BBS Compulsory English 21-28

The Cabuliwallah¹

-          Rabindranath Tagore, India (1861-1941)

A story about the friendship between Muslim and Hindu

Character

Mini – 5 years talkative, innocent girl

Mini’s Father - Writer, allow modern concept, Mini to be friend with Cabuliwallah

Mini’s mother - conservative, doesn’t like friendship of Mini and Cabuliwallah, suspicious, doughful

Cabuliwallah (Rahman) – Poor street vender from Kabul, taller, turban, loose clothing, carried a bag on his back, boxes of grapes in his hand

Story:-

-          Cabuliwallah goes from place to place to sell things, he meets mini, they become friend

-          One day Rahman, Cabuliwallah, arrested on the charge of murderous attack, sent to jail for many years

-          After release, goes again to Mini’s house, time of wedding ceremony, meets her, gives some nuts and raisins

-          Mini’s father gives Rs 100 to Cabuliwallah, asks him to go and visit his own daughter

Literal Comprehension

This story “The Cabuliwallah” was written by a famous Nobel Prize winner, Indian Rabindranath Tagore. Minimum 5 years old daughter of writer was very talkative girl and she used to ask many questions to him. Once morning, when the writer was writing 17^th chapter of the Nobel, she came in his room and asked some questions. When she saw a peddler walking round the street of her house who was a man from Afghanistan, Kabul, she called him by saying “a Cabuliwallah! a Cabuliwallah”. When Cabuliwallah looked at her and came in house, she was afraid and went towards her mother because her mother taught her that they would carry children in their bags. The writer came down and introduced with Cabuliwallah to overcome her fear. After that they started to meet eachother and became friends. They used to tease and spend their meeting time talking joking each-other. Cabuliwallah used to tease her telling when she was going to Father-in-law’s home. In that time, she could not understand the meaning. So she also used to tease him by saying when he was going to his father-in-law’s home. Mini’s mother was negative towards Cabuliwallah’s attitude and she was asking the writer to keep a watch full eye on him.

                One morning, when Mini saw Cabuliwallah arrested by two policemen in the street, she asked if he was going to his father-in-law’s house. After Mini forgot about Cabuliwallah who was in jail, she became the friend of others. Rahman, Cabuliwallah was released from the jail after 8 years. When he was released, he came to Mini’s house by bringing nuts and almonds as a gift to meet his old friend Mini. Mini’s house was decorated and full of sound of music because Mini’s wedding program was going on. When he asked with the writer to meet Mini, the writer rejected. After seeing real love of Cabuliwallah who thought Mini like his own daughter Pārbati, the writer let Cabuliwallah to meet with Mini. When Cabuliwallah saw Mini in wedding dress, he became much surprised and he could not talk as before with his old friend. He then asked her if she was going to her father-in-law’s house. Now Mini knew that statement and bowed her head. Mini went inside after meeting. Cabuliwallah sat on the floor and he remembered own daughter Pārbati in Kabul waiting her father to get married. Tagore gave him Rs. 100 asking to go Kabul to meet with his missed family.

Interpretation

In the story “The Cabuliwallah”, the writer Tagore might be trying to tell us about the friendship between two strangers can’t always be for the desire of marriage. The writer shows that if there is touching and understanding friendship, there can be real relationship of friendship like of Mini and Cabuliwallah, between two persons from different cultures, places and ages. The romantic also conveys a great humanitarian message because this story shows that either rich or poor, Bengalis or Pathans, Hindus or Muslims etc., in final analysis we all are brothers and sisters because people have gone different places missing a lot their families and friends. So one should not look others negatively but behave like two brothers and sisters. Again it might also be trying to tell that almost all children are inquisitive, talkative and restless like Mini.

Critical Thinking

Though the story has given the true picture of friendship between a small girl Mini and Cabuliwallah, if we have a broad outlook like that of Mini’s father, we can accept many things in the story; otherwise, we have many questions to ask. Do we allow our children to make friend to unknown people or foreigners? Can we tolerate the daily presence of unknown people in our home? Do we allow the prisoner to see our daughter on her wedding ceremony? How can there be a truthful relationship between a 5 years child and aged Cabuliwallah? How can we believe that the Cabuliwallah had not lied? Though, the idealistic picture of friendship can be found everywhere in our society.

Assimilation

After reading this story, I completely changed my attitude to door to door sellers. Before reading this story, I used to think such sellers either as cheater or thieves, non-human etc. There was not any respect towards them. Now I came to realize that the sellers like Cabuliwallah are our brothers or uncles or so on. They have also heart and they become seller to feed their children and make their dependent’s future by earning the money. So we should respect them, understand their real condition but not hate them because they are obeying by compulsion being such seller. So many attitudes towards them have completely changed after reading this story.

