doctors did wonderful service throughout the flood affected area. Training was given to volunteers to counsel mentally traumatized people.
Agricultural land to the extent of 517.7 hectares was rendered saline. Eco-friendly technologies were used to facilitate faster reclamation. Farmers were given enhanced compensation. Dead animals were disposed of and 20,109 animals were vaccinated Traumatized children were provided parks and play therapy was given to children by trained volunteers. Special homes were opened for tsunami-affected children for their psychosocial well-being. Temporary shelters with proper amenities were put up to accommodate refugees when they returned. Thus the administration of Cuddalore undertook effective rescue and relief operations following the floods and tsunami of October and December 2004.
The health services rendered by the district administration of Cuddalore:
The district administration of Cuddalore set up thirty-eight centres for refugees. Food and water were supplied regularly. Sanitary workers were appointed to clean the places on a daily basis. Medical camps were also set up. Teams of doctors visited the camps every day. The cooked food was monitored as a precautionary measure. Villages were cleaned up to control epidemics. Dead bodies of human beings and animals were disposed of. To disinfect relief centres and the ravaged villages, bleaching powder, lime and phenyl were used. Twenty three teams of doctors did wonderful service. They treated 80,117 people with 437 people as in-patients. The doctors also gave 9373 doses of measles and polio vaccine. They further mobilized 17,000 typhoid vaccines. The medical teams organized counseling for the mentally traumatized people including children. Play therapy sessions were specially held for children. Homes were opened for tsunami orphans to provide them psychosocial well-being.
III UNIT 2 – MOTHER TERESA
MOTHER TERESA
Early life of Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa was born on 26 August 1910. Her original name was Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She was youngest of the children of a family from Shkoder, Albania. Her parents were Nikolle and Drana Bojaxhiu. Her father died when Agnes was only eight years old. Then her mother brought her up as a Roman Catholic. Agnes was fascinated by the stories of the lives of missionaries and service. At the age of twelve she decided to lead a religious life. She left home at the age of eighteen and joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. She never saw her mother and sister again. Agnes first went to Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham in Ireland to learn English in order to teach school children in India. She arrived in India in 1929 and started working in Darjeeling. After taking religious vows, she began teaching in the Loreto convent school in Eastern Calcutta. She was very much disturbed by the poverty all around. The famine of 1943 brought about a seachange in her. On 10 September 1946 she felt “a call within the call” and decided to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. She began her missionary service in 1948. She took Indian citizenship and changed her dress pattern. She declared that God wanted her to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross, so that she could understand the poverty of others and help them.
Services Rendered by Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa started Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind the lepers and all those who feel unwanted, unloved and uncared for. IN 1952 she opened the first home for the dying and named it like angles. Mother Teresa next opened Shanti Nagar, a home for lepers. She opened similar homes throughout Calcutta. In 1955 she opened Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, a home for orphans and homeless youth. By 1960s, she opened hospitals, orphanages and leper homes all over India. The first overseas home of this type was opened in Venezuela in 1965. By 1970s other similar homes were opened throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the US.
Mother Teresa started the Missionaries of Charity Brothers in 1963 and a branch of the Sisters in 1976. By 1970s, she became famous throughout the world as a humanitarian and champion of the poor and helpless. Her fame was due not only to her humanitarian services but also to the book Something Beautiful for God, written by Malcolm Muggeridge. For the poor, the homeless, the hopeless, the diseased, the dying, the unloved, the uncared for, the unfed, the unlettered and orphans, she was the mother. Mother Teresa also started the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests in 1981 and the Missionaries of Charity Fathers in 1984. Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity continues to expand with an ever growing number of services. By 2007 it had 450 brothers and 5000 nuns worldwide operating 610 service centres in 123 countries. No wonder, for all her humanitarian services, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979, and India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She was beautified by Pope John Paul II on 19th October 2003, with the title, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
Early life of Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa was born on 26 August 1910. Her original name was Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She was youngest of the children of a family from Shkoder, Albania. Her parents were Nikolle and Drana Bojaxhiu. Her father died when Agnes was only eight years old. Then her mother brought her up as a Roman Catholic. Agnes was fascinated by the stories of the lives of missionaries and service. At the age of twelve she decided to lead a religious life. She left home at the age of eighteen and joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. She never saw her mother and sister again. Agnes first went to Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham in Ireland to learn English in order to teach school children in India. She arrived in India in 1929 and started working in Darjeeling. After taking religious vows, she began teaching in the Loreto convent school in Eastern Calcutta. She was very much disturbed by the poverty all around. The famine of 1943 brought about a seachange in her. On 10 September 1946 she felt “a call within the call” and decided to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. She began her missionary service in 1948. She took Indian citizenship and changed her dress pattern. She declared that God wanted her to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross, so that she could understand the poverty of others and help them.
