Youth Festival: Aishvaryam 2018

26-27-28 October
My Experience of Youth Festival

It was always challenging task for all the colleges to perform well in youth festival, as the level of youth is always high. One needs to do full practise with lots of hard work to be a top ranker.
In youth festival, students get chance to show their various talent in various field. From poster making to One act play everywhere, student came with full enthusiasm and show their unique skill. There were number of events organised on big platform.
This time Taxila institute of Science and Commerce College, hosted the Youth Festival.

Let us begin with the glimpse of the events which I have attended honestly:-

1. Mimicry

On 26 October I have seen several Mimicries by students from various colleges. There were total 13 Mimicries. Some of them are mindblowing. A true Mimicry must  includes multiple voices. How much a person was capable of copying multiple voices with different tones and moods.  The students are successful in copying the voice of animals. Some are very much repeating:-
i) Cuckoo's voice,
ii) Peacock's voice
 Some voices of vehicles also:-
iii) Auto-rickshaw
iv) Train
v) Helicopter
Some of various things
vi) Opening door
vii) A Swing

Normally the mimic of opening door creates horrifying effect, as it seems like someone is opening haunted house. Some students are doing so much real copy that it rise fear in our mind of some place which was haunted since so many years.

2. Mono-acting

I have seen three performance of mono acting. All three are different in concept. I will describe two of them:-
1. About a girl who is abused by male

This mono act really make goose bump. The pitch of girl is very high and harsh, her voice is enough to rise fear in the minds of people. She criticised the male dominant society which always one and another way pressurised girl or female to do something which she didn't want.
She has used several abusive words which are not welcomed by the crowd. But this shows the intellectual level, as whether the crowd taking each and every thing on their own self or think of society. Because each and every act should refer to society not to individual. No one is targeting any individual there.

But we cannot see glimpse of various characters in the performance of girl. In whole act she remains in one tone and mood, and of one character only.

However in the other mono-acting we can see different characters played by one single girl, whether it is an old lady, a small girl child or mature etc. These type of variation differentiate one artist from other.

performance with variation

2. About a Lady Hawker and her sufferings

The other Mono-acting is full of all types of emotions, sad, happy, anger etc. It is about a Lady hawker. She has performed very well. She was able to make audience cry from her live performance.

- Rising, climax and falling

She begins with comedy and then suddenly take her acting to high pitch of emotion and with her cry gives climax. First she talked with all the customers in very light and humorous mood and sells each and every things. But Suddenly when one customers ask her about her daughter then she changed her tone to serious. She slower down her voice and then started crying. Her crying brings climax, we struck that what wrong done with her. Then she gave explanation about the condition of her daughter, whose in laws sales her somewhere.

-Catharsis

When she started crying loud then we got struck by loud emotions but when she explains that she makes her daughter free from the customers, to whom the in Laws of her daughter sales her, there I feel catharsis.

In a way we get all emotions in this single 5 minute Mono-acting.

3. One act play

One act play takes 30 minutes to complete. But this 30 minutes shows all sort of things, it is almost like a short film, for example "Mahotu" which is directed by Vijaygiri Bava.

I have watched only one drama performance which covers many things into it. Its title is "Papan Vchche Dariyo"

i) Significant title

The title itself is symbolic. It signifies something emotional and the whole drama is also based on emotional theme.

ii) Use of Flashback technique

The main character was an old man who narrates the whole story in flashback technique. He narrates each and every  incident of his life.

iii) Climax

When the narrator (old man) narrating the story to his own son whom he has lost before so many years, but did not recognise him,that scene brings climax into the play. His son then reveals his identity and suddenly tears fall down from the face of his father. That was really very heart touching scene.

iv) Catharsis

There was one rape scene into the play which was not performed fully in front stage but only we heard voices from backstage. This was very significant scene and it brings goose bumps. We feel catharsis and when the daughter in law commit suicide that makes audience cry. The play was successful to make audience attentive.

v) Use of music

Director of the play has used various music which holds on the interest of public and audience cannot get bored in middle. That was the technique of the master.

vi) Tragic play

The play is tragic and it brings all the elements of tragedy. It justifies Aristotelian definition of tragedy that is:-

"The imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself"

The role of daughter in law is complete in itself and brings tragic elements. Her life itself is tragic.

