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MVS GOVT. ARTS & SCIENCE COLLEGE, MAHABUBNAGAR

Dept. of English

THE FELLING OF THE BANYAN TREE-- DILIP CHITRE

(Poem)

Dilip Chitre’s “Felling of the Banyan Tree” contains numerous instances that reveal the critical
tone of the poet towards the felling of the banyan tree. This poem describes the love of the poet
for trees and nature. The poet is sad about cutting down the trees in his own house, and he
compares it with murdering any human being. He is against cutting down the trees and building a
concrete jungle instead.

The poet says that his father told all the tenants to leave their houses. Then all those houses could
be demolished. All the houses other than the house of the poet's family and a banyan tree, which
was considered sacred by his grandmother, were demolished. All the trees were also cut down,
which included many sacred and medicinal trees. However, a big problem was cutting down the
giant Banyan tree, which stood tall with roots surrounded here and there deep. However, the
poet's father had also ordered to cut off the Banyan tree.

That tree was three times bigger than the poet’s house. Its trunk had a circumference of fifty feet.
Its aerial roots were thirty feet long, touching the ground. So, first of all, the branches were
shredded. As a result, insects and birds started to leave the tree. Fifty men chopped the fat trunk
of the tree continuously. Everybody got to see the rings of the Banyan tree showing its age of
around two hundred years. The poet and other people witnessed this slaughter in terror and
fascination. The poet further expresses that they moved to Bombay from Baroda soon after this,
where there were no trees. If there was any, it was in the dream only, looking forward to turning
into reality to touch the ground, converted into concrete buildings.

The Felling of The Banyan Tree as a poem is symbolical, mythical, and eco-centric. Th e p o em
r ef lec ts d if f er en t p o in ts o f v iew , rampant urbanization, construction, road-making,
renovation of older housing complexes, money-making, and supply of wooden logs to sawmills.
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From the natural points of view, the older sturdy trees with their vigorous growth give
cool shade and add to greenery and oxygen level.'

THE BET—ANTON CHEKHOV (Short story)

Anton Chekov’s “The Bet” is a powerful short story published in 1889 about a banker and a
lawyer who make a bet with each other about the death penalty versus life in prison.

In the story, each wrestles with the idea of which is better or worse, and the culmination is a
twist ending. The story opens with the banker remembering a bet he made nearly fifteen years
earlier with a lawyer. During a party he was hosting, the two fell into a discussion and began to
debate whether life in prison or death would be more humane. For the banker, capital
punishment would be the preferable choice. The lawyer swore he would choose life in prison.
They agreed on a bet of two million rubles to see if the lawyer could spend fifteen years in
solitary confinement; the lawyer put himself into isolation. From here, we begin to see the
transformation of the lawyer. At first, he suffers. He is depressed and severely lonely. This state,
however, gives way to a period of great learning and self-reflection. Overall, the young man
reads more than 600 volumes in four years. After that, he spends his time studying the Gospels
and other histories of religion. In the last two years of isolation, he returns to the sciences and
philosophy.

While this is happening, the banker's fortune declines. He realizes towards the end of the
lawyer's confinement that he will be unable to pay the bet if the lawyer triumphs, and this debt
will completely ruin him. He makes a desperate plan to kill the lawyer so he will not have to pay
the debt. However, on his way to carrying out his plan, he finds a note written by the lawyer. In
the note, the lawyer explains that his time in isolation has changed him, and he believes that it is
best to renounce his wealth and live. Material goods are fleeting, and he now despises them in
favor of knowledge. Because of his newfound belief, he wishes to renounce the bet.