Services Rendered by Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa started Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind the lepers and all those who feel unwanted, unloved and uncared for. IN 1952 she opened the first home for the dying and named it like angles. Mother Teresa next opened Shanti Nagar, a home for lepers. She opened similar homes throughout Calcutta. In 1955 she opened Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, a home for orphans and homeless youth. By 1960s, she opened hospitals, orphanages and leper homes all over India. The first overseas home of this type was opened in Venezuela in 1965. By 1970s other similar homes were opened throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the US.
Mother Teresa started the Missionaries of Charity Brothers in 1963 and a branch of the Sisters in 1976. By 1970s, she became famous throughout the world as a humanitarian and champion of the poor and helpless. Her fame was due not only to her humanitarian services but also to the book Something Beautiful for God, written by Malcolm Muggeridge. For the poor, the homeless, the hopeless, the diseased, the dying, the unloved, the uncared for, the unfed, the unlettered and orphans, she was the mother. Mother Teresa also started the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests in 1981 and the Missionaries of Charity Fathers in 1984. Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity continues to expand with an ever growing number of services. By 2007 it had 450 brothers and 5000 nuns worldwide operating 610 service centres in 123 countries. No wonder, for all her humanitarian services, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979, and India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She was beautified by Pope John Paul II on 19th October 2003, with the title, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
III UNIT THE CONNOISSEUR
THE CONNOISSEUR ( Nergis Dalal )
The story of “The Connoisseur”:
In the short story “The Connoisseur”, the narrator and Miss Krishna are presented as a perfect foil to each other. While the narrator is a window, Miss Krishna is a spinster. Both are living alone. The narrator is an active writer, whereas Miss Krishna is living on a small annuity left by her mother. They meet at an art exhibition and become acquainted to each other. Miss Krishna is a tactical woman. She knows how to impress people and get the benefits she wants. She also makes people sympathize with her miserable situation. She has many complaints against her mother who was partial to her younger sister. She insists that her life is a continuous struggle because of poverty. She is sad about her coarse bed sheets, uncarpeted floors, Pottery cups and plates, and ugly and discarded furniture. She feels envious of the narrator’s house and articles in it. She declares that she is starved of beautiful things. She claims that beauty is the panacea for all her ills.
Compared to Miss Krishna, the narrator is a self-contained, self-satisfied and uncomplaining gentle lady. She keeps herself busily engaged in typing out her writings. She is thoughtful but not talkative like Miss Krishna. However, the narrator feels a sense of sympathy for Miss Krishna and even to pool their incomes. The narrator, on the other hand, enjoys living alone and making herself comfortable. She has no financial worries. With a few necessary luxuries she makes her life run smoothly. The narrator takes Miss Krishna to her house out of sympathy only. But Miss Krishna brings a number of black trunks and fills the house with them. She moves about the house, picks small things and asks a number of questions about them, and disturbs the narrator in her work. She even asks unwanted questions about the narrator’s late husband, their relations and their earnings. She probes into all matters and irritates the narrator. She even reads her manuscripts though it is unethical.
On the pretext that a thing of beauty is joy forever, Miss Krishna pilfers precious little things from the houses of her hosts. Her black trunks are filled with them. Even her large purse contains pilfered things belonging to others. She shows all her newly pilfered things to the narrator and claims that she bought them very cheaply. The narrator understands that Miss Krishna wants beautiful things only to look at them but not to adorn her house with them or sell them for money. One day she offers to give the narrator a small Burmese box as a gift, but the latter rejects it because she does not accept gifts from anyone, being a self respecting woman.