4. Skit

I have watched one skit which was full of comedy and also gives basic message of cleanliness, and the need of Toilet.

i) Size of character

It was common archetype that to bring comedy fatty or too much healthy characters are used. Same thing done in this short skit of 10 minute. One healthy character becomes the object of laugh only by his entry into the skit.

This kind of mindset we can find in "Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chasma"  a comedy serial in which there is one healthy character Dr. Hathi.

ii) Current plans and programmes of government

As the skit deals with the current issues of society and in a way it promotes the message of Our PM Narendra Modi of cleanliness. It shows the political correctness of the people that how they think according to the views of government only and didn't look on the other side, the problem which the poor class faced to make toilet because of lake of money, lack of proper place etc.

In this way I have watched Youth festival from the spectacles of  literature.

The Birthday Party: Post Viewing task

This blog is a part of thinking activity given by our Professor Dilip Barad. Here is the link of the blog from where the task was given click here.

Film screening of "The Birthday Party"

Post-viewing activity

Q1- Why are two scenes of Lulu Omitted from the movie?

-There are two sexual assaulting scene of Lulu in the text, first by Stanley then other by Nat Goldberg. But both these  scenes are omitted in the movie. As per my thinking Director don't wanted to show vulgarity in his movie. Or it can be read from feminist perspective that the director don't wanted to put woman character in focus or in sympathy. May be he is justifying the act and don't think of it as an important thing.

Q2. Is movie successful in giving us the effect of menace? Where you able to feel the same while reading the text?

No, the movie is not successful in giving us the effect of menace. As comedy of menace is something in which we feel threat with the mingling of comic element, but whole movie only gives us fear and threat. The movie keeps on holding the serious tone throughout, till the end. But while reading the text we have felt the effect of comedy of menace in various scenes like when Goldberg and McCain asked torrent of questions to Stanley. such as "Why Chicken has not crossed the road?" etc which gives comic as well as threatening effect, comic in the sense of unnecessary questions and threat in the mind of Stanley.

Q3. Do you feel the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie? where you able to feel the same while reading the text?

Yes. In movie sometimes we feels the effect of lurking danger, specially when drum is beaten by Stanley so ghastly that he is ready to break it with his furious mood. That time Meg feels so uneasy. That situations alarm us of upcoming danger. While reading the text when the blind man's buff game was going on that time I feel the effect of lurking danger, as suddenly there is blackout and the scream of Lulu rises fear or warns us of something danger to be happen.

Q4. What do you read in 'newspaper' in the movie? Petey is reading newspaper to Meg, it torn into pieces by McCain, pieces are hidden by Petey in last scene.

"Newspaper" stands as an important symbol in the movie as well as in text also. Newspaper is something which makes a person indifference to somethings which was going on  around us. As while reading a newspaper a person hide his face and do not want to interrupt or talk to someone. In the Movie also Petey is reading newspaper and remains totally indifferent to his wife who is continuously working in the kitchen. When Meg ask about the news then Petey replies in very serious tone. She has asked about the birth of a child and in this way she has did satire on her husband who was not able to give her a child.
Afterwards there is long scene of tormenting newspaper by McCain into pieces. As its harsh sound creates very dull effect in the play. It seems very uneasy and creates nauseatic feelings for the characters. Petey hides the pieces in the last scene, may be because he don't wants to reveal his weakness.

Q5. Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is playing blind man's Buff and is positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage when Stanley is playing it. What interpretations can you give to these positioning of camera.

The technique of camera is very significant throughout the film. It is more material centric than humans. While playing the game of Blind man's buff it shows its main function. The camera first moves in same direction when MacCain was playing the game. It moves over the head of him and wherever it goes it shows the sight of MacCain only, not showing other things. But When Stanley was playing Blind Man's buff then it positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage, as it signifies the centrality of the main character. How Stanley looks at the situation. He feels the room as just like a cage from which he won't be able to run out. He has to caught at least one in this game. He is helpless.

Q6. Pinter restored theatre to its basic elements: an enclosed place and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of one another and pretence crumbles. Does this happen in the movie?

Yes, Harold was successful to makes his reader confuse throughout the film. It rises the situation of Reverse Dramatic Irony. In this situation the reader don't know about the context that what was going on but character knows, hence we didn't feel mercy for characters but feel mercy at one another. In the movie when Stanley and MacCain was talking with each then we don't know that what was happening in reality. Every dialogue between them seems unpredictable, we can;t predict the next dialogue. Only the characters knows the situation. We won't get the hidden reason of their conversation.