END

Then and Now: Finding My Voice

Elaine H. Kim, Korea (1962-)

Literal Comprehension

The writer is Korean American. She loves all types of fortune telling, so she visited many fortune tellers. Once when she met a fortune teller, male fortune teller told her that she would be better wife and mother while female fortune teller told that she must have enjoyed lots of fun in their life. She has found both of them to be true but when an amateur fortune teller said that whatever goals and ideas shaped in her life that would be shaped by her teenage in a fundraising party. She found this statement false because that period was the most difficult period of her life.

During her teenage she was reading in junior high school in USA being Korean-American root. This was the period of Korean War. Many Korean refuges filled her home in America, so her parents would be busy managing their food and beds. Inside home, there was Korean environment but outside many Americans did not know about the war and Korea. It was also the period of violence and discrimination. So-called American white people behaved them badly. During 12 to 17 years she faced many more challenges and victims of racial discrimination. African American were arrested and troubled just for being black. They were not allowed to live in the area of whites. Although Asian American could live in the area of White’s but they could not live in the hotel and were not welcomed in to the White person’s house. Kim was treated always as foreigner so she wanted to be a Cheer-leader to make her own identity. Kim worked hard and lastly she was selected as one of the cheer leader. But after becoming cheer leader, when she was with the popular American girls, she did not open her parent’s identity. Instead she wanted to be like a real American girl with all styles and manners where she did not accept even her parent’s advice. She lost her way but when she studied the history of Korean War, racism and discrimination then she realized that she had done mistake. Then only she came to know the value of identity, why Koreans went to America and why Whites behave them like outsiders etc. The knowledge of her study became inspiration to fight against racism, sexism and fight for dignity and real identity.

Interpretation

                This essay shows the personal experience of the writer living in USA. The writer was a Korean American who faced many challenges in the society of the white people. This essay also shows how much dominated a person has to be if when he lives in the society with different culture because the writer Kim got a lot of discrimination, injustices, and challenges because she was living in America being the girl of Korean root. This story might be trying to tell us that we must be aware with our true or original identity because it is dangerous to go beyond the boundary of our own culture and own identity. If we try to leave our identity or pretend to be of others culture then we will be of nowhere else. In this essay, when the writer tries to forget her real identity, she was wondering lonely on the road. So, this essay emphasizes on one’s true identity and this essay is trying to convey the message that we can develop our true self when accept the reality and know the background.

Critical Thinking

                Though this essay emphasizes on one’s true identity and shows the hard life of Asian and black people in the land of America, there are still some unconvincing points. If America was so much discriminatory at that time, was the America the land of freedom and democracy? How can America become proud of being democratic? She wanted to be a popular among the Americans because she had faced lots of discrimination so she selected to be a cheer leader. Why did she choose to be simply a cheer leader not the social activists and the lady of other professional fields? At this condition, lots of Nepalese people are in America. Then, what will be the fate of Nepalese American if there is such discrimination while the president has become from non-white? But other parts of the essay are really convincing ones.

Assimilation

                After reading this essay, I learned that after facing many difficulties and problems, a person becomes successful to his/her own position in any society. It reminded me about my some of the friends who were trying to forget their true identity in the name of living in a city away from their native village. They tried to be like pure town hip-hop boy and girl with modern fashion. But when there came the time of homely settlement, these boys and girls did not came in to the eyes of anybody and finally those my friends gradually taken back themselves in to their own culture because they realized that forgetting culture, tradition, and identity is forgetting everything else. So this essay increases interest in me to teach the so-called modern boys and girls about the values of real identity.

END

Arranging a Marriage in India

-          Serena Nanda, USA

Literal Comprehension

This essay “Arranging a Marriage in India” was written by Serena Nanda, a Professor of Anthropology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City of New York. In this essay the writer has highlighted the significance and cultural exercise of arranged marriages. Serena Nanda visited India and found that almost marriages are arranged in India. In the arranged marriage, the boy and the girl do not meet eachother before the marriage because arrange marriage is the concern of the families. The boy and the girl; are given a chance to have a short meeting for conversation after the parents have found the partner suitable. Parents do not compel their children to marry a person if any of the partners say “No”. Serena Nanda as an American finds this system unfair because the partners are not involved in most important decision in their personal life. For her, happy marriage can create romantic love in love marriage. The writer feels surprise how one can get married with a person in a first meeting without knowing interpersonal characters, attitudes etc. and how a stranger would be life partner, selected by parents. The writer compares between America and India and finds that unlike America, in India there is no high anxiety of competition of competition to be popular among youths.