The banker is moved and leaves the lodge weeping. He is relieved that he does not have to carry
out his plan. Although the lawyer technically won the bet by proving he could survive fifteen
years of solitary confinement, he also loses the bet by renouncing it. This story touches on the
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idea that confinement can fundamentally change who a person is. In death, there is no chance for
this significant change, but confinement might give a person a chance to have a transformation of
character. The lawyer begins his journey to win a great deal of money, but in the end, his
experience leads him to a completely different way of viewing life. One interesting theme is the
idea of experience. The lawyer claims that through his confinement, he could read about all
manner of human experiences, and he concludes that this is the same as having the experience
itself. He has decided to renounce most of these experiences without ever having them directly.

The fundamental theme of the story is that of life and death. In the original argument, the guests
are unsure which would be more humane or, more implicitly, a worse punishment. Is life worth
the price of death if that life is lived in confinement? What makes life good enough to live, and is
death preferable to life without freedom? Chekov does not definitively answer those questions,
and again, it is up to the reader to decide if the lawyer's transformation is preferable to death. The
lawyer seems to think so, but Chekov's intention is ultimately unclear. An implicit theme of the
story is that of humanity. In the beginning, both the banker and the lawyer make a critical bet
based on money. At the end of fifteen years, the thought of that money has driven the banker to
the point of murder. He only changes course when he realizes that he will not owe the money
and disavowed all human experiences in his isolation. While material goods no longer hold sway
over him, likely, the extreme isolation has still robbed him of his humanity

Overall, the story is an exciting insight into what desires drive humanity and what sorts of things
we are willing to do for material gain. It also questions our relationships with those around us,
insinuating that extreme isolation, while possibly a better alternative than death, will cause us to
lose our humanity.

A WALK BY MOONLIGHT—HENRY DEROZIO (Poem)

In the poem, ‘A Walk by Moonlight,’ Henry Derozio not only recounts an experience but also
vividly describes the effect of such an experience on his mind and heart. The effect is profound
and mind-blowing, and the experience radically changes his perception. He relates his walk
home on a moonlit night with his friends whom he ‘loved’ and esteemed and who were like-
minded.
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The poet returned home one night with three of his friends after visiting another friend. The
night was a ‘lovely night’ for the ‘moon stood silent in the sky’ and the ‘clouds divided’ ‘in
homage to her worth.’ She robed the dancing leaves with ‘silver weaves.’ The poet feels that
such a night was one of those ‘happy spots’ of memory of his past, which never burns or fades
away but shines on gently. The poet gradually moves from the physical description of the night
to what the scene does to him. The song among the winds has made the poet focus his thoughts.
The night created magic around them. They not only ‘saw’ with their eyes but ‘felt’ with all their
senses the beautiful moonlit night. In this mood, the mystery of life was heightened, and it
evoked awe and ‘holy mirth.’ The scene brought about a mood that made the poet’s mind alert
and awake. Such a mind, the poet thinks, is a ‘light’ to itself. It perceives better, and everything
looks lovely. One apprehends the ‘spiritualness’ or the permanence of ‘all that cannot die.’

The poet then views nature – night wind, stars, and the moon – not as inanimate but as full of
life. Such a state has his ‘inward eye’ open to glories that appear only in dreams. The bliss of
heaven is experienced here on earth by the poet. The peak of perception that the poet arrives at is
when he feels his human heart ‘gently bound’ to everything and forming ‘of all a part,’ which is
communion and interconnectedness with the whole of nature. The flowers, the stars, and the sky
are then not ‘cold and lifeless as they seem.’ The poet says to thank god and nature for receiving
this illumination. His heart fills with happiness and is ‘bettered’ when he feels that when he is a
part of nature and nature is a part of him. They are ‘gently bound.’ However lifeless and
separated the flowers and stars and the sky seem, which ordinary minds may not understand,
they too have their objects.