Q7. How does movie helps in better understanding of the play, with its typical characteristics like painteresque, pause, lurking danger, silence, menace?

Yes, movie helps a little bit in understanding some basic characteristics but it didn't give complete justice. As while reading the text we feels all these elements with complete satisfaction but movie was not able to create the same atmosphere throughout., till the end. As movie was not able to develop the diverse effect suddenly. As when it creates the atmosphere of danger then suddenly it won't be able to change the tone to comic one. Hence there remains the singularity of effect.

Q8. With which of the following observation you agree.
- It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party"
- It is impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version directed by William Fridkin.

I am agree with the first statement that "It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party". It was not possible to make a satisfactory film of an absurd play. A film will not create the same absurdity as it created in the text because film has to carry various elements and it won't be able to make effective play because it cannot change the tone suddenly and everything we watch was just remains in suspense, the reader feels mercy at  each other for not getting the points properly.

Q9. If you were a director or screenplay writer, what sort of difference would you make in the making of the movie?

If I am a screenplay writer or Director, then I must change the tone of film from seriousness to some comic elements, as movie was not successful in bringing the comic elements which breaks the theme of Comedy of menace.

Q10. Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters?

As I am big fan of Bollywood movie, so I will give names of Bollywood actors who will better play the roles of characters.

Stanley: Akshay Kumar 

Stanley

Goldberg: Naseeruddin Shah

Goldberg

McCain: Anupam Kher

McCain

Lulu: Vidhya Balan

Lulu

Meg: Kirron Kher

Meg

Petey: Boman Irani

Petey

Views of Shashi tharoor

Convincing views of Shashi Tharoor in the demand for reparation from British Raj

British Destroy India

Shashi Tharoor gave many points which describe destruction of India by Britishers. Some important points are:-

i) Flourishing Textile Industry-

The flourishing Textile Industry of Britishers destroy the Indian workers in a vast range. Handmade products by poor workers carries no meaning with the coming of huge machinist textile Industry.  It flourished all over the country begins from small area but spread very rapidly.

ii) Taxation

Taxation is the root damage done by Britishers over Indians. They torture those people who couldn't pay the taxes. In this way rich becomes richer, and poor becomes poorer.

iii) Loot by Britishers

The Britishers are the main looters of Indian treasure, as they sent each and every things to England. Whereas Mughals always spent their money in India. They only invest here rather than spending outside of country. In this way Britishers are the real looters.

iv) Britishers left India in worst condition

Now British is one of the richest country in the world. If we look back at the past account of country then we find British left India accounting 27% of Global GDP in 1700, 200 years of exploitation, loot, deputation, destruction, poverty, 90 % of population living below poverty line and literacy rate was below 70%.  Therefore the growth rate of India from 1900 to 1947 is 0.001 %.

v) Problem of Starvation

15 to 29 million of Indian died of starvation under British Raj. Innumerable poor Bengali people  are facing Starvation and when they raised voice against it or ask question to British Government then Britishers replied that Why haven't Gandhi dies yet. This was the reality of cruel Britishers thinking.

vi) Violence and Racism

This is the another reality of Britishers. They are well known for their violence in country. As they are white people they look at Indians with hatred because of skin color. They put white color in superior position and all other skin color are putted in inferior position.

vii) Railways

Railway was invented to serve British people in  reality not local Indian people. Railways under British Raj were designed in such a way to carry raw material to port to shift to British. In this way Britishers did many inventions but to serve their selfish need only.

In this way Shashi Tharoor successfully presents his views of British Raj.

Waiting for Godot: Thinking activity

Thinking task with response to the movie "Waiting for Godot"(Beckett's Waiting for Godot)
Here is the link of Professor's blog, from where the thinking task given.
click here

Q1. What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?

- Connection between the setting of the play and the painting by Caspar David Friedrich

The play 'Waiting for Godot' was inspired by Caspar David's painting. The setting of the play and painting is similar. We can find 'Tree' in both, two person waiting for someone, How nature remains indifferent to them is also same, as day and night came but the person remains at their place as it is without moving. Nature never waits for anyone.