                The writer is disagreed with arranged marriage on the ethics of individualism and romanticism. But when the interviews with a girl Sita, a college graduate, whose parents had been trying to find a match (boy) for her over a year, Sita highlights the colorful, romantic, funny life after arranged marriage that if we know everything before marriage, no charm left. The writer compares the situation of married couples in India with America. The writer herself participated in matchmaking too. Family reputation is a great matter of value in India. Directly or indirectly dowry is in existence even if law has prohibited it. Gift providing culture is in exercise to make happy to bride and bridegroom’s family. In Indian marriage system, divorce is still taken as a scandal but it is common phenomenon in United States. There is hardly quarrel among family members. Sometimes due to long term process, it can be cancelled. Sometimes social clubs become responsible in arranging marriage in India too. While being in India and America, the writer involved in different matchmakings where she got different experiences of profit and loss of arranged marriage. Nanda got more feedback due to her own involvement in matchmaking of arranged marriage because the quick process of marriage as well as divorce in United States which is not in India. After being involved in match making of arranged marriage, she found that after a long process and ups and downs, a suitable arranged marriage had taken place. The writer was too much surprised being a successful matchmaker of arranged marriage by the last. Then she has changed her previous mind completely from love marriage to great significance of arranged marriage. Her mind has been changed due to the experiences of matchmaking, interactions and relation with her friend. So, Dr. Nanda feeling excited while going to attend the marriage ceremony made matchmaking by her at last.

Interpretation

This essay “Arranging a Marriage in India” might be trying to highlight the concept and importance of Arranged marriage in comparison to the Western system of love marriage. American people do not believe in arranged marriage. They believe that marriage is based on love but not just in suitable. So, when the writer heard for the first time about arranged marriage, being American, she was not positive about arranged marriage. But later having experience of matchmaking, interaction with Indian due to the relation with Indian people, she knew the value of arranged marriage in Indian culture and was agreed with arranged marriage. So this essay prioritized the more significant role and value of arranged marriage system that makes married life full of fun, discovery of newness and long-lasting relation. It has also pointed the short-lasting, less funny and less-romantic love marriage comparing to arranged marriage. This essay also tries to teach the culture of India & how marriage is so important to that culture.

Critical Analysis

In this essay, the American writer Serena Nanda has described about the ground value of arranged marriage. It shows the importance of arrange marriage; so she has made a nice comparison and colored the Indian cultural marriage process. We can agree with the permanency of married life, absence of rogue divorce, ample sources of newness and socio-cultural, politico-economic status of this marriage system. But still we can raise some question about which point we disagree with the writer. How can we agree with the person with whom we have never met before and we don’t know his attitudes and behavior? How can we understand the character and attitude of a person in short time? Can we scarify our life as per our parent’s decision? The writer has stated about dowry system in essay. Does the Dowry system have cultural value? Is it really good to ask for dowry in the name of getting marriage? She has told that there are less quarrels between partners and family members after arrange marriage. Here, her study about the relationship is not appropriate. Because of cultural rigidness, especially the girls are not being able to share their troubles with anybody else. In fact, the story at the ground level is not like that of writer’s understanding. Still we cannot deny the moral and productive ethics of arranged marriage exercised in India

Assimilation

After reading this essay, I understand why Nepali parents are focusing on arranged marriage but not in love. They are focusing on arranged to make their children’s married life permanent. And they are doing that to stop the process divorce and to maintain the socio-cultural, politico-economic status in society. And they are doing that to keep their son and daughter permanently happy and to keep away from misunderstanding after marriage.

END

What are your views on the subject of arranged marriage?

Life without Chief

Marvin Harris

Literal Comprehension

“Life without Chief” an essay by Marvin Harris presents the evolution of human nature from the classic egalitarian communal existence to the present capitalist mode of human societies. Writer makes a research question; can human exist without ruling and others being ruled?  His obvious answer is no. To make his point clear the author cites various examples of communal existence of human being from documented histories and in some cases he requests us to go beyond history that is pre-historical communal survival of human beings.

The concept of being ruled and ruler is modern practice in which people inculcate the concept of chief and leadership. What the writer investigates that people in the past (hunting and gathering age) used to believe in communality where reciprocity was the predominant mode of sharing of food, cloth, and everything. People in those periods did not require leadership to maintain the communal existence, it means all were leader and all were free. It was like the concept of utopia. Even though communal or egalitarian groups manage to form headman for them, the headman were not authorized to exercise coercive power. They were just equal to other people and used to request to group members to obey their request.

Harris further explores that the concept of Headman converted into the concept of Big Man in the evolutionary process of human communal existence. But the Big Man had to become model of morally good, had to work hard, and had to organize lavish feast to the level of his followers’ satisfaction. In terms of the level of satisfaction, the responsibilities of Big Man used to become increasingly difficult at the expense of growing number of Big Man’s followers and his competitors.

In the gradual development of human communal survival, the system of equality and reciprocity of food sharing transformed into something new system. And thereby, human existence also evolved into something new form with the rapid emerging crisis and responsibilities. The future uncertainties and frequent crisis gave more responsibilities to the chiefs of those communal settings.  The new responsibilities to the chiefs pave the way for the concept of communal saving and the concept of redistribution. The writer in this point sees something tremendous point of departure from communal existence of human beings to living in societies.

