UNIT - I

1.1. TOLERANCE IS A MORAL VIRTUE - Rivka T. Witenberg

Rivka T. Witenberg is a developmental and cognitive psychologist, and an honorary research fellow in psychology at
the Australian Catholic University. Professionally, she is a writer and academic who brings an expertise in the field of
examining, thinking processes and underlying beliefs about moral codes, tolerance, and acceptance to human
diversity. She is the author of tolerance The Glue that Binds us (2017) and the psychology of tolerance (2019).

In the present essay, Tolerance is a moral virtue' Witenberg argues that tolerance should also be counted as a moral
virtue and explore aspects of tolerance not as a function of absence of prejudice. Psychological research about
tolerance has focused on political and belief discrepancy rather than tolerance more generally.

Tolerance is a moral virtue best placed within the moral domain- but unfortunately it is often confounded with
prejudice. Prejudice and tolerance are theoretically different concepts and not the opposite of each other. In fact, they
coexist in most of us.

When tolerance is placed within the moral domain relating to fairness, justice and respect and avoiding causing ham
to others it can only be viewed as a positive moral virtue. Fairness and empathy are also very closely connected to
moral development and reasoning. They are fundamental to any coherent moral philosophy.

Witenberg suggests a new direction in research and theory and proposes an alternative way of viewing tolerance as a
concept, better placed within the moral domain and not simply the opposite of prejudice. When tolerance is placed
within the moral domain pertaining to empathy, equality, fairness, justice and avoiding them to others, it should be
viewed as positive in nature rather than simply forbearance or "putting up with".

Psychologists such as Jonathan Haidt believe empathy is the most important motivator for moral behaviour. Others
such as Martin Hoffman argue empathy is a motivator of pro-social and altruistic or unselfish behaviour. Empathic
people are sensitive to the thought's feelings and experiences of others.

Witenberg's research shows that people of all ages including children have a strong sense of fairness and empathy
towards others different from them in colour, creed or culture. They reject prejudice and intolerance between 70% to
80% of the time affirming tolerance based on fairness and empathy.

At last, Witenberg endures that tolerance is a fundamental human quality or value as central to human existence as
love, charity and goodwill, and that tolerance like morality is possibly instinctive. Thus, grounding tolerance in theories
of morality allows for an alternative educational approach to promote harmonious intergroup relationships and
develop a strong sense of fairness and Justice and the ability to empathize the plight of others what different in racial
characteristics ethnicity or nationality.

1.2. HOW HAPPY IS THE LITTLE STONE? - Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson (1830-86) was a major American poet who produced works of great originality. She never married and
lived as a recluse all her life. She started writing poetry in her twenties and wrote more than 1700 short poems but
only seven were published in her life time. Her poems deal with basic human concerns like love, pain, fame, death and
immorality and reflect an intense inner struggle. Simple diction, colloquial rhythms and unconventional imagery are
the special features of her poetry. In this present poem, Dickinson personifies a stone. A representative stone stands
as a symbol for ideal life free from stress and free from the demands of work. She inspires the stone with human
characteristics and uses it as a representative symbol of an unworried, peaceful life. The major themes of the poem
are peace and simplicity.

At first, the poet describes the life of a little stone. It is rambling on the road alone. The little stone is independent,
free from stress and other complexities. No one ordered it for the directions in its life. It does not worry and care over
human. diversions. The stone allows simple and peaceful pleasures to enjoy. The poet says: that the stone is small and
has no destination but it accepts its role in the universe. The stone is rolling happily and freely without any worries or
urgent demands of a career and it does not have any fear of a sudden emergency.

In the next lines, she speaks of the coloring on the stone. The stone is covered with mud and placed in dirt even in
those strange situations. The stone did not have to worry about its clothing and jewelry since the "passing universe"
provided it. She compares the stone with the sun. The sun shines and glows alone like a stone. The stone enjoys being
alone while fulfilling the dreams and goals of others like the sun. As sun is independent, it is shining its own.

The poet describes that the stone is the product of the universe. It means existence. and everything in the universe is
not ours. It was not made for us. We are a small part of the universe. God created all this. The stone executes the
things what God assigns to it. This is viewed as a part of stone's destiny or absolute decree but the stone is unaware
that it is fulfilling such a destiny or role. It enjoys simply. Perhaps this is why the stone is so happy. Ignorance is a bliss
to it.