The poet reaches a climax in his experience, expressed in the last stanza. In that moment of deep
spiritual insight and heightened sensitivity, the poet feels that he cannot ‘crush’ the grass beneath
his feet. He can ‘hear’ its heart ‘beat.’ The rhyme and the meter make the poem flow smoothly,
enhancing the theme of the physical beauty of a moonlit night and its soothing and spiritual and
psychological effect on the poet’s soul.
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HOW THE CORONA VIRUS SPARKED A WAVE OF INNOVATION IN INDIA –

SREEVAS SAHASRANAMAM. (An Essay)

The essay ‘How the Coronavirus Sparked a Wave of Innovation in India’ is written by Sreevas
Sahasranamam, who studies entrepreneurs and innovators. The author observed and emphasized
how the technological innovations and start-ups appeared and were solved during the explosion
of Covid- 19. Innovation has been at the forefront of India’s response to Covid- 19. Asimov
Robotics, a start-up based in Kerala, has deployed robots at office buildings, public places, and
hospital isolation wards to dispense hand sanitizers, carry food for patients, and deliver public
health messages about the virus.
The Indian Government launched the ‘Arogya Setu’ app to inform people when they are
at risk of exposure to Covid-19. Start-ups like Klinic App and Practo have provided Covid tests
at home and online consultations with doctors. In response to the shortage of ventilators for
critical care, IIT Kanpur and IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost- portable ventilators that
can be deployed even in rural places. The Kerala state government launched the ‘GoK- Kerala
Direct’ app, which provided information about Covid- 19 updates and travel information via
phone notifications. Moreover, the messages are delivered in English and their mother tongue.
Some start-ups like ‘Droom claims it has come up with ‘Corona Shield,’ which inhibits the
growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and yeast on the surfaces of vehicles. The
Haryana police department tests it. Drones are also used to supply medicines and even check
people’s temperatures using thermal imaging.
The author has been engaged in conversations with Indian entrepreneurs and innovators
about the ‘Triple Helix model of Innovation,’ an integration effort between universities,
industries, and the Government to tackle Covid-19. The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), an
agency, brings together a volunteer team of IT professionals, Bio-medical Engineers, and doctors
to develop innovative medical devices. The crowd-sourced platforms have proved to bring
together the wisdom from universities, industry, and Government. The FICCI has collaborated in
an online hackathon to develop non-medical solutions for Covid- 19. Similar Start-ups like
‘Break Corona’ and ‘Corona safe- Network’ have rendered services during the Corona
pandemic. The author expects that India needs to sustain and enhance this entrepreneur mindset
to fight against Corona-19 for socio-economic recovery.
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A DIFFERENT HISTORY- SUJATA BHATT (Poem)

The poem 'A Different History' is written by Sujata Bhatt, who has given importance to
India's culture and various religions. She has emphasized repeating words and questions and
thereby making her poem stronger. She writes about Indian traditions, lost identities, the
importance of language, and cultural differences to create different moods and themes. In the
first part of the poem, she concentrates on respect for education and learning. She claims that in
Indian religion, every Object is sacred. There is God in trees, and books are treated as the
goddess of knowledge. She has written this poem describing the British colonization days when
the British oppressed the Indians. They force them to learn the English language, though various
languages are spoken in India. She is annoyed at this attitude of the British. She also explains
how the British tried to change the identities of the people of India with a scythe. She claims that
the future generation will love this strange language like their mother tongue.

According to her, language ad been used as a weapon to target its victims in a figurative sense.
The poem appeals to the reader because it is full of cultures from different countries. She has
referred to God and books to talk about Indian culture. The reader realizes that she is talking
about learning a new language. The poet admits that despite learning four languages, she had to
adapt herself to the English engagement. She compares herself with anyone who would feel
scared to learn a new language because of ending up making mistakes. She believes that when
we learn a new language, it starts dominating, especially when it is the lingua franca of a
particular country. It is like British forced India to adapt to the English language. She also
suggests in her line 'languages kills' that she is against this forced learning. However, she claims
that after a few years, they all speak the language which they are forced to, sacrificing their
culture.

In this way, the children grow up forgetting their mother tongue and learn a foreign language and
even adapt to their culture. 'A Different History' is a poem that tells us about a different
language, and it also tells how a change of culture affects the people of a country. This is when
foreign rule forces us to adapt to their elite style, we learn their language and inculcate their
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culture. She makes references to Indian gods and goddesses. This makes the poem appealing as
the reader wants to gain knowledge and learn about Indian culture.