The new evolved form of chiefdom gave rise to the thought of leadership in societies. The new leadership gradually in society stimulated social stratification and developed social hierarchy in society. The breakthrough of egalitarian existence into social existence gradually resulted into the concept of being ruled and ruler in which ruler gripped the freedom of individual and became more powerful. The leader formed the path for statehoodship and statehoodship turned into empire and finally empire what the essayist points out that became monstrous beast to human destruction.

Interpretation

The main point of the writer is cultural evolution that is human civilization is against human existence, against human nature, and after it is not human biological need. Human beings created societies, statehoodships, leaders and empires and above all invented atom bombs and cultivated the culture of war. Almost all human strive resulted into nothingness. So the essayist re-stresses on egalitarian nature of human existence where people trust in reciprocity for human survival. The concept of leadership is result of human cultural evolution. So he insists that it is necessary to study and learn from the past for better future of human survival.

Critical Thinking

The author’s concept of egalitarian society, a leaderless community seems to be day-dreaming. The writer does not and never mention and include the need of human civilization. He ignores humanistic view of human prosperity upon which it developed its culture. Can we ignore the human civilization? As he describes in essay, is it the best that living in cave and hunting for survival are better for humanity? It is not possible practically rather it sounds an imagination of an ideal world.

Assimilation

I still remember some texts written by few hard-line Marxists that remodel Chinese model of Cultural Revolution initiated by Mao in China is the best way for existence of communal and egalitarian society. These writers still hold the notion that classless society is possible and workers get the executive power of the state and can control over means of productions. Some people in Nepal are still holding this kind of ideology. In whatever forms the various political ideologies promise to bring down the gulf between rich and poor, and talk to settle down the issues of full right of poor people. But, all the ideologies help to mutate new forms of leadership, a cultural evolution towards the construction of stronger beast against human beings.

END

Life Is Sweet at Kumansenu

Abioseh Nicol

Literal Comprehension

There was a beautiful village in South Africa named Kumansenu. It was situated in a beautiful landscape. The beauty of the village had been further increased by the lines of thatched roofed houses of the village. In one of those houses, there lived a widow. Her name was Bola with her seven years old granddaughter named Asi. Bola had a story in her youth. She had given birth of five sons but none of them had survived. Hence they had consulted with the magician of the village who had suggested them to break the bones of dead child's legs so that his evil spirit would not be able to take another birth and trouble them. But, Bola did not allow to the people to do so. Instead, she put a black spot on the buttock of the baby so that she could recognize the baby when the same spirit would come next time when she would beget the next baby. Time passed, she gave birth to another son, Meji. She looked at the buttock. Indeed, there was a black spot in the exact place where she had spotted in her previous baby. Anyway, the child did not die young. He grew up, got married, and gave birth to a daughter. At present, Musa was working as a clerk in the city. He was staying there with his wife. One day, all of sudden the son appears in the room in one of the evenings. The old widow asked why he had been there without information. She wanted to call all the villagers to welcome him. But the son stopped her saying that he wanted to share his happiness with his family members only. His daughter went to meet him and saw that her father had covered his neck. Curious girl asked him why he had covered his neck. He replied that there was a wound in his neck and hoped that she would not touch it. Next day, both of them went to visit, father takes her far and wide. The girl was surprised because she could not see her father's shadow, he was very transparent and his watch had stopped at twelve o'clock. The father replied that it was twelve o'clock and there would not be any shadow at the time. He also teaches there to open a chain. They return their home. The mother suggests him to go to the graveyard and meet his father's tomb. Then they reach to the graveyard, the mother takes some of the almonds and throws up the graveyard. Three of them turn upwards and three of them turn downwards which means the living and dying soul was communicating each other. The mother tells her son that his father was happy with him. The son replies that he had felt very close with his father on that day. Both of them returned their home. The mother prepares food but the son would not take it. It was raining outside. The son was standing in the rain. The mother calls him inside but the son replies that he had come there just to thank her because she did not cut his legs in the previous life. Then he disappears. Next day Musa's wife who had been staying in the city comes. She delivers a message that her husband had died exactly at 12 o'clock when the glass of the window broke down and his head had been severed as he had tried to peep out through it. The daughter could not believe it and begins to cry and the mother lulls her by offering the chain which was her father's last gift. Bola was happy because she had selected not to break the legs of the dead child. And, it was because of her great decision there were her daughter in law and granddaughter as the support of her old age.