Q2.  The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree 
Q3. In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?

Interpretation of tree and coming of night and moon

Beckett has used one single tree in both the acts and makes slight changes by showing two three leaves in the second act. Even the day falls into night and moon rises, but their waiting for Godot never stops.

Indifferent nature

Beckett  wants to highlight the indifference nature. As Nature never waits for anyone, it doesn't matter whether a person was sad or happy, nature never cares for them. The natural process of environment never stops for anyone. Similarly in this play Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot, and in this process of waiting they do various things to pass their time, sometimes they feel totally disappointment. But these all things makes no change in the nature, the day begins as it used to be and night came as it is, without any change. Beckett very cleverly highlights the indifference nature of human being through this tree, as in real society also, when someone is suffering, then the other will be happy or celebrating their happy days, no one cares about the suffering. Human  always remains indifference towards the suffering of other.


Q4. The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?

Meaning of Debris in the setting

Beckett was master in making meaning through his setting of the play. Whatever he used in background carried some meaning and interpretation. Here again he used contour of Debris consisting of rubbish and broken pieces of rocks signifying the meaninglessness of life that how the useless things if put together then it create a huge structure. Similarly the world is full of useless things which create or makes the world. World consists of each and every things whether it is good, bad or rubbish. Debris also signifies the ups and downs of life. In this play also both the characters Vladimir and Estragon climb the Debris whenever feels disappointment and think of committing suicide.

Q5. The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?

Theme of Nothingness

Nothingness is the main theme of the play. Idea of nothingness came into the play more than any other idea. There is always a dialogue that "Nothing to be done" as both the tramps becomes tired while Waiting for Godot and even they don't know when Godot will come. They do various activities in between to pass their time, but at last nothing came in their hand. They are filled with disappointment. They even tried of commit suicide but because of lack of practical tools they won't be able to commit suicide.

Q6.   Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?

Waiting for Godot: A positive play

I am agreed with the idea of 'Waiting for Godot' as a positive play. As it presents the true picture of human life. How human life goes on without any change, whether they wish to live or not but life never stops. if they wants to end their life then they can and in this way can get rid of life, but death of any person doesn't affect the lifelong process of other. Other human beings keep on exist and live in this world, facing the same problem or suffering. Nothing change in the routine of the life of others. On earth life will always remains in different forms. It reflects the positivity, positive change of life. It is called natural process which never interrupt by others.

Q7. How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?

Symbolical meaning of Hat and Boots

In the play Boots and Hat carries symbolic meaning. As Estragon keeps on wearing and putting off his boots. In the first act he feels that boots are not fitted in his foot, but in second act it gets fit. It symbolize the importance of things in human life, when one feels that someone is important in his life then he will make that thing  adjustable as per his need but when one feels no importance then he neglect that thing, it doesn't matter it is his own thing. Similarly boots also signifies the reputation of a person. We can make judgement over someone by looking at the boots. In this play Estragon also puts this worldly pleasure down in the form of boots and when Vladimir asked him to wear boots, he neglect and compares himself with Christ that he also goes barefoot.

Similarly Hat also signifies the smartness of a person, as whatever man thinks, and the thought which he  express is totally different. By putting hat over head, man covers his intellect power and never allows someone to peep in his thought process, but when it takes out then he started revealing his thoughts and it becomes unbearable for someone to listen all these thoughts of mind. So its better to wear hat, means we in the form of hat, one needs to control his thought to express in front of others.

Q8. Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?

Yes, the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic. But our society id full of Lucky type people. We all are Lucky in one and another way. In this play when Estragon tries to help Lucky then he kicks him badly. Similar things happening in society also, when someone tries to help us or tries to make us aware we started blaming them and hates to listen any advice, even if that advise was beneficial for us. We never allow ourself to come out from the bond of relations, whether it is with relatives or whether it it with God. We know that we are not tied by anyone but still we can't escape or can't think of living our ideas, beliefs, or we can say superstitions also. Lucky also does this same thing in the play, even when Pozzo becomes blind, he never feels to make himself free from the chains and give it to the hand of his master Pozzo.

Q9. Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or  . . .
Q10“The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’” (Esslin, A Search for the Self). Do you agree? How can you justify your answer?