Dickinson wishes to show that the uncertainties of human life can strip away our happiness. The stone is independent
of human struggles. The stone is fulfilling a decree to exist itself and be a part of the world without covering itself in
the stresses and complexities of life. It lives in "casual simplicity". Simplicity tells the story of a stone. "Simplicity" in
life can be the key to a happy existence.

ANNOTATION

How happy is little Stone

That rambles in the Road alone,
And don't care about careers
And Exigences never fears –

Reference: These lines happy are taken from the poem "How is the little stone" written by Emily Dickinson. She was a
major American poet who produced works of great originality. Her poems deal with basic human concerns like love,
pain, fame, death and immortality and reflect an intense inner struggle.

Context: In this poem, Dickinson personifies a stone. A stone stands as a symbol for ideal life, free from stress and free
from the demands of work, unworried and leads a peaceful life. The stone is enjoying the solitary, carefree life of
simple pleasures.

Meaning: The poet describes the life of a little stone. It is rambling on the road alone. The little stone is independent,
free from stress and other complexities. No one ordered it for the directions in its life. The stone has no destination
but it accepts its role in the universe. Next, she speaks the coloring of the stone. The stone is covered with mud and
placed in dirt. Even in those strange situations, it does not have to worry about its clothing. and jewelry. The stone
glows like a Sun and fulfill the dreams and goals of others. It is independent and shining on its own. It is the product
of universe. The Stone executes the things what God assigns to it. But the stone is unaware that it is fulfilling such a
destiny or role. It enjoys simply. It is so happy because ignorance is a bliss to it. It lives in" "Casual simplicity".

UNIT - II

2.1. WHEN CITIES WERE NATURE’S HAVEN – Harini Nagendra

Harini Nagendra is an Indian ecologist and Professor of sustainability at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. She finished
her Ph.D. in December 1997 from the Indian Institute of Science in ecological Sciences. Her areas of interest and
research include urban sustainability, ecology and development, land change, biodiversity and conservation. She has
been studying human-nature interactions for over 25 years. She has won awards in the year 2013 and 2017for her
excellent research work. She is a co-author of “Cities and Canopies”. Her articles have appeared in newspapers,
magazines and blogs.

In rapidly urbanizing India, Cities are places of conflict between people and nature. One of India’s largest and
fastest growing cities, Bengaluru was once called India’s lake city and garden city, has turned as the country’s IT capital.
The city’s ecology and environment has been degraded and destroyed in recent years as the city is now turned into a
modern IT hub. Being an Indian ecologist Harini Nagendra desires that cities must make space for nature and the
citizens of Bengaluru should try to preserve the lakes and trees to ensure a good quality of life. In this essay, she
manifests that nature and metropolitan city can coexist harmoniously for which citizens have to make consistent
efforts to sustain nature. Her research on Bengaluru – India’s IT hub shows that population of this region has grown
because of nature.
Inscriptions on stone and copper plates has shown that starting point for a new village was possible by often
constructing a tank or lake to collect rain water as an essential and life-giving source where there was scanty rainfall.
The inscriptions showed that people viewed three dimensional visions; water, food and trees and considered them as
a holistic conception of nature. But unfortunately, all the three are lost in the urbanized city.

In the year 1885, the central areas of Bengaluru had open wells in thousands but today it is observed that there are
fewer than 50. Bengaluru has lost many of its lakes and is converted to residential and commercial purposes. In the
19th century, Sampangi lake water was supplied to many parts of the city but in the 20 th century, Sampangi lake is
transformed into a Sports stadium leaving tiny pond used for ceremonial religious purposes. As long as it was in use
for daily life activities, it was worshipped and protected. During the monsoon, the lakes overflowed and people paid
homage to the lake Goddess. In 1890, piped water began and local water bodies began to decay. By the end of the
19th century, wells and lakes were polluted with debris. She scrupulously wanted to know what transformed citizens
to nurture nature and the relationship between people and nature. She discovered that as the city has grown, local
sources of water was insufficient. So, they had to import water from outside. It was then people realized the
importance of local sources of water. Even now Bengaluru still need water as badly for its resilience. The city has grown
so large that it can no longer supply water for all its needs. So, citizens have engrossed themselves on protecting and
restoring lakes in their neighborhood. Community wells which were once ignored is protected and maintained well.
Residents of Bengaluru are not only focused on water but are focused on trees too, because of the hot landscape of
the dry deccan plateau. Each settlement was greened with ‘gundathope’ which provided fruits, firewood for cooking,
grazing material for cattle and timber as well. When one tree was chopped down, another tree was planted to make
the city green. Because of the cool climate of Bengaluru, the city became a chosen location for the British army, later
as a Science and Industrial hub in South India.