The puzzling thing is that before her death, Miss Krishna bequeaths everything to the narrator. When the black trunks are opened, the narrator finds her missing clock among scores of small things. She takes only her clock and leaves the rest to Miss Krishna’s sister. Thus while the narrator is a plain, simple and honest woman, Miss Krishna is a curious, mysterious and enigmatic woman deserving the pseudonym Maya. Perhaps her puzzling character is due to the eccentricity common to ageing spinsters. Miss Krishna is the cross that the narrator bears with as much good humour as possible.
The Character of Miss Krishna:
Miss Krishna was a sixty-five year old spinster. She was living in a tiny cottage on a small annuity left by her mother. Miss Krishna bad a younger sister who received all the love and affection of their mother. It seems early life was a struggle because of poverty. Miss Krishna gave an impression that she had a passion for beauty. She used to pilfer beautiful things like teacups, spoons, candle holders, wooden statues, silver vases, jade Buddha, jade Buddha, jeweled watches and clocks which she securely stored in a number of black trunks. She knew how to work herself into the favour of others. As a credulous woman, the narrator believed her words and took her home for a cup of tea. Miss Krishna was all praise for the artistic and glowing cup as well as other things in the house. She cursed her own house as a hovel.
Miss Krishna had many stories to tell. One day she told the author that her house was being distempered and painted, and shifted into the author’s house at the narrator’s suggestion. She brought a large number of black trunks and said they contained her precious things. These precious things were those pilfered from other houses. Never for once did the narrator suspect her. Miss Krishna was an irritating guest. She used to ask endless questions, pick up things and distract the narrator. She was also fussy about food. This was unbecoming of a guest. She was also eager to know about the narrator’s late husband, their relations and earnings. She was planning to pool up their resources and shares the house permanently. The narrator was alarmed by this. One day finding that the distempering and painting of Miss Krishna’s house had been completed a week before, the narrator asked her to go back to her own house. At that time Miss Krishna had been reading the narrator’s manuscripts. It was unethical of the guest. The narrator hated the inquisitive nature of Miss Krishna.
Miss Krishna always carried a large leather purse with handles. The purse could accommodate any number of small things without a bulge. One day she opened it and showed to the narrator a coffee cup and saucer in red and gold colour. Later when the narrator visited a friend’s house, she came to know the coffee set was pilfered by Miss Krishna our of the friend’s twelve sets bought in Paris. Miss Krishna showed to the narrator the other things she had pilfered. Out of her little shop Miss Krishna offered to give a small Burmese box to the narrator but the latter refused to accept it.
The most astonishing thing was that before her death Miss Krishna left everything to the narrator. When the black boxes were opened by Miss Krishna’s sister, the narrator found only single pieces of beautiful things, all pilfered ones. Among these pieces, the narrator found her own missing clock and wanted to take it. It is clear that Miss Krishna loved beautiful things. Her sense of beauty was her panacea or remedy for all her ills. Perhaps these things of beauty gave her joy in life. The story has an air of mystery. Miss Krishna’s actions are puzzling. She remains an enigma. No wonder, her sister refers to her as Maya.
The story of “The Connoisseur”:
In the short story “The Connoisseur”, the narrator and Miss Krishna are presented as a perfect foil to each other. While the narrator is a window, Miss Krishna is a spinster. Both are living alone. The narrator is an active writer, whereas Miss Krishna is living on a small annuity left by her mother. They meet at an art exhibition and become acquainted to each other. Miss Krishna is a tactical woman. She knows how to impress people and get the benefits she wants. She also makes people sympathize with her miserable situation. She has many complaints against her mother who was partial to her younger sister. She insists that her life is a continuous struggle because of poverty. She is sad about her coarse bed sheets, uncarpeted floors, Pottery cups and plates, and ugly and discarded furniture. She feels envious of the narrator’s house and articles in it. She declares that she is starved of beautiful things. She claims that beauty is the panacea for all her ills.