According to me 'Godot' is our desire. We keep on desiring from one thing to other, Our desire never ends. Similarly in this play wait for Godot never ends. Estragon and Vladimir while waiting meets many people, Pozzo, Lucky, messenger boy. But still they din't stops to wait. In our life also, when we are urging for desire, we get many other things in between of our life which is also same important as out final destination, but we never cares for such things, our desire keep on increasing. If we get one things then we crave for other and so on. In this way our waiting never ends.

In family also when our parents first waits for our marriage, when we get married, then they waits for their grandchildren, when they get grandchildren then they again waits for their children. In this way desire keeps on increasing day by day, and waiting never stops.

Q11.   Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘viewed’ as it requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals help in better understanding of the play?

Yes, the play requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, therefore it can be better 'read' than 'viewed'. Absurd play never be understood by viewing only. It requires lots of understanding, otherwise we won't be able to get the idea  that what was going on. This type of plays are better to be read than watching. As audience will get bore  by looking on the philosophical meaning of the play. But when it read it throws more light into the mind and will be understood well without getting bore and easy to get the torrent of dialogues, as it can never be caught in film version or in any theatre act.

Q12. Which of the following sequence you liked the most:

o   Vladimir – Estragon killing time in questions and conversations while waiting

o   Pozzo – Lucky episode in both acts

o   Converstion of Vladimir with the boy

I like the conversational scene between Vladimir and Estragon. They passes many humorous dialogues while waiting to kill their time. As they makes the audience burst out in laughter with their silly activities or silly questions over each other.

Q13. Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie? Where and when exactly that feeling was felt, if ever it was?


Yes, I feel existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie. When the messenger boy came and Vladimir converse with him then I felt that how human is helpless over the situation, how human was unable to do anything to change his situation. Vladimir with ask to the Boy, When Godot will come? but get another answer which makes him disappoint that Godot won't be able to come today, but he will come tomorrow. In the second act also Vladimir ask same question and get same reply. This makes me feel so meaningless to exist in this world or to wait for someone who will never come.

Q14. Vladimir and Estragon talks about ‘hanging’ themselves and commit suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?

The act of Suicide is always significant in the idea of existentialism. The question of our existence in this world always makes us to think that  Why we are living in this world? for what reason? and when we get no answer in reply to this question we think to committing suicide, when we find everything in the world useless and meaningless, then we think of suicide. In this play also When Vladimir and Estragon tired of their work of waiting they think of committing suicide by hanging themselves on tree. But they won't be able to do this because of lacking tools.


Q15. Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the 'names' of the characters (Vladimir - Russia; Estragon - France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky - England)? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II? Which country stands for 'Godot'?

Q16. So far as Pozzo and Lucky [master and slave] are concerned, we have to remember that Beckett was a disciple of Joyce and that Joyce hated England. Beckett meant Pozzo to be England, and Lucky to be Ireland." (Bert Lahr who played Estragon in Broadway production). Does this reading make any sense? Why? How? What?

Political reading

European nations represented by the names of the characters. Vladimir represents Russia and Estragon represents France. There is history of power politics between France and Russia. Many Russian are in favor of France and many against and vice versa. But still they are together just like Estragon and Vladimir.
Pozzo represents Italy and Lucky represents England, as in political reading Italy tries to imposed their ideas and rule over England.
Germany stands for Godot. As Hitler was ruling in Germany, and the way he excommunicated the Jews from his country is very much significant and relevant to the play. Both the tramps one or another way thrown by their nations. The way they waits for Godot is similar as the way Jews waits for Hitler to accept them.

Q17. The more the things change, the more it remains similar. There seems to have no change in Act I and Act II of the play. Even the conversation between Vladimir and the Boy sounds almost similar. But there is one major change. In Act I, in reply to Boy;s question, Vladimir says: 

"BOY: What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?

VLADIMIR: 

Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

How does this conversation go in Act II? Is there any change in seeming similar situation and conversation? If so, what is it? What does it signify?

The change in Act II between the conversation of Vladimir and messenger boy is very much significant. Vladimir tell to boy that tell to Godot that you saw us. In a way Vladimir wants that the boy should describes their situation. How they are suffering and how they are eagerly wants to get rid of it. In human life also, we wants that God will look at our situation and will do something to make our pain less. We always hope that God will change our fortune and will turns our sad days into happy days but this will never happens.