By the late 20th century, the city became hotter and the air severely polluted because of the rapid growth, roads and
other infrastructure gained importance and trees were disregarded with more private vehicles on the road. Citizens
and academics realized this connection and were struggling to protect environment. This initiation was started by
Honamma Govindayya, who fought against real estate developers and won a case in the Supreme court of India. Mass
citizen protest gained powerful victories for the controversial decision to build a steel flyover at “#steel flyover beda”.
Today social media are supporting these movements. It is able to Connect people Coordinate and ratchet up public
pressure on nature blind administrators. This essay Conveys / depicts that nature is not only important for the
metropolis's past but also indispensable for its reappraisal future.

ANNOTATION

It is no accident that Bangalore, once called Lake city and Garden city, became the Country's IT Capital.
Reference: Harini Nagendra is an Indian ecologist and professor of sustainability at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
Her areas of interest and research include urban sustainability, ecology and development, land change, Biodiversity
and Conservation. She has won awards in the year 2013 and 2017 for her excellent research work.

Context: In rapidly urbanizing India, Cities are places of conflict between people and nature. Bengaluru was once called
India's Lake city and Garden city, has turned as the country's IT Capital. The city's ecology and environment has been
degraded and destroyed in recent years as the city is now turned into a modern IT hub. In this essay Harini Nagendra
manifests that nature and metropolitan City can coexist harmoniously. By presenting her research study on the past
and present status of Bengaluru, she states that citizens have to make consistent efforts to sustain nature.

Meaning: Inscriptions on stone and Copper plates has shown that people viewed three-dimensional vision as water,
food and trees. But all the three are lost in the urbanized city unfortunately. In the year 1985, the Central areas of
Bengaluru had oреn-wells in thousands but today they are fewer than 50 and the area is converted to residential and
commercial purposes. In the 19th century Sampangi lake water was supplied to many parts of the city but now it is
transformed into a Sports stadium. The left-over pond is being used for Ceremonial religious purposes. When the city
grew, local sources of water was insufficient and they had to import water from outside. Now residents of Bengaluru
are not only focusing on water but are focusing on trees too, because of the hot land scape of the day Deccan plateau.
The city became hotter by the late 20th Century. Citizens and academics realized this connection and were struggling
to protect environment. Today social media are supporting the movements that are extended by the citizens, and are
able to connect people, coordinate and ratchet up public pressure to save nature in metropolitan city.
 2.2. WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR. -Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is a Bengali Poet, short story writer, song composer, play wright, essayist and
painter. In 1901, he founded an experimental School Called shanti Niketan. His works include Sonar tari, Chitrangada,
Gora, Ghare Bhaire and “The home and the world”. Jana gana mana in the national Anthem of India which was adopted
by the Constituent Assembly of India on 24th January 1950. Where the mind is without fear, is a thought provoking
and one of the best poems in the anthology called "Gitanjali. It won the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature in 1913.
He is regarded as the outstanding creative artist of early 20th century India. He is generally referred as “The Bard of
Bengal”.

When Tagore Composed this poem, India was under the clutch of the British rule. Freedom was like day dreaming. His
mind was confined by the chains of slavery like all other citizens of India. This poem is written in the form of prayer to
God, the true messenger of freedom. Throughout poem he urges God to awaken his countrymen for attaining
freedom. This poem is a pre-independent poem. The poet sincerely appeals to God to make his countrymen realize
the importance to live in a free and united country. In order to enjoy the life of full dignity and honour, he urges his
countrymen to be vigilant as they would not be superstitious or have blind faith. He prefers his countrymen to be
educated and lead the life of enlightenment. He wishes people to be honest, open minded and diligent. To meet the
pinnacle of success, his countrymen should strive tirelessly and must be ready to accept new thoughts and ideas. They
need to give up blind faiths, corruption, manipulation and slavery. When people of the Country forfeit, there would
be freedom of the mind and would be able to express their ideas.

Our country is enthralled / dominated by Castes, Creed, Superstitious beliefs and biased ideas. He wants people to
have deep patriotic feelings. So, he passionately appeals to God that a Country would be, where people would be
Courageous and assertive.

Tagore wishes that his Country should be not be divided and made into segments due to their narrow thoughts. They
should feel Convenient to express their words from the depth of truth.
He pleads / urges God to guide his countrymen to fight for their rights, liberate them from the fear of oppression,
repression, fear from British inhuman rules and direct them to the path of progress and prosperity. He strongly feels
that people should be optimistic and should not give space for injustice and inequality in the Country but they should
be unbiased, open minded to meet challenges and should lead their lives of decency and dignity.