Life is Sweet at Kumansenu (Extensive Reading)

First of all, the theme of “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu” is portrayed through the ways that the author describes the setting of the story. The setting describes the surroundings around the character and the area in which the character lives or spends a lot of time. For instance, the setting is described as, “The sea and the wet sand to one side of it; green tropical forest on the other; above it, the slow, tumbling clouds. The clean, round, blinding disk of sun and the blue sky covered and surrounded the small African village, Kumansenu.” These statements fit with the theme, “Don’t take life for granted,” because they speak of the beautiful area that is all around and how sometimes you need to just stop and take a look at the beauty of life. Therefore, the author used a unique setting to describe the theme of the story.

Secondly, the theme can be seen in the uses of characterization throughout the story. In “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu,” the author shows characterization through speech and appearance. This statement is made: “She clutched Asi to her. ‘I am glad I gave him the opportunity to come back, for life is sweet.’” This form of characterization used was speech in which Bola clutched her granddaughter to herself she spoke of how happy she was that she let Meji come see her because he would be able to enjoy life. This is a form of characterization in that it shows how much Bola cared about her son and wanted him to enjoy the essence of life. Also another form of characterization used is, “He turned around from the window and looked at her with a twisted half-smile of love and sadness.” This form was that of appearance and it demonstrates the theme in that, without the audience knowing it, Meji is dead and he is looking at his living mother. He sees in her a love for life and wishes that he himself could be experiencing that sort of love. So it can be concluded that Abioseh, the author of this story, used characterization through speech and through appearance to interpret the theme that life should not be taken for granted.

Thirdly the theme of “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu” is demonstrated through symbolism. In this story symbolism provides foreshadowing and represents the emotions of the characters. An example of symbolism is when “She threw the four kola nuts up into the air and they fell on the grave.” In this case, the kola nuts represent death, which adds to the theme because it’s showing that death can come suddenly. Another instance of symbolism is when Asi’s mother tells her, “Your papa had this made last week for your Christmas present. You may as well have it now” She is referring to a gold locket, which symbolizes Meji’s love for his daughter. This contributes to the theme because it shows how love is important and you should appreciate those in your life. Therefore, symbolism is one element which serves to demonstrate the theme of this story.

The fourth aspect that illuminates the theme is irony. Irony is defined as the contrast between our expectations and reality. Irony is used a lot in “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu,” because of the fact that the main plot has a highly ironic twist (that a man who appears normal is really dead). One instance of this is when Bola and Meji are standing by the grave of Meji’s father and Meji “...said that he felt nearer his father at that moment than he had ever done before in his life.” This is both verbal and situational irony, since at the time, Meji was actually dead, and so he really would be closer than ever to his dead father. This proves the theme because it shows how unexpected things, death not least of all, can happen, and that you shouldn’t take things for granted. Because of this, irony is clearly one way in which the author presents the theme.

In conclusion; the message of “Don’t take life for granted” is clearly presented as the theme of “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu.” It is shown through Abioseh’s use of setting to describe the beauty in nature that we shouldn’t forget to notice. It is also made apparent because of the characterization that shows how sweet life is. Another element that shows the theme is the symbols of the story and how they represent death and the love a father has for his daughter. Irony also contributes by showing how things are not always what we expect them to be, and that death may be closer than we realize. Last but not least, the theme is demonstrated by the author’s imagery, which paints a vivid picture of how fleeting life is. This all goes to show that it’s important to not let life pass you by and to enjoy what you have while it lasts.

END

Adaptive Failure: Easter’s End

Jared Diamond, USA (1937- )

Literal Comprehension/Summary of the text

Jared Diamond’s explorative essay “Adaptive Failure: Easter’s End” presents two different pictures of Easter Island and its inhabitants. In the first picture, the Island is a “pristine land” full of vegetation and fertile soil upon which a strong human civilization flourished exploiting natural resources. In the second picturization, Diamond describes the Island as barren wasteland in which life is hardly possible. While studying about the Island the writer cites various sources and writings of different explorers of different times.
On the basis of study of archeological findings, pollen analysis and fossils study it is found that the Island was full of natural resources. The island was covered with thick forest and had fertile land. And above all the ecology of the Island was managed itself naturally. Further, the first people settled down in the Island around 400 A.D. were Polynesians and their numbers were around 700 to 20,000.

Because of exploitation of abundant natural resources the human civilization 400 A.D. onwards grew rapidly to the unexpected level. The Polynesians developed complex super social structures chronologically. They massively exploited and destroyed natural resources since 800 B.C. They started to build large scale structure of statues since 1200 A.D. and it reached apex in 1500 A.D. with the mega project of construction of statues. Their civilization developed economically, progressed socially and reached to maximum point culturally with the construction of large scale statues.
All their progress was because of rampant use of natural resources. But nature has its own limitation. The over use of nature created imbalances in ecology of Easter Island. Firstly, the over use of trees resulted into erosion of fertile top soil of the Island. Secondly, the rampant emission of toxic gases disturbed the process of pollination which resulted into reduction in food production.  In the same way, with the help of trees they could construct boat to collect fish for food. As a result, their economy, social structure, and cultural advancement suffered due to scarcity of food. It is because nothing remained to exploit and land did not remain fertile to support the population.
The nature stroke back them in such way that people in the Island turned into cannibalism. They destroyed all their progress and bulldozed their ultimate symbol of cultural heritage the statues for which they had tremendously destroyed the nature. The complete destruction of the civilization in Easter Island had various reasons. And these are because the islanders strived for immediate progress and prosperity. They never thought for future generation so that they destroyed their legacy, the statues.