Compared to Miss Krishna, the narrator is a self-contained, self-satisfied and uncomplaining gentle lady. She keeps herself busily engaged in typing out her writings. She is thoughtful but not talkative like Miss Krishna. However, the narrator feels a sense of sympathy for Miss Krishna and even to pool their incomes. The narrator, on the other hand, enjoys living alone and making herself comfortable. She has no financial worries. With a few necessary luxuries she makes her life run smoothly. The narrator takes Miss Krishna to her house out of sympathy only. But Miss Krishna brings a number of black trunks and fills the house with them. She moves about the house, picks small things and asks a number of questions about them, and disturbs the narrator in her work. She even asks unwanted questions about the narrator’s late husband, their relations and their earnings. She probes into all matters and irritates the narrator. She even reads her manuscripts though it is unethical.
On the pretext that a thing of beauty is joy forever, Miss Krishna pilfers precious little things from the houses of her hosts. Her black trunks are filled with them. Even her large purse contains pilfered things belonging to others. She shows all her newly pilfered things to the narrator and claims that she bought them very cheaply. The narrator understands that Miss Krishna wants beautiful things only to look at them but not to adorn her house with them or sell them for money. One day she offers to give the narrator a small Burmese box as a gift, but the latter rejects it because she does not accept gifts from anyone, being a self respecting woman.
The puzzling thing is that before her death, Miss Krishna bequeaths everything to the narrator. When the black trunks are opened, the narrator finds her missing clock among scores of small things. She takes only her clock and leaves the rest to Miss Krishna’s sister. Thus while the narrator is a plain, simple and honest woman, Miss Krishna is a curious, mysterious and enigmatic woman deserving the pseudonym Maya. Perhaps her puzzling character is due to the eccentricity common to ageing spinsters. Miss Krishna is the cross that the narrator bears with as much good humour as possible.
The Character of Miss Krishna:
Miss Krishna was a sixty-five year old spinster. She was living in a tiny cottage on a small annuity left by her mother. Miss Krishna bad a younger sister who received all the love and affection of their mother. It seems early life was a struggle because of poverty. Miss Krishna gave an impression that she had a passion for beauty. She used to pilfer beautiful things like teacups, spoons, candle holders, wooden statues, silver vases, jade Buddha, jade Buddha, jeweled watches and clocks which she securely stored in a number of black trunks. She knew how to work herself into the favour of others. As a credulous woman, the narrator believed her words and took her home for a cup of tea. Miss Krishna was all praise for the artistic and glowing cup as well as other things in the house. She cursed her own house as a hovel.
Miss Krishna had many stories to tell. One day she told the author that her house was being distempered and painted, and shifted into the author’s house at the narrator’s suggestion. She brought a large number of black trunks and said they contained her precious things. These precious things were those pilfered from other houses. Never for once did the narrator suspect her. Miss Krishna was an irritating guest. She used to ask endless questions, pick up things and distract the narrator. She was also fussy about food. This was unbecoming of a guest. She was also eager to know about the narrator’s late husband, their relations and earnings. She was planning to pool up their resources and shares the house permanently. The narrator was alarmed by this. One day finding that the distempering and painting of Miss Krishna’s house had been completed a week before, the narrator asked her to go back to her own house. At that time Miss Krishna had been reading the narrator’s manuscripts. It was unethical of the guest. The narrator hated the inquisitive nature of Miss Krishna.
Miss Krishna always carried a large leather purse with handles. The purse could accommodate any number of small things without a bulge. One day she opened it and showed to the narrator a coffee cup and saucer in red and gold colour. Later when the narrator visited a friend’s house, she came to know the coffee set was pilfered by Miss Krishna our of the friend’s twelve sets bought in Paris. Miss Krishna showed to the narrator the other things she had pilfered. Out of her little shop Miss Krishna offered to give a small Burmese box to the narrator but the latter refused to accept it.
The most astonishing thing was that before her death Miss Krishna left everything to the narrator. When the black boxes were opened by Miss Krishna’s sister, the narrator found only single pieces of beautiful things, all pilfered ones. Among these pieces, the narrator found her own missing clock and wanted to take it. It is clear that Miss Krishna loved beautiful things. Her sense of beauty was her panacea or remedy for all her ills. Perhaps these things of beauty gave her joy in life. The story has an air of mystery. Miss Krishna’s actions are puzzling. She remains an enigma. No wonder, her sister refers to her as Maya.
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