Sunday Reading: Two Short Stories by Prof. Mahendrasinh Parmar

Two Short Stories in Gujrati language from "Polytechnic"- a collection of short stories published in 2016

1. Intellectual Indubhai
2. ISI No Hath

Highlighting the main issues from the stories

1. Intellectual Indubhai

i) Definition of Intellectual

Writer has given very relevant definition of Intellectual in his story. First he make satire on the average people who don't understand the meaning of the word "Intellectual". Intellectual means, a person possessing highly developed intellect. Like critics, Camus, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud etc, who satirized on Political system, religion and many more subjects. In a way writer makes satire on high class intellectuals.

ii) Lack of specific surname

The writer has avoided to mention any specific surname of the protagonist Indubhai. In this way he denied to make distinguish among people with their caste and surname. He wants to highlight that Intellectual can be from any caste or from any surname. Specific class or caste doesn't make a person 'Intellectual'.

iii) Strict Teacher

Intellectual Indubhai presents the strict quality of teacher that how the students are fearful of him, his loud voice is enough to built fear in the mind of students. Students are not allowed to move in his class and during exam no one take risk of doing cheating if Indubhai was present as a supervisor.

iv) Difference between Mediocre Intellectuals and Indubhai

Writer makes satire on those Intellectuals, who have good collection of books of high price decorated in their library, but remains untouched, only for showcasing. The other Intelelctuals are those who didn't believe in decoration, but believes in acquiring knowledge from each and every book, cost doesn't matter, the knowledge which it contains is important, rather than looking on outside cover. Therefore Indubhai belongs to later one, who has read each and every book.
The second difference is Indubhai is emotional Intellectual who gets emotional by looking at poor people and gave whatever he has to them.

v) Secular Viewpoint

The writer makes secular viewpoint, so that no quarrel was made against the character. He doesn't make any difference in religion and religious consideration.

vi) Majority and Minority group

Indubhai living in the society of majority group. The house in which he is living is rented by a minority group. Majority group never allows minority people in their society. Therefore one day when Intellectual Indubhai went to Mumbai with his wife, then his house was burned by the majority group.

vii)Satire on Western Thinkers

The writer has included names of many western philosophers, thinkers, critics. In a way he makes satire on Elite class writers. He makes satire on the theory of Charles Darwin about the evolution of human beings, that if we all human are evoluted from same species then why the society makes difference between the majority and minority, it doesn't makes any sense. Similarly, the writer raised voice on the theory of Milton, Rilke.

viii) Politics behind all the riots

Here the power politics plays a vital role behind all the riots happening around the city. Intellectual Indubhai stands for the middle class, minority class who is unable to do anything. He wants to stop these all things but can't. And only stands as a passive observer. He even cannot stops his students whom he taught in class the moral values. Now there is weapon in their hands against the inequality prevailing all around. Many innocents are died in this act.

Post- Godhra riots- The story is a satire on the contemporary Godhra riots(2002) which was a massive destruction of human lives. Riot between the majority and minority group.

The writer has successfully highlighted the major problem without direct addressing to those groups of society which belongs to minority or majority. In a story telling way he presented very serious issue. When the story firs read, it seems just like a common story of a middle class man who faced the problem of inequality and its all about his suffering, destruction of his moral values in the form of religious books.

2. ISI No Hath

i) Incidents (common in Uttar Pradesh, but uncommon in peaceful states)

The writer begins his story by narrating the incidents of Ayodhya , Akshardham. In Ayodhya city, incidents are keeps on happening, whether it is about demolition of Babri Masjid, political, social, historical debates, firing incidents and many more. But it becomes unbelievable when these kind of incident happens in the area where no one thinks or suppose.  Therefore  the writer said that, he has heard about the incidents happening in big cities but never heard about it in place where there are less crime or riots. But then immediately he makes satire that now Riots, incidents are becomes common all over the world whether it is known area or unknown. Whether  peaceful states or not. As Gujarat is not consider as peaceful state any more. Then the writer reminded of Godhra incident again.

ii) Temples

The writer tries to present the mindset of the rioters, who never thinks morally. They never left any place to destroy, even temples also. They follows no religion in destruction.

iii) Symbolical title

The title carries its own meaning in hidden way in the names of characters. 'I' stands for Ishvar Dabhi, 'S' for Sharad Joshi, 'I' Indrajeet Dholakiya. When we first read this title, we think of Indian Standard Institute. But in hidden way the writer makes the title significant.