Finally, when the first European modern explorer reached in the island during seventh century they found numbers of massive statues and local inhabitants in the island. In contrast to the situation of early seventh century, the island was completely annihilated and turn into a wasteland abruptly within upcoming hundred years. Since then, people began to research about reasons why and how the Easter Islanders’ civilization crumbled down.

What the writer believes is that modern generation learns from the mistakes of Easter’s end. Modern people are more conscious about the importance of ecology and human relation to nature. He is more optimistic to the preservation of nature so that the upcoming generation can survive more safely with our legacy.

Interpretation

The writer sees inverse relation between the fall of Easter Islander’s civilization and overuse of natural resources. The rampant massive exploitation of nature at the one hand made rich to the islanders and on the other hand the massive scale of depletion of natural resources created ecological imbalances in the island that resulted into collapse of the islanders’ existence. So the writing warns against careless destruction of nature for the sake of development. The essayist insists to learn lesson from the mistakes of Easter Islanders so that the present generation can give a secure future to the upcoming generation. In this regard, the writer is environmentalist whose main intention is to keep ecological balance to keeping intact the ecological system.

Critical Thinking

The writing intends to communicate the message that the Easter Islanders’ civilization collapsed due to overuse of natural resources of the island. It is hard to believe how come only excessive use of natural resource resulted into extinction of a civilization. There might be other factors that could have resulted into the fall of islanders.

Diamond through this article stresses complete ban on the use of natural resources. Of course he might be right but development is not possible without exploiting natural resources. His logic is not practical in real world. For example USA, Europe, Japan, and Australia have achieved higher amount of economic development due to massive destruction of nature. Likewise, growing world like Arabian world, India, and China are depleting natural resources in an unprecedented level. Are they not conscious about the future of the world? Do not these countries have educated people to understand the consequences of natural destruction?

Assimilation

After reading Diamond’s article I came to know the importance of ecology. The slogan “Ecology for Survival” is meaningful to protect the environment. Still conserving environment, global community can attain human progress through the concept of sustainable development. This concept is practical. Above all the writing provides me tremendous insight into the need of understanding of human relation with nature.

END

How Sane Are We?

Anuradha Chaudhary

Literal Comprehension:

The Essay "How Sane Are We?" by Anuradha Chaudhary is based on environmental problem. Basically, she presents her ideas that human beings have been too much irresponsible and indifferent to the conservation of the environment and she predicts that it will make their life quite difficult. She believes that due to human indifference, rapid urbanization and industrialization, the environment is getting heavily polluted. Mainly she believes that the gases produced from the industry, mishandling the chemicals and the excessive use of CFCs have greatly contributed for the destruction of ozone layer which causes skin cancer, green house effect and other various epidemics. Similarly, people have been greatly suffering from other various natural calamities such as flood but still people don't seem concerned to the direction of its preservation. Finally, she believes that if it continues, it will be impossible to continue life on it.

Anuradha Chaudhary is a professor of environmental biology. In this essay as a researcher of environment she talks about the degrading condition of the nature and surrounding. She begins her essay with an idea of Kipling who writes if the condition of the nature degrades in the same rapidity, we have to slain the heads of our generation in near future. Chaudhary sees that there is possibility of such catastrophe in human life because she has read about the laws like Parkinson’s in which the leaders who are elected for making the laws of the state for the welfare of people are themselves engaged in power politics. To make irrationality and irresponsibility of human beings naked, Chaudhary believes that the students shouldn’t believe in facts because they are published by the leaders to deceive the common people. At the same time, she also presents the facts after facts which make her essay more appealing and convincing. Chaudhary stresses on reshaping, rethinking on the ways of politics. Here Chaudhary satirizes those leaders whose goal is to get the power rather than solving the real natural threats to human beings.

Chaudhary writes that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) causes 20% green house effect which is capable of completely destroying life on earth. Here, Anuradha highlights the fact that the ozone depletion will take place completely if the use of cfcs continues. Chaudhary also mentions ozone layer protects our life by observing 99% ultra-violet rays. If it reaches to the earth, she believes more than 240 million people get skin cancer, eight million might get eye cataracts which would result millions death. Chaudhary appreciates to the decision o f some developed countries like United States, Canada, Sweden and Norway have banned in the use of cfcs in aerosol sprays.

