Symphony Submission for Round 1

(Akshay Kaushal 2016PGP007)

Q1. Express your thoughts on the given picture (300 words)

Ans.

The very first look of the picture gives a very gloomy impression, as if it is trying to

tell that in our selfish pursuits, we the human beings have not only caged the fellow birds
and animals but also ourselves in the process. The concrete jungle that we have been building
around us is no less than a cage in any way. It not only destroys the biodiversity and natural
habitat of the innocent birds and animals but also spifflicates the natural environment we live
in.
The man standing in the street alone depicts that because of his disruptive activities,
he has become an enemy of his own. The rain that is falling only on him shows that the
nature is avenging its exploitation. The man has left no stone unturned in his willingness to
exploit nature beyond the Rubicon. Thus, nature is getting back to him with all the disasters
and calamities that a man cannot even think of.
The high buildings around him depict the industrialisation and urbanisation that has
taken place in the last few centuries. Because of the industrialisation, the personal income of
households has risen over the centuries, so the people are getting more attracted towards
materialistic achievements and are least bothered by the implications that their actions might
have on the environment.
The cage that the man is holding in his left hand shows that man does not respect the
personal space of other species. And he can even imprison them for his own entertainment.
Also the birds that are flying away are portraying that they are scared of this humanoid beast
who is ruining everything for his personal gains, and thus are trying to get away from him as
far as possible.

Q2. Share an interpretation of your favourite work of art (e.g. books, movies, paintings
or anything else you believe would qualify to fall in this category) (400 words max)
Ans.
Remember that wherever your heart is, you will find your treasure.
Paulo Coelho
The essence of life is perfectly explained by Paulo Coelho in the above quote, which
has been taken from his novel The Alchemist, which is certainly one of the best work of art
in the history.
The reason why I chose this novel is because it not only inspires you, but it makes you
relate yourself with the characters of the story. You start living their life for a moment or so.
And in the process, you realize that life is not about running after treasure (success) alone.
The purpose of life is much more than that. It is about dreams, omens, happiness and
adventure.
The story revolves around a boy named Santiago, who is a shepherd in Spain. It tells
his tale of life i.e. how he was courageous enough to leave his present course of work and
followed his dreams. He goes on to find an unknown treasure that he had dreamt about while
sleeping under a tree in his village. He spends several years of his life in pursuit of the
treasure he knows nothing about. He meets many people along the journey. He gets a chance
to learn about the soul of the world and beginners luck from the King of Salem, trading from
the Crystal Merchant, few concepts of alchemy from the Englishman and compassion from a
girl named Fatima, whom he leaves behind in pursuit of his Personal Legend. But at the end,
after spending so many years, Santiago realizes that Treasure lies where you heart belongs
i.e. treasure is not some end result, but it is the invaluable experiences that life offers along
the journey you embark upon. Hence, with this novel Paulo Coelho is trying to explain that
man in his selfish pursuit, wastes all of his life by running after something, and in the process
he misses out so many invaluable learnings that life has to teach.
In addition to that, the author also goes on explaining the significance of omens in
life. He believes that omens are provided by the Universe in order to facilitate the journey of
life, and thus by following omens any person can achieve his destiny.
Thus in the entire novel, Paulo Coelho is trying to emphasise the significance of
journey, hope, love and omens by narrating the story of an ordinary shepherd.

Q3. What is your motivation towards joining Symphony? (250 words)

Ans.

Ever since the beginning of my college life, I have been actively participating in

several literary events at national as well as state level. There are mainly two reasons behind
it. One is that I love writing, and I want to develop this skill of mine further. The other reason
is that the level of self-satisfaction that one gets after writing a particular article is
immeasurable. Because every piece of writing is a result of someones deep thinking and
imagination. So the kind of pleasure that one gets after finishing a particular masterpiece is
inexplicable.
I used to write articles and post it on my blog in my free time. But for the last one
year, because of job and CAT preparation, I could not afford to spare time for this. But now
that I have got a chance to be a part of Symphony, I would like to explore myself to the
fullest.
Another reason why I want to join Symphony is because I like reading. I developed
this hobby of mine while I was preparing for CAT. I read several books during that period. I
realized that by reading books, I could connect with myself in a much better way. The books
did not only impart knowledge, but also helped in widening the horizon of my imagination.
Thus by joining Symphony, I want to explore myself further in the area of writing. I
believe that I will be able to be Myself if I am a part of this committee.