iv) Portrayal of Police

The writer presents SP as an indifference Police who didn't care much about the incident and didn't treats the criminals as the way they are treated. Just because of his personal reason as he himself wants support their act of putting Bomb in temple. Temple ruins his son's career. Therefore all these three characters Ishvar, Sharad, Indrajeet  are not ill-treated in the remind room.

v) Importance of religious work over education

in this story, SP reminds his one and only son who left his masters in Engineering and went to America for the construction of temple. How religion puts its mark on the mind of intellectual, educated people, and how it blinds the people. As it is obvious that after the construction of temple, his son becomes unemployed and then only he  will realise the importance of his degree which he has left in middle.

vi) Unemployment

This short story highlights the problem of employment and poverty by presenting the condition of Ishvar Dabhi, who is doing work of wastepaper vendor. Because of Temple, his work was ruined and all have started giving waste papers to temple instead of vendor.

vii) Construction of Temple frustrates the intellectual mind

The Professor Indrajeet Dholakiya, get frustrated with the construction of temple in the area where all the shops, school are getting destroy. It ruins all the business which were going on in that place.

Therefore all these three characters decided to put Bomb in the place where the construction is going on. But caught by police and Bomb was not blasted, it get defused.

viii) Comtemporary Incident

Swaminarayan Temple- The story is a satire on the building of Swaminarayan temple near university, which covers all the area included under the University. And no one takes major step against it because of Power and money.

In this way the writer has successfully presented the contemporary incident through his short stories. The art of a literary writer is always unique, who knows how to present each things in hidden way. I am totally agreed with the way the writer has presented the contemporary event. I will do the same. And it was upon reader who interprets it in various ways according to their thinking process.

Prof. Mahendrasinh Parmar

Review: Mourning Becomes Electra

24 september 2018

On 24 September, We have watched the film version of  Mourning Becomes Electra which was directed by Dudley Nichols (1947) at our Department of English. We cannot find any major difference between the film version and the original play. Most of the things, dialogues are same as in the original text.
Mourning becomes Electra is a play written by Eugene O' Neill. He has included many themes in this short play and also takes the base of Oedipus and Electra myths.

Themes of the play

i) Guilt
ii) Scattered relationship
iii) Oedipus Complex
iv) Electra Complex
v) War
vi) Inner conflict
vii) Death/ suicide
viii) Influence of past/ treatment of mask
ix) Conspiracy

Let us discuss each and every theme in detail-

i) Theme of Guilt

We can see the Guilt conscious in the character of Lavinia, Christine and Orin. Lavinia is the only Manon who survives till the end. But she is the most unfortunate one who is living like a dead. She remains all alone in the end. Then she realised her mistake, what harms she did to her family. She cajole her brother to kill Adam Brant, and also coax him against her mother. She also tries to cajole her father against her mother. In this way at last nothing remains, only guilt was there in her mind.
The guilt of Christine is reflected in the play when she commit suicide. She realised that she has done wrong or also feels herself all alone without her son Orin, who is now in the side of Lavinia and her Lover Adam Brant.
Orin treats her mother badly after the cajoling of his sister Lavinia. Then afterwards when Christine commit suicide, he realised his guilt and in the end he also did the same, committed suicide.

ii) Scattered relationship

There is no unity in the family of Manon. All relationships are scattered, husband-wife, brother-sister, father-son, mother-daughter. There is no peace inside the home, but peace outside. Ezra mannon after returning from war finds himself in more trouble than the problems he faced with the bitter experience of War. His relationship with his wife is also not happier one, even he ignores his daughter in front of his wife, but Christine didn't care much for him anymore. Christine also dislikes her own daughter Lavinia, because of her hatred towards Ezra Manon. Orin also treats his sister badly after realizing his guilt. In this way there are scattered relationships in Manon family.

iii) Oedipus complex

In the character of Orin, we find Oedipus complex. He is so much obsessed to his mother Christine. After returning from war, he spend all his time with his mother and didn't give time to his sister Lavinia. The way he is behaving with his mother, is not like son, but like her husband. He even didn't wants to marry with Hazel, because he just wants to be in company of his mother only.