His quest is characterized both in thoughts and expression. This poem expresses the intensity, the feeling of freedom
and is universal in its appeal and bliss of freedom for mankind/Society.

ANNOTATION

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action. Into that heaven of freedom, my
father, let my country awake.

Reference: The above lines are taken from the poem “Where the mind is without fear” written by Rabindranath Tagore
taken from the volume Naibedya. He is versatile genius, a Nobel Laureate, a Bengali Poet, short story writer, song
composer, playwright essayist and painter. His works include Sonar tari, Chitrangada, Gora, Ghare Bhaire and the
home and the world. He is generally referred as “The Bard of Bengal”.

Context: India was under the clutch of the British rule when Tagore composed this poem and freedom was like day
dreaming. This poem is written in the form of prayer to God, the true messenger of freedom. Throughout the poem,
he urges God to awaken his countrymen for attaining freedom.
Meaning: The poet appeals to God to make his Countrymen realize the importance to live in a free and united country.
To enjoy the life of full dignity and honour, he urges his Countrymen to be vigilant, educated and lead the life of
enlightenment. He Wishes people to be honest, open minded, diligent and should strive tirelessly. They must be ready
to accept new thoughts and ideas. They need to give-up blind faiths, Corruption, manipulation and slavery. He wants
people to have deep patriotic feelings and not to have narrow thoughts. He pleads his countrymen to fight for their
rights, liberate them from oppression and repression. He strongly feels that people should be optimistic and should
not give space for injustice and inequality. This poem expresses the intensity, the feeling of freedom and bliss of
freedom for mankind.
 UNIT - III

3.1. WHY WE LOVE HOLIDAY RITUALS AND TRADITIONS – Dimitris Xygalatas

Dimitris Xygalatas is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist. He studies some of the peculiar aspects of human nature
and particularly interested in religion, ritual, sports, fan ship and other things that help people connect, cope with
anxiety, and live meaningful lives. He received Ph.D. from the Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen’s University
Belfast. Afterwards he served as Director of the laboratory for the experimental Research of Religion (LEVYN). In 2014,
he joined the University of consentient, where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of
Anthropology and Psychological Sciences and head of the experimental Anthropology lab. He has conducted field work
for many years by studying about extreme rituals and developed a methodology for studying such rituals
experimentally in their natural context.

The present lesson is very touching and connecting to the heart of every individual. Dimitris Xygalatas studies about
rituals and traditions, and the way they are useful to the people to have a break from their routine life style and
focusing on religion and ritual, and other aspects of culture that help people to connect with each other and cope with
anxiety and also live meaningful lives.

Performing rituals and following traditions will bring a smile to most of the people’s faces and it brings out sweet
memories and emotions. Rituals marks some of the most important events like Birthdays and Weddings to seasonal
celebrations like thank giving and religious holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah.

According to Dimitris Xygalatas, by performing rituals and following traditions there are various psychological benefits,
helping us enjoy ourselves, connect with loved ones and take a break from one’s daily routine. And at the same time,
it helps as an anxiety buffer, everyday is stressful and full of uncertainty. Having a special time of the year of what to
do and the way we have always done it, provides a comfortable sense of structure, control and stability.

Travelling also helps as a anxiety buffer, many people travel at the year ending connecting with new locations and it
will help people to leave their worries.

Cooking has been playing important role in ritual, all cultures have rituals that revolve food and meal preparation.
Holiday tradition will not be completing without a festive meal. From our early ancestors, preparing special meals is
treated like tradition on festive s on special occasions, and having the meals shared collectively will bring the entire
family together and unites it.

Research tells us that performing a ritual before a meal improves experience of eating and makes the food tastier. And
the children who participate in the food preparation enjoy the food more.

Not only spending time together but also sharing and caring is important in many societies. It is found that ritualized
gift – giving plays a crucial role in maintaining social ties for creating networks of reciprocal relationships. Holiday
rituals and traditions are important for children. The children who participate in group rituals become more stronger
when they connect with their peers and have more positive memories and family rituals.

Conclusion:

Rituals and traditions will bring us together, gives us opportunity to spend a quality time with family members and
relatives, society. And by the time when we get back home, we will have something to look forward for the next day
or year positively.