NOBEL LECTURE, 7 DECEMBER 1993- TONY MORRISON

Nobel Prize Lecture begins with Morrison speaking in the first person about a story from many
cultures' folklores about an old, wise woman. Morrison shares that in the version she knows, the
story is about an African American woman, the daughter of enslaved people. Then, she launches
straight into the fable, which centers on a conversation between this older woman and a group of
children. The youngsters have come to mock the woman, even though she is well-respected by
many for her wisdom. They ask her one question: if the bird they hold in their hands is living or
dead.

The old woman is blind, and she responds with the riddle that it is in their hands either way.
After this, she closes her mouth and launches into a long reverie, which Morrison narrates. She
thinks about the bird: a symbol of language. Her thoughts centered on the power of language, for
good or evil. Eventually, the children become frustrated with her pithy answer and her long
silence and launch into a soliloquy of their own. They implore the old woman for a narrative to
guide them. They, too, know the power of language, illustrating their point with a story about a
wagon of enslaved people. When they finish speaking, the old woman responds that she trusts
them at last because now it is clear that they understand the power of language.

She illustrates her belief in the importance of narrative with an allegorical fable. Throughout the
fable, a conflict develops between an older woman and a group of children. The old woman's
wisdom is derived from a belief in the power of language, but the children question her ability to
help them answer life's biggest questions. Morrison shares the importance of language through a
conflict between an older woman and a group of children. Morrison develops the theme of
oppression—racism, sexism, and state-sanctioned violence—through the reveries of the old
woman. As she contemplates how to answer the children's provocation, she considers the use of
language by oppressors to hide the truth, systematize control, and sanction their use of power.
This is the moral opposition to what the old woman calls living language. Words, Morrison
argues, can be used for opposing purposes.
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Throughout Morrison's body of work, an important theme is an American slavery and its legacy.
This theme surfaces in the old woman's character, which Morrison describes as the daughter of
enslaved people. She is wise despite years of oppression, or perhaps because of it. The specter of
slavery reappears again towards the fable's end when the children tell a story about a wagon of
slaves. This shared history ultimately binds the children and the old woman together across their
differences.

LADY MACBETH’S SPEECH FROM MACBETH ACT I, SCENE- V –

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (A play)

The tragic play 'Macbeth' is written by the greatest dramatist in the world William Shakespeare.
In scene- V, the character of Lady Macbeth is introduced. Her speech displays Lady Macbeth's
qualities, supernatural, evil, and womanhood.
Shakespeare reveals Lady Macbeth's assessment of her that Macbeth is weak-willed and he will
not commit murder because he is too noble of a character. The word 'milk' also suggests the
motherly tone of Lady Macbeth. It suggests that Macbeth has not been brought up to be a brutal
murderer but a man of honor, conveying the virtue of his character. It also foreshadows the
destruction that Lady Macbeth will impose upon her husband, suggesting that she could be
viewed as a 'fetal figure. It is also revealed that Lady Macbeth wished to influence her desire for
Macbeth to become King. It is clearly stated that Lady Macbeth has a connection with the
supernatural and foreshadows the taunts that Lady Macbeth will serve to Macbeth questioning
his manhood. The communication with the supernatural is evident in Lady Macbeth's speech in
Act 1 Scene 5, and many points can be drawn out from the language, which also relates to
structure and form. The physical act of summoning the darkness to fill Lady Macbeth could
portray her as a Witch. Lady Macbeth may be controlled by the supernatural, leading to her evil.
In the following phrase from the play, "Unsex me here" (ACT-I. Scene- V, line 40), the stripping
of her feminine qualities displays a departure from the human realm.
Moreover, it goes against the social norms of the time of women being meek and mild. Lady
Macbeth is presented as driven and wild. The use of symbolism in Macbeth is evident, and
'blood' symbolizes guilt. Later on, it is clear that Lady Macbeth may never be free of her shame.
It also permits the passage of 'natural spirits,' which could be attributed to feelings such as pain
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but also compassion. Therefore, it is led to Lady Macbeth's downfall as she becomes tormented
with evil. Taking the decision to murder Duncan stresses the gothic theme of darkness and
concealment. Ultimately, Lady Macbeth, from this point forth, will be shrouded by darkness. The
reference to the serpent could reference the biblical story of creation and therefore imply that
much like Eve. Lady Macbeth has been tempted into the world of evil. Thus Lady Macbeth will
pay for her transgressions.
Lady Macbeth's prolonged speech, mainly as a woman, displays her importance to the play. She
builds up to the complication of the play, and the exposition of her character is evident that she
will be influential in the decisions of Macbeth. The use of pathetic fallacy foreshadows the death
of King Duncan, but also the scheming nature of Lady Macbeth. The use of the sun highlights
that they will be surrounded by darkness imperative to their characters, but also, through the
progression of the play, they will be plunged into deeper darkness.