iv) Electra Complex

The obsession of daughter with her father is seen as Electra complex. In this play the daughter Lavinia cares for her father very much and even she didn't want to leave him. She always portrays herself as an over protective daughter. When she comes to know about the extra marital affair of her mother then she became angry and started quarreling with her mother that how can she thinks of doing cheating with her loyal husband. Lavinia thinks of taking revenge against her mother only because of her father. As Christine murdered Ezra Mannon, just because she wants to live with her lover Adam Brant. These all things makes us aware about the strong bonding between daughter and father, rather than mother and daughter.

v) Theme of War

In this play both, father and the son came from war. But they are more insecure at their home rather than to remain, or fighting in war. Ezra Mannon after returning from war, comes to know about the extra marital affair of his wife. And feels like cheated. Christine justifies her act of unfaithfulness towards her husband, and also murdered Ezra, to stay happily with her lover Adam Brant.
On the Other side, Orin also returns from war and finds his home insecure, when he comes to know about the murder of his father. He started hating his mother Christine. But at the end he realized that it was only because of Lavinia, this all things happen and also realized his guilt after the suicidal act of  Christine. Then afterwards at the end he decides to commit suicide.

In this way war was not shown here as disastrous, or something terrible, out of which no one can rescue, no one can come out, but it  is the home which is reflected as more dreadful than war, where both the soldiers met to their final end of life. They won't be able to fight bravely, as like they did on the frontiers. The scattered relationship, unfaithfulness, among the family members is presented as more terrible than the war. Therefore here war comes as just a name, nothing is shown about it. No fights, no death, nothing.

vi) Inner conflict

There is always inner conflict going on in the mind of the characters. All characters are facing some kind of conflict inside. Christine thinks a lot what to do or what not to do. then finally she reveals her secret and murdered Ezra. She is also scared from her daughter, that whether she has told everything to Orin or not, about her act of murder. These all kinds of thoughts are coming in her mind. At last when Orin killed Adam. She thinks that now she became all alone and there is no one with whom she can stay, and this conflict leads to suicide, she attempt suicide and finds it as a solution to escape from the life.

vii) Death/ suicide

Two characters in the play commit suicide ( Christine and Orin) and two gets murdered (Ezra Mannon and Adam Brant). In this way death theme remains in the play. At the end no one survive except Lavinia, among the Mannon family.

viii) Influence of past/ treatment of mask

In the play, there always remains the influence of past over present. After the death of Ezra Mannon and Christine Mannon their daughter and son became same as they are. They make the past live into the present. They are not only bringing similarity by their look, but by their nature also. Lavinia resemble totally with her mother  and Orin with his father. Both are carrying same characteristics from their parents. In this way even after the death, their influence remains in the present in form of their daughter and son. The same look of son and daughter is also called the treatment of mask, as it looks like they have wear the mask of their parents.

ix) Conspiracy

The conspiracy is going on inside the Mannon house. Christine is conspiring against Ezra Mannon with her lover Adam Brant. Lavinia conspiring against her mother to take revenge of her father's death. In this way conspiracy among the characters, mainly women characters going on. male characters are not shown as doing conspiracy, but in a way they are following the women conspirators and also supporting them. Adam Brant support Christine to murder Ezra Manon, Orin support his sister Lavinia to murder Adam Brant.

Interpretation of the play "Breath" by Samuel Beckett

Thinking activity

This is a very short play, about 30 seconds by Samuel Beckett. It seems meaningless but carries basic meaning of life. There are different versions of this small play by various directors. In some versions there is aslo cry of child.

Breath In- signifies birth

The play begins with the breath in sound. There is long breathing and it signifies the birth. When an infant born then he/she takes its first breath of life.

Things are scattered

In each versions of this play things are scattered here and there and it signifies nothingness in life. We born and dies but the society remains indifferent to us. No change happens in the  society. We are not able to take any things from birth to death. Material things remains on earth as it is and we dies. Similarly our realtionship with other also makes no change. No close realtivewas present when we are taking last breath,

Cry and sigh

When we born we cried a lot and when we are about to die then we take last breath or we can say that we takes last sigh. These all process signifies the entire movement of life.

Breath out- signifies death

In the last there is breath out sound which  signifies  death of a person. In this way even this small play carries a meaningful interpretation of life. From birth to death and how the society is indifferent to us.