ANNOTATIONS

1. The mere thought of holiday traditions brings smiles to most people’s faces and elicits feelings of sweet
anticipation and nostalgia

Reference: These lines are taken from the lesson “why we love holiday rituals and traditions” written by Dimitris
Xygalatas. He received Ph.D. from the Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen’s University Belfast

Context: The author illustrates about how holiday rituals and traditions brings smiles to most of the people’s faces and
draw out sweet memories.
Meaning: The thought of holiday rituals and traditions will not only add happiness to our lives but also brings smiles
to most people’s faces as it compels us to recollect the previous sweet memories amongst the individuals. By
conducting and participating in rituals and traditions one can overcome stress and can spend time with the family
members and also with all relatives, which makes people to feel more happier by sharing and caring.

2. All cultures have rituals that revolve around food and meal preparation. Jewish tradition dictates that all food
must be chosen and prepared according to specific rules.

Reference: Same as above

Context: The author explains about all cultures have rituals that specially revolve around food and meal preparation
Meaning: All the cultures have rituals and traditions that especially go through the food and meal preparation.
Particularly in every tradition there are some specific rules accordingly to be followed in the preparation of food. By
performing a ritual before having meals which improves eating experience and also makes the food tastier. He quotes
that Jewish tradition dictates some specific rules about how all food must be chosen and prepared.

3. Holiday traditions are particularly important for children. Research shows that children who participate in group
rituals become more strongly affiliated with their peers.

Reference: Same as above

Context: The author tells us about how holiday traditions will have impact on children.
Meaning: Holiday rituals and traditions are important for children, the children who participate in group rituals
become more stronger when they connect with their peers and have more positive memories of family rituals.

4. Gathering together from far-flung locations helps people leave their worries behind and at the same time lets
them reconnect with time honoured family traditions.

Reference: Same as above

Context: Many people travel at the year ending connecting with new locations and it will help to leave their worries

Meaning: many of the rituals should be performed at other times throughout the year. But during the holiday season,
it becomes more special to perform a ritual, of which they are held in special place and with a special group of people,
it means with close relatives and friends. Because of this reason, many people travel during the year end holidays
which helps people leave their worries.

3.2. SONNETS ARE FULL OF LOVE – Christina Rossetti

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) was an English poet, born in London. She was an English Victorian poet, who wrote a
variety of romantic, devotional and children’s poems. She started writing from a very young age and as she grew older,
experimented with many poetic forms. She is known for her poem “Goblin market and other poems”, the “Remember”
and her Sonnets. Rossetti was the youngest child in the family, a lively child and she dictated her first story to her
mother before she had learned to write. The famous poem “Sonnets are full of love” is structured in the form of 14
lines – which means a sonnet. This poem appears in her collection,” A pageant and other poems”. This sonnet is a
sentimental one which expresses a thought or idea and an established rhyme scheme.

In this Sonnet the speaker is Rossetti herself. She focusses on the “first love” in her life – her mother, the most selfless,
embodiment as well as the most enduring example of emotion. She dedicated and gifted this sonnet to her mother
on her 80th birthday. She appreciates her mother’s efforts as she had a strong role to play in her development as a
writer. Nostalgia also plays an important role in this sonnet. She compares her sonnets to her mother, calm tone that
parallels, portrays their relationship. She finds comfort and happiness in her mother’s love.

She emphasizes the importance of her mother’s service in taking care of the family. She shows modesty for what her
mother has done for her and compares her to the load star. She views her mother as a guide, expresses her love,
capitalizes and highlights her importance of being worthy. She compares(juxtaposes) her sonnet to a laurel with which
she could crown her mother’s name and correlates her love as a flame. She claims that her mother is ever glowing and
can never become dim. She can go beyond time, eternal, timeless and for the rest of her life and even after death.
Lastly, she asserts her mother as the first and foremost of her angels.
 ANNOTATION

Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws of time and change and mortal life and death.

Reference: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) was an English poet, born in London. She wrote a variety of romantic,
devotional and children’s poems. She started writing from a very young age. She was the youngest child in the family,
a lively child and she dictated her first story to her mother before she had learned to write. The famous Poem “Sonnets
are full of love” is written in the form of 14 lines, which means a sonnet.

Context: Rossetti, who is the speaker of this sonnet focuses on the ‘first love’ in her life - her mother, the most selfless,
embodiment as well as the most enduring example of emotion. She gifted this Sonnet to her mother on her mother's
80th birthday.

Meaning: Rossetti is the speaker of this sonnet. She dedicated and gifted this sonnet to her mother on her mother's
80th birthday. She appreciates her mother's efforts as she had a strong role to play in her development as a writer.
She compares her Sonnets to her mother. She finds comfort and happiness in her mother's love.