HOW I BECAME A PUBLIC SPEAKER—G.B SHAW (An Essay)

George Bernard Shaw was born in the year 1856. He was a famous Irish dramatist,
critic and novelist. Bernard Shaw‘s "HOW I BECAME A PUBLIC SPEAKER" recalls how he
became a successful public speaker. Before taking his public speaking career, he knew nothing
about public oration and meetings. When he spoke for the first time, he became nervous and
failed in that endeavor. After many efforts he won success in the art of oration. Shaw went to the
meeting at Zetetical society with his friend Lecky. It was his first experience. There was a debate
going on. He stood up and blabbered something towards the speaker. He was able to estimate his
reply as a meaningless one. He felt ashamed of it. So, he joined the society and attended every
meeting. At the starting, his speeches were ignored by the members of the society. But, the
members gradually started to hear his speeches. He perfected his oration techniques
progressively by hard work.

Shaw visited all sorts of meeting held in London. He joined and delivered speeches in all the
debates. He spoke in streets, parks and associations. He never missed any opportunity. He took
part in all debates at various societies, clubs and associations of London. Very soon, he found his
giddiness and nervousness faded away from him. By this way, he secured his freedom of speech.
Shaw never got money for his orations because, he lectured on controversial topics in politics
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and religion. Sometimes if the place was in a long distance, he would get only money for
travelling in the third class compartment. At one meeting while he was speaking, a man yelled at
him saying everyone should not hear the talk of a hired professional. As a reply, Shaw on the
spot offered his emoluments for five pounds to him. The men who shouted at Shaw shocked to
hear it. Then, Shaw explained him that he had come to this place to give lecture at his own
expense. He also added, he never got money to any of his speeches from the organizers.

At once occasion, Shaw was delivering his talk at St.James Hall in London. At that time, a
hostile group entered the room. They were anti-Fabians. In a few minutes, they all broke up the
meeting and insisted to make their leader as the chairman of the meeting. Shaw scored their
notion and dealt with them carefully. He demanded some time to give a talk and spoke for a long
time. By his persuasive speech, the news papers wrote articles criticizing the anti-Fabians on the
next day. Thus, Shaw by his wit disgraced all the anti-Fabians. Shaw got perfection in
community training along with platform techniques. He got a great success as a public speaker.
On the contrary, H.G.Wells who was a gifted writer and thinker never practiced this talent. At
one meeting, H.G.Wells tried to insult the Fabian society. But Shaw by his talent as a platform
artist defeated Wells' views.

Shaw cured his nervousness by his regular practice on public speaking in a gradual
manner. He delivered speeches on various themes till to the age of eighty five. All of his
speeches were highly commanding and tend everyone who hears them. His socialistic views
were reformatory and made the people aware of the social conditions of London.

THE END