Chaudhary brings an example of science fiction to persuade us about the terrible effects of careless scientific inventions. Citing an illustration of the science fiction War with the Newts, Chaudhary shows us vividly that one day our own invention will be used to dig our own grave yard. Chaudhary sarcastically presents the evil effects of science and technology which has invented the different missiles, guns, arms and ammunitions which have transfigured our way of fighting in comparison with the way our forefather used to fight. That is to say, we no longer fight with the sticks and stones but we have highly modern weapons. But she wants to make us ponder on the fact: Is there any space for our satisfaction? Is there any place for the secured life of our upcoming generation? Of course not, it is because we have not comprehended and acted for the solution for the adverse effect they have given on the nature. We are neglecting the nature we are living in and we are not able even to save the nature as our ancestors. We have not been worried about the forth coming danger due to our activities although we have been warned about it. We are digging our own graves and our future generations. If we don't think about changing the present social, economical and political system of the world, we will have to face a great disaster in the future and we will ourselves be responsible for it. Politics is quite related to ecological system. So, people should choose a right leader freely who can help to save the environment or atmosphere wisely.

Man has invented different kinds of harmful things for the nature CFCs is also a man made chemical which cause 20% of the green house effect. They also greatly effect on ozone layer by reducing its layer which blocks the 99% of the total ultraviolet radiation. If the sun's ultraviolet radiations reach the earth, it will badly disturb the natural eco system the agricultural product decrease people lose their sight. They can get skin cancer and it also suppress in the human immune system. CFCs was invented in 1930 and used in making refrigerators trays, spraying cans and computer chips. The government was warned by the scientists in 1974 that these chemicals destroy ozone but the government did not take it seriously. But the use of CFCs was banned in 1978 and in 1985 the CFCs ozone links was established. All the nations of the world agreed to stop this production by 2006 A.D by global phase out. It shows the rationality of human beings, yet some people want to stop their production immediately. Some skeptic people compare the production of CFCs to the war with the news people tried to save them from sharks and their number increase. So, they affected the lives of people very badly. It was due to their shout sightedness.  However, all the conscious people of the world are worried about the future of the world because of the mass misconduct. If the present system all over the world is not changed, we are sure to meet a great irreparable disaster in the future.
Interpretation:

The text being a piece of a study of environment centers on the environmental problem. Here, the text asserts the importance of environment on human life and it must be preserved for the sake of continuity of human life. Presenting such ideas, the essayist is appealing to all to preserve the environment.
Critical Thinking:

Chaudhary presents the latent irrationality within the so-called rationality of the human beings and tries to persuade us to think seriously on our actions. She stresses repeatedly that there should not be any political play of power and personal power on the issues of environment in which the life of new generation itself is associated. Hence, Anuradha’s individual contribution to generate the public consciousness through this essay is highly appreciative and praise worthy. So far the essay presents the ideas on environmental problems and issues, it is very appreciative in a sense that it warns the people and makes them conscious for the conservation of the environment. But the essayist only concerns on the destruction and only destruction. She completely ignores the positive signs and steps carried out in this concern. As a result she appears to be so partial and full of biasness.

Assimilation:

As I read this story, it has made me draw my attention towards the degraded environment of Kathmandu. Seeing its condition, it is true that we have really been too much indifferent and irresponsible. People here in Katmandu are suffering from various environmental problems, such as air pollution, water pollution, lack of open space and so on. As a result, life's getting too much difficult. Similarly, due to the river pollution, the aquatic life is also much affected. If it continues, there will be too difficult to sustain life in the days to come. So it has compelled me to take some action for its improvement.

END

28. The Lunatic  

By Laxmi Prasad Devkota

(Literal Comprehension and commentary)

In this autobiographical poem 'The Lunatic', Devkota wears the persona of a lunatic as if it were a mask. Each stanza brings out a different aspect of the speaker’s character, confidence, abnormality, imagination, sensitivity, rebellion, aggression, anger and awful majesty.

Above all, this poem is at once a very modern expression of the deepest personal feelings of the poet and a surgical exposure of the hollowness of the so called intellectual aspirants of the time. The persona in the second stanza shows abnormal behavior. He does what a normal person can’t do. For example, he can see sound and hear the sight and taste the sweet smell. He can touch those things, the existence of which the people in the world deny. He is so imaginative that he can see a flower in the stone and the enchantress of the heaven smiling unto him. He understands the language of the birds and talks to them.

The third stanza shows how sensitive and tender-hearted his is. He contrasts his situation with the addresses. The addressee is the one who uses his brains and senses to find out the harsh reality. But the speaker uses his sixth sense and finds out what the heart thinks to be correct. Dreams and imagination are meaningful to him.

The fourth stanza tells how the speaker’s hypersensitivity led people to have a wrong impression of him. When he watched the mystery of the heaven in cold winter night, when he was sad at the death of people and the old age of a fair lady, people called him mad. When he would be happy hearing the cuckoo’s song and uncomfortable by the dead silence, they would think that he had gone mad. They would punish him saying that he should be admitted to a mental hospital. Even his friends would not regard him a normal person.

In the fifth stanza, the persona has upset the accepted values. He does not appreciate those things which the world praises highly. What the aristocrats drink is the blood of the poor people. Due to lack of affection, prostitutes are no better than dead bodies. Because of high ambition, the king and the emperor are no better than the poor. The common men are far better than the highly learned me. The better place for the world is the worse place for the speaker. So the world calls him mentally deranged.

In the sixth stanza, the speaker revolts against the society which is being led by blind leaders. He thinks that penances have run away from the society and they hate humanity. He rather sympathizes the weak people.

Finally, the speaker behaves like a rebel. He criticizes the flatterers because they have deprived people of their rights and they have underlined the false actions. The poor people accept their falsity as good action, and then the speaker gets so angry because he thinks these man-haters must be punished. The persona in this poem attacks all the ugliness and wants to bring a complete change in the society.

The poet has used the contrast between the world of the sane man and that of the lunatic. The lunatic perceives what the sane man can’t. For example, the mad man visualizes sound, hear the visible, tastes fragrance, but the normal man hears sound, visualizes the visible, smells fragrance and tastes the delicious food. The lunatic can touch the thing which an ordinary person can’t likewise; he can see a flower in the stone and can talk with the bird. He feels that a heavenly beauty is smiling to him. Similarly, the mad man uses his sixth sense whereas the normal person uses only five senses. The worldly people use brains, but he uses heart. By using the contrast the poet brings out the irony of the poem. The poet want s to say that the worldly people are cold and cruel and they look at the world form their own convention. Although insane, the speaker is sympathetic and his hear melts when he sees pathetic sights.

The phrase “the iconoclast of ugliness” in the poem refers to the world led by the blind people. The shameless leaders are breaking the backbones of human rights. They are persuading people to accept what is unacceptable. They don’t treat human beings as man. They are cruel and inhuman. The speaker in the poem can’t tolerate this kind of ugliness. So he wants to break it. He wants to upset the conventional values which have helped the dictators to exploit the common people. In this sense the speaker is the iconoclast of ugliness.

A persona is an invented person in this poem. He or she may not be the author himself or herself. To express the inner feelings or emotions of that persona, the poet has taken the persona of a lunatic in this poem. This poem has an autobiographical element. Observing the unusual behavior of the poet many people in the society called him a mad man. This poem is a response to the people’s comment.

The lunatic persona thinks that people cram their brains with worldly facts and figures and clams themselves to be knowledgeable person. They value materialistic thing such as wine, prostitutes, power, but they never appreciate the humanity shining brightly in every insignificant heart. They value the transitory things and disregard the really valuable things. That is why they are big fools. The stupidity makes the speaker arrogant.

Interpretaton

"The Lunatic" is an autobiographical poem by a famous Literary star Nepali Literature late Laxmi Prasad Devkota. Looking to the then society full of injustices he has pivoted through ideas and feeling in this poem. The speaker has made a world of contrasts where oppositions are the desirable aspects by which the poet wants to have a systematic and humane world. He has used a mask of mad person but actually the so-called sane persons are mad and foolish. By using his characters like confidence, imagination, abnormality, aggression, rebellion he wants to break down all the vales of social injustices and dominations. In violent and challenging tone the poet wants to demolish all social, personal and any types of dominations. The skillful presentation of sane and insane characters, activities and state the poet might be trying to challenge to so-called civilized, high class and rulers who enjoy in controlling others and looting the innocents. The poem is the best example of political protest poem.

Critical Thinking: It is natural for us not to accept any type of injustice, domination and inhuman behaviors. But the poet's senses of testing, smelling, hearing, sight and seeing the sound are really mad like. Again, The poet has used mask to criticize the ample of social personal injustices done in any name. How can a person visualize sound, hear the sight and taste the smell? Can one work with sixth sense? Though we can be disagreed in some aspects of him, still we can't deny what is his intention in the poem. The poem's thirst is to be rebellious against any injustice is ever praiseworthy and ever convincing one. This depth idea is hidden under the surface abnormality of Lunatic in this poem.

Assimilation:

This poem affected me very much. In the beginning, I thought that the speaker is lunatic. But when I went through that the poem, I understood the ironic tone of the poem. If one doesn't do what group says then he/she is called insane. Similarly, the speaker of this poem "The Lunatic" is taking side of truth and so-called sane are mad and he is really sane. The poem also taught me that we should not accept any injustice by any cost. I also found the poet very sensitive and sane. I have deep respect and honor towards